Brand: Avon Tyres, Width: 205/70 | XJ-S V12 1975 to 1981

Jaguar XJ-S V12 1975 to 1981

Jaguar's luxurious and fast E-type replacement, built from 1975 to 1981.

The original standard tyre was a 205/70VR15 radial.

In 1975 the Jaguar XJS took over where the E-Type left off. Power came from a fuel-injected 5.3-litre V12 engine, usually mated to a Borg Warner automatic transmission, until a GM400 gearbox took over in 1977. To aid economy the XJS featured an HE (High Efficiency) V12 from 1981, two years before a 3.6-litre six-cylinder engine debuted, alongside the open-topped XJS-C. While this initially came with six cylinders only, a V12 XJS-C option arrived in 1985.

The XJS-C was unloved because of its fixed T-top, but Jaguar fixed this by introducing a full XJS convertible in 1988, initially with V12 power only. Just months later the first truly sporty XJS debuted; the XJR-S 5.3 coupé featured firmer suspension and a bodykit, but within a year it would be superseded by a 6.0-litre XJR-S.

A facelift in 1991 brought a redesigned cabin, a restyled rear end and revised side glass, then in 1992 a 4.0-litre straight-six superseded the 3.6-litre engine. From May 1993 a 6.0-litre V12 engine was available, in April 1994 the 4.0-litre AJ6 engine was overhauled to become the AJ16 unit, then in November 1995 the final XJS V12 was made; the last six-cylinder XJS was produced in April 1996.