New Jaguar XJC – the Coupe

Jaguar already has a new Jaguar XJC on the drawing board – a coupe version of the new Jaguar XJ

It’s starting to look as if we need to retract the promise that the news on the new Jaguar XJ was pretty much done and dusted until we get our hands on one for a drive. Yesterday we reported that the new Jaguar XJ will have its public debut at Salon Privé, but now comes even more interesting news. Jaguar appear to be planning a new Jaguar XJC – a coupe version of the new XJ.

The last Jaguar XJC was in the ’70s, and was built on the SWB version of the Series II Jaguar XJ.  In fact – by the time Jaguar got round to launching the XJC on to the market in 1975 – it was the only XJ that had the SWB, as all XJ saloons had moved over to the LWB as standard. A glorious-looking car – especially in ‘New Avengers’ guise as driven by Steed – it was plagued by the problems that beset British Leyland at the time.

The original XJC – the New Avengers version

Only around 10,00 of the original XJCs were built – in 4.2 and 5.3 versions – including a handful of Daimler versions. But the poor build quality, high price and the launch of the XJS put an end to the XJC in 1978, and there has been no serious sign since then that it would be revived. But that seems set to change.

Sky Motoring are reporting that Ian Callum has admitted that the new Jaguar XJ Coupe already exists on paper. Which is a great start, and shows just how much faith Jaguar already has in the new XJ. And if it gets signed off (come on – when!) it will undobtedly carve itself a much more successful niche than the Mercedes CL (soon to be S-Class Coupe) its closest potential rival, or indeed the original XJC.

So far this is just a ‘maybe’. But it’s a definite maybe. Jaguar and Sky are pretty cosy at the moment and I doubt this would have surfaced unless Jaguar intended it to. They’re keeping up the interest and testing the water. It gets my vote. Categorically. But then so does the coupe version of the Jaguar XF – the Jaguar XFC – but no signs of that yet. Come on guys, it would eat the E-Class Coupe for breakfast!

At this rate it’s going to remain a daily update – Latest Jaguar News.