{"version":"1.0.0","episode":{"title":"XJ-S Anniversary Special: Ed Abbott, Senior Development Engineer, XJ-S","url":"http://getcarcurious.com/episodes/xj-s-anniversary-special-ed-abbott-senior-development-engineer-xj-s","audioUrl":"https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5e8496262943a90c2b4a63e3/t/68d96fcde71f50637fcb059c/1759080592908/XJ-S+Anniversary+Special_+Ed+Abbott%2C+Senior+Development+Engineer%2C+XJ-S.mp3","description":"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.Ed began his career at Jaguar in the 1970s, where he worked as a development engineer on the company’s road cars and competition projects. His work spanned chassis, suspension, and performance development, giving him a front-row seat as Jaguar navigated one of the most fascinating and challenging chapters in its history. After his time at Jaguar, Ed went on to found Abbott Racing, a specialist engineering company that built a reputation for extracting performance and reliability from both road and racing machinery. That blend of hands-on engineering expertise and entrepreneurial drive has made him a respected voice in the world of automotive development.With first-hand experience of the XJ-S from the inside, Ed brings invaluable perspective on what it took to turn Jaguar’s grand touring vision into a reality — and how those lessons carried forward into his own engineering journey.As we celebrate 50 years of the Jaguar XJ-S, it’s a pleasure to welcome Ed Abbott to share his memories, insights, and stories from an extraordinary career in engineering."},"annotations":[{"startTime":0.0,"endTime":30.0,"type":"term","title":"V12 engine","url":"/glossary/v12-engine","quote":"Over a period of nearly a quarter of a century in production, it evolved through V12's, straight six's, convertibles and special editions, carving out its own legacy.","canonicalId":"term:v12-engine","priority":0.5,"confidence":1.0,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"A V12 engine is a twelve-cylinder piston engine where the cylinders are arranged in two banks of six forming a 'V' shape. This configuration is known for smooth power delivery and high performance, often used in luxury and sports cars.","simplifiedExplanation":"A V12 engine is a type of car engine with 12 cylinders arranged in a V shape. It helps the car run smoothly and powerfully, often found in fancy cars."}},{"startTime":0.0,"endTime":30.0,"type":"term","title":"straight six engine","url":"/glossary/straight-six-engine","quote":"Over a period of nearly a quarter of a century in production, it evolved through V12's, straight six's, convertibles and special editions, carving out its own legacy.","canonicalId":"term:straight-six-engine","priority":0.5,"confidence":1.0,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"A straight six engine, also known as an inline-six, has six cylinders arranged in a single straight line. It is known for smooth operation and good balance, commonly used in many classic and modern cars.","simplifiedExplanation":"A straight six engine is a car engine with six cylinders lined up in a row. This design helps the engine run smoothly and evenly."}},{"startTime":0.0,"endTime":30.0,"type":"term","title":"convertible","url":"/glossary/convertible","quote":"Over a period of nearly a quarter of a century in production, it evolved through V12's, straight six's, convertibles and special editions, carving out its own legacy.","canonicalId":"term:convertible","priority":0.5,"confidence":1.0,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"A convertible is a car with a roof structure that can be retracted or removed, allowing it to be driven with an open or closed top. Convertibles offer a unique driving experience with open-air exposure.","simplifiedExplanation":"A convertible is a car that can have its roof folded down or taken off so you can drive with the top open and feel the wind."}},{"startTime":0.0,"endTime":30.0,"type":"brand","title":"Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust","url":"/glossary/jaguar-daimler-heritage-trust","quote":"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.","canonicalId":"brand:jaguar-daimler-heritage-trust","priority":0.5,"confidence":1.0,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"The Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust is an organization dedicated to preserving and promoting the history and legacy of Jaguar and Daimler vehicles, including their heritage, archives, and classic cars.","simplifiedExplanation":"The Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust is a group that looks after old Jaguar and Daimler cars and their history, making sure people remember them."