Jaguar E-type

Jaguar E-type: generations: what actually changed

Version names are exactly as in the catalogue. Same name, different power, is called out in the hp column.

1 generation (1961–1968) is Cabrio with 6 versions. Every engine is 6 cylinders, Inline, Manual 4 or Automatic 3. Power is a single figure: 265 hp (195 kW) on both 3.8 MT (3781 cc) and 4.2 MT / 4.2 AT (4235 cc). Ground clearance is 140 mm on five listings and 144 mm on one 4.2 MT (265 hp) and on 4.2 AT. Measured 0–100 km/h exists only on one 3.8 MT (6.9 s, 241 km/h) and one 4.2 MT (7.0 s, 246 km/h). This generation is the only place the 3781 cc engine appears.

2 generation (1968–1971) is Cabrio with 3 versions, all 4.2 (4235 cc), 6 cylinders, Inline. The split that matters: one 4.2 MT is 269 hp (198 kW) — +4 hp versus 1 generation’s 265 hp 4.2 MT, or ≈ 63.5 hp/l. The other 4.2 MT and the 4.2 AT are 173 hp (127 kW) — −96 hp versus the 269 hp 4.2 MT, ≈ 40.9 hp/l. Clearance on all three is 114 mm, 26 mm lower than the 140 mm 1 generation cars and 30 mm lower than the 144 mm 1 generation 4.2 pair. 0–100 km/h, top speed, torque, kerb weight, tank and wheels are not measured on every 2 generation version.

3 generation (1971–1975) is Cabrio with 6 versions. The 6-cylinder 4.2 MT and 4.2 AT stay at 173 hp, same displacement and same 114 mm clearance as the 173 hp 2 generation cars. New here: the 5343 cc, 12-cylinder, V-shaped 5.3. Two 5.3 MT listings are 276 hp (203 kW); one of those has 6.4 s and 235 km/h, the other has 0–100 and top speed not measured. One 5.3 MT and one 5.3 AT are 314 hp (234 kW) at 6200 rpm, 473 Nm at 3800 rpm, Carburetor, compression 9, bore × stroke 90 × 70, fuel 76, Front, longitudinal, 2 valves per cylinder. 314 − 276 = +38 hp inside the same 5.3 MT name; 314 − 173 = +141 hp versus the 3 generation 4.2.

Engine specs (all versions)

Version names are exactly as in the catalogue. Same name, different power, is called out in the hp column.

Power per litre (hp ÷ litres): 3.8 MT 265 hp → 70.1 hp/l; 1 generation 4.2 MT 265 hp → 62.6 hp/l; 2 generation 4.2 MT 269 hp → 63.5 hp/l; any 4.2 at 173 hp → 40.9 hp/l; 5.3 MT 276 hp → 51.7 hp/l; 5.3 MT / 5.3 AT 314 hp → 58.8 hp/l. The 3781 cc six therefore beats every 12-cylinder listing on specific output. The 4235 cc six at 173 hp is the weakest specific output in the set.

Displacement steps: 4.2 − 3.8 = +454 cc for the same 265 hp in 1 generation, so the larger six is not a power upgrade in this table. 5.3 − 4.2 = +1108 cc. Cylinder count jumps from 6 to 12 only in 3 generation.

Performance and mpg

Measured 0–100 km/h, four listings only:

• 3 generation 5.3 MT 276 hp: 6.4 s, top speed 235 km/h
• 3 generation 5.3 MT 314 hp: 6.7 s, top speed 241 km/h
• 1 generation 3.8 MT: 6.9 s, top speed 241 km/h
• 1 generation 4.2 MT: 7.0 s, top speed 246 km/h

Arithmetic: the 276 hp 5.3 MT is 0.3 s quicker to 100 km/h than the 314 hp 5.3 MT, and 0.5 s quicker than the 265 hp 3.8 MT. The 314 hp car is 6 km/h faster at the top than the 276 hp 5.3 MT (241 vs 235) and matches the 241 km/h of the 3.8 MT. The 1 generation 4.2 MT with 7.0 s still has the highest measured top speed (246 km/h), 11 km/h above the 276 hp V-shaped 5.3 MT.

All other versions: 0–100 km/h not measured, top speed not measured. That includes 2 generation 4.2 MT 269 hp, both 173 hp 4.2 MT / 4.2 AT in 2 and 3 generation, 1 generation 4.2 AT, the second 5.3 MT 276 hp listing, and 5.3 AT 314 hp.

City, highway and combined consumption: not measured on every version. Tank: not measured. CO2 and eco class: not measured. There is no mpg figure in this dataset to rank economy; do not infer one from displacement.

