promising a v12 and delivering a v6 was frankly criminal. i mean seriously, bordering on bait and switch tactics. not at all surprised they got so many cancelled orders.
Personally, I'd gladly take the V6 of the Metro 6R4 group B rally car (with two added turbos) over a V12 with 50% higher fuel consumption, double the maintenance and repair costs and worse power and torque, any day! Nobody seems to have mentioned that.
The xj220 was before it's time. In the 90's excess was the norm. Huge engines, large cylinder count, and crazy wings/aero. A V6 with a power adder (super or turbo charger) was something buyers didn't want. Today supercars/hypercars commonly have multi-turbo/supercharged V8, V6, and I4 engines or the uncommon massively powered multi-turbo I3. How could anyone be expected to flaunt their excess with a V6 in the 90's?
On a practical standpoint, a turbo V6 could be even more effective than an "atmospheric" V12. It's the display, "showy" aspect to draw to the V12, and many wealthy buyers will never bring their supercars to the track, so no wonder a V6T "hypercar" hasn't meet the success the productor hoped for - At the time, turbocharging still was considered to be a cheap, crude way to have power. The "stigma" was to be challenged by cars such as the Bugatti EB110, which got along with turbos by attaching (four of!) them to a V12, but the XJ220 still was unfortunately too early in the game.
@@TenorCantusFirmus unless the engine is painfully underpowered, I'd still go naturally aspirated. Frankly, if I do have to use forced induction, I'd rather use a supercharger because of the linear power curve. Notable exceptions: F40, 288GTO, Veyron SS, K24 swap in a light car, Huayra Roadster.
Only ever seen the XJ220 once. I was driving past The Brittle car showroom in Newcastle Under Lyme and spotted it through the window. I turned round at the next roundabout and went back. I asked the sales guy if I could look at the XJ220, he even opened the car and allowed me to sit inside. Great memory of such a fantastic car. Thanks 😊
I remember that there was a class action lawsuit brought by those that had put down deposits based on the initial advertised specs of the V12 engine and 4 wheel drive. Jaguar prevailed and the lawsuit was denied, and I suspect the judge was paid off in order to get that kind of judgement. He didn't view those changes as being substantial since the cars looks and insane top end as being that big of a determination in allowing the buyer get out of their contract. As a car enthusiast I can say those are MASSIVE differences! Just the sound of a V12 vs. a V6 is enough to justify a valid claim of false advertising.
I still mantain that the Jaguar XJ220 was one of those childhood cars I never got tired of looking at. It is pure sex appeal. The sweeping body, those rims, and of course that grunt from the 3.5 liter Twin-Turbo V6; monster of the pouncing cat!
I remember the height of the hype around this as a young kid - I made my Dad buy Shell petrol just to be able to get models of the XJ220, Bugatti EB110, Ferrari F40, Aston DB7 etc - I forget that although the XJ looked amazing from most angles, those rear lights looked like they'd pulled them out of the BL parts bin as an afterthought :D
That Gran Turismo music took me straight back to my childhood. You deserve 10k subs for that alone! Another great video, and a Big Car endorsement. I sense good things on the horizon 👍
@FlyingElk, I was thinking the very same. That is the game that made love the xj220 even more, this video is the greatest on TH-cam for using the music from the game . I've save the link to this video just to remind, and watch it over again. Now starting Realestate investing, I think I'm going to buy a xj220. If there one available of course, they're a collectibles now.
Honestly... THIS IS the type of video Gran Turismo SHOULD had as well, on informative side of the car history. Like when Forza hired Jermy Clarkson to make cometaries about the cars. Or Jeremy, James and Richard making the comments about the car class history again in Forza.
Thank you for the NFS 2 video in there. One of my all time favorite sim racing games. And dropping the V12 for the TTV6 was wierd to say the least. Sure it got the job done but it seemed out of place at the time.
They initially shown to be having a V12 which hyped it up, but then it was sold with a turbo V6 which the rich clientele are not interested in. If they sold it with a V12 instead of a V6 turbo, it would have sold even if a V6 turbo would have been faster.
Something a lot of people who don’t remember when this car came out just don’t understand. I remember potential owners like Elton John actually forfeit their deposits when the engine change happened *after* their deposits were made.
@@nicholastotoro7721 yep, i think i was incorrect. my bad. still think the xjr 15 was a lot better. yeah, i know that wasnt a factory jag. still a milllion pounds plus in todays money, i mean there are only 4 members of the BAnd Queen..Freddie/May and Deacon and the other bloke bought them all?
It's easy to look at a V6 twinturbo supercar with modern eyes and think nothing of it but the Jag offered a big V12 in the age of big V12's then appeared to do a bait and switch. It's only in recent years that people realise how good these things where. They where also stunningly beautiful to look at.
Secure firm orders, complete with blank cheques amidst a Fury of interest, then retrograde the product in several major respects. How very British, no wonder we've no car industry left! Btw, is this video from 2002 then?
My favorite supercar that i wanna see irl. That car puts on favorite because the body still same as the concept and the engine is a v6 from mg metro that can go 'almost' reach 220. Still can't believe a v6 mg turbo that can go over 200 km/h Edit : sorry, it was mph
The Metro 6R4 had a 3ltr V6 without turbos and put out 400bhp in race tune! The XJ220 had the engine taken out from 3.0 to 3.5ltr and twin turbos added to give 542bhp. The XJ22S had the boost turned up giving 680bhp!
Thank you! glad you enjoyed! It's hard to say really. The V12 would have been naturally aspirated, and a lot heavier, but with a larger power output. It most likely would have gone faster in a straight line, slower round bends, and cost even more hahaha. But just imagine the sound! I have actually seen the original V12 concept car (its at the British Motor Museum), and I have to add that the V12 engine looks a lot cooler through the cover.
Most customers had signed up for a car with the engine based on a two time le mans winner, XJR14 ability aside the Bernie engine was certainly not what was intended originally nor desired by the customers.