}},{"startTime":30.0,"endTime":44.0,"type":"car","title":"Jaguar XJS","url":"/cars/jaguar/xj-s","image":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f2/1988_Jaguar_XJ-S_V12_convertible_-_mick_-_Lumix.jpg","quote":"As one of Jaguar's longest-running models, to celebrate its 50th anniversary, we're going to explore the highs, lows and lasting impact of Jaguar's misunderstood masterpiece, the XJS.","canonicalId":"car:jaguar:xj-s","priority":0.9,"confidence":1.0,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"The Jaguar XJS is a luxury grand tourer produced by Jaguar from 1975 to 1996. It was known for its distinctive styling and was available with various engines including V12 and inline six-cylinder variants, making it one of Jaguar's longest-running models.","simplifiedExplanation":"The Jaguar XJS is a fancy car made by Jaguar for long-distance driving. It was made for many years and came with different types of engines, including a powerful V12.","imageAttribution":"Mick from England (CC BY 2.0)"}},{"startTime":91.0,"endTime":110.0,"type":"concept","title":"apprenticeship","url":"/glossary/apprenticeship","quote":"Thank you very much, Wayne. I'm great to be able to give you my angle on the development of the XJS. I feel very proud and sometimes humbled that I was in that position as an apprentice. And then within three years of my apprenticeship starting, I was in Jaguar experimental.","canonicalId":"concept:apprenticeship","priority":0.9,"confidence":1.0,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"An apprenticeship is a system of training where a person learns a trade or profession through practical experience under the guidance of experienced workers, often combined with some classroom instruction.","simplifiedExplanation":"An apprenticeship is when someone learns a job by working with experts and practicing the skills, instead of just going to school."}},{"startTime":104.0,"endTime":119.0,"type":"concept","title":"experimental workshop","url":"/glossary/experimental-workshop","quote":"And in the centre of the world that went on to development, I was lucky to first of all work in the experimental workshop as an apprentice. And then my next transfer took me into what was the experimental road test under the legendary Norman Dois.","canonicalId":"concept:experimental-workshop","priority":0.5,"confidence":1.0,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"An experimental workshop in automotive development is a facility where prototype vehicles and components are tested and developed before production. It often involves hands-on work with new technologies and designs.","simplifiedExplanation":"An experimental workshop is a special place where new car ideas and parts are tested and worked on before they are made for real cars."}},{"startTime":119.0,"endTime":135.0,"type":"concept","title":"experimental road test","url":"/glossary/experimental-road-test","quote":"And then my next transfer took me into what was the experimental road test under the legendary Norman Dois. And I was surprised at that move because he doesn't really like having people around him too much, especially if they didn't know what they were doing.","canonicalId":"concept:experimental-road-test","priority":0.5,"confidence":1.0,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"Experimental road testing involves driving prototype vehicles under various conditions to evaluate performance, reliability, and safety before the car is finalized for production.","simplifiedExplanation":"Experimental road testing means driving new car versions to see how well they work and if anything needs fixing before they are sold."}},{"startTime":910.0,"endTime":943.0,"type":"term","title":"driving permit (levels)","url":"/glossary/driving-permit-levels","quote":"And you can look out the workshop straight onto the engine ramps and of course at that time to drive any jaguar you had to have a driving permit and there were three levels of permit. You had a permit to start an engine which means you could sit in the car, start the engine but couldn't go anywhere. You had an internal permit which allowed you to drive around the factory and you had an external permit which meant you could drive on the road and literally a handful of people had external permits.","canonicalId":"term:driving-permit-levels","priority":0.5,"confidence":1.0,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"At Jaguar's factory, driving permits were required to operate company vehicles, with three levels: starting the engine only, internal driving within the factory, and external driving on public roads, with external permits held by very few.","simplifiedExplanation":"To drive a Jaguar car at the factory, you needed special permission. There were three types: just starting the car, driving inside the factory, and driving outside on roads."}},{"startTime":1032.0,"endTime":1041.0,"type":"term","title":"G-force (1.5 G)","url":"/glossary/g-force-1-5-g","quote":"And when you go around the banking at a hundred mile an hour you're pulling about one and a half G and you suddenly realise you can't actually write when you're...","canonicalId":"term:g-force-1-5-g","priority":0.5,"confidence":1.0,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"G-force refers to the force of gravity or acceleration acting on a body. Pulling 1.5 G means the driver experiences one and a half times their normal body weight, common in high-speed cornering.","simplifiedExplanation":"G-force is the feeling of extra weight you get when a car turns fast. 1.5 G means you feel one and a half times heavier than normal."