Overview

Spec	Value
Production Years	1975-1996
Body Styles	2+2 coupe, cabriolet (1983-88), convertible (1988-96)
Engine(s)	5.3L V12, 5.3L HE V12, 6.0L V12, 3.6L AJ6 I6, 4.0L AJ6/AJ16 I6
Displacement	3590cc (3.6 I6), 3980cc (4.0 I6), 5343cc (5.3 V12), 5993cc (6.0 V12)
Power	221-311 bhp (depending on variant)
Torque	240-369 lb-ft (depending on variant)
Transmission	3-speed auto (BW66/GM TH400), 4-speed auto (GM 4L80-E), 5-speed manual (Getrag)
Drive	Rear-wheel drive
Suspension (front)	Independent, double wishbones, coil springs, anti-roll bar, telescopic dampers
Suspension (rear)	Independent, lower wishbones, fixed-length driveshafts, twin coil springs, anti-roll bar
Brakes	Ventilated discs front and rear, servo-assisted
Steering	Rack and pinion, power-assisted
Construction	Steel monocoque, bolt-on front subframe

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5.3L V12 Pre-HE (1975-1981)

Spec	Value
Engine	5.3L SOHC V12
Displacement	5343cc
Bore x Stroke	90mm x 70mm
Compression Ratio	9.0:1 (7.8:1 US-spec)
Fuel System	Lucas/Bosch L-Jetronic fuel injection
Power	285 bhp @ 5500 rpm (Euro-spec), 244 bhp (US-spec)
Torque	294 lb-ft (399 Nm) @ 3500 rpm
Transmission	3-speed Borg-Warner Model 66 automatic or 3-speed GM TH400 automatic
0-100 km/h	~7.5 seconds
Top Speed	241 km/h (150 mph)
Fuel Economy	20-25 L/100km
Kerb Weight	1725 kg
Length	4869mm
Width	1793mm
Height	1270mm
Wheelbase	2591mm
Track (front/rear)	1473mm / 1478mm
Fuel Tank	91 litres
Tyres	215/70 VR 15

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5.3L V12 HE (1981-1991)

Spec	Value
Engine	5.3L SOHC V12 HE (High Efficiency)
Displacement	5343cc
Bore x Stroke	90mm x 70mm
Compression Ratio	12.5:1
Fuel System	Lucas digital fuel injection
Power	299 bhp @ 5500 rpm
Torque	318 lb-ft (431 Nm) @ 3000 rpm
Transmission	3-speed GM TH400 automatic (standard), 5-speed Getrag manual (rare)
0-100 km/h	~7.0 seconds
Top Speed	249 km/h (155 mph)
Fuel Economy	15-18 L/100km
Kerb Weight	1760 kg (coupe), 1830 kg (convertible)
Length	4869mm
Width	1793mm
Height	1270mm (coupe)
Wheelbase	2591mm
Track (front/rear)	1473mm / 1478mm
Fuel Tank	91 litres
Tyres	215/70 VR 15 (early), 225/60 VR 15 (later)

Key HE Changes

• May fireball combustion chambers (significantly improved efficiency)
• Higher compression ratio (12.5:1 vs 9.0:1)
• Improved digital fuel injection
• GM TH400 automatic replaced BW66 on most models
• Improved interior trim and equipment
• Mild styling updates (wheel designs, badging)

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6.0L V12 Facelift (1993-1996)

Spec	Value
Engine	6.0L SOHC V12
Displacement	5993cc
Bore x Stroke	90mm x 78.5mm
Compression Ratio	11.0:1
Fuel System	Lucas/Nippondenso sequential fuel injection
Power	311 bhp @ 5350 rpm
Torque	369 lb-ft (500 Nm) @ 2850 rpm
Transmission	4-speed GM 4L80-E electronic automatic
0-100 km/h	~6.5 seconds
Top Speed	253 km/h (157 mph, electronically limited)
Fuel Economy	15-20 L/100km
Kerb Weight	1830 kg (coupe), 1900 kg (convertible)
Length	4860mm
Width	1800mm
Height	1260mm (coupe)
Wheelbase	2591mm
Track (front/rear)	1498mm / 1503mm
Fuel Tank	91 litres
Tyres	225/55 ZR 16

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3.6L AJ6 Inline-6 (1983-1991)

Spec	Value
Engine	3.6L DOHC inline-6 (AJ6)
Displacement	3590cc
Bore x Stroke	91mm x 92mm
Compression Ratio	9.6:1
Fuel System	Lucas electronic fuel injection
Power	221 bhp @ 5000 rpm
Torque	240 lb-ft (325 Nm) @ 4000 rpm
Transmission	5-speed Getrag manual or 3-speed GM TH400 automatic
0-100 km/h	~7.8 seconds
Top Speed	230 km/h (143 mph)
Fuel Economy	12-16 L/100km
Kerb Weight	1610 kg
Length	4869mm
Width	1793mm
Height	1270mm
Wheelbase	2591mm
Track (front/rear)	1473mm / 1478mm
Fuel Tank	91 litres
Tyres	215/70 VR 15

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4.0L AJ6/AJ16 Inline-6 (1991-1996)

