Autoblog

Jaguar celebrates 20 years of XJ220

Noah Joseph — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 13:31:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Coupe, Performance, Jaguar

What binds car enthusiasts to one another? A love for cars, certainly, but we'd argue there's a deeper psychological connection. Namely that we've never quite grown up, and don't really care to. We're all still the little boys we once were, hanging posters of our favorite supercars on the walls of our childhood bedrooms. The only way to convince us of the reality of our own age is to show us how old the then-new supercars we pined for as kids have now become. So it's with a big lump in our collective throat that we bring you the news that the Jaguar XJ220 is now 20 years old - and along with it, that we're all 20 years older than we were when it came out.

The first time we got a glimpse of the mid-engined XJ220 was actually back in 1988 when it debuted at the British Motor Show. But that was in concept form. It wasn't until 1992 that the first customer took delivery. And while it was a fair bit different from the concept version (okay, so the drivetrain was very different, with half the cylinders and half the driven wheels of the V12 concept), what we got was still earth-shattering in its capabilities - particularly for its time, but still by any objective measure. The production XJ220 packed 550 horsepower, hit 60 in less than four seconds and hit a top speed of 213 mph... a new record in the early 90s.

By the time production ceased two years later, Jaguar and TWR had built just 275 examples. The one pictured above is one of ten pre-production prototypes, specifically the example that Andy Wallace piloted to that landmark top speed at Ford Stockton, Texas, in 1991. The yellow example (also pictured in our high-resolution image gallery) was one of the very rare XJ220 S homologation specials with carbon fiber bodywork and 700 horsepower on tap. Click the thumbnails to scope it out and follow the jump for the full press release to take a trip back to your childhood.

Continue reading Jaguar celebrates 20 years of XJ220

Jaguar celebrates 20 years of XJ220 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 01 Feb 2012 13:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Super-rare Jaguar XJ220S heading to Arizona auction

Noah Joseph — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 20:01:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Auctions, Jaguar

With only 350 cars built, the Jaguar XJ220 is a collector's item, but some examples are rarer than others.

Having relied heavily on Tom Walkinshaw Racing for the development of the XJ220 in the first place, Jaguar turned to the outfit when it came time to assess the possibility of a competition version. Three XJ220C race cars were born as a result, but in order to homologate them for competition, Jaguar and TWR built six roadgoing examples dubbed XJ220S. One of them is now going up for auction.

To create the XJ220S, TWR removed all the aluminum bodywork (except the doors) and replaced it with carbon fiber, adding a front splitter, rear wing and wider side sills in the process. That helped drive weight down to just over 1,000 kg (2,200 lbs), while the twin-turbo V6 was retuned to deliver 680 horsepower.

This particular car's owner recently had TWR install a titanium exhaust and recalibrate the engine output to nice round 700 hp. He also had it repainted the same shade of grey as the Lamborghini Reventon, fitted more modern headlights, and refurbished the magnesium wheels. As a result, RM Auctions expects it to fetch between $225,000 and $300,000 when it crosses the block in Arizona next month. Full details in the auction listing after the jump.

Continue reading Super-rare Jaguar XJ220S heading to Arizona auction

Super-rare Jaguar XJ220S heading to Arizona auction originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 14 Jan 2012 20:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EVO pits 2012 Jaguar XKR-S vs. XJ220 at the 'Ring

Noah Joseph — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 12:30:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Coupe, Performance, Videos, Jaguar

You may conjure up visions of luxury sedans and boulevard cruisers when you think of Jaguar, but the Leaping Cat marque has also made some wickedly fast sports cars over the years.

Foremost among them is surely the XJ220, the all-out, world-conquering supercar Coventry produced in the early '90s. A Jaguar XJ220 set the Nürburgring lap record in 1992 when John Nielsen recorded a 7:46 lap - a record that held until it was finally unseated at the turn of the millennium.

The question is, could Jaguar's latest production model match the aging Super Cat for pace around the Norschleife? To find out, Evo's Chris Harris took the new XKR-S down to Eifel and brought along the XJ220... piloted by the same John Nielsen, no less. Follow the jump to see how it went down.

Continue reading EVO pits 2012 Jaguar XKR-S vs. XJ220 at the 'Ring

EVO pits 2012 Jaguar XKR-S vs. XJ220 at the 'Ring originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 07 Dec 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sultan of Brunei's exotic car collection up for sale?

Noah Joseph — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 08:27:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Convertible, Coupe, Performance, Auctions, BMW, Jaguar, Lamborghini, Porsche, Ferrari, MISC

Cizeta V16 among the 25 Ferraris and more for sale - Click above for image gallery

There are many prominent and wealthy collectors of exotic supercars on Earth, but few can rival the secretive collection of the royal house of Brunei. The collection has been the subject of much conjecture, with only occasional leaks betraying its contents, but now part of the collection has apparently gone up for sale.