JAGUAR XJ220 - V 12 High paying clients were blown away by the looks of the Jaguar ! In fact out of the 3 cars: I. Jaguar XJS 220 II. Lamborghini Diablo V12 III. Ferrari F40 V8 Twin Turb ( People were visibility bored by Maranello's old 70's marketing stunt, that is flog a model that had been seen everywhere the last 2 years !) People were stunned, excited and to be honest absolutely blown away by the Jaguar XJS 220. Lamborghini's BEST was and still is in my view, the Diablo. At least Lamborghini brought out the Diablo SVJ ! But the cheque books were ALL out for the new dazzling Jaguar! It would turn into a nightmare soon enough. The beautiful shape of the XJS 200 could not accommodate a V12 allegedly. FACT Money 💰 talks and BS walks ! DIABLO The pre-1992 Diablo's still considered A collector's item as they were built by Lamborghini prior to the Chrysler buy out. The Diablo SVJ could do over 200 mph, but debate rages whether the Italian built Lamborghini Diablo's could. Owners of the Diablo VT claim their Diablo's could do over 200 mph . . . No problemo! Spanner in the Works The McLaren F 1 and the Ferrari F 50 The latter, laughably, had a Formula 1 engine strapped to its body. At that time, thanks to a badly misquoted Jeremy Clarkson review of the F 50, people ignorantly wrote off the F 50 as slow. Ferrari did NOT market the F50 well and it was soon forgotten and up u til 2015 thought of as slower than its F 40 predecessor. McLaren F1 Blew everyone away. That shape and its amazing speed. The McLaren F 1 was touted as the world's fastest road car. This was off course BS. WHY - Recent tests have repeatedly demonstrated that the F50 could easily blow the McLaren F1 away as could SVJ Diablo's. F 50 Owners.... Irate Most F 50 owners were too frightened to use its crazy power and speed. McLaren knew this and developed the McLaren F1 GTR. Ferrari reciprocated and launched the extremely powerful F 50 GTR. Brutally fast, but like the 288 GTO built for a racing class that never came to fruition. By 2015 a group of F 50 aficionados had had enough. They repeatedly raced McLaren F 1's and the top end quicker F 50 easily humiliated a shocked F1 owner !
You could do another video about this car, because in 1993 the XJ220 was used as a racecar for a Race of Champions I watched on ESPN. Most of the competitors were retired NASCAR with a few IndyCar drivers, I know Bobby Allison drove in it. It was a wreakfest of Jaguar XJ220s!!!
The series was actually called Fast Masters and I was at the first race at Indianapolis Raceway Park. It was the mini oval with a detour into the infield for a quasi-chicane. Man, the carnage was immediate and long lasting! I don't think a quarter of the cars made it to the end. It was hilarious.
My dad bought me a green model of the 220. Still have it today, 30 years later! The design is amazing, ahead of its time and still breath taking today.
542 hp with a 3.5 liter V6 in year 1992 is mindblowing. But as far as I understand, they didn`t like the V6 even this V6 powered once fastest production car with a stunning 213 mph. It is fast even today`s standarts despite 31 years passed from it`s relase. A great car in my opinion.
The XJ220 has always been my favorite Jag I like it more than the e-type. I feel they could have done the a 4wd v6 or 4wd v12 with a second model run around the time the F50 was new.
looks absolutely perfect in that dark red metallic! aside from losing half its cylinders this car also apparently didnt have power steering...putting it into enthusiast-ONLY territory
The XJ220 was a superb car even with its V6 twin turbo (an engine that had been race proven in the 6R4) Having the small capacity turbo'd powerplant meant it was easily tuned for more power if needed. The XJ220S (made with help by TWR to help sell unsold cars) had an increase In power from 542bhp to 680bhp! Jaguars creaky, old V12 might have given the car a better soundtrack but other than that I think it would have been a slower, worse handling supercar.
I just see this as cope. Wealthy buyers dont tune. They want a good experience. They bait and switched the v12 and deservedly ate shit for it. The car looks beautiful but it deserved to die.
I was once on the way to the airport and was overtaken by a group of supercars driving "briskly" bunch of lambos and ferarris and then after they went past, a little while later an XJ220 at a speed i am guessing it was over 170mph as it passed me doing 80mph like i was standing still. I think also the XJ220 came around just when the financial problems from the era so a lot of the people buying them were expecting to flip them for a big profit (people were doing this with the F40 at the time, its also why Ferrari built so many of them when they said it was going to be like only 300) but when the markets crashed that was over so a lot of the customers started finding ways to get out of paying and trying to get their deposits back, i don't think people were as upset of the lack of V12 and 4WD as much as they used it as a excuse to get out buying one. Although i wish they could have kept the V12 and 4wd as it would have been even more special. XJ220 also could easily run 720bhp as the engine is really strong, i think the TWR version would have been nearly as fast as the McLaren F1 as the McLaren F1 "only" does 221mph stock to get it to 231-240mph they have to raise the limiter, to be fair the XJ220 that ran 217mph had its catalytic convertors removed and a couple of other minor mods. But would love to see another speed run with both of them as the McLaren makes 660bhp after its been run in iirc so would be interesting to see the difference it makes or a normal F1 with the 680bhp LM engine which revs to 8500rpm, or even the longtail GT which was meant to go over 240mph but there is only 2 of them and no one will try the top speed.
my dad considered buying one at the time - nearly put down a deposit - when it came out that they were ditching the initial plans of a V12 for the V6 he changed his mind.
Simple they promised a 12 and delivered a V6 that sounded like shit! Then they sued clients who didn’t want the car after that lie and they wondered why they had problems! Total BS!
I remember seeing the XJ220 at the Birmingham NEC Motorshow when I was a kid and falling in love... I can't even recall seeing the F40 at the same show, that's the impact this car made at the time.
Was at the '88 NEC motorshow as a schoolboy and then at Le Mans in '95 to see it race again (sadly a DNF), such a great looking car and deserved the V12 to celebrate the TWR Group C cars, would still have one mind...
