The 1992 Jaguar XJ220

 

Jaguar's Supercar Failure From the Nineties

 

    Throughout 1981 to 1987 Jaguar had much success racing such cars as the XJS, XJR-5 and XJR-9. In 1987 Keith Helfet created a car design that was chosen as a potential Group B car to be used in FIA. The car would originally be all-wheel drive and use a V12 engine. This prototype would grow up to be the rear-wheel drive V6 armed Jaguar XJ220.

     The Jaguar XJ220 has a total power output of 540 horsepower at 7,200 rpm and torque of 475 lb-ft at 4,500 rpm. Top speed is 217 mph despite the XJ220 name. The engine that was going to be used in the Jaguar XJ220 was going to be a 6.2 liter 48-valve double overhead camshaft V12 but was given a 3.5 liter twin turbocharged variant of the Austin Rover/TWR V64V V6 instead. The Jaguar XJ220 has its engine placed in the middle of the car's body.

     The XJ220 production version's chassis uses what's called Alcan bonded honeycomb aluminium structure vehicle technology. The chassis design had two box section rails that acted as the suspension mounting points and would provide an energy absorbing structure in the event of a frontal impact. There was also an integral roll cage that formed part of the chassis and monocoque.

     The production version of the XJ220's exterior kept the aluminium body panels from the concept. However for the production vehicles, Abbey Panels of Coventry were contracted to provide the exterior panels. The XJ220 was originally going to use scissor doors but were dropped and replaced with conventional doors. The rear lights on the production XJ220 were taken from a Rover 400.

    The production XJ220's suspension consisted of front and rear independent suspension, double unequal length wishbones, inboard coil springs, and anti-roll bars, with Bilstein gas-filled dampers. The suspension was designed to FIA Group C regulations. The brakes were designed by AP Racing. The calipers are four pot aluminium units. The XJ220 was originally going to have ABS but was dropped on racing drivers' and enthusiasts demands. The XJ220 uses a 5-speed manual transmission.
    Unfortunately for Americans the XJ220 didn't meet United States emissions standards and wasn't sold in the United States. Worse was that when the recession hit people who tried to buy XJ220s attempted to sue Jaguar because of contract troubles. However the court ruled in favor of Jaguar and all of the unsold Jaguars sold for 127,550 pounds in Britain.