The Jaguar XJ220 supercar evolved from Jim Randle’s sensational 1988 UK Motor Show concept car.
The planned production of 350 limited edition cars, each with a price tag of £360,000, was over-subscribed by a factor of four in a single day!
In this book, Mike Moreton, ace director of impossible projects, who was headhunted for the XJ220 project by Tom Walkinshaw, relives the extraordinary inside story of this fantastic, hi-tech car.
The Jaguar XJ220, the fastest, most exciting and most expensive road-going Jaguar ever built, evolved from Jim Randle’s sensuously-shaped 1988 UK Motor Show concept car.
Named for its targeted top speed, the XJ220 was developed between 1989 and 1994. Just 350 limited edition cars were to have been built by JaguarSport, the Jaguar/Tom Walkinshaw TWR joint venture. Going on sale each with a £360,000 price tag and requiring a £50,000 non-returnable deposit from each purchaser, the XJ220 attracted celebrities, speculators, and the mega-wealthy. It was over-subscribed four times in just one day!
This inside story is an historically accurate account of the project from the Project Manager himself. Having recruited a talented team from motor sport and production car industries, a factory was developed in Bloxham, Oxfordshire. Working closely with Jaguar Design, TWR Group companies and specialist suppliers, the XJ220 team re-designed, built, tested, manufactured and marketed Jaguarís ultimate road car.
Featuring over 200 photographs, many previously unpublished, showing the concept and production cars in all stages of development, with glamour shots and historical photos of Jaguar sports/racing cars, this book is a must for Jaguar enthusiasts.
The challenge, achievement and excitement represented by the XJ220
Why and how the Jaguar XJ220 supercar was conceived
Why Tom Walkinshaw Racing (TWR) was behind the production car
Why and how the production XJ220 changed from the original concept
How the stunning shape was styled and by whom
How the XJ220 was engineered, developed and built
Why Jaguar’s V12 engine was replaced by the V6 twin-turbo
The celebrities who unveiled and launched the cars
Was the limited edition Jaguar XJ220 project ultimately a success?