A mate of mine has the enviable job of looking after a fleet of classic and super cars for his wealthy clients. They have an XJ220 in the fleet. He once showed me around the fleet and every car we'd get to I'd say in awe "wow, have you driven this?" When we got to the XJ220 I asked the same old question and he replied "oh fffs, to save time I can confirm I've driven them all". I still asked him every time we got to a car though - well what's life if you can't wind up a mate. Oh and Mintex had a poster of an XJ220 with an advert for their brake pads as I remember.
The top of the line XJS was a V12. The famous Le Mans winners were V12s. The prototype predecessor of the XJ220 - the XJR15 - was a V12. It should have been a V12. Timing killed it more than anything else really. If it had come out 2 years later it'd have sold better and been more of a McLaren F1 rival.
Yeah, there’s only a handful of things you can do to get enthusiastic buyers like that to completely change their minds: halve the cylinders, change the drivetrain, remove the exotic aspect of the doors, turn a roadster into a coupe, and change a manual into an automatic. They managed to do 3 of the only 5 things they couldn’t do to make it a success.
Simple indications of underdevelopment are wipers up on the screen instead of under cover, and door mirrors that look like they came from a family saloon. Probably enough to stop it reaching 220 mph. But the biggest problem was its sheer size. Not practical in modern traffic.
Ahh, I remember it well, I was about 16/17 and still liked it despite its "Metro engine". But now I can see what a let down it must have seemed, especially to those that were pre ordering with those blank cheques, It was also a time of recession not long after the XJ220 launch too- I've heard Many say the Italian Bugatti EB110 was everything the XJ220 was supposed to be and I have to agree with them- it had the 12 cyl and 4 turbos... oh- and the scissor doors! ATB.
I thought the Windows XP window cutouts were nostalgic but then bam!!! Those NFS II showcase scenes are just the business and instantly brought back all the memories and the background music. Also, 700k in todays money is very cheap, considering how other modern limited run hypercars of the same caliber are going for millions of dollars.
From the time it was first shown, until production ready, the economy went into a recession. Meaning that many of those initially clamouring to buy one, were later light on for money. The changes to spec. like the V12 to eventual V6, gave a convenient excuse to pull the plug on the purchase.
Imagine being one of those volunteers who basically handed Jaguar a masterpiece, that was made in their own spare time, and gathers a huge amount of interest from their wealthiest customers, only to have Jaguar cheap out and trash the design. They must have been so pissed off!
Wasn't this the supercar that came out with no spoiler? If it's the one I'm thinking of, Walkinshaw commented that "if you need a spoiler, you've got the aerodynamics wrong."
It was cut off at the knees metaphorically speaking but as a kid I had a diecast model of it and always wanted one but now as an adult I don't unless it was free of course.
Regardless of all the modifications to the production version. Something tells me that all those buyers who backed out of their purchase. Wish they hadn't. The Jaguar XJ220 is one of the most luxurious super-cars ever built. The car had all the creature features that luxury cars have. There was nothing else like it. Pretty hard to find one now. Most are under lock and key.
Great video and great car! But still I can't understand why the 1994 Dauer-Porsche 962 Strassenversion is not recognized as the fastest 90s road-legal car with 402 kph or about 250 mph. Is it mabe for the limited production number that the GT1 Le Mans' Class of that period dictated? I never understood that question clearely...
While the LM Dauer 962 did clock over 400km/h officially, I'm pretty sure that the road homologated version of the 962 was never actually officially tested. I know that it took McLaren 4 years to have the F1 officially recognised as the fastest production car, so I'm assuming the reason Dauer didn't choose to peruse it was because its expensive and a logistical headache, especially if you want to sell the road cars to fund racing efforts. The 962 goes in the same category as the TVR speed 12 - possibly the fastest at the time, but never officially tested or recognised. I could be completely wrong though hahaha
@@automobilistic Mmmmm it might be possible, but still, a fact that can't be denied is the official Le Mans 1994 speed traps that clocked the Dauer during pratice at around 340 (let's remember, in these years the protos still with a connection to the Group C predecessors - and the Dauer was AN '88 962C IN FULL DISGUISE - had to rely mostly on the boost, and on pratice they went on 100% turbo, whilst in race, about 80% to avoid an inevitabile engine breakdown). Hence, if even at full boost they never reached even 370 like the Group C 962 Porsche did (Dauer's could had perform like the latter if not more but in '94 the speef was limited by the Hunaudières chicanes, not present in '88) so your opinion might be wrong. Remember: 370 without chicanes and 340 with chicanes. But never, even by the official Porsche 962C, over 400. The only 3 cars to have reached such speeds were the 917 LH in '71 (396 for Porsche, 385 for A.C.O.), Sauber-Mercedes C9 '88 (around 400) and the formidable WR-Peugeot "Project 400" '89 (409 kph, sadly downgraded by Peugeot in a marketing move to promote it's brand new "405"). PS: Sorry for my long message, but when it comes to Le Mans' stuff I am like a busted dam! 😅 I will do more research in my personal Le Mans' Archive and online to solve this "Dauer's Denied Record Mystery" once for all! 👍😊
@@grandicellichannel From what I have read The Dauer 962 road car did in fact achieve an independently recorded speed of 404km/h, but it did so in 1998. Some outlets chose to recognise this as the successor to the McLaren F1, and predecessor to the Bugatti Veyron, but most simply ignored/forgot about it. The LM version did appear to reach over 400km/h, but not at Sarthe or during a race, simply during later tests. Again, I can't verify all the details beyond doubt, but that's the picture I have from what I've seen. You've dragged me down this rabbit hole!
