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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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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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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Tuner Tuesday: Turning an XJ220 S into a Q-ship

Frank Filipponio — Tue, 13 Mar 2007 19:57:00 EST

Filed under: Tuners, Europe, Supercars, Jaguar

Winding Road was recently at a California exotic car dealer and spotted this rare Jaguar XJ220 S supercar. One of only nine made, this semi-race version of the big cat was redone by TWR to coax 680 hp and 527 ft-lbs. of torque from its turbocharged 3.5-liter V6. It also went on an extreme diet, replacing the all-aluminum body with one made of carbon fiber, making the cat good for 0-60 in 3.3 seconds on its march to a top end of 228 mph. Shouldn't it be renamed the XJ228 then?

Three of these cars were raced and six were sold as street cars with several finding their way to L.A., passing through one of the Keuylian dealerships. This particular XJ (and a nearly identical black one) have received custom Kinesis wheels and new Infiniti Q45 projector headlights. These slight changes instantly take 10 years off the age of these 1993 supercars.

It might be hard for many people to remember, but the XJ220 was a project that saw Jaguar at the top of the supercar hill for a brief shining moment, despite lengthy delays and detail changes to the car over its development period. Following the F40 and 959, and immediately preceding the McLaren F1, the XJ220 didn't quite match its eponymous speed, but came close at 217. Of course, Gordon Murray made that a moot point anyhow, and the crumbling supercar market almost killed Jaguar altogether. We're glad to see one of these still rolling and looking just as beautiful as ever with its new eyes. Click the read link for a few more pics.

[Source: Winding Road]

Tuner Tuesday: Turning an XJ220 S into a Q-ship originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 13 Mar 2007 19:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Barchetta: Jaguar designer creates the Andare Attivo electric boat

Noah Joseph — Mon, 23 Oct 2006 11:31:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Jaguar

Keith Helfet will forever be remembered for his masterpiece, the Jaguar XJ220 - one of the first supercars capable of 200-mph speeds and an elegant super-cat worthy of the Jaguar badge if ever there was one (to make no mention of the aborted Jaguar F-type concept.) But now the automotive designer has grown some sea legs and ventured out to the waves.

The Andare Attivo is a three-and-a-half meter (11.4 foot) runabout boat. As you can see from the image, the boat features a catamaran-style twin-keel hull that makes it more stable and quicker across the water's surface. Power comes from an electric motor fueled by two 12-volt batteries, which means no noise, no gasonline, no fumes. Just an easy-to-operate fun little boat.

The top of the boat can be expanded to accommodate two people sleeping inside, with fresh running water and electrical power. The target price is £10,000, making it far more affordable than most boats on the water, which, combined with its ease-of-use, means more people will get to enjoy quality time riding the waves, all with a lower impact on the environment. While it's certainly not the XJ220 of water borne travel, it does have the style of a much more expensive ship.

[Source: Auto Express and Cowes Online]

Barchetta: Jaguar designer creates the Andare Attivo electric boat originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 23 Oct 2006 11:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Reskinning a Cat: Sultan of Brunei's Jaguar XJ220 Pininfarina

Noah Joseph — Sun, 08 Oct 2006 15:27:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Concept Cars, Supercars, Jaguar

The Sultan of Brunei is our kind of monarch, having spent considerable sums of money from his country's vast oil revenues on his extensive car collection. Stories are told of special cars made just for him by the likes of Ferrari and Mercedes-AMG. The extent of his personal garage has remained a secret for years, but as details have been emerging recently we bring you this shining example: a special Jaguar XJ220, customized for his royal highness by Pininfarina.

During the XJ220's heyday in the mid-90's, it was one of the fastest cars on the road: the XJ220 hit 60 in 3.8 seconds on its way to a top speed of over 212 mph, motivated by a 550-hp twin-turbo V6. At nearly five meters long, though, the XJ220 was an absolute boat of a supercar, so Pininfarina crafted a shorter body for the sultan's car, which also helped it shed a few pounds off its 3025-lb curb weight. Pininfarina also replaced the pop-up headlamps with fixed units, and affixed a double-vane rear wing. Curiously, while the wheels are usually the first to go when customizing a car, the sultan's specials usually retain their rolling stock, making it easier for drooling car nuts like us to identify their roots. You can bet it underwent extensive wind-tunnel testing and development, much like the famous Italian design house did for its latest custom supercar, the Ferrari P4/5.

We don't know much else about the XJ220, but you can bet he paid a few million, and probably ordered at least two. Other custom rides in the royal motor-pool include the Ferrari FX based on the F512M, the Venice Estate station wagon based on the Ferrari 456GT, the Ferrari Testarossa F90 Speciale, several custom Aston Martins, the Bentley Dominator SUV, and road-going copies of the Pininfarina Mythos and Bentley Java concept cars, not to mention a host of "ordinary" supercars including eight McLaren F1s, six Dauer 962 LMs, a unique right-hand-drive Mercedes CLK-GTR, and dozens of Ferraris, Lamborghinis and Porsches. With a garage like this, who needs a flying carpet?

Click here for the full jaw-dropping list of the Sultan's complete 5000-car collection.

[Source: Supercars.net via Jalopnik]

Reskinning a Cat: Sultan of Brunei's Jaguar XJ220 Pininfarina originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 08 Oct 2006 15:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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eBay Find of the Day: Jaguar XJ220

John Neff — Fri, 14 Jul 2006 14:05:00 EST

Filed under: Auctions, Jaguar

Remember the good old days when producing a supercar that could break 200 mph took effort and determination? It was a time when the Ferrari F40 could barely muster the momentum for a 201 mph top speed, while the Lamborghini Diablo crested the magic mark with a top speed of just 202 mph. Then came the Jaguar XJ220, so named for its target top speed of 220 mph. Unfortunately the moniker was a bit optimistic, as the XJ220's fastest recorded top end is reportedly 217 mph, although I only remember one particular buff book that pushed it to 211 mph.

The XJ220 was somewhat of an anomaly with its twin-turbocharged V6 engine that produced a prodigious amount of power: about 530 hp at 7,000 rpm. That's a big number in today's terms; it was unimaginable in a streetcar back in 1992.

So hear it is, the object of my adolescent automotive affections up on eBay. The starting bid was for $20. I hung onto hope until it passed $50,000... sigh. It's at $102,800.00 with about two days left. Anybody want to go halvsies with me?

Thanks for the tip, omar!

[Source: eBay

eBay Find of the Day: Jaguar XJ220 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 14 Jul 2006 14:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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