Jaguar Super V8 dimensions

Although major revisions (through the X300 and, partcicularly, the X308 updates) kept the Mk 2 competitive in some areas against its competitors, the general layout and 'hard points' of the Mk 2 dated rear to 1986 which meant the vehicle was very rapidly being outclassed and losing ground to its competitors, many of whom were now two generations on from the MK 2 XJ. i.e., since the Mk 2 was represented in 1986 at the same time as the Mk 2 BMW 7 Series (E32), BMW had since launched Mk 3 (E38) and Mk 4 (E65) versions of its 7 Series in 1994 and 2001 respectively — while Jaguar was still producing the Mk 2 XJ.

In September 2002, the all-new third generation XJ (known as X350) arrived in showrooms. While the car's look and dashboard look-and-feel were conventional in look, the vehicle was completely re-engineered. The new vehicle also saw the return of the fabled XJ6 badge, and with it 6-cylinder performance, albeit in a V-configuration.

Like the Audi A8, the X350's chassis and body are constructed from aluminium. While some metal is used in some places throughout the chassis, the X350 has an aluminium monocoque/chassis alike in basic layout to a traditional metal structure, but with two differences; its underbody elements are bonded together with aerospace-grade epoxy adhesives while around 3200, self-piercing rivets are used to create the new Xj's unibody. A traditional metal body would be spot-welded. Interestingly, the construction method of X350 is various to the one Audi employs for the A8, but both methods are considered advanced.