@@grandicellichannel Not sure where your top speed figures are from the the 917 but all speed trap figures I've seen from various official sources suggest the 1971 917LH recorded the quickest trap speed at 'just' 362kmh, the Ferrari being quickest in practice that year at 359. The Ford's were quicker than any 917 prior to 71. Plenty was suggested about the Porsche top speed being a calculation from the revs but it didn't account for tyre slip hence the exaggerated figures. The quickest race speeds pre chicane being the WMs in 87 and 88 at 379 and 405 and the Jag in 89 at 389. Quickest 956 was 374 in practice and quickest 962 was 391 in 88. The Sauber hit 400 in practice in 89. All from the ACO figures and recorded at the same spot just before the kink at post 60. Just as another bit of info, the 1987 P87 WM recorded a testing speed of 416km/h on a yet to be opened motorway but the car failed very early in the race after 13 laps, but the teams own radar recorded 407 rather than the the official trap speed from the ACO of 381.
@@automobilistic The Jag and the Dauer didn't officially hold the fastest production car title as to he j as g was modified further than the normal version and only ran in one direction to set a time recorded by Jaguar. The Dauer didn't have a valid VIN number to be eligible when it independently set the 404km/h.
So I am 84 years old and owned an XK-140 and then an E-Type. Raced one, and toured Europe with the other. I could not afford the XJ220 but thought that it was a good idea to have it in the era of supercars, for people with supermoney. Anyway, when they downgraded the engine (not really, but buyers thought V-12 was twice V6) I thought that it was a mistake, because the owners were not engineers, but fashionistas and they would not sell. Remember the DeLorean, and everybody remembers the car but few remember that it did not have an engine. They could not find an engine. Somebody said Renault, but they could not stop laughing and someone said Volvo and everyone left. Anyway, the original idea of a fire-breathing V-12 in a Jaguar was exactly what the doctor ordered. It was to be an expensive car. V-6 was for a Mazda. Anyway, I can tell you what I have learned. Jobs could sell an apple computer. He was not an engineer. He was a visionary. Tesla is made by a man who is not an engineer. My son owns a Plaid, and I have to say it outdoes my Jaguars, by a lot. Anyway, sometimes you have to have the thing that people actually want, rather than what the engineers want. If they put a V-12 in the XK-220 it would be selling today.
People saying “oh it was before it’s time”. No it bloody wasn’t. Everyone knew it was gorgeous. Everyone knew it was incredible. But the moment they castrated it and replaced the proposed NA V12 with that pissing twin turbo V6, interest dried up. And no wonder! This was a halo car and nothing beats a V12 NA engine for feel and sensations. The fact that performance cars are using turbos now is purely down to emissions and *not* for how good it feels to the driver. The GMA T50 makes this quite obvious!
Had they stuck with the V12 I’m sure it would’ve been ok. The AWD not being there would’ve still been annoying for buyers & maybe would’ve dissuaded SOME but to completely toss out the V12 for half the cylinders despite the turbocharging was just asking for people to cancel orders left & right. I love this car & always have since I was a kid growing up. But I can’t help but wonder “what if” if they stuck to the original concept as much as possible…
Just another thought, I'm not sure how they counted them but I remember having be poster on the wall as a kid of the Koenig Competition, which I thought predated the XJ220 and was capable of 230mph or so. Might make a nice video too for the future?
The Koenig Competition is an interesting suggestion. I dont think it counted as a production car because if memory serves is was a built-to-order rework of the Ferrari Testarossa. However, I'll look into it a bit more and who knows, perhaps it'll get a video!
@@automobilistic It was based on the Testarossa but with a few turbos added and an awful red interior if memory serves, but it did lose the side gills for a big intakes which made it look better. it came with a million dollar price tag which was pretty out there at the time.
I've seen only one. Many Scalexteic and similar models, but only one real one. It is a MASSIVE car. ENORMOUS. COLOSSAL. And although it is not ugly, it has the oddest proportions. It is not pretty and doesn't even qualify as "jolie-laide". It just looks slippery and awkward. Although the 6R4 motor is a snarly beast, it is not a hypercar power unit. At tickover and low revs it sounds odd; rattly; lumpy on a bad way, like an untuned lawnmower. Sound is a part of the game in these cars. A lot of it is visual and aural - and the XJ220 fails both tests. People pretend they are used at the edge of their performance envelope, but they rarely exceed 70mph and usually only in a straight line. It is partly a noise thing, and the noise was wrong. In the end the XJ220 was a sort of Sigue Sigue Sputnik big-hair extravaganza the week after big hair became a joke. It was an attempt to jump on the "more is more" wagon that had stalled before it left the drawing board. It is bought by collectors and speculators. Good for them! As a car for highway use, it was always a non-starter.
Cars business is ultra competitive, company has to be run by enthusiast, designed by enthusiast, supported by enthusiast, even that does not guarantee success. XJ220 was designed by enthusiast, unfortunately when the finance people sees the receptions and potential profit, they intervened, and unfortunately lost the support from enthusiast buyers.
Love that British craftsmanship. Designer: We've designed it to 220mph. Fitter: OK it looks awesome and its fast but how do I make sure the doors go on straight? Designer: I don't know, hang them by hand then eyeball the gap.
It was one of the poster cars of my youth. Despite being born in 1985, I preferred the Countach, and let's be honest... the McLaren F1 is just a leaner, badder and better version of the XJ220.
I think the biggest problem was Jaguar's own XJR-15. That was such an awesome car, Jaguar had to come with something absolutely out of this World, a McLaren F1-beater, to match the expectations. The XJ220 in itself wasn't a bad car. It just had the misfortune of the XJR-15 preceeding it on the market by just a couple of years.
But the XJR-15 had its own issues. Very raw car with racing feel, and said to be difficult to drive. Underpowered next to what would come after. Due to its rarity the XJR-15 had even less impact than the XJ220. To the point the Nissan R390 and Lister Storm were better known...
promising a v12 and delivering a v6 was frankly criminal. i mean seriously, bordering on bait and switch tactics. not at all surprised they got so many cancelled orders.
Yeah, it was a huge mistake
the thing is the v6 version was way faster than the v12 in the testing but yea ure right tho
Personally, I'd gladly take the V6 of the Metro 6R4 group B rally car (with two added turbos) over a V12 with 50% higher fuel consumption, double the maintenance and repair costs and worse power and torque, any day! Nobody seems to have mentioned that.
they also ditched the 4wd :-(
The typical British “that will do” mentality. That’s why Britain’s car industry is gone as a whole. They can’t seem te bother.
