Jaguar XJ220 | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Overview | |
Manufacturer | JaguarSport (Jaguar/TWR joint venture) |
Production | 1992–1994 (282 produced)[1] |
Assembly | United Kingdom: Bloxham, Oxfordshire |
Designer | Keith Helfet under Jim Randle |
Body and chassis | |
Class | Sports car (S) |
Body style | 2-door coupé |
Layout |
|
Powertrain | |
Engine |
|
Power output |
|
Transmission | 5-speed manual[2] |
Dimensions | |
Wheelbase | 2,640 mm (103.9 in)[2] |
Length | 4,930 mm (194.1 in)[2] |
Width | 2,009 mm (79.1 in)[2] (excluding wing mirrors) |
Height | 1,150 mm (45.3 in)[2] |
Kerb weight | 1,470 kg (3,240.8 lb)[2] |
Chronology | |
Predecessor | Jaguar XJR-15 |
Successor | Jaguar C-X75 (spiritual) |
The Jaguar XJ220 is a two-seat sports car produced by British luxury car manufacturer Jaguar from 1992 until 1994, in collaboration with the specialist automotive and race engineering company Tom Walkinshaw Racing.[3][4] The XJ220 (missing catalytic converters) recorded a top speed of 217 mph (349 km/h) during testing by Jaguar at the Nardo test track in Italy.[5] This made it the fastest production car from 1992 to 1993.[6] According to Jaguar, an XJ220 prototype managed a Nürburgring lap time of 7:46.36 in 1991 which was faster than any production car lap time before it.[4][7][8][9]
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.[4] The group wished to create a modern version of the successful Jaguar 24 Hours of Le Mans racing cars of the 1950s and 1960s that could be entered into FIA Group B competitions.[10] The XJ220 made use of engineering work undertaken for Jaguar's then current racing car family.[11]
The initial XJ220 concept car was unveiled to the public at the 1988 British International Motor Show, held in Birmingham, England.[12] Its positive reception prompted Jaguar to put the car into production. Approximately 1,500 deposits of £50,000 each were taken and deliveries were planned for 1992.[4][11]
Engineering and emissions requirements resulted in significant changes to the specification of the XJ220, most notably the replacement of the Jaguar V12 engine by a turbocharged V6 engine. The changes to the specification and a collapse in the demand of high performance cars brought about by the early 1990s recession resulted in many buyers choosing not to exercise their purchase options. A total of just 275 cars were produced by the time production ended, each with a retail price of £470,000 in 1992, making it one of the most expensive cars at that time.[4][9]
© MMXXIII Rich X Search. We shall prevail. All rights reserved. Rich X Search