Jaguar introduced the XJ in 1968 as its new flagship luxury saloon, and it quickly became the company’s defining four-door model. Conceived under Sir William Lyons, the original XJ brought together elegant styling, long-distance comfort and sporting character in a way that set the tone for Jaguar’s executive cars for decades. Early XJ6 and XJ12 versions established the nameplate’s reputation, with the twelve-cylinder model becoming a notable performance-luxury statement of its era.
Over time, the XJ evolved through a series of distinct generations rather than changing into a different model. The Series 2 refined the original formula, while the Series 3 brought a more formal and contemporary appearance. The XJ40 era in the mid-1980s marked a major redesign, followed by later updates that kept the car competitive as Jaguar moved deeper into the modern luxury-sedan market. Subsequent generations continued the XJ’s role as the brand’s top saloon, blending traditional Jaguar restraint with new technologies and increasingly advanced chassis construction.
In the 21st century, the XJ adopted a lighter aluminum architecture and a more dramatic design language, giving the nameplate a sharper, more modern identity while preserving its position as Jaguar’s flagship sedan. Long-wheelbase versions and performance-oriented variants expanded its appeal, but the car always remained centered on the same idea: a prestigious, expressive British luxury sedan with an enthusiast’s edge. The final current-generation XJ ended production in 2019, closing a fifty-year chapter for one of Jaguar’s most important and recognizable nameplates.