Dimensions, weight, chassis

Kerb and gross weight are measured on two cars only, both 3 generation 314 hp:

• 5.3 MT 314 hp: kerb 1511 kg, gross 1900 kg, payload 1900 − 1511 = 389 kg, 1511 / 314 ≈ 4.81 kg per hp, clearance 114 mm
• 5.3 AT 314 hp: kerb 1545 kg, gross 1900 kg, payload 355 kg, 1545 / 314 ≈ 4.92 kg per hp, clearance 137 mm

The Automatic 3 5.3 AT is 34 kg heavier than the Manual 4 5.3 MT at the same 314 hp and 473 Nm. Ground clearance on that 5.3 AT is 137 mm, 23 mm higher than the 114 mm used on the 314 hp 5.3 MT and on almost all 2 and 3 generation sixes.

Clearance map: 1 generation 140 mm (both 3.8 MT and two 4.2 MT 265 hp) or 144 mm (4.2 MT 265 hp one listing, 4.2 AT). 2 generation: 114 mm on all three. 3 generation: 114 mm on 4.2 MT, 4.2 AT, both 5.3 MT 276 hp, and 5.3 MT 314 hp; 137 mm only on 5.3 AT 314 hp. Versus 1 generation 140 mm, later 114 mm cars sit 26 mm lower.

Wheel sizes: not measured on every version. Front suspension: Independent, spring on all listings that record it. Rear suspension: Independent, spring except one 1 generation 4.2 MT (7.0 s / 246 km/h listing), where rear suspension is not measured and rear brakes are not measured. Front and rear brakes otherwise: Disc. Engine position is not measured except Front, longitudinal on the two 314 hp 5.3 versions.

Which version to choose

If the goal is the shortest measured 0–100 km/h: 3 generation 5.3 MT 276 hp (6.4 s). It is not the most powerful 5.3 MT; the 314 hp 5.3 MT is 38 hp stronger but 0.3 s slower in the only pair of timed 5.3 manuals.

If the goal is the highest measured top speed: 1 generation 4.2 MT 265 hp with 246 km/h (the 7.0 s listing). That is 5 km/h above the 314 hp 5.3 MT and 11 km/h above the 276 hp 5.3 MT.

If the goal is maximum measured power and a complete engine card: 3 generation 5.3 MT 314 hp or 5.3 AT 314 hp. Both are 12 cylinders, V-shaped, 5343 cc, 473 Nm, Carburetor, fuel 76. Choose 5.3 MT if you want Manual 4, 1511 kg, 114 mm, and a measured 6.7 s / 241 km/h. Choose 5.3 AT if you want Automatic 3, accept +34 kg, and want 137 mm clearance; 0–100 and top speed on 5.3 AT are not measured.

If the goal is the densest six-cylinder: 1 generation 3.8 MT 265 hp (3781 cc, ≈ 70.1 hp/l). One listing has 6.9 s and 241 km/h; the other 3.8 MT has those figures not measured. Both have 140 mm clearance, Manual 4, RWD.

If the goal is a 4.2 six with the highest hp in the name 4.2 MT: 2 generation 4.2 MT 269 hp. That is +4 hp on 1 generation 4.2 MT 265 hp and +96 hp on the 173 hp 4.2 MT that shares the same name in 2 generation. 0–100, top speed, torque and weight on this 269 hp car are not measured.

If you must have Automatic 3: the only automatics are 4.2 AT (265 hp in 1 generation; 173 hp in 2 and 3 generation) and 5.3 AT (314 hp in 3 generation). 1 generation 4.2 AT is the only automatic at 265 hp; it does not have a 12-cylinder option. 3 generation 5.3 AT is the only automatic with measured torque (473 Nm) and kerb weight (1545 kg).

Do not treat every 4.2 MT as equal. In 1 generation every 4.2 MT is 265 hp. In 2 generation one 4.2 MT is 269 hp and one 4.2 MT is 173 hp. In 3 generation 4.2 MT is 173 hp only. The 173 hp cars are 92 hp below 1 generation’s 265 hp 4.2 MT at the same 4235 cc.

Do not treat every 5.3 MT as equal. Two listings are 276 hp (one timed 6.4 s / 235 km/h, one not measured); one listing is 314 hp with 473 Nm, 1511 kg, 6.7 s, 241 km/h.

What the extra displacement buys in the data, not in marketing: moving from 3.8 MT to 4.2 MT in 1 generation adds 454 cc and 0 hp. Moving from a 173 hp 4.2 to a 276 hp 5.3 MT adds 1108 cc and 103 hp. Moving from 276 hp 5.3 MT to 314 hp 5.3 MT adds 0 cc and 38 hp. Chassis hardware (Independent, spring; Disc; RWD) does not change with those steps except the one 1 generation 4.2 MT where rear suspension and rear brakes are not measured, and the 5.3 AT 314 hp where clearance rises to 137 mm.

Reliability, typical faults and market value are not measured here. Consumption is not measured. If a parameter is missing on the version you want, it is missing in the source, not implied by a neighbouring row.