1992 Jaguar XJ220

The Jaguar XJ220 is a mid-engined supercar produced with the aid of using Jaguar in collaboration with Tom Walkinshaw Racing as Jaguar Sport among 1992 and 1994. It held the document for the very best pinnacle velocity of a manufacturing vehicle (350 km/h, 217 mph) till the advent of the McLaren F1 in 1994. The XJ220 is unrelated with the opposite XJ models, even though stocks the equal call 'XJ'.

Origins

In the early days of the business enterprise, sure Jaguar personnel had created an casual institution they known as "The Saturday Club" (so-named due to the fact they could meet after-hours and on weekends to paintings on unofficial pet-projects). In the 1980s, Jaguar's chief-engineer Jim Randle, as a part of that institution, commenced paintings on what he noticed as opposition for automobiles just like the Ferrari F40 and Porsche 959. He anticipated what changed into basically an updated XJ13 - a light-weight -seater with a effective mid-installed V12 engine. Randle improved at the concept with the aid of using selecting all wheel pressure for multiplied traction and higher managing and an necessary safety-cage so the auto will be appropriately raced at extraordinarily excessive speeds. From the outset, the purpose changed into to create a car able to exceeding 320 km/h (two hundred mph).

Concept vehicle

Jaguar executives who noticed the idea had been sufficiently inspired to officially devote business enterprise sources to generating a vehicle for the 1988 British Motor Show. Tom Walkinshaw Racing changed into tapped to provide a 6.2 L model of Jaguar's mythical V12 engine with 4 valves according to cylinder, quad camshafts and a goal output of 500 hp (370 kW; 510 PS). The all wheel pressure machine changed into produced with the aid of using FF Developments who had enjoy with such structures going again to the Nineteen Sixties and the Jensen FF. The styling of the auto changed into achieved with the aid of using Keith Helfet and blanketed scissor-fashion doorways just like the ones in use with the aid of using Lamborghini in numerous in their automobiles. The call XJ220 changed into assigned as a connection with the focused pinnacle-velocity of 220 mph (350 km/h).

The prototype vehicle changed into notably heavier at 1,560 kg (3,439 lb) than different Jaguar racers just like the XJR-9. But because it changed into supposed to be, first and foremost, a roadcar, it'd be extra suitable to evaluate it with some thing just like the XJS; notwithstanding being 30-inch (762 mm) longer and 10-inch (254 mm) wider or even with the introduced weight of the all wheel pressure machine, the Jaguar XJ220 changed into nevertheless a hundred and seventy kg (375 lb) lighter than the XJS.

The vehicle changed into formally introduced in 1989 with a fee of £361,000 ($580,000 USD) and prospective customers had been predicted to place up a deposit of £50,000 ($80,000 USD) to be placed on the ready listing for shipping. Because Jaguar promised to restrict preliminary manufacturing to 220 devices and that overall manufacturing could now no longer exceed 350, lots of individuals who placed deposits at the automobiles had been speculators who supposed to promote the auto at an instantaneous profit.

Production model

The manufacturing model of the auto changed into first proven to the general public in October 1991 after present process considerable changes. The maximum apparent of which changed into a very one of a kind drivetrain and the removal of the scissor doorways. TWR changed into charged with generating the auto and had numerous desires/rules: the auto could be rear wheel pressure in preference to all wheel pressure; could have a turbocharged V6 engine in preference to the massive V12; and overall performance desires of over two hundred mph (320 km/h), zero to 60 mph (ninety seven km/h) in 3.eight seconds, and the lightest weight possible.

The 6.2 L V12 have been judged too tough to get beyond more and more more strict emission regulations, and there had been additionally reportedly a few layout troubles resulting from the scale of the energy plant. It changed into changed with a Tom Walkinshaw-evolved 3.five L V6 primarily based totally at the engine used withinside the Austin Metro 6R4 rally vehicle and equipped with dual Garrett T3 turbochargers, producing 542 bhp (404 kW; 550 PS) of most energy at 7000 rpm and 476 lb·ft (645 N·m) of torque at 4500 rpm. This engine changed into the primary V6 in Jaguar's history, and changed into the primary to apply pressured induction. In spite of the smaller displacement and 1/2 of the variety of cylinders, the engine produced extra energy than the V12 could have. However, ability clients judged the exhaust word to be harsh and the lag from the turbos to be an annoyance. Also lacking from the manufacturing model of the auto changed into the Ferguson all wheel pressure - the manufacturing vehicle had most effective rear pushed wheels, via a traditional transaxle - and the ABS.

During the growth duration of the past due 80s, the beautiful Jaguar XJ220 prototype had shoppers flocking to Jaguar in droves with their £50,000 deposits in hand.

With the promise of 4 wheel pressure and a 500bhp Jaguar V12 this appeared like a dream come real for lovers and speculators alike. Unfortunately, whilst manufacturing sooner or later commenced withinside the early 90s, the growth had long gone and Group B (for which the XJ220 changed into initially conceived) had disappeared. Not most effective this however Jaguar had made the weird selection to ditch the 4 wheel drive and update the V12 engine for a Turbo V6. This brought about disgruntled clients, lots of whom released courtroom docket instances in opposition to Jaguar, most effective to lose, and in the long run unsold 220s.

The vehicle entered manufacturing in 1992 in a motive constructed manufacturing unit at Bloxham close to Banbury, and the primary automobiles had been brought to clients in July. Original clients blanketed Elton John and the Sultan of Brunei.

Many of the preliminary clients had been disenchanted now no longer most effective with the adjustments to the unique specification however the considerable boom in shipping fee from the unique £361,000 to £403,000 ($650,000 USD). Another blow to ability income changed into a international recession which took preserve among the auto's unique declaration and its eventual release. This prompted many unique speculators to now no longer need to shop for the auto, both due to the fact they had been now no longer able, or due to the fact they did now no longer suppose they might promote it on. Further complicating the problem changed into Tom Walkinshaw's provide of the faster (with the aid of using acceleration, now no longer pinnacle velocity), extra steeply-priced and extra unique XJR-15 which changed into primarily based totally at the Le Mans champion XJR-9. Some clients reportedly both sued Jaguar or threatened to sue; in any case, Jaguar gave the clients the choice to shop for themselves out of the shipping contract. As a result, some of the proprietors challenged Jaguar in courtroom docket wherein the Judge sooner or later sided with Jaguar. To lessen expenses using elements from mass manufacturing automobiles have been extensive; for instance the rear view mirrors got here from the Citroën CX 2 Series.

Racing model

A racing model known as the XJ220C changed into additionally made. The XJ220C, pushed with the aid of using Win Percy received its first race, a spherical of the BRDC National Sports GT Challenge at Silverstone. Three works XJ220C's had been entered withinside the 1993 Le Mans 24 Hour race, withinside the newly created Grand Touring Class. Two of the automobiles retired however one XJ220, pushed with the aid of using John Nielsen, David Brabham and David Coulthard took the checkered flag to take a category win. This, however, changed into revoked weeks later, whilst the XJ220C changed into disqualified for a technical infringement.