Last Jaguar X350 Rolls Off Production Line

Last of the Jaguar XJ X350 models

This is a picture of the very last X350 (factory code name for the current generation XJ model) rolling off the production line at Castle Bromwich back in March.

This last ever car is being donated by Jaguar to Coventrys Museum of Road Transport, which already has a fine collection of Jaguar models, due to the heritage of the Browns Lane site.

Richard Else, Director of Production Operations at Jaguar Castle Bromwich said: "As we bid farewell to a classic era of Jaguar design, we are swiftly moving forward with our plans to pave the way for the next generation of Jaguar saloon to be built here in the West Midlands."

"Today is a significant day in Jaguar's history," he continued.. "Not only are we bidding farewell to a great British icon in the current XJ, but we are heralding another new era in Jaguar design and technology, confirming that its replacement is going to be built right here at Castle Bromwich."

Confirming that the replacement all aluminium XJ model will be built at the Castle Bromwich plant.

The New XJ, codename X351 has had a teaser shot published - which we have shown you already in a previous post, and is due to be revealed to the motoring press in July, with its first public outing at the Frnkfurt motorshow in September 2009.

New Jaguar XJ Unveiled!

New Jaguar XJ Revealed!

Jaguar has finally shown the first official image of the new Jaguar XJ model. As you can see from above, it's a full top down shot, so despite being able to see the whole car, rather than a teaser shot of a wing mirror or wheel arch which is usual in these sort of things, the whole car is visible, but at an angle no one is used to seeing cars at.

So what does the image tell us? Firstly that many elements from the design of the XF have been carried over as expected, and also that the one criticism of the XF - the wide open eye style headlights have been ditched for something lower and more aggressive, possible more in the style of the original C-XF concept. We can also see the full size panoramic sunroof that will be available, rear lights that curve round the boot (which may yet be a hatchback rather than a typical saloon boot), very slim visible C Pillars ( ore of their weight may be hidden under the blacked out rear glass, and a much wider front grille than the XF model.

All in all we're very excited, as you'd expect here at Jaguar XJ news, and we expect to see more of this car being revealed slowly over the months. Jaguar has scheduled an official release date of the 9th July in London to unveil the car to the public, with its first motor show appearance likely to be the following Frankfurt show in Sept.

Head over to the official Jaguar site (link on the right hand side via Google) for more updates on this car, and as usual we'll keep you posted too.

New Jaguar XJ Pictures

New Jaguar XJ Pictures

More interesting Photoshop work from Auto Express this week, with a reworking of a Jaguar XFR picture into what the new XJ might look like, both from the front and the rear - below. Personally I think these ones are a way off, to much Ford style angularity in the front headlights and not a svelte enough roof or waistline, but we'll let you judge for yourselves!

The first official images are due very soon, with the car being shown on July the 9th in London ahead of a full reveal at the Frankfurt motor-show in September.

In the meantime, it would be rude not to give credit to Auto Express, so here's a link to their speculative article: Auto Express Article