XJ-S Anniversary Special: Nick Hull - Car Designer

Jaguar Enthusiast Magazine has teamed up with our heritage partners, The Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust, to track the human stories behind one of Jaguar's best-selling model ranges that was in production for nearly a quarter of a century!

Launched in 1975 as the successor to the legendary E-type, the XJS celebrates 50 years this year. So, buckle up — we’re going to explore the highs, lows, and lasting impact of Jaguar’s misunderstood masterpiece: the XJS.

Nick’s career has seen him working for Honda, Peugeot, Jaguar and TWR, going on to lecture on automotive design at Coventry University and around the world.

Nick was involved in the XJ41 project aimed at replacing the XJ-S. Early clay models were labelled F-TYPE, and there was great hope for a world-class vehicle to serve as the E-type's spiritual successor.

That led to the XJS facelift project for Nick, and we hope to hear more from him about that in the future.

Nick also worked at TWR, where he was involved in bringing the fabulous XJ220 design to production.

Alongside his design career, Nick became an educator and writer, documenting the history of automotive design with clarity and passion. His acclaimed book Jaguar Design: A Story of Style is considered a definitive account of how Jaguar has blended engineering and artistry across decades, from the earliest saloons to the most modern sports cars.

Nick brings not only professional expertise but also an insider’s understanding of the challenges and triumphs that shaped Jaguar’s design DNA. His insights into the XJ-S help us understand how design decisions of the past continue to influence the cars we celebrate today.

As we commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Jaguar XJ-S, it’s a privilege to welcome Nick Hull to explore how design shaped Jaguar’s identity and what the XJ-S truly means in the wider story of the marque.