Jaguar XJ40

jaguar
Jaguar XJ40 (1989)
XJ40 / XJ81
Sales designation:	XJ
Production period:	10 / 1986-10 / 1994
Class :	Upper class
Body versions :	limousine
Engines:	Petrol engines : 2.9–6.0 liters (up to 229 kW)
Length:	4989 mm
Width:	1798 mm
Height:	1349 mm
Wheelbase :	2870-2995 mm
Empty weight :	1729-1770 kg
Previous model	Jaguar XJ Series III
successor	Jaguar X300

The Jaguar XJ40 is a luxury sedan of the XJ range of the British car manufacturer Jaguar . It was introduced in October 1986, two years after the privatization and separation of the Jaguar brand from the BLMC group, as the successor to the classic Jaguar XJ Series 3 . The XJ40 was replaced by the X300 series .

history

The development of the XJ40 began in 1973 with the aim of replacing the XJ Series II around 1978. Since a lot of time was spent on fundamental questions in the hierarchy of the BLMC group structure (decision between tradition and modernity in vehicle development), the development of the project was only approved by the BLMC board in 1981. The decision was made in favor of the conventional Jaguar style: classic proportions, combined with craft traditions (wood, metal, leather as materials). The XJ40 continued the traditional design of its predecessors, interpreted in a modern way, due to its proportions, the side line and the hip curve.

XJ40 with styled headlamps (broadband headlights)

The XJ 40 was one of the most technically ambitious vehicles of the eighties, especially in the field of vehicle electronics. At the same time, the production was designed more rationally than with the Series III, since the body consisted of a smaller number, but larger pressed sheet metal parts. The XJ40 received the AJ6 six-cylinder in-line engine made of light metal with two overhead camshafts, four valves per cylinder and a displacement of 3.6 liters, familiar from the XJ-S . A smaller version with 2.9 liters displacement (two-valve engine with Fireball technology) was not offered in continental Europe for strategic market reasons. The power was transmitted to the rear wheels via a four-speed automatic transmission from the manufacturer ZF or optionally via a Getrag five-speed manual transmission. The top speed was 220 and 210 km / h.

Regardless of the engine, there were two different Jaguar versions ( Jaguar XJ6 and Jaguar Sovereign ) and the Daimler with a 3.6-liter engine (traditionally marketed in the USA as Jaguar Vanden Plas ) as the top model of the series. The higher-quality Sovereign and Daimler models were visually recognizable by their rectangular broadband headlamps (styled headlamps) . The XJ6 models, on the other hand, had four round headlights in rectangular housings. Another style element that was introduced with the XJ40 was the extremely practical and at the time unique J-Gate automatic with a separate aisle for manual gear selection.

Initially, the XJ40 was the first complete XJ redesign from Jaguar since 1968 due to some quality weaknesses, including a. in the area of ​​complex and technically demanding electronics, such as digital display instruments. With the takeover by the Ford Motor Company in 1989, which achieved improved supplier quality in particular through central purchasing, as well as model maintenance measures from 1990 onwards, the quality improved significantly. In 1990 the digital displays were replaced by classic round instruments and the 3.6 liter engine was enlarged to 4.0 liters. A year later, the 2.9-liter engine grew to 3.2 liters and now received the four-valve cylinder head from the larger engine. It was also available in Germany as the Jaguar XJ6 3.2 or Jaguar Sovereign 3.2.

XJ40 "Insignia" interior

XJ40 "Gold" interior

When developing the XJ40, at the start of the project, modern, high-performance aluminum six-cylinder engines were seen as the right way to go, since low gasoline consumption was also very important in the luxury class in the 1980s. The secondary literature also shows that the BLMC group management should be prevented from installing the somewhat rough light metal V8 of the BLMC volume brand Rover (to be found there in the P5B, SDI, Range and MG B GT V8 as well as in various British small-series sports cars) to prescribe. As a result, the engine compartment of the XJ40 is said to have been particularly narrow and unsuitable for installing V-engines.

This design initially prevented the use of the company's own legendary V12 engine. In addition, Jaguar misjudged the market development of the 80s. With regard to V12 engine developments by the competition, a V12 engine in the XJ40 was already announced at the time of the model premiere. This led to a six-year revision of the entire front end. During this time, the XJ-12 of the previous series was continued and, given its quality, continued to enjoy very stable demand. In February 1993, the new XJ-12 (internal development name XJ81), with a twelve-cylinder engine and 229 kW enlarged to six liters, was presented.

With the sporty 3.2 S and 4.0 S models, Jaguar also appealed to price-conscious, sporty-minded buyers, while the spoiler-reinforced XJR has been in England since 1989 - in Germany since 1992 - with a slightly increased four-liter machine. was on offer. The XJ40, which was offered as Insignia from 1993, was particularly feudal . With this model, you could choose from special types of wood, leather colors (also 2-colored) and special paintwork. In addition, all interior fittings and panels were completely covered with real leather. The typical Daimler "picnic tables" were also installed.

A long version appeared in 1993 with a wheelbase longer by 125 mm and a slightly raised roof. Because of the complicated interventions in the body structure and the elaborate interior fittings, high price surcharges were charged for these variants. From 1994 the special models 3.2 gold and 4.0 gold were offered. These had less chrome, a stripped-down equipment and changed seat covers and should, thanks to their low price, boost the declining sales of the XJ40 due to the upcoming model change.

The XJ40 was a huge success for Jaguar. No large Jaguar sedan could sell as high as the XJ40 when it first went into production.

literature

• Porter, Philip: Jaguar Project XJ 40 . Haynes Publishing, 1987
• White, Andrew: Jaguar XJ 40 - Evolution of the Species . Patrick Stephens Limited, 1987
• Stertkamp, ​​Heiner: Jaguar - The complete chronicle from 1922 to today . 2nd edition, Heel-Verlag, 2006, ISBN 3-89880-337-6

Web links

Commons : Jaguar XJ40  - Collection of pictures, videos and audio files