}},{"startTime":1080.0,"endTime":1091.0,"type":"car","title":"Jaguar E-Type","url":"/cars/jaguar/e-type","image":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/aa/1970_Jaguar_E-Type_Roadster_4.2.jpg","quote":"When was the moment that you realised that this car that was in very different departments being testing was going to be the new Jaguar that was going to be the replacement to the E type, roughly speaking?","canonicalId":"car:jaguar:e-type","priority":0.9,"confidence":1.0,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"The Jaguar E-Type is a legendary British sports car produced from 1961 to 1975, known for its beautiful design and impressive performance. The XJ-S was developed as its successor.","simplifiedExplanation":"The Jaguar E-Type is a famous old sports car that many people loved for its looks and speed. The XJ-S was made to replace it.","imageAttribution":"Vauxford (CC BY-SA 4.0)"}},{"startTime":1105.0,"endTime":1156.0,"type":"part","title":"alloy wheel","url":"/glossary/alloy-wheel","quote":"The XS was going to be introduced on a 6 inch by 15 inch alloy wheel called the Ken alloy. And of course it was Jaguar's first ever alloy wheel. The first alloy wheel was on the C type or the D type I think in 54-55 but this was the brave new world of alloy wheels.","canonicalId":"part:alloy-wheel","priority":0.5,"confidence":1.0,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"Alloy wheels are made from aluminum or magnesium alloys, making them lighter and often stronger than traditional steel wheels. They improve vehicle handling and fuel efficiency due to reduced unsprung weight.","simplifiedExplanation":"Alloy wheels are car wheels made from special light metals. They help the car drive better and use less fuel because they are lighter."}},{"startTime":1200.0,"endTime":1205.0,"type":"term","title":"fuel injection","url":"/glossary/fuel-injection","quote":"Well yes, the XJS adhered to the same V12 engine albeit with fuel injection which gave about 15 horsepower but it was 200 kilograms heavier than the E type.","canonicalId":"term:fuel-injection","priority":0.5,"confidence":1.0,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"Fuel injection is a system that delivers fuel directly into the engine's combustion chambers or intake manifold, improving efficiency, power, and emissions compared to carburetors.","simplifiedExplanation":"Fuel injection is a way cars get fuel into the engine using small nozzles. It helps the car run better and cleaner than older systems."}},{"startTime":1212.0,"endTime":1222.0,"type":"term","title":"gear ratios","url":"/glossary/gear-ratios","quote":"We had to do some work on gear ratios just to get the thing off the line quicker. But we got there in the end and the first press tests were very encouraging...","canonicalId":"term:gear-ratios","priority":0.5,"confidence":1.0,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"Gear ratios determine how engine power is translated to the wheels, affecting acceleration and top speed. Adjusting gear ratios can improve a car's off-the-line performance or cruising efficiency.","simplifiedExplanation":"Gear ratios are how the car changes speed and power when you shift gears. Changing them can make the car start faster or go better on highways."}},{"startTime":1290.0,"endTime":1300.0,"type":"concept","title":"GT touring car","url":"/glossary/gt-touring-car","quote":"It was a GT touring car perhaps rather than that sports car but supremely quiet and comfortable and a high-speed cruiser you know you could just jump in it and drive half way across Europe and come back again should you wish.","canonicalId":"concept:gt-touring-car","priority":0.5,"confidence":1.0,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"A GT (Grand Touring) touring car is designed for comfortable long-distance driving with a balance of performance and luxury, rather than outright sports car sharpness.","simplifiedExplanation":"A GT touring car is a car made for long trips that is both comfortable and fast, but not as sporty as a race car."}},{"startTime":1317.0,"endTime":1325.0,"type":"car","title":"Jaguar Series 2 XJ","url":"/cars/jaguar/xj","image":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f4/2011_Jaguar_XJ-L_--_05-05-2010.jpg","quote":"The Series 2 XJ was coming out. The Series 2 V12 saloon was getting very close to being voted car of the year I think in 1976-1777 so that accolade you know for Jaguar of all the manufacturers in the world...","canonicalId":"car:jaguar:xj","priority":0.5,"confidence":1.0,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"The Jaguar Series 2 XJ is the second generation of the Jaguar XJ saloon, produced from 1973 to 1979. It featured updated styling and mechanical improvements and was highly regarded in its time.","simplifiedExplanation":"The Jaguar Series 2 XJ is a fancy Jaguar car made in the 1970s. It was a popular and well-liked luxury car.","imageAttribution":"IFCAR (Public