Jaguar XJ50 Celebrates Half A Century Of The Flagship Sedan

Model lines and nameplates come and go. Even at an automaker with as long a history as Jaguar. But the XJ has been around for half a century now. So to celebrate, Coventry has rolled out a new special edition.

Called the XJ50, Jaguar rolled out the special edition at the Beijing Auto Show today. It features front and rear bumpers like those seen on the top Autobiography edition, along with a unique set of 20-inch wheels, special badging, and a series of interior upgrades. Inside you’ll find soft-grain diamond-quilter leather upholstery, metal pedals, and more special badges.

In the UK, it’ll be available in either short- or long-wheelbase versions. Either way, it’s powered by a 3.0-liter turbodiesel V6 rated at 300 metric horsepower (221 kW). The US version is offered only in long-wheelbase form, but can be had with either the 3.0-liter supercharged V6 (good for 340 hp) or the 5.0-liter supercharged V8 (470 hp). Buyers will also be able to choose between white, black, blue, or red paint.

50 Years is a Long Time

“Spanning half a century, the Jaguar XJ remains true to its heritage with a wonderful balance of beautiful design, intelligent performance and indulgent luxury that ensures it stands out from the crowd,” says Jaguar design director Ian Callum. “This is a car worth celebrating and the XJ50 pays homage to a giant within the Jaguar brand that we believe is one of the world’s most stylish sporting saloons.”

Jaguar has been producing the current X351-generation XJ since 2009. After nearly a decade on the market, it’s long since grown woefully outdated. But the 50th anniversary would mark a perfect time for the British automaker to roll out its replacement. In the meantime, you can scope out the special edition and take a drive down memory lane in the images and videos below.