1993 Jaguar XJ 220

1993 Jaguar XJ 220. The first new road-going Jaguar sports car to appear in 27 years, the XJ 220 was conceived as a modified Group B racer. A 'Saturday Club' of company volunteers worked in their own time to develop and build it on a shoestring, with more than 40 companies contributing components. The 48-valve, V-12, four-wheel drive prototype was the star of the 1988 Birmingham Motor Show, after four years of development. Production began in February 1992, with a version of Jaguar's latest Group C race-derived engine. This 3.5 litre, twin turbocharged, 24-valve, V-6 unit with double overhead camshafts, gave 0-60 in 3.75 seconds. Dry sump lubrication allowed the engine to sit low in the chassis. The car was mid-engined, rear wheel driven, with a complex drive system involving a viscous coupling-controlled limited slip differential. There was a five-speed manual gearbox, anti-lock braking and double wishbone suspension all-round, with electronically controlled active damping. Both the sequential fuel injection and electronic ignition systems used microprocessor control. Constructed in aluminium, it comprised a honeycomb chassis with bolt-on body panels, whose curves embodied traditional Jaguar styling. Front and rear aerofoils were both electrically adjustable. Weighing over 1.5 tons, this strict two-seater had a luxuriously equipped interior.