Introduced in 1975, this grand touring Jaguar arrived as the company’s long-awaited successor to the E-type, but it took the marque in a different direction. Instead of another outright sports car, it was positioned as a refined, long-legged grand tourer with distinctive styling and a more luxurious character. Jaguar’s own heritage material describes it as a car that caused a stir at launch, and the model quickly developed its own identity rather than simply living in the shadow of the E-type.
The original launch specification was coupé-only, reflecting the car’s first-market focus. Over time, the range broadened to include open variants, with cabriolet and convertible body styles joining the line-up later in production. Mechanical choice also expanded beyond the early flagship configuration, and the nameplate became available with different six-cylinder and V12-era offerings as Jaguar evolved the model through successive updates. That long development cycle helped the car remain relevant for more than two decades, while its unmistakable profile and relaxed grand-touring brief made it one of the most recognisable Jaguar models of its era.
Motorsport and enthusiast culture also became part of its story. The nameplate achieved success in competition, including a notable Spa 24 Hours win in 1983, which reinforced its appeal beyond the boulevard image that often defined it. In period, it also gained wider public recognition through prominent owners and media exposure, helping to cement its place as a Jaguar icon.
Production ended in 1996 after a 21-year run. By the time the final cars were built, the model had become a major chapter in Jaguar history: the bridge between the dramatic E-type era and the later XJ-series grand tourers, and one of the most important long-running Jaguar nameplates of the late twentieth century.