It’s been 20 years since the spiritual successor to the one-of-one XJ13 was launched and it’s still the fastest Jaguar ever built.
When launched in 1992, the XJ220 was the fastest production car you could buy and a specially prepared version had been clocked at a blistering 213 mph. Built for Jaguar by TWR (Tom Walkinshaw Racing) using advanced aluminum honeycomb construction, the XJ220 weighed in at approximately 3,200 pounds and could accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in less than four seconds! While there is some confusion around production numbers, the original plan was to build 220 cars. According to TWR, a total of 208 XJ220s were built between 1992 and 1994.
Designed by Keith Helfet, the XJ220 created a real buzz in the Supercar world as it was originally slated for V12 power. However it was not to be. The buzz was short lived as the engine went from a V12 to a 3.5-Litre V6 fitted with twin turbos. Many buyers lost interest and pulled out of the waiting list even though horsepower was a respectable 540-550 at 7,000 rpm and 465 pound-feet of torque at 4,500 rpm. Performance was right there, but with half the number of cylinders the XJ220 lost some of its magic.
While there are a number of XJ220s on U.S. roads, it was never legal for North American export. Among the first XJ220 customers were the Sultan of Brunei and Elton John. Today the XJ220 Jaguar is a highly desirable collectible that still delivers 200-mph “bragging rights” performance.
For the complete history of Jaguar’s Supercar, please visit, http://www.supercars.net/cars/877.html
For information about the latest high-performance Jaguars, check out, http://www.jaguar.com/us/en/