The new XJ is the seventh generation to wear the XJ badge with total production since the first model was introduced in 1968 now comfortably past 800,000 cars, more than half of all Jaguars ever built.

The XJ6, first launched in 1968, cost £1,800 for basic 2.8-litre model and even a 4.2-litre automatic was only £2,400, the 4.2 latter with a manual gearbox having a top speed of 124mph and accelerated from 0 to 60mph in a still respectable 8.8 secs.