Jaguar XJ220

Jaguar XJ220

The Jaguar XJ220 held the distinction of being the fastest production car in the world when it achieved 217 mph (349 km/h) at the Nardo test track in Italy. This extraordinary machine, developed jointly by Jaguar Sport (a collaboration between Jaguar and Tom Walkinshaw Racing), was the most ambitious and extreme road car Jaguar had ever attempted.

The XJ220's engine was a source of controversy during its development. The original concept car, shown at the 1988 Birmingham Motor Show, featured a naturally aspirated V12 with all-wheel drive. However, the production car used a 3,498cc V6 with twin Garrett T3 turbochargers producing 542 horsepower and 475 lb-ft of torque. This engine was derived from the MG Metro 6R4 Group B rally car unit, extensively developed by TWR for endurance racing.

The twin-turbo V6, while disappointing to those who expected the V12, was actually a superior engine for the car's mission. It was lighter, more compact, and produced more power per liter than the V12 concept engine. The turbochargers provided devastating mid-range performance, and the engine's 6,500 rpm redline was accompanied by a distinctive, aggressive exhaust note.

The XJ220's aluminum body was designed by Keith Helfet, a Jaguar designer who created one of the most aerodynamically efficient shapes ever fitted to a road car. The long, low body featured a smoothly integrated front spoiler, carefully managed underbody airflow, and a rear diffuser that generated meaningful downforce at speed. The car's drag coefficient of 0.36 was achieved without sacrificing the downforce needed for high-speed stability.

The chassis was a bonded and riveted aluminum honeycomb monocoque, lightweight and extraordinarily stiff. The mid-mounted engine drove the rear wheels through a TWR-developed five-speed manual transaxle with a triple-plate racing clutch. The rear-wheel-drive layout, combined with the engine's prodigious power, demanded respect in wet conditions.

Suspension was fully independent at all four corners, using double wishbones with coil springs and adjustable shock absorbers. The system was designed to provide both comfortable road behavior and serious track capability, with significant wheel travel for a car of this type.

Braking used massive ventilated and cross-drilled discs with AP Racing four-piston calipers at all four corners. ABS was standard equipment, recognizing that managing 542 horsepower in a car weighing just 1,470 kg required sophisticated electronic assistance.

Jaguar built 281 production XJ220s between 1992 and 1994. The car was launched into a global recession, and many original deposit holders attempted to cancel their orders, leading to legal disputes. The combination of economic conditions, the controversial engine change, and the eye-watering price tag limited the XJ220's commercial success.

However, time has been kind to the XJ220's reputation. Its speed record, its rarity, its dramatic styling, and its genuine capability have elevated it to a position of respect among supercar enthusiasts. Clean, well-maintained examples have appreciated significantly from their post-recession nadir.