Jaguar XJ220
| Jaguar XJ220 | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Jaguar Cars |
| Production | 1992–94 (271 produced) |
| Assembly | JaguarSport Jaguar/TWR joint venture Bloxham, Oxfordshire |
| Designer | Jim Randle Keith Helfet |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Sports car (S) |
| Body style | 2-door coupé |
| Layout | RMR layout |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 3.5 L twin-turbocharged V6 |
| Transmission | 5-speed manual |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 2,640 mm (103.9 in) |
| Length | 4,930 mm (194.1 in) |
| Width | 2,009 mm (79.1 in) excluding wing mirrors |
| Height | 1,150 mm (45.3 in) |
| Kerb weight | 1,470 kg (3,240.8 lb) |
| Chronology | |
| Predecessor | Jaguar XJR-15 |
| Successor | Jaguar C-X75 |
The Jaguar XJ220 is a two-seater supercar produced by British luxury car manufacturer Jaguar from 1992 until 1994, in collaboration with the specialist automotive and race engineering company Tom Walkinshaw Racing. The XJ220 officially recorded a top speed of 212.3 mph (341.7 km/h) during testing by Jaguar. This made it the fastest production car from 1992 to 1993. According to Jaguar an XJ220 prototype managed a Nürburgring lap time of 7:46:36 in 1991 which was lower than any production car lap time back then.
The XJ220 was developed from a V12-engined 4-wheel drive concept car designed by an informal group of Jaguar employees working in their spare time. The group wished to create a modern version of the successful Jaguar 24 Hours of Le Mans racing cars of the 1950s and '60s that could be entered into FIA Group B competitions. The XJ220 made use of engineering work undertaken for Jaguar's then current racing car family.
The initial XJ220 concept car was unveiled to the public at the 1988 British International Motor Show, held in Birmingham, England. Its positive reception prompted Jaguar to put the car into production; some 1500 deposits of £50,000 each were taken, and deliveries were planned for 1992.
Engineering requirements resulted in significant changes to the specification of the XJ220, most notably replacement of the Jaguar V12 engine by a turbocharged V6 engine. The changes to the specification and a collapse in the price of collectible cars brought about by the early 1990s recession resulted in many buyers choosing not to exercise their purchase options. A total of just 271 cars were produced by the time production ended, each with a retail price of £470,000 in 1992 making it their most expensive car during its debut.
Jaguar were approached by racing team owner Tom Walkinshaw and encouraged to enter the Jaguar XJS into the 1981 European Touring Car Championship; they succeeded in winning the competition in 1984. Jaguar had started to provide factory support to racing team Group 44 Racing, who were using the Jaguar-engined XJR-5 in the IMSA GT Championship, supplying V12 engines from 1983 onwards and supporting a Le Mans entry in 1984. Tom Walkinshaw and Jaguar agreed to entering the FIA Group C World Sportscar Championship and developed the XJR-6, which was powered by the Jaguar V12 engine; the car was launched during the 1985 season.
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