Among those rarities up for grabs are three Lamborghinis, two lightweight Porsche 911 Turbos, a Jaguar XJ220, one of only eight Cizeta V16s ever produced, the ItalDesign BMW Nazca and no fewer than 25 Ferraris, including an Enzo, an F50, an F40 and a custom 512 TR Spider.

Although the broker - based in New Zealand with the collection rumored to be located currently in Singapore - does not disclose the liquidating owner, few others than the Sultan of Brunei and his controversial brother Prince Jefri could have amassed such an assembly of exotica. Many of the cars have no more on the odometer than their original factory mileage, and all are worth well into the six and seven figures, making this easily one of the most valuable collections ever put up for sale. Follow the link to the sale site and check out the images in the gallery below for a closer look.

Gallery: 25 Ferraris and more for sale

[Source: Ferrari Collection for Sale]

Sultan of Brunei's exotic car collection up for sale? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 18 Nov 2010 08:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hot Wheels "Speed Machines" dial up the detail

Alex Nunez — Sun, 25 Apr 2010 12:32:00 EST

Filed under: Toys/Games

Hot Wheels "Speed Machines" Mix E - Click above for high-res image gallery

If you're a casual die-cast car collector, any mundane shopping trip is an opportunity to grow that pile of toy cars you have taking up space in your house that could probably put to better use. (According to your significant other, at least!) If you have kids, there's that to contend with, too - any unopened toy car they come across will soon be an opened toy car. After all, how do you explain to doe-eyed Junior that really, Daddy would prefer you don't open that green Matchbox Porsche 914 that took two months to find at the store?

Now, the standard buck-a-pop Hot Wheels and Matchbox cars are pretty nicely detailed, but those same castings look a lot better when they're re-decoed and packaged as pricier, step-up subsets sold separately from the regular assortments. Case in point, the Hot Wheels "Speed Machines" cars. These 1:64 scale cars (the same size as regular Hot Wheels) have much more accurate paint and detailing, with better wheels, and yours truly has already succumbed to his inner child on one occasion upon seeing them. Chances are, that won't be a single-time occurrence, either.

As demonstrated above, upcoming Speed Machines range additions like the Ferrari 599XX stand ready to separate disposable income from pocket in $2 increments. It and the other cars in the gallery below are part of Speed Machines "Mix E," which should hit stores in mid-May. Keep your eyes peeled. After all, this is the stuff that makes your desk at work look cooler than the next guy's.

Gallery: 2010 Hot Wheels Speed Machines - Mix E

[Source: Mattel]

Hot Wheels "Speed Machines" dial up the detail originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 25 Apr 2010 12:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aston Martin One-77 closes in on being fastest car in marque's history, breaks 220 mph

Jonny Lieberman — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 10:57:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Europe, Aston Martin, Luxury

Aston Martin One-77 development mule - click above for high-res image gallery

Move over Jaguar XJ220. At 217 mph, your top end is just too slow. Hell, move over Batmobile. Why? The Aston Martin One-77, Britain's most expensive car ever, is now nearly its fastest. If not for the pesky, eternal problem of the McLaren F1 and its 241 mph top end, the One-77 would be the fastest production car in the history of Old Blighty. As it stands, or in this case flies, a One-77 has just crested 220 mph.

Can the latest and no question greatest from Aston Martin go even faster? Probably, as AM was quick to point out, that the 220 mph velocity was achieved in "dry, but windy conditions." Never forget the amount of power this 7.3-liter V12 beastie makes - between 700 and 740 horsepower, and around 553 lb-ft of torque. For the sake of national pride, the McLaren F1 produced "just" 627 hp and 480 lb-ft of torque. Obviously, the 2,514 pound F1 is much lighter than the 3,308 pound One-77, however, which actually makes 220 mph run all the more impressive.

0-60 mph? Quarter mile? Lateral acceleration? We don't know yet, but we do know that Aston Martin will keep us up to date as soon as all that information gets logged. For its part, the matte gray beauty you see above is at a "top secret proving ground in southern Europe" where its being flogged about in anticipation of the One-77's mid-2010 release. If not for the £1.25 million price tag (just shy of $2M Yankee bucks), we'd be losing sleep. Full press release after the jump.

Gallery: Aston Martin One-77 220 mph

[Source: Aston Martin]

Continue reading Aston Martin One-77 closes in on being fastest car in marque's history, breaks 220 mph

Aston Martin One-77 closes in on being fastest car in marque's history, breaks 220 mph originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 22 Dec 2009 10:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Battle of the Auto__s: Jaguar supercar rumors refuted

Noah Joseph — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 13:58:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, Supercars, Jaguar, Rumormill

A couple of weeks back we reported on an ongoing debate between British automotive sites Autocar and AutoExpress over the emergence of a new Jaguar sportscar. While the former reported that Jaguar was to supplement the existing XK line with a smaller variant, likely named XE, the latter issued claims that the new model would be positioned above the XK with an engine placed behind. A third source, AutoWeek, has now thrown its hat into the ring, refuting AutoExpress' supercar reports and running instead with Autocar's idea of a smaller sportscar.

