50 year Jaguar XJ and 70 year Land Rover at the Paris Motor Show

Jaguar Land Rover continues this year's festivities at the Paris Motor Show (2 through 14 October 2018). At the booth, Jaguar Land Rover displays legendary cars from the past, leading models of today and progressive models of the future. There is a lot of attention for the Jaguar XJ, which made its debut at the Paris Motor Show fifty years ago - in the form of the Series I. Jaguar Land Rover is also considering the seventy anniversary of Land Rover.

The Paris Motor Show has special meaning for Jaguar. The Jaguar XJ made its debut at the Paris Motor Show in 1968. And there, Sir William Lyons, the founder of the brand, unveiled his new luxury sedan. The Jaguar XJ in which Lyons drove himself, will be present this year together with the new XJ50 at the stand in Paris.

Historical convoy of Jaguars XJ

In the run-up to the Paris Motor Show, Jaguar Land Rover is sending a special car convoy to Paris. The manufacturer takes a copy of each of the eight generations of the Jaguar XJ. The start takes place in the English Castle Bromwich, the final destination is Porte de Versailles in the French capital. The cars that ride in the unique XJ convoy are a Jaguar XJ Series I from 1968 and a Series II sedan and Coupé from 1973. Furthermore, Jaguar uses a Series III from 1979, an XJ40 from 1986, an XJ X300 from 1994 and an XJ X308 from 1997. The organizers complete the convoy with an XJ X350 from 2003, an XJ X351 from 2009, an XJR575 from 2017 and the new Jaguar XJ50.

Important locations from XJ history

Along the way, the convoy visits important locations from the history of Jaguar and the Jaguar XJ. The 839 kilometer-long tour takes you past Jaguar Classic in Solihull - the largest (restoration) workshop of its kind, where classic Jaguars are restored to their original glory - and Bicester Heritage Center. The column also goes to the circuits of Goodwood and Le Mans - where Jaguar achieved racing success. Jaguar has a special history with the Paris Motor Show with the XJ. The original Jaguar XJ was unveiled in Paris. This also applies to the XJ X300 from 1994 and the X350. The latter debuted in 2002 in the French capital. This was characterized by the use of a revolutionary aluminum body structure.

Land Rover

Land Rover shows a special Discovery at the Paris stand. It has been converted into a mobile command center for the Austrian Red Cross. It is on the stand next to the Range Rover SV Coupé and the Land Rover Series I 'Reborn'. The fact that attention is paid to the Red Cross is not coincidental, since Land Rove has supported the organization since 1954. The mobile command center, which will be shown in Paris, is the result of intensive cooperation between Land Rover Special Vehicle Operations and the Austrian Red Cross. The special Discovery is equipped with the most modern means of communication and an advanced drone. It is intended for the on-site management of emergency workers in the event of disasters.