The xj220 was before it's time. In the 90's excess was the norm. Huge engines, large cylinder count, and crazy wings/aero. A V6 with a power adder (super or turbo charger) was something buyers didn't want. Today supercars/hypercars commonly have multi-turbo/supercharged V8, V6, and I4 engines or the uncommon massively powered multi-turbo I3. How could anyone be expected to flaunt their excess with a V6 in the 90's?
Cause of the excessive top speed.
On a practical standpoint, a turbo V6 could be even more effective than an "atmospheric" V12. It's the display, "showy" aspect to draw to the V12, and many wealthy buyers will never bring their supercars to the track, so no wonder a V6T "hypercar" hasn't meet the success the productor hoped for - At the time, turbocharging still was considered to be a cheap, crude way to have power. The "stigma" was to be challenged by cars such as the Bugatti EB110, which got along with turbos by attaching (four of!) them to a V12, but the XJ220 still was unfortunately too early in the game.
@@TenorCantusFirmus turbocharging is still a cheap, crude and easy way to gain power 🤷♂️
@@surrealtom Perhaps, but perception has improved. By nowadays, a good turbo engine isn't seen as inferior to a good "atmo" counterpart.
@@TenorCantusFirmus unless the engine is painfully underpowered, I'd still go naturally aspirated. Frankly, if I do have to use forced induction, I'd rather use a supercharger because of the linear power curve. Notable exceptions: F40, 288GTO, Veyron SS, K24 swap in a light car, Huayra Roadster.
Only ever seen the XJ220 once. I was driving past The Brittle car showroom in Newcastle Under Lyme and spotted it through the window. I turned round at the next roundabout and went back. I asked the sales guy if I could look at the XJ220, he even opened the car and allowed me to sit inside. Great memory of such a fantastic car. Thanks 😊
Lucky fellow 👍
My favourite car !
The difference between exhaust note of a V-12 and Turbo V-6 had to be a deal breaker for many wealthy buyers.
One of the most beautiful cars that has been created. The proportions are almost perfect.
Such a handsome beast.
Utterly timeless, unlike the internals.
I remember that there was a class action lawsuit brought by those that had put down deposits based on the initial advertised specs of the V12 engine and 4 wheel drive. Jaguar prevailed and the lawsuit was denied, and I suspect the judge was paid off in order to get that kind of judgement. He didn't view those changes as being substantial since the cars looks and insane top end as being that big of a determination in allowing the buyer get out of their contract. As a car enthusiast I can say those are MASSIVE differences! Just the sound of a V12 vs. a V6 is enough to justify a valid claim of false advertising.
I still mantain that the Jaguar XJ220 was one of those childhood cars I never got tired of looking at. It is pure sex appeal. The sweeping body, those rims, and of course that grunt from the 3.5 liter Twin-Turbo V6; monster of the pouncing cat!
I remember the height of the hype around this as a young kid - I made my Dad buy Shell petrol just to be able to get models of the XJ220, Bugatti EB110, Ferrari F40, Aston DB7 etc - I forget that although the XJ looked amazing from most angles, those rear lights looked like they'd pulled them out of the BL parts bin as an afterthought :D
I don't care about the engine, the lack of 4WD, or the doors. This is one of the most beautiful cars ever made
That Gran Turismo music took me straight back to my childhood. You deserve 10k subs for that alone!
Another great video, and a Big Car endorsement. I sense good things on the horizon 👍
Thanks for the kind words!
@FlyingElk, I was thinking the very same.
That is the game that made love the xj220 even more, this video is the greatest on TH-cam for using the music from the game .
I've save the link to this video just to remind, and watch it over again.
Now starting Realestate investing, I think I'm going to buy a xj220.
If there one available of course, they're a collectibles now.
Honestly... THIS IS the type of video Gran Turismo SHOULD had as well, on informative side of the car history. Like when Forza hired Jermy Clarkson to make cometaries about the cars. Or Jeremy, James and Richard making the comments about the car class history again in Forza.
Thank you for the NFS 2 video in there.
One of my all time favorite sim racing games.
And dropping the V12 for the TTV6 was wierd to say the least.
Sure it got the job done but it seemed out of place at the time.
It's not a sim racer, it's an arcade racer.
They initially shown to be having a V12 which hyped it up, but then it was sold with a turbo V6 which the rich clientele are not interested in.
If they sold it with a V12 instead of a V6 turbo, it would have sold even if a V6 turbo would have been faster.
Something a lot of people who don’t remember when this car came out just don’t understand. I remember potential owners like Elton John actually forfeit their deposits when the engine change happened *after* their deposits were made.
even with a v12 it wouldnt have sold. million pounds plus in todays money is just toooo much!!
@@themysterycook7320
You’d be surprised how many were pre-ordered. Potential owners just gave up their deposits.
@@nicholastotoro7721 yep, i think i was incorrect. my bad. still think the xjr 15 was a lot better. yeah, i know that wasnt a factory jag. still a milllion pounds plus in todays money, i mean there are only 4 members of the BAnd Queen..Freddie/May and Deacon and the other bloke bought them all?
to me the Jaguar XJ220 is one of the best looking supercars ever made!
This engine is such a gem in GT7. Pulls so smooth and evenly though the rpms.
The irony of it all.
It's easy to look at a V6 twinturbo supercar with modern eyes and think nothing of it but the Jag offered a big V12 in the age of big V12's then appeared to do a bait and switch. It's only in recent years that people realise how good these things where. They where also stunningly beautiful to look at.
Secure firm orders, complete with blank cheques amidst a Fury of interest, then retrograde the product in several major respects. How very British, no wonder we've no car industry left! Btw, is this video from 2002 then?
It certainly wasn't jaguar's finest hour haha. Old footage, new video!