According to AutoWeek's man in the UK, rumors of a successor to the XJ220 are purely fantastical speculation, citing unnamed inside sources while noting quite rationally that something closer to the Porsche Boxster would make more business sense than a supercar in the Audi R8 mold. Who'll be vindicated in the Battle of the Auto___s? Time will tell, while here at Autoblog we'll contribute this much: why not build both? Wishful thinking to be sure, but if Jaguar hopes to take on Germany's best, they're going to need a wider range - and a halo car - to do it.

[Source: AutoWeek]

Battle of the Auto__s: Jaguar supercar rumors refuted originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 27 Jan 2009 13:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New renderings of Jag's hush-hush supercar

Frank Filipponio — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 16:56:00 EST

Filed under: Supercars, Jaguar, Rendered Speculation

Will Jaguar's XJ220 supercar finally have a successor? Although Jaguar denies it, Auto Express thinks so, and we hope they're right. While rumors have suggested the return of the F-type as Tata's next project, Auto Express expects Jaguar to show an all-new mid-engine supercar concept within the next year. And they even have some rather artful renderings to back up their claims.

This new Audi R8 competitor would use an all-new aluminum chassis, with the XFR's 503-horsepower, supercharged 5.0-liter V8 powering it from amidships. Expect performance similar to the mildly modified XFR that just ran an incredible 225 miles-per-hour at the Bonneville Salt Flats. Figure on a 0-60 mph run of well under four seconds as well.

What's more, Jaguar is said to be thinking green with this new model too. The car is said to be capable of running on biofuels with CO2 emissions that should be less than 300g/km. With an alloy skin penned by Ian Callum, it should be a looker too. The supercar, which could be called the XE, could possibly be shown at the Geneva Motor Show in 2010. Click over to see two large renderings. Thanks for the tip, Mo!

[Source: Auto Express]

New renderings of Jag's hush-hush supercar originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 21 Jan 2009 16:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Barrett-Jackson 2009: The Supercars

Drew Phillips — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 14:58:00 EST

Filed under: Auctions, Supercars

Click above for a high-res gallery of the supercars at Barrett-Jackson

Although muscle cars are usually in the spotlight at Barrett-Jackson, there were quite a few interesting supercars that caught our attention as well. First up was a Saleen S7 Twin-Turbo done up in stunning Beryllium custom paint. This particular car served as a press vehicle for Saleen and was featured in the movie Redline (who cares?), and Iron Man (cool!). Did we mention it also has the one-and-only 1,000-horsepower upgrade done by the factory. The winning bidder took the car home for $412,000. For a little more than half that much, another bidder took home one of the ultimate supercars of the last decade, a 1993 Jaguar XJ220. Other examples sold in the past few years have gone for a mere fraction of the original list price, and we think this car was well sold at the coincidental price of $220,000, perhaps due to its DOT/EPA certification. For those looking for a supercar on a budget, there was a 1996 Vector M12, one of only 14 built with just 6,388 miles, that sold for a mere $94,600. Other exotics that crossed the block included a Hennessey Venom 700R that sold for $115,500 and an Ultima Can-Am purchased for $51,700.

Don't forget to check out this past weekend's complete coverage of the 2009 Barrett-Jackson Auction in Scottsdale by clicking here.

Gallery: Barrett-Jackson 2009: The Supercars

Barrett-Jackson 2009: The Supercars originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 19 Jan 2009 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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eBay Find of the Day: Jaguar XJ220 in LeMans Blue

John Neff — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 14:29:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Auctions, Supercars, Jaguar

Click above for gallery of 1994 Jaguar XJ220 on eBay Motors

It's hard to imagine Jaguar ever producing a supercar considering its current sad state of sales, but it did just that back in the early '90s when our walls were plastered with posters of the Ferrari F40, Lamborghini Diablo and this, the Jaguar XJ220. In our humble estimation, the XJ220 is one of the most gorgeous supercars ever designed, and rather than relying on eight or twelve cylinders like its Italian competition, the XJ220 reached 200+ mph using a twin-turbocharged 3.5L V6 producing 550 horsepower and 473 pound-feet of torque. Unfortunately, no one ever got one up to 220 mph to validate the car's nomenclature. The XJ220 went on the market in 1992 with a base price of $650,000 and only 281 were ever made. One of those examples from 1994 is up for auction on eBay Motors with a starting bid of $300,000. Bathed in a rich-looking LeMans blue paint job, this example has only 3,092 miles on its odometer, though it appears to have a few items that need attention. One of the wheel center caps is missing, the passenger side headlight cover is off, and is that an aftermarket stereo in there? The rest of the car looks as fresh as the day it was built. We doubt Jaguar will be returning to the supercar ring with a contender anytime soon, but this eBay Motors auction reminds us of a time when Jaguar stood toe-to-toe with the giants. Thanks for the tip, Kevin!

Gallery: Jaguar XJ220 on eBay Motors

[Source: eBay Motors]

eBay Find of the Day: Jaguar XJ220 in LeMans Blue originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 18 Apr 2008 14:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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