jaguar had been struggling to replace the xjs due to its weak financial position. a project codenamed the xj41/42 (41 for the coupé, 42 for the convertible) was already in development stage in the company, mooted to be called the f-type when completed and was designed by keith helfet. when american automobile manufacturer ford acquired both jaguar and aston martin, the new management cancelled the xj41/42 project in 1990 because of the car's heavier weight than the xjs, the project's high budget and also the employee overtime spent on the car. seeing the potential of the abandoned project, walkinshaw based his concept on the xj41 and tasked ian callum to design his envisioned body around the xj41. he presented the completed car to jaguar's management who rejected it.