My favorite supercar that i wanna see irl. That car puts on favorite because the body still same as the concept and the engine is a v6 from mg metro that can go 'almost' reach 220.
Still can't believe a v6 mg turbo that can go over 200 km/h
Edit : sorry, it was mph
The Metro 6R4 had a 3ltr V6 without turbos and put out 400bhp in race tune! The XJ220 had the engine taken out from 3.0 to 3.5ltr and twin turbos added to give 542bhp. The XJ22S had the boost turned up giving 680bhp!
Yet another great video! Can only ponder how monstrous this car would be with the concept v12. Still an amazing car though👌
Thank you! glad you enjoyed!
It's hard to say really. The V12 would have been naturally aspirated, and a lot heavier, but with a larger power output. It most likely would have gone faster in a straight line, slower round bends, and cost even more hahaha. But just imagine the sound! I have actually seen the original V12 concept car (its at the British Motor Museum), and I have to add that the V12 engine looks a lot cooler through the cover.
Most customers had signed up for a car with the engine based on a two time le mans winner, XJR14 ability aside the Bernie engine was certainly not what was intended originally nor desired by the customers.
Not forgetting it should have been 4wd too!
Likely not all that much faster considering it still got a full fledged race motor
JAGUAR XJ220 - V 12
High paying clients were blown away by the looks of the Jaguar !
In fact out of the 3 cars:
I. Jaguar XJS 220
II. Lamborghini Diablo V12
III. Ferrari F40 V8 Twin Turb
( People were visibility bored by Maranello's old 70's marketing stunt, that is flog a model that had been seen everywhere the last 2 years !)
People were stunned, excited and to be honest absolutely blown away by the Jaguar XJS 220.
Lamborghini's BEST was and still is in my view, the Diablo.
At least Lamborghini brought out the Diablo SVJ !
But the cheque books were ALL out for the new dazzling Jaguar!
It would turn into a nightmare soon enough.
The beautiful shape of the XJS 200 could not accommodate a V12 allegedly.
FACT
Money 💰 talks and BS walks !
DIABLO
The pre-1992 Diablo's still considered A collector's item as they were built by Lamborghini prior to the Chrysler buy out.
The Diablo SVJ could do over 200 mph, but debate rages whether the Italian built Lamborghini Diablo's could.
Owners of the Diablo VT claim their Diablo's could do over 200 mph . . .
No problemo!
Spanner in the Works
The McLaren F 1 and the Ferrari F 50
The latter, laughably, had a Formula 1 engine strapped to its body. At that time, thanks to a badly misquoted Jeremy Clarkson review of the F 50, people ignorantly wrote off the F 50 as slow.
Ferrari did NOT market the F50 well and it was soon forgotten and up u til 2015 thought of as slower than its F 40 predecessor.
McLaren F1
Blew everyone away. That shape and its amazing speed.
The McLaren F 1 was touted as the world's fastest road car.
This was off course BS.
WHY - Recent tests have repeatedly demonstrated that the F50 could easily blow the McLaren F1 away as could SVJ Diablo's.
F 50 Owners.... Irate
Most F 50 owners were too frightened to use its crazy power and speed.
McLaren knew this and developed the McLaren F1 GTR.
Ferrari reciprocated and launched the extremely powerful F 50 GTR.
Brutally fast, but like the 288 GTO built for a racing class that never came to fruition.
By 2015 a group of F 50 aficionados had had enough. They repeatedly raced McLaren F 1's and the top end quicker F 50 easily humiliated a shocked F1 owner !
You could do another video about this car, because in 1993 the XJ220 was used as a racecar for a Race of Champions I watched on ESPN. Most of the competitors were retired NASCAR with a few IndyCar drivers, I know Bobby Allison drove in it. It was a wreakfest of Jaguar XJ220s!!!
The series was actually called Fast Masters and I was at the first race at Indianapolis Raceway Park. It was the mini oval with a detour into the infield for a quasi-chicane. Man, the carnage was immediate and long lasting! I don't think a quarter of the cars made it to the end. It was hilarious.
It’s better looking than most of the present supercars I think, beautiful smooth shape
My dad bought me a green model of the 220. Still have it today, 30 years later! The design is amazing, ahead of its time and still breath taking today.
542 hp with a 3.5 liter V6 in year 1992 is mindblowing. But as far as I understand, they didn`t like the V6 even this V6 powered once fastest production car with a stunning 213 mph. It is fast even today`s standarts despite 31 years passed from it`s relase. A great car in my opinion.
You can't blame it's looks. It's gorgeous.
Still looks modern today, what a beauty
Big Car recommended this channel and I just subscribed!!! More great car content for me!!!
Thanks! Plenty more on the way :)
@@automobilistic do one on Tommy Kaira ZZII
Same!
I’ve always loved that car. Ever since I had the XJ220 game on my Amiga I’ve wanted a shot in one
The XJ220 has always been my favorite Jag I like it more than the e-type. I feel they could have done the a 4wd v6 or 4wd v12 with a second model run around the time the F50 was new.
Imagine if the V12 AWD version was built
This would've fought with the BMW V12 Powered Mclaren F1
A Battle of the V12
Or make it a twin turbo V12
Or, or, one V12 in each wheel?
@@louislavoie1238 Make it make sense..
Does anyone remember the Amiga game called 'Jaguar JX220'? One of my favorite racing games on the Amiga.
Growing up in the 90's I had a folder with this glorious beast on the front.
Say what you'd like about the engine and price, but it's still the most beautiful supercar shape ever seen. Just stunning in its grace and beauty.
looks absolutely perfect in that dark red metallic! aside from losing half its cylinders this car also apparently didnt have power steering...putting it into enthusiast-ONLY territory
Still a stunning car by todays standards
The XJ220 was a superb car even with its V6 twin turbo (an engine that had been race proven in the 6R4) Having the small capacity turbo'd powerplant meant it was easily tuned for more power if needed. The XJ220S (made with help by TWR to help sell unsold cars) had an increase In power from 542bhp to 680bhp! Jaguars creaky, old V12 might have given the car a better soundtrack but other than that I think it would have been a slower, worse handling supercar.