domain)"}},{"startTime":1337.0,"endTime":1358.0,"type":"concept","title":"British Leyland","url":"/glossary/british-leyland","quote":"The XJS or the sports car was slightly second fiddle and of course it was a huge time for Jaguar going through fundamental changes from losing its identity as Jaguar cars brands lane and becoming British Leyland.","canonicalId":"concept:british-leyland","priority":0.5,"confidence":1.0,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"British Leyland was a large British automotive conglomerate formed in 1968 by merging several car manufacturers including Jaguar. It was known for political and financial challenges during the 1970s.","simplifiedExplanation":"British Leyland was a big company that owned many British car brands, including Jaguar. It had a lot of problems in the 1970s that affected the cars made then."}},{"startTime":1358.0,"endTime":1379.0,"type":"concept","title":"fuel crisis","url":"/glossary/fuel-crisis","quote":"There was an awful lot going on politically and socially within Jaguar at the time of the launch and at the time I think most people were just hoping we were going to survive the fuel crisis which was killing the V12 engine full stop.","canonicalId":"concept:fuel-crisis","priority":0.5,"confidence":1.0,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"The fuel crisis refers to the oil shortages and price spikes in the 1970s that affected automotive markets worldwide, leading to increased interest in fuel-efficient vehicles and challenges for large-engine cars like V12s.","simplifiedExplanation":"The fuel crisis was a time when gas became very expensive and hard to get. This made it tough for cars that used a lot of gas, like big engines."}},{"startTime":1379.0,"endTime":1385.0,"type":"concept","title":"carburetors","url":"/glossary/carburetor","quote":"In terms of suddenly we had a big lusty engine with quite poor fuel economy certainly on carburetors we had to sort that out and the XJS was launched in the middle of a fuel crisis...","canonicalId":"concept:carburetor","priority":0.5,"confidence":1.0,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"Carburetors are mechanical devices that mix air and fuel for internal combustion engines. They were common before fuel injection but generally less efficient and harder to tune for emissions and fuel economy.","simplifiedExplanation":"Carburetors are parts in older cars that mix gas and air so the engine can run. They aren't as good as newer fuel systems at saving gas."}},{"startTime":1567.0,"endTime":1575.0,"type":"term","title":"automatic transmission","url":"/glossary/automatic-transmission","quote":"We didn't have a sporting XJS because there wasn't any manuals about because production was 95% automatic anyway and the XJS, you know, sold in modest numbers really in 75-76-77...","canonicalId":"term:automatic-transmission","priority":0.5,"confidence":1.0,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"An automatic transmission shifts gears automatically without driver input, offering ease of use but sometimes less driver control compared to manuals.","simplifiedExplanation":"An automatic transmission changes gears by itself so the driver doesn't have to do anything."}},{"startTime":1567.0,"endTime":1575.0,"type":"term","title":"manual transmission","url":"/glossary/manual-transmission","quote":"We didn't have a sporting XJS because there wasn't any manuals about because production was 95% automatic anyway and the XJS, you know, sold in modest numbers really in 75-76-77...","canonicalId":"term:manual-transmission","priority":0.5,"confidence":1.0,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"A manual transmission requires the driver to manually change gears using a clutch and gear stick. It is often preferred by enthusiasts for greater control and engagement.","simplifiedExplanation":"A manual transmission is when the driver changes gears themselves using a stick and pedal, instead of the car doing it automatically."}},{"startTime":1921.0,"endTime":1924.0,"type":"term","title":"buttresses","url":"/glossary/buttresses","quote":"And the buttresses that gave aerodynamic stability were considered ugly.","canonicalId":"term:buttresses","priority":0.5,"confidence":1.0,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"Buttresses in automotive design refer to structural elements that extend from the roof to the rear of the car, often to improve aerodynamic stability. On the Jaguar XJ-S, these were prominent design features that helped with airflow but were considered unattractive by some.","simplifiedExplanation":"Buttresses are parts of a car's shape that stick out near the back roof area to help the car stay steady when driving fast. Some people thought they looked ugly."}},{"startTime":1921.0,"endTime":1924.0,"type":"concept","title":"aerodynamic stability","url":"/glossary/aerodynamic-stability","quote":"And the buttresses that gave aerodynamic stability were considered ugly.","canonicalId":"concept:aerodynamic-stability","priority":0.5,"confidence":1.0,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"Aerodynamic stability refers to how well a car maintains control and reduces drag when moving through the air at high speeds. Design features like buttresses can help improve this stability by managing airflow.","simplifiedExplanation":"Aerodynamic stability means how well a car stays steady and doesn't get pushed around by the wind when it's going fast."