Jaguar Kensington

The Jaguar Kensington, a visionary creation by Italdesign, emerged as a potential successor to the established Jaguar XJ during its design phase. Crafted with elegance and a keen eye for the evolving automotive landscape of the 1990s, Giorgetto Giugiaro, the mind behind the design, sought to depart from the conventional three-box design of the XJ and usher in a new era. Retaining the reliable chassis and mechanical components of the Jaguar Sovereign V12, the Kensington underwent strategic modifications. The focus was on redistributing the masses, adjusting the wheelbase, and refining the overhangs. Notably, the front-end extended 121 mm further, and the tail was both higher and shortened by 185 mm in comparison to the Sovereign. The side windows, exhibiting a flush glass design, traced an elegant ellipse-shaped profile, contributing to the Kensington’s distinctive aesthetic. A significant enhancement in passenger room was achieved by elevating the roof height by 25 mm. Despite these innovative design elements, Jaguar ultimately decided against putting the Kensington into production. Interestingly, the unused design found a new home when Italdesign adapted it for the Daewoo Leganza, a smaller, front-wheel-drive model. Speculations arose regarding the first-generation Lexus GS sharing design roots with the Kensington, given both were products of Italdesign. However, Italdesign clarified that the GS concept had been developed in 1988, predating the Kensington’s design. This dispelled any notions of direct evolution between the two. Notably, the Kensington wasn’t Italdesign’s inaugural attempt at designing for Jaguar; a prior proposal had been submitted for the XJ40 project. Despite the Kensington never making it to the production line, its legacy endured through the adaptation of its design in other automotive ventures, showcasing the enduring impact of innovative design concepts.