1977 Jaguar Ascot - AllCarIndex

Bertone "ASCOT" around Jaguar XJS mechanics

The chassis of the Jaguar XJS is the mechanical base around which Bertone has developed the styling theme of the Ascot. Nowadays the XJS is one of the very few cars to feature a 12-cylinder en¬gine, whose appeal has no doubt proved to be a decisive factor in Bertone's choice of the theme.

The creative image of the Italian "carrozziere" is over linked and sees its expression embodied in prestige cars. Our investiga¬tions have more then once exemplified that the presentation of pro-totypes either derived from small cars or built around "ordinary" mechanics are not sufficiently appealing to the imagination of the audience. It does in fact pay but very little to bring to life hi- highly creative models if there is no prestigious backup as to mar¬que, sporting feats and power. And this is in no way a negative fact, the opposite being true, considering that people - in spite of what some consumerism prophets say - still yearns for a car in form of a "status simbol". On the other hand, there is no better proof than the figures relating to sales of sports cars both in the U.S.A, and in Europe. After a first initial oil crisis impact, this sector has recovered its market position to even above the le¬vels reached in 1973.

The sports car is thus - as it has always been - the area best be-coming a coachbuilder, the consequence being that it is right here that major creative efforts must be concentrated and clients look-ed for.

Already in the past Bertone brought out prototypes based on Jaguar mechanics, last in time the "Pirana", a 2 + 2 coupe derived from the Jaguar E Type through the initiative of the "Weekend Telegraph".

Bertone's styling in this case is mostly concerned with elegance, sobriety and overall effectiveness, without straying into anything which might be of impact to the onlooker. The result is a refined harmony, well balanced throughout, where considerable difficulties had to be done away with for the obtainment of a reduction - seemin¬gly at least - in the encumbrance of the mechanics, specially re¬garding the height of the huge Jaguar 5.3 liter power plant.

Despite what one may be brought to think in looking at it, Berto¬ne ' s Jaguar is over 20 cm shorter in lenght than the original production car, besides a third door at the rear adds to this mo-del, with such exceptional sporting characteristics, the concepts of versitality and ease of baggage loading which are typical of series production cars.

The instrument panel retains the original instrumentation, as complete and precise as imaginable ever; the seating is entirely trimmed in soft leather while painstaking care has been given to sound deadening in the interests of running quietness. A smart radiotelephone and pull-out radio complete the passenger compart¬ment equipment.

Lenght: 4640 mm

Width: 1870 mm

Heigth: 1200 mm

Wheelbase: 2590 mm