%20(4)_edited.png)
The Jaguar XJ220 is a mid-engined supercar produced by Jaguar in collaboration with Tom Walkinshaw Racing as Jaguar Sport between 1992 and 1994. It held the record for the highest top speed of a production car (350 km/h, 217 mph) until the arrival of the McLaren F1 in 1994. The XJ220 is unrelated to the other XJ models, although it shares the same name, 'XJ.'
Origins
In the company's early days, certain Jaguar employees had created an informal group they called "The Saturday Club" (so-named because they would meet after-hours and on weekends to work on unofficial pet projects). In the 1980s, Jaguar's chief-engineer Jim Randle, as part of that group, began work on what he saw as competition for cars like the Ferrari F40 and Porsche 959. He envisioned what was essentially an updated XJ13 - a lightweight two-seater with a powerful mid-mounted V12 engine. Randle expanded on the idea by settling on the all-wheel-drive for increased traction, better handling, and an integral safety cage so the car could be safely raced at extremely high speeds. The intention was to create a vehicle capable of exceeding 320 km/h (200 mph) from the outset.
Concept Car
Jaguar executives who saw the concept were sufficiently impressed to formally commit company resources to produce a 1988 British Motor Show car. Tom Walkinshaw Racing was tapped to produce a 6.2 L version of Jaguar's legendary V12 engine with four valves per cylinder, quad camshafts, and a target output of 500 hp (370 kW; 510 PS). The all-wheel-drive system was produced by FF Developments, who had experience with such systems going back to the 1960s and the Jensen FF. The car's styling was done by Keith Helfet and included scissor-style doors similar to those in use by Lamborghini in several of their cars. The name XJ220 was assigned to the targeted top speed of 220 mph (350 km/h).
1988 Jaguar XJ220 Concept
The prototype car was significantly heavier at 1,560 kg (3,439 lb) than other Jaguar racers like the XJR-9. But as it was intended to be, first and foremost, a road car, it would be more appropriate to compare it with something like the XJS; despite being 30-inch (762 mm) longer and 10-inch (254 mm) wider, and even with the added weight of the all-wheel-drive system, the Jaguar XJ220 was still 170 kg (375 lb) lighter than the XJS.
The car was officially announced in 1989 with a price of £361,000 ($580,000), and prospective buyers were expected to put up a deposit of £50,000 ($80,000) to be put on the waiting list for delivery. Because Jaguar promised to limit initial production to 220 units and that total production would not exceed 350, many of those who put deposits on the cars were speculators who intended to sell the car at an immediate profit.
Production Version
The car's production version was first shown to the public in October 1991 after undergoing significant changes. The most obvious of which was a completely different drivetrain and the elimination of the scissor doors. TWR was charged with producing the car and had several goals/rules: the car would be rear-wheel drive instead of all-wheel drive; would have a turbocharged V6 engine instead of the big V12; and performance goals of over 200 mph (320 km/h), 0 to 60 mph (97 km/h) in 3.8 seconds, and the lightest weight possible.
The 6.2 L V12 had been judged too difficult to get past increasingly strict emission regulations, and there were also reportedly some design problems caused by the size of the power plant. It was replaced with a Tom Walkinshaw-developed 3.5 L V6 based on the engine used in the Austin Metro 6R4 rally car and fitted with twin Garrett T3 turbochargers, generating 542 bhp (404 kW; 550 PS) of maximum power at 7000 rpm and 476 lb·ft (645 N·m) of torque at 4500 rpm. This engine was the first V6 in Jaguar's history and was the first to use forced induction. Despite the smaller displacement and half the number of cylinders, the engine produced more power than the V12 would have. However, potential customers judged the exhaust note to be harsh and the lag from the turbos to be an annoyance. Also missing from the car's production version was the Ferguson all-wheel drive - the production car had only rear-driven wheels, through a conventional transaxle - and the ABS.
During the boom period of the late 80s, the stunning Jaguar XJ220 prototype had buyers flocking to Jaguar in droves with their £50,000 deposits in hand.
With the promise of four-wheel drive and a 500bhp Jaguar V12, this sounded like a dream come true for enthusiasts and speculators alike. Unfortunately, when production finally began in the early 90s, the boom had gone, and Group B (for which the XJ220 was originally conceived) had disappeared. Not only this, but Jaguar had made the bizarre decision to ditch the 4wd and replace the V12 engine for a Turbo V6. This led to disgruntled customers, who launched court cases against Jaguar, losing and ultimately unsold 220s.
The car entered production in 1992 in a purpose-built factory at Bloxham near Banbury, and the first cars were delivered to customers in July. Original customers included Elton John and the Sultan of Brunei.
Many of the initial customers were dissatisfied with the modifications to the original specification and the significant increase in delivery price from the original £361,000 to £403,000 ($650,000). Another blow to potential sales was a global recession that took hold between the car's original announcement and its eventual release. This caused many original speculators not to buy the car, either because they were no longer able or because they did not think they could sell it on. Further complicating the issue was Tom Walkinshaw's offer of the faster (by acceleration, not top speed), more expensive, and more exclusive XJR-15, which was based on the Le Mans champion XJR-9. Some customers reportedly either sued Jaguar or threatened to sue; in any case, Jaguar gave the customers the option to buy themselves out of the delivery contract. As a result, many owners challenged Jaguar in court, where the judge eventually sided with Jaguar. To reduce costs, the use of parts from mass production cars had been extensive; for example, the rearview mirrors came from the Citroën CX 2 Series.
Racing Version
A racing version called the XJ220C was also made. The XJ220C, driven by Win Percy, won its first race, a BRDC National Sports GT Challenge round at Silverstone. Three XJ220C's were entered in the 1993 Le Mans 24 Hour race in the newly created Grand Touring Class. Two of the cars retired, but one XJ220, driven by John Nielsen, David Brabham, and David Coulthard, took the checkered flag to take a class win. This, however, was revoked two weeks later when the XJ220C was disqualified for a technical infringement.