It would have been seen as a worse McLaren F1 like the F50 eventually was (unfair).
I just see this as cope. Wealthy buyers dont tune. They want a good experience. They bait and switched the v12 and deservedly ate shit for it. The car looks beautiful but it deserved to die.
I was once on the way to the airport and was overtaken by a group of supercars driving "briskly" bunch of lambos and ferarris and then after they went past, a little while later an XJ220 at a speed i am guessing it was over 170mph as it passed me doing 80mph like i was standing still.
I think also the XJ220 came around just when the financial problems from the era so a lot of the people buying them were expecting to flip them for a big profit (people were doing this with the F40 at the time, its also why Ferrari built so many of them when they said it was going to be like only 300) but when the markets crashed that was over so a lot of the customers started finding ways to get out of paying and trying to get their deposits back, i don't think people were as upset of the lack of V12 and 4WD as much as they used it as a excuse to get out buying one.
Although i wish they could have kept the V12 and 4wd as it would have been even more special.
XJ220 also could easily run 720bhp as the engine is really strong, i think the TWR version would have been nearly as fast as the McLaren F1 as the McLaren F1 "only" does 221mph stock to get it to 231-240mph they have to raise the limiter, to be fair the XJ220 that ran 217mph had its catalytic convertors removed and a couple of other minor mods.
But would love to see another speed run with both of them as the McLaren makes 660bhp after its been run in iirc so would be interesting to see the difference it makes or a normal F1 with the 680bhp LM engine which revs to 8500rpm, or even the longtail GT which was meant to go over 240mph but there is only 2 of them and no one will try the top speed.
XJ220 looks as good today, as it did in the 90's.
my dad considered buying one at the time - nearly put down a deposit - when it came out that they were ditching the initial plans of a V12 for the V6 he changed his mind.
Simple they promised a 12 and delivered a V6 that sounded like shit! Then they sued clients who didn’t want the car after that lie and they wondered why they had problems! Total BS!
Probably the only jaguar I’d actually want to buy. But the money will likely never be there for that
I remember seeing the XJ220 at the Birmingham NEC Motorshow when I was a kid and falling in love... I can't even recall seeing the F40 at the same show, that's the impact this car made at the time.
Very nice video of my favourite supercar from my childhood.
I like how you used Gran Turismo music!
Thanks! Really glad you enjoyed the video!
@@automobilistic you're welcome! I subscribed too 👍
Was at the '88 NEC motorshow as a schoolboy and then at Le Mans in '95 to see it race again (sadly a DNF), such a great looking car and deserved the V12 to celebrate the TWR Group C cars, would still have one mind...
A mate of mine has the enviable job of looking after a fleet of classic and super cars for his wealthy clients. They have an XJ220 in the fleet. He once showed me around the fleet and every car we'd get to I'd say in awe "wow, have you driven this?" When we got to the XJ220 I asked the same old question and he replied "oh fffs, to save time I can confirm I've driven them all". I still asked him every time we got to a car though - well what's life if you can't wind up a mate. Oh and Mintex had a poster of an XJ220 with an advert for their brake pads as I remember.
The top of the line XJS was a V12. The famous Le Mans winners were V12s. The prototype predecessor of the XJ220 - the XJR15 - was a V12. It should have been a V12.
Timing killed it more than anything else really. If it had come out 2 years later it'd have sold better and been more of a McLaren F1 rival.
Yeah, there’s only a handful of things you can do to get enthusiastic buyers like that to completely change their minds: halve the cylinders, change the drivetrain, remove the exotic aspect of the doors, turn a roadster into a coupe, and change a manual into an automatic. They managed to do 3 of the only 5 things they couldn’t do to make it a success.
The music brings me back to my teen years
Most beautiful super car ever made
Simple indications of underdevelopment are wipers up on the screen instead of under cover, and door mirrors that look like they came from a family saloon. Probably enough to stop it reaching 220 mph. But the biggest problem was its sheer size. Not practical in modern traffic.
The xj220 still looks stunning even now and probably the only car I still lust for
I'd hit
Great video!
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed :)
i think the fact that it was a v6 instead of a v12 was made up by being a metro 6r4 engine
Wait it was really that motor??
@@Spherz as far as I can tell yes it was
@@anhondacivic6541 makes it 10x more amazing
The Rover 200 rear light clusters look absolutely ridiculous on this car. Why did they do that...
So THAT'S where they sourced them from!
Ahh, I remember it well, I was about 16/17 and still liked it despite its "Metro engine". But now I can see what a let down it must have seemed, especially to those that were pre ordering with those blank cheques, It was also a time of recession not long after the XJ220 launch too- I've heard Many say the Italian Bugatti EB110 was everything the XJ220 was supposed to be and I have to agree with them- it had the 12 cyl and 4 turbos... oh- and the scissor doors! ATB.
Big Car 🚙 recommend this video ,great humour by the way
I thought the Windows XP window cutouts were nostalgic but then bam!!! Those NFS II showcase scenes are just the business and instantly brought back all the memories and the background music.
Also, 700k in todays money is very cheap, considering how other modern limited run hypercars of the same caliber are going for millions of dollars.
Jaguar: XJ220, V12, 4WD
Buyers: blank cheque!
Jaguar: XJ220, V6 Turbo, 2WD
Buyers: hell no!!!
XJ220: doesn't exist.
World: genius move! 🥴
Wasn't the engine used in the XJ220 derived from the one used in the Metro 6R4 rally car?
Daamn I will always remember this car from that amazing Need for Speed II intro ❤
Duude
From the time it was first shown, until production ready, the economy went into a recession. Meaning that many of those initially clamouring to buy one, were later light on for money.
The changes to spec. like the V12 to eventual V6, gave a convenient excuse to pull the plug on the purchase.
Wow the Jaguar XJR 15 looks A LOT like the Nissan R390
They have a common history
@@SvenElven
Oh i didnt know that.