}},{"startTime":1941.0,"endTime":1945.0,"type":"term","title":"radio cassette","url":"/glossary/radio-cassette","quote":"and the other thing was that by 1975, we had things called radio cassettes and stereo transitions, transmissions.","canonicalId":"term:radio-cassette","priority":0.5,"confidence":1.0,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"Radio cassette players were audio systems in cars that allowed playback of cassette tapes, a popular music format in the 1970s. This technology enabled drivers to listen to their favorite music while driving.","simplifiedExplanation":"A radio cassette is a car stereo that can play music from cassette tapes, which were like small plastic tapes with songs on them."}},{"startTime":2048.0,"endTime":2050.0,"type":"term","title":"rolling resistance","url":"/glossary/rolling-resistance","quote":"Rolling resistance. We were measuring rolling resistance.","canonicalId":"term:rolling-resistance","priority":0.5,"confidence":1.0,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"Rolling resistance is the force resisting the motion when a tire rolls on a surface. It affects fuel efficiency because higher rolling resistance means the engine has to work harder to move the car.","simplifiedExplanation":"Rolling resistance is how much the tires push back when the car moves. If it's high, the car uses more fuel to keep going."}},{"startTime":2236.0,"endTime":2243.0,"type":"term","title":"emission legislation","url":"/glossary/emission-legislation","quote":"And so, and of course, the next thing is there's emission legislation coming in. There are lots of issues with housing castellists under the car and the heat, you know, heat impact.","canonicalId":"term:emission-legislation","priority":0.9,"confidence":1.0,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"Emission legislation refers to government regulations that limit the amount of pollutants a vehicle can emit. These laws became stricter over time, requiring car manufacturers to modify engines and exhaust systems to comply.","simplifiedExplanation":"Emission laws are rules that say how much pollution a car can make. Car makers have to make sure their cars don't pollute too much to follow these rules."}},{"startTime":2602.0,"endTime":2606.0,"type":"concept","title":"rolling road","url":"/glossary/rolling-road","quote":"And then somebody decided that we could do this sort of test on a rolling road. Of course, every test now is actually done on a rolling road.","canonicalId":"concept:rolling-road","priority":0.9,"confidence":1.0,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"A rolling road is a type of dynamometer used to simulate road conditions for vehicle testing while the car remains stationary. It allows for controlled measurement of performance metrics such as fuel economy and emissions under repeatable conditions.","simplifiedExplanation":"A rolling road is a machine that lets people test cars without driving them on real roads. The car's wheels spin on rollers so they can see how well it works safely inside a building."}},{"startTime":3106.0,"endTime":3115.0,"type":"part","title":"dampers","url":"/glossary/dampers","quote":"\"And jaguars spent a lot of time with dampers and obviously the independent rear suspension, they've got four dampers, which means you can have a softer rate and still control the roll.\"","canonicalId":"part:dampers","priority":0.9,"confidence":1.0,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"Dampers, or shock absorbers, control the movement of a car's suspension by absorbing and dissipating energy from road impacts, improving ride comfort and handling.","simplifiedExplanation":"Dampers are parts that help stop the car from bouncing too much when you drive over bumps, making the ride smoother."}},{"startTime":4060.0,"endTime":4063.0,"type":"concept","title":"homologation","url":"/glossary/homologation","quote":"you must have a car that rallied in Peter, or at least was homologated for rallying in period,","canonicalId":"concept:homologation","priority":0.9,"confidence":1.0,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4.1-mini","data":{"explanation":"Homologation is the official approval process by which a car is certified to meet the requirements to compete in a specific motorsport series. It often involves meeting production numbers and technical specifications.","simplifiedExplanation":"Homologation means a car is officially allowed to race in certain competitions because it meets the rules and has been approved by the racing authorities."}}],"speakers":[{"id":"s1","name":"Wayne Scott","role":"host"}],"transcripts":[{"url":"http://getcarcurious.com/episodes/xj-s-anniversary-special-ed-abbott-senior-development-engineer-xj-s/transcript.vtt","type":"text/vtt"}]}