Jaguar Celebrates 50 Years of Flagship XJ Sedan
New 2019 Jaguar XJ50 model marks half a century of flagship luxury sedan.
Jaguar is marking 50 years of its flagship XJ luxury sedan with the launch of a new special edition model. Revealed at the Beijing Motor Show, the Jaguar XJ50 celebrates half a century of trademark performance, technology and luxury.
XJ50 will be offered exclusively in long wheelbase specification and available with the option of two engines. Sadly, our favorite, the insane XJR575 engine variant will not be available. Instead, a 340 hp 3.0L supercharged gasoline V6, in RWD or AWD, will be featured as standard. From there, a 470 hp 5.0L supercharged gasoline V8 powertrain in RWD can be optioned.
Exterior updates for the XJ50, including unique front and rear bumpers, add distinction to the anniversary edition alongside purposeful 20-inch wheels with gloss black diamond turned finish, a gloss black front grille and unique badging to the rear and side vents. Four striking exterior paint colors will be available including Fuji White, Santorini Black, Loire Blue and Rosello Red.
Inside, the luxurious cabin features soft-grain diamond-quilted seats with an embossed Jaguar leaper on the headrests and an XJ50 logo on the center armrest. Unique intaglio branding and XJ50-badged illuminated treadplates also differentiate the anniversary edition, alongside aluminum gearshift paddles and bright metal pedals.
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“Spanning half a century, the Jaguar XJ remains true to its heritage with a wonderful balance of beautiful design, intelligent performance and indulgent luxury that ensures it stands out from the crowd,’ said Ian Callum, Jaguar Director of Design. “This is a car worth celebrating and the XJ50 pays homage to a giant within the Jaguar brand that we believe is one of the world’s most stylish sporting saloons.”
The XJ Series 1 started the dynasty in 1968 and, for eight generations, has been turning heads around the world since. Whether transporting VIPs and politicians, or acting as the preferred vehicle for business leaders and royalty, the XJ has been a mainstay on roads for five decades.
The XJ has epitomized the forward-thinking approach that has set the Jaguar luxury sedan apart over the past 50 years. Four years into its life it became the world’s only mass-produced 12-cylinder four-door car and, with a top speed of 140mph, it was also the fastest four-seater of its time.
Further models followed, sporting both standard and long wheelbases, as well as two and four-door body styles. The Series 2 was the first to offer a two-door coupe model in 1975 and the XJ40, in production for eight years from 1986, introduced the celebrated ‘J’ gate gear shifter and self-leveling suspension.
A revolutionary aluminum monocoque bodyshell helped reduce the weight of the XJ model by 40 percent from 2003, before the current XJ model brought additional technologies such as all-wheel drive and a virtual instrument cluster. With the introduction of Jaguar Design Director Ian Callum’s now iconic design language, it was also launched with a wraparound rear windshield and distinctive cat claw inspired rear lights. The XJ50 is a fitting tribute to the enduring style and performance of the Jaguar brand’s luxury sedan.
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