The Jaguar XJ220 is a supersports car of the British automark Jaguar, which is even since 1989 in the possession of the American Ford engine company. By the exclusive vehicle from 1992 to 1994 275 pieces were built.

Origin

In the initial years of the company there was Jaguar "the Saturday club "(the Saturday club), to work a loose organized group of employees of the company, which after end of work met, in order on unofficial projects. One of these projects developed into the 1980er around the boss technician Jim Randle. It concerned to it to create an equal vehicle to Ferrari F40 and Porsche 959 the starting point placed a prototype begun into the 1960ern, the Jaguar XJ13: A easy-weighty two-seater with the powerful V12, which was used in the models XJ12, E-type and XJS. For better handling the new project all-wheel drive should have and an integrated safety cell possess. The goal was it to create a vehicle which was faster than 200 mph (approx. 320 km/h).

The study

The project found in the executive floor support, and for the British Motorshow of 1988 a first prototype was sketched. The engine was given with Tom Walkinshaw Racing in order, it should be a 4-Ventil version of the 12-Zylinder with 6,2 litres capacity. The all-wheel drive was given with FF development in order. This company had already help the Jensen FF to 4-Radantrieb. The chassis was planned with opening wing doors, as they were built in several models by Lamborghini. The name XJ220 should refer to the maximum speed of 220 mph (354 km/h).

1989 were officially announced the car, and despite a selling price of 361.000 Pound (corresponded at that time more than million DM) was buyer, who was determined to deposit immediately 50,000 Pound.

The series

The project was handed to the attached Jaguar/TWR company, department to jaguar sport over, which should examine the car regarding the possibilities of a series production. Jaguar sport arranged the car completely again, shortened the chassis, removed the all-wheel drive and replaced the V12 by a V6-Biturbo-Rennmotor of TWR. The V6 XJ220 was finally clearly shorter and easier than the original XJ220 4x4, maintained otherwise however the basic structure. The two-seater body was rich equipped, among other things with air conditioning system. The car was easy and compact. It should become an absolutely everyday life-suited vehicle for all weather and each traffic conditions, but its special terrain was naturally the free motorway.

Furthermore jaguar sport indicated the fact that only 350 pieces be built it should and received thereupon in few days 1200 orders. In the years 1990/1991 one built a new factory building in Bloxham with Banbury, for seven prototypes in the context of the development phase was produced. In spring 1992 the first copies should be delivered, be terminated 1994 production.

1991 were then taken up series production, but in the meantime some had changed: From the 12-Zylinder suction engine had become from exhaust and space reasons a V6 Biturbo with 3,5 litres capacity, the wing doors was none more and instead of all wheel gave it only more to conventional rear-wheel drive. The road performances were better owing to the stronger turbo engine than originally planned: During test travels reached Andy Wallace 1991 on the Firestone test track from away stick clay/tone in Texas a top speed of 212,3 mph (341.6 km/h), with later tests on the high-speed distance in Nardo (South Italies) exceeded the XJ220 the maximum speed with 218, reached so far, mph (348.8 km/h) and came thereby the focused 220 mph near enough. But due to the substantial changes and the risen price (now 403,000 Pound) some customers withdrew from the purchase, some under the menace to sue Jaguar.

In order to set the sales in motion, 1993 three XJ220 started the 24h with von Le Mans in the year. One of the cars won even its class, it however all three was later disqualifiziert, because they drove without in the meantime mandatory catalyst.

This article is based on a translation of the article Jaguar XJ220 from the English-language Wikipedia in the version from 27 June 2005. A list of the main authors (History) in accordance with GNU FDL is to be found here.

See also

• small overview run-in-corrodes the XJ220 on www.jaguar.com

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