Jaguar XJ220

The production version of the car was first shown to the public in October 1991 after undergoing significant changes. The most obvious of which was a completely different drivetrain and the elimination of the scissor doors. TWR was charged with producing the car and had several goals/rules in producing the car: the car would be rear wheel drive instead of all wheel drive; turbocharged V6 instead of the big V12; and performance goals of over 200 mph, 0 to 60 mph under 4 s, and the lightest weight possible.

The 6.2 L V12 had been judged too difficult to get past increasingly strict emission regulations and there were also reportedly some design problems caused by the size of the power plant. It was replaced with a Tom Walkinshaw-developed 3.5 L V6 based on the engine used in the Rover Metro 6R4 rally car and fitted with twin Garrett T3 turbochargers, generating 549 bhp of maximum power at 7000 RPM and 473 ft·lb of torque at 4500 RPM. This engine was not only the first V6 in Jaguar's history, but also the first to use forced induction. In spite of the smaller displacement and half the number of cylinders, the engine produced more power than the V12 would have. However, potential customers judged the exhaust note to be harsh and the lag from the turbos to be an annoyance. Also missing from the production version of the car was the Ferguson all wheel drive - the production car had only rear driven wheels, through a conventional transaxle - and the ABS.

The car entered production in 1992 in a purpose built factory at Bloxham near Oxford, and the first cars were delivered to customers in July. Original customers included Elton John and the Sultan of Brunei.

Many of the initial customers were dissatisfied not only with the modifications to the original specification but the significant increase in delivery price from the original £361,000 to £403,000 ($650,000 USD). Further complicating the issue was Tom Walkinshaw's offer of the faster (by acceleration, not top speed), more expensive and more exclusive XJR-15 which was based on the Le Mans champion XJR-9. Some customers reportedly either sued Jaguar or threatened to sue—in any case, Jaguar gave the customers the option to buy themselves out of the delivery contract, as a result, many of the owners challenged Jaguar in court where the Judge eventually sided with Jaguar.

In spite of the drama surrounding its creation, a total of 281 cars were made and by 1997, few of these remained available for sale new at £150,000. Nowadays, it remains a sought-after collectible supercar.

engine	Twin Turbo V6
valvetrain	DOHC 4 Valves / Cyl
displacement	3498 cc / 213.5 cu in
bore	94.0 mm / 3.7 in
stroke	84.0 mm / 3.31 in
compression	8.3:1
power	404.2 kw / 542.0 bhp @ 7000 rpm
hp per litre	154.95 bhp per litre
bhp/weight
torque	644.0 nm / 475.0 ft lbs @ 4500 rpm
redline	7200
drive wheels	Mid Engine / RWD
body / frame	Bonded & Riveted Aluminum & Aluminum Honeycomb
front brakes	AP Racing Vented Discs w/Power Assist
f brake size	330 mm / 13.0 in
rear brakes	AP Racing Vented Discs w/Power Assist
r brake size	300 mm / 11.8 in
front wheels	F 43.2 x 22.9 cm / 17.0 x 9.0 in
rear wheels	R 45.7 x 35.6 cm / 18.0 x 14.0 in
front tire size	F 255/45ZR17
rear tire size	R 345/35ZR-18
steering	Unassisted Rack & Pinion
weight	1372 kg / 3025 lbs
wheelbase	2640 mm / 103.9 in
length	4860 mm / 191.3 in
width	2000 mm / 78.7 in
height	1150 mm / 45.3 in
transmission	5-Speed Manual
gear ratios	3.00:1, 1.95:1, 1.42:1, 1.09:1, 0.85:1
final drive	2.88:1
top speed	341.7 kph / 212.3 mph
0 - 60 mph	4.0 seconds
0 - 100 mph	8.0 seconds

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