Currently reading: Jaguar to end production of current XJ saloon in July
X351 model will depart after nine years on sale, with the firm's iconic flagship tipped for an electric reinvention in 2020

Jaguar will shortly end production of its Jaguar XJ saloon as it makes way for a new electric flagship to arrive next year. 

The final, eighth-generation XJ will leave the Castle Bromwich production line on 5 July, with the company having built more than 120,000 examples since launch. 

It has been a decade since the unveiling of the  X351 model in July 2009, making the XJ one of the oldest cars currently available in the UK. A mid-life facelift in 2015 subtly revised the exterior styling and added an upgraded media system.

In 2018, Jaguar unveiled the XJ50 special edition in celebration of the model’s 50th anniversary. Available in regular and long-wheelbase forms, it received the British brand’s 296bhp 3.0-litre petrol V6 and was good for 0-60mph in 6.2sec.

Despite its iconic status, the XJ has become Jaguar’s least popular model; the company shifted just 301 in December 2018, compared with 4492 Jaguar F-Pace SUVs, 2252 Jaguar XE compact saloons and 492 Jaguar F-Type sports cars during the same month. 

Jaguar xj 2017 0470

The XJ is set to be reinvented as a flagship electric saloon for its ninth generation next year. While this hasn't yet been officially confirmed by Jaguar, a spokesman confirmed to Autocar that the marque intends “to continue the XJ nameplate”. 

The 2020 model will make a move upmarket as Jaguar aims to provide a luxury saloon on par with the BMW 7 Series and Mercedes-Benz S-Class. Given its zero-emissions powertrain, it will also rival the upcoming Porsche Taycan.

Az8x5532a

Back to top

Such a radical reinvention is nothing new for the XJ; the 2002 X350 was Jaguar’s first aluminium model, while the X351 did away with the sloping body lines that had adorned every XJ since the 1968 original.

Read more

Jaguar XJ50 2018 review

Jaguar XJ to be reborn as high-tech electric flagship​

50 years of the Jaguar XJ

Felix Page

Felix Page
Title: News and features editor

Felix is Autocar's news editor, responsible for leading the brand's agenda-shaping coverage across all facets of the global automotive industry - both in print and online.

He has interviewed the most powerful and widely respected people in motoring, covered the reveals and launches of today's most important cars, and broken some of the biggest automotive stories of the last few years. 

Join the debate

Comments
21
Add a comment…
lambo58 31 May 2019

Such a great car, they've

Such a great car, they've stopped making it.

Get real.

jason_recliner 31 May 2019

Well I think it looks great

I love that the XJ looks distinctive. I loved the last one, too. Maybe Jag will make a hatrick with the new one.

Actually, the XJ ticks a lot of boxes for me. I'll probably own one some day. When they're cheap!

eseaton 30 May 2019

I utterly love Jaguar and

I utterly love Jaguar and this is sad.
kboothby 30 May 2019

Like the Defender....

I feel that they will spend the next five years out of the segment then probably f%ck it up.. sad