IN THIS FEATURE A retrospective Jaguar XJ (1968 - 73) Jaguar XJ (1968 - 73) Jaguar XJ (1968 - 73) Jaguar XJ Series II (1973 - 79) Jaguar XJ Series II (1973 - 79) Jaguar XJ Series II (1973 - 79) Jaguar XJ Series III (1979 - 86) Jaguar XJ Series III (1979 - 86) Jaguar XJ Series III (1979 - 86) Jaguar XJ40 (1986 - 94) Jaguar XJ40 (1986 - 94) Jaguar XJ40 (1986 - 94) Jaguar X300 (1994 - 97) Jaguar X300 (1994 - 97) Jaguar X300 (1994 - 97)

The so-called XJ40 cars had been under development since the early 1970s, but after the difficult years under, and then break-up of, British Leyland, it took a long time to become a production reality. Launched at the 1986 Paris Motor Show, the XJ40 had all-new suspension, a completely different braking system and a much lighter body - it was a far superior car to drive and ride in. Two gearboxes new to the saloons were offered, the Getrag five-speed manual, which had made its debut in the coupe, and a new ZF four-speed auto. The XJ40 also nodded to the '80s with its slightly more angular shape, large rectangular headlights and square rear lights, and the first Jaguar to feature rear quarter-light windows. Though undeniably a better car than the old XJ - and vastly easier to build - it didn't enjoy the quite the elegance of line and exquisite detailing of the original.

The 3.6-litre AJ6 engine, despite accounting for over 90 percent of sales, was thought to be insufficiently refined, and was revised in 1989 to 4-litres with a new digital ignition and fuel injection system. The other engine choice was the poverty-spec single-cam 2.9 (165 bhp), in a model distinguished by its individually-mounted headlights and single coachline, steel wheels, black window frames and no-chrome trimmings. At the other end of the range came the 3.6-litre Sovereign, which had the new anti-lock brakes, leather and walnut trim and cruise control, and also came in Daimler form. The V12 engine, however, continued in the old Series III body until, unbelievably, 1991 - Jaguar couldn't spare enough cash to engineer it into the XJ40. Although appealing to a certain kind of conservative-minded buyer (the sort that probably now buys Bristols today), it looked incredibly dated, especially considering that in 1989, Jaguar had launched its £290,000 XJ220 supercar, the fastest production car in the world until the advent of the McLaren F1, and the company's latest hope for Le Mans. The XJ220 was also Ford's hope for Le Mans - it bought Jaguar in 1989, to develop as its luxury brand for the European market. Co-developed and built by TWR, just 280 XJ220s were made before the market for exotica collapsed and the plug was pulled by Ford, already worried by its expenditure on the Jaguar brand.