I just found out there was a 3.5 liter v8 with 254hp sold in UK for 2 years. Ive never heard of this? Does anyone here have one? Is it a smaller motor of the 4.2l?

Jaguar XK 3.5 - 🚗 car technical specifications (automobile-detail.com)

 

This engine was supplied only to certain countries which tax according to engine capacity. It was not marketed in the US or Canada.

 

I read somewhere that 1000 units were built but all were planned to be coupes. Later 300 cabriolets were "added". Continental Europe probably got most if not all of them with 200 coupes and some cabriolets going to Germany. I don't believe the UK got any.

 

Although the number is reported by several reliable sources, I don't believe ANY got outside the factory development programme and certainly not into showrooms.

Graham

 

They regularly pop up for sale on the Continent. They do exist

https://www.autouncle.de/en/cars_sea...&search_form=1

 

I wonder if they ONLY went to Germany and, if so, WHY.

In the 1980's Jaguar introduced the XJ40 2.9 litre in the UK only because the smaller engine capacity allowed a preferential business tax rate at the time. The tax scale was soon changed and Jaguar equally quickly dropped the 2.9 litre. Perhaps there was a similar situation in Germany at the time the X150 smaller engine was marketed?

There is a precedent for a smaller engined two door model. The XJ41 Coupe and Convertible with 3.5 litre engines which never made it to production:







Graham

 

Cars use(d) to be taxed in Germany on grounds of capacity (engine volume) but the difference between 3.5 and 4.2 liters was exactly proportional, so I have never understood why one would wish to have the smaller engine. But yes, some are around here.

 

They didn't only go to Germany but 200 of the 1000 coupe units were earmarked for here. I seems they went to many European countries as a lower priced and lower taxed model, while being a limited edition, it was well equiped too. It was about getting something to offer against the BMW 630 and smaller 6 cylinder Merc SLs. One has to remember that Jaguars are priced comparatively higher on the Continent than in the UK or US. Added to a limited range, only high-end customers usually take a look.

Even though they apparently sold out quite quickly, at least in Germany, they aren't that popular because of the apparent lack of power/pace. Many see the 4.2 XK as beautiful but just not as fast as it looks! The 3.5 is quite a bit slower but similarly thirsty. They end up hard to sell as the competition has much better headline figures and on-paper fuel economy.

 

I have one. The 45 or so missing ponies do not bother me much. She looks just as good and sounds just as mean. Besides, the non-R wasn't particularly fast to begin with.

 

Any weight difference between the two engine variants? Would a manual swap be easier to do on the 3.5?

 

I've tinkered around just enough to confirm, there is virtually zero difference between 4.2 and 3.5. Therefore no difference in weight. Maybe the crank and/or pistons are a few grams lighter.

 

I had read that the 3.5L V8 was in the Ford Thunderbird here in the US.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_T...nth_generation)

 

3.9l V8 in the ford thunderbird.
diff Is interchangeable with 07-09 xk/r ..they have shorter final ratio 3.31 jag v 3.58 thunderbird