XJ-SC Cabriolet : Why It Was Built

Cabriolet, not Convertible

Before exploring the origins of the XJ-SC, it helps to clarify terminology. In the UK and Europe, a cabriolet can refer to a partially open roof arrangement. In the XJ-SC’s case, that means removable Targa panels over the front seats and a separate folding canvas hood at the rear. A convertible, by contrast, typically has a full-length folding roof.

In North America, the word convertible is often used more broadly for any car with a soft top. Jaguar’s own naming — XJ-SC Cabriolet — is helpful precisely because it describes the car as it really is.