1994 Jaguar XJ12

Jaguar XJ81 series (Saloon), 1993-1994

The Jaguar XJ81 series was in production from 1993-1994. Styled in house by Jaguar, it is a front-engine, rear wheel drive saloon range seating up to five adults.

You would be forgiven for thinking that the Jaguar XJ12 and Daimler Double Six were members of the XJ40 family - they do share significant amounts of body and trim with these cars. But substantial redesigning of the XJ40's internal structure was required to fit the Jaguar V12 - primarily under the bonnet where the inner wings precluded the fitment of wider engines, but also by relocating the battery to the spare wheel well in the boot in order to save space under the bonnet. It seemed unusual to make all these changes to late in the life of the XJ40 series, but unofficially these cars acted as testbeds for the V12-engined X305, based on the X300 model. The X300 was to share the inner structure of later XJ40s, so introducing the V12 to the XJ40 range didn't involve any unique tooling for the sake of a single year. The Jaguar was a sportier prospect than previous XJ12s with stiffer suspension and aggressive twin headlamps, the Daimler Double Six maintained its position as a soft riding range topper. Both would be available solely with automatic transmission sourced from General Motors.

Both cars would be replaced by equivalent models in the X305 series, based on the Jaguar X300. However, the XJ12 would be softened once more into a Sovereign equivalent; the performance position in the new range being taken by the supercharged XJR model instead.

Obvious alternatives for the Jaguar XJ12 would include the later Jaguar XJR, as well as the Bentley Turbo R and the BMW 750i. Daimler Double Six fanciers might also consider the Lexus LS400, the Mercedes-Benz S600 and the Rolls-Royce Silver Spirit. If nothing but a V12 car from Coventry will do, the previous Series III XJ12 and Daimler Double Six were widely acknowledged when new as among the best cars in the world, while the later X305 models are identical to XJ81s in all but styling details.