2021 Jaguar XJ teased

CEO Dr. Ralf Speth has referred to the next XJ as being “all-electric” and “full-electric”, suggesting there may be no petrol or diesel XJs whatsoever.

AutoExpress published a teaser of the next-generation XJ, displayed at Jaguar Land Rover’s press conference this week at the Frankfurt motor show.

It reveals a short rear deck and full-width LED tail-lights, the light elements dipping downwards as on current Jaguar models. It seems to align the next XJ closer to other vehicles in the company's stable, whereas the current XJ has rear-end styling markedly distinct from lesser Jags.

The boot appears shorter than that of the XE and XF which could suggest a liftback body style à-la the Tesla Model S. Given how short sedan boot lids have been getting lately, however, that’s not assured.

Speaking of sedans, Dr. Speth referred to the new XJ as “the world’s first, full-electric luxury sports saloon”, seemingly forgetting about the Tesla Model 3. If production starts soon, however, Jaguar will at least beat the Germans to the full-size electric sedan market, like it did with the I-Pace electric crossover.

Jaguar Land Rover has pledged to build the XJ in the UK despite the upheaval in British automotive production following the Brexit referendum and the ongoing political situation.

It’ll be produced at the same Castle Bromwich plant as the current model (above), with battery production taking place in a new plant in Hams Hall set to be up and running next year.

The quaintly-named Hams Hall plant should be able to produce batteries for as many as 150,000 Jaguar Land Rover products per year.

Dr. Speth said: “If battery production goes out of the UK then automotive production will go out of the UK. The battery is 40 per cent of the cost of an electric vehicle – we want to keep this kind of added value inside the UK".

Jaguar Land Rover plans to build a range of electrified vehicles alongside the XJ at Castle Bromwich, although it hasn’t confirmed yet which models.

It’s good news for the car manufacturing industry in the UK. The industry has been rocked this year by numerous closure announcements, Ford shuttering its Bridgend engine plant and Honda announcing its Swindon engine plant will be closed by 2021. PSA is also threatening to close the Vauxhall factory in Ellesmere if there’s a no-deal Brexit.

After nine years, production of the X351-series XJ ended in July though leftover stocks remain. Jaguar hasn’t revealed when production of the new model will start.