Spec	Value
Engine	4.0L DOHC inline-6 (AJ6, from 1994 AJ16)
Displacement	3980cc
Bore x Stroke	91mm x 102mm
Compression Ratio	9.6:1 (AJ6), 10.0:1 (AJ16)
Fuel System	Lucas/Nippondenso electronic fuel injection
Power	233 bhp @ 4750 rpm (AJ6), 249 bhp @ 4750 rpm (AJ16)
Torque	283 lb-ft (384 Nm) @ 3750 rpm (AJ6), 290 lb-ft (393 Nm) @ 3750 rpm (AJ16)
Transmission	5-speed Getrag manual or 4-speed GM 4L80-E electronic automatic
0-100 km/h	~7.4 seconds (AJ6), ~7.1 seconds (AJ16)
Top Speed	237 km/h (147 mph)
Fuel Economy	11-15 L/100km
Kerb Weight	1680 kg (coupe), 1750 kg (convertible)
Length	4860mm
Width	1800mm
Height	1260mm (coupe)
Wheelbase	2591mm
Track (front/rear)	1498mm / 1503mm
Fuel Tank	91 litres
Tyres	225/55 ZR 16

Key AJ16 Changes over AJ6

• Revised cylinder head with improved porting
• Variable valve timing (limited implementation)
• Higher compression ratio
• Improved engine management
• Better refinement and lower emissions

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Engine Variants

5.3L SOHC V12 (Pre-HE)

The original V12 in its non-HE form. Flat combustion chambers, lower compression, and prodigious fuel consumption. Smooth and powerful but thirsty to the point of impracticality. US-spec cars were detuned significantly for emissions compliance and are the least desirable variant. These engines run hotter and require meticulous cooling system maintenance. If you're considering a pre-HE car, factor in the fuel cost, it's roughly 30% higher than the HE.

5.3L SOHC V12 HE

The fireball combustion chamber transformed the V12 from a guilt-inducing indulgence into a merely extravagant one. Better fuel economy, more low-end torque, and improved driveability. This is the minimum V12 specification you should consider. The HE engine is robust and will cover high mileages (200,000+ km) with proper maintenance, which means keeping the cooling system in perfect order.

6.0L SOHC V12

The final evolution. Increased bore gives more capacity, more torque, and a slight improvement in response. Paired with the four-speed electronic automatic, it's the most refined V12 XJ-S powertrain. Sequential fuel injection improves cold starting and emissions. This is the definitive V12 XJ-S engine.

3.6L DOHC AJ6 Inline-6

Jaguar's first all-new engine since the V12. A thoroughly modern design for its era, twin cams, electronic fuel injection, crossflow head. Adequate power but known for cylinder liner seal issues on some early engines. The 3.6 is acceptable but the 4.0 is the better choice. Available with a manual gearbox, which is unusual in the XJ-S range and adds a different character.

4.0L DOHC AJ6/AJ16 Inline-6

The enlargement to four litres cured the 3.6's weaknesses and created a thoroughly competent engine. Strong mid-range torque (over 280 lb-ft) makes it a relaxed cruiser, while the twin-cam head allows it to rev freely when you want performance. The AJ16 variant (1994 onwards) adds minor refinements. This is the sensible engine choice for an XJ-S, powerful enough to be entertaining, economical enough to be practical, reliable enough to be trustworthy.

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Transmission Options

Borg-Warner Model 66 (BW66), 3-speed automatic (early cars)

The weak link in early V12 XJ-S cars. Adequate for gentle touring but doesn't handle sustained high loads well. If your car still has one, budget for an eventual TH400 conversion.

GM Turbo-Hydramatic 400 (TH400), 3-speed automatic

Virtually indestructible. Over-engineered for the application. Smooth, strong, reliable. Three ratios are adequate for the torquey V12 and reasonably well-suited to the six. Regular fluid changes are the only maintenance required. This is the automatic you want.

GM 4L80-E, 4-speed electronic automatic (late cars)

The modern replacement for the TH400. Four ratios improve fuel economy and refinement. Electronic control provides smoother shifts. Equally robust. Fitted to facelift cars and an excellent unit.

Getrag 5-speed manual (six-cylinder cars)

A proper five-speed manual with a mechanical shift quality that suits the AJ6/AJ16 engine character. Reasonably rare, most XJ-S buyers opted for the automatic. Enthusiasts prize the manual for its driver engagement, but the automatic is arguably a better match for the XJ-S's touring character.

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Production Numbers (approximate)

Variant	Numbers Built
V12 Coupe (all versions)	~60,000
6-cyl Coupe (all versions)	~21,000
V12 Cabriolet	~5,000
V12 Convertible	~12,000
6-cyl Convertible	~8,000
Other/special editions	~9,000
Total (all variants)	~115,000

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Notable Features

• Flying buttress C-pillars: The XJ-S's most distinctive design element. They improve rear three-quarter visibility and add structural rigidity. Loved or loathed, there's no middle ground.
• XJ saloon-derived platform: The XJ-S shares its basic structure with the XJ saloon, giving it the famous XJ ride quality, one of the best of any car of its era.
• Independent rear suspension: The same basic design as the E-Type, with lower wishbones, fixed-length driveshafts, and coil springs. Refined over the years but fundamentally the same concept.
• TWR heritage: Tom Walkinshaw Racing campaigned the XJ-S to the 1984 European Touring Car Championship. TWR-developed road cars added performance credibility.
• 21-year production run: One of the longest continuous production runs for a grand touring car. The 1996 facelift model is dramatically better than the 1975 original.
• V12 oil capacity: Nearly 12 litres. Oil changes are not cheap, but at least you know the engine is well-lubricated.