1993 Jaguar XJ220
Key Stats
Year Built: 1993
Place Built: Coventry, UK
Top Speed: 213mph
Engine: V6 Cylinder 3,498cc
Horsepower: 542bhp
0-60: 3.6 seconds
Developed by a 'Saturday Club' of 12 Jaguar employees working in their spare time, the XJ220 was unveiled in 1988 as Jaguar's vision of a 220 mph supercar that would pave the way for a return to racing at Le Mans.
The concept generated huge excitement, with 1,500 customers placing £50,000 deposits. However, by the time production began in 1992, the car had lost several of its headline features, including the promised V12 engine, four-wheel drive and scissor doors.
Measuring more than 16 feet long and 7 feet wide, the XJ220 was more of a refined racing car than a comfortable grand tourer. Its low roofline created a cramped driving position, while the small rear boot offered limited luggage space. However, the switch from the planned V12 to a smaller twin-turbocharged V6 left some space around the engine bay.
Capable of 213 mph, the XJ220 was the world's fastest production car from 1992 until it was surpassed by the McLaren F1 in 1993.
The Jaguar XJ220 is displayed as part of the British Icons: Driven By Innovation Exhibition at Haynes Motor Museum.
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Jaguar XJ220 Fun Facts
The XJ220's tyres feature a unidirectional tread pattern, meaning each tyre is designed to rotate in only one direction. They are also different sizes, with 17-inch front wheels and 18-inch rear wheels. As a result, every tyre has a specific position on the car and cannot simply be swapped to another wheel.
Like many low-volume performance cars, the XJ220 borrowed components from other manufacturers. Its door mirrors came from the Citroën CX, the rear lights from the Rover 200, and the key from Ford.
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