Absolutely love the XJ220, beautiful car
For me the XJR-15 is the ultimate Jag. Look at peoples reactions to seeing and being in it. 🤩
Imagine being one of those volunteers who basically handed Jaguar a masterpiece, that was made in their own spare time, and gathers a huge amount of interest from their wealthiest customers, only to have Jaguar cheap out and trash the design. They must have been so pissed off!
Pissed off? They still managed to sell 275 contraptions to rich idiots!
One of the reasons why it was the XJ 200 was that it was handmade and had an initial production run of 220 units to preserve its collectible value.
There was one found behind a bricked up wall in a carpet business in Cardiff a while back.
i would love to have a xj220 with the v12 and 4wd.
Who wouldn't?
One of the coolest "Poster Cars" of the 1990's
Such a beautiful car.
Wasn't this the supercar that came out with no spoiler?
If it's the one I'm thinking of, Walkinshaw commented that "if you need a spoiler, you've got the aerodynamics wrong."
That's Jaguar through and through. Applied the same principal to their LeMans racers
One of my most favourite cars. BTW there was a game based on it released for the Amiga and the Sega CD.
I was at Silverstone one year. A random guy got in one, 'stole it'. They got it back, he just wanted to drive it.
Recon i’ll have to get one if i get a touch on the lottery
Just think that the engine that powered the Metro 6R4 rally car was the same engine used in the Jag
It was cut off at the knees metaphorically speaking but as a kid I had a diecast model of it and always wanted one but now as an adult I don't unless it was free of course.
3:07
Ah yes need for speed II
My introduction to cars in general and the beautiful XJ220.
I saw it in person. Looks much better in pictures.
I've seen a couple in person, I felt it looked better than pictures. Pictures dont convey the presence and sheer size of the thing!
Regardless of all the modifications to the production version. Something tells me that all those buyers who
backed out of their purchase. Wish they hadn't. The Jaguar XJ220 is one of the most luxurious super-cars
ever built. The car had all the creature features that luxury cars have. There was nothing else like it.
Pretty hard to find one now. Most are under lock and key.
It was meant to be V12 AWD monster. With the amount of cylinders and driven wheels halved the interest was halved too.
Excellent use of Gran Turismo music, and a very fun video indeed. You've earned yourself your 666th subscriber 😅 (apparently)
Thanks! Really glad you enjoyed the video :) and thanks for subscribing!
I never bought one as I could never afford one. Always fancied one, but there doesn’t seem to be anywhere for a roof rack for my ladders!
Homie knows exactly what he's doing with the GT2 music...I feel simultaneously: patronized and sheepishly nostalgic.
Great video and great car! But still I can't understand why the 1994 Dauer-Porsche 962 Strassenversion is not recognized as the fastest 90s road-legal car with 402 kph or about 250 mph. Is it mabe for the limited production number that the GT1 Le Mans' Class of that period dictated? I never understood that question clearely...
While the LM Dauer 962 did clock over 400km/h officially, I'm pretty sure that the road homologated version of the 962 was never actually officially tested. I know that it took McLaren 4 years to have the F1 officially recognised as the fastest production car, so I'm assuming the reason Dauer didn't choose to peruse it was because its expensive and a logistical headache, especially if you want to sell the road cars to fund racing efforts. The 962 goes in the same category as the TVR speed 12 - possibly the fastest at the time, but never officially tested or recognised. I could be completely wrong though hahaha
@@automobilistic Mmmmm it might be possible, but still, a fact that can't be denied is the official Le Mans 1994 speed traps that clocked the Dauer during pratice at around 340 (let's remember, in these years the protos still with a connection to the Group C predecessors - and the Dauer was AN '88 962C IN FULL DISGUISE - had to rely mostly on the boost, and on pratice they went on 100% turbo, whilst in race, about 80% to avoid an inevitabile engine breakdown). Hence, if even at full boost they never reached even 370 like the Group C 962 Porsche did (Dauer's could had perform like the latter if not more but in '94 the speef was limited by the Hunaudières chicanes, not present in '88) so your opinion might be wrong. Remember: 370 without chicanes and 340 with chicanes. But never, even by the official Porsche 962C, over 400. The only 3 cars to have reached such speeds were the 917 LH in '71 (396 for Porsche, 385 for A.C.O.), Sauber-Mercedes C9 '88 (around 400) and the formidable WR-Peugeot "Project 400" '89 (409 kph, sadly downgraded by Peugeot in a marketing move to promote it's brand new "405").
PS: Sorry for my long message, but when it comes to Le Mans' stuff I am like a busted dam! 😅
I will do more research in my personal Le Mans' Archive and online to solve this "Dauer's Denied Record Mystery" once for all! 👍😊
@@grandicellichannel From what I have read The Dauer 962 road car did in fact achieve an independently recorded speed of 404km/h, but it did so in 1998. Some outlets chose to recognise this as the successor to the McLaren F1, and predecessor to the Bugatti Veyron, but most simply ignored/forgot about it. The LM version did appear to reach over 400km/h, but not at Sarthe or during a race, simply during later tests. Again, I can't verify all the details beyond doubt, but that's the picture I have from what I've seen.
You've dragged me down this rabbit hole!
@@grandicellichannel Not sure where your top speed figures are from the the 917 but all speed trap figures I've seen from various official sources suggest the 1971 917LH recorded the quickest trap speed at 'just' 362kmh, the Ferrari being quickest in practice that year at 359. The Ford's were quicker than any 917 prior to 71. Plenty was suggested about the Porsche top speed being a calculation from the revs but it didn't account for tyre slip hence the exaggerated figures. The quickest race speeds pre chicane being the WMs in 87 and 88 at 379 and 405 and the Jag in 89 at 389. Quickest 956 was 374 in practice and quickest 962 was 391 in 88. The Sauber hit 400 in practice in 89. All from the ACO figures and recorded at the same spot just before the kink at post 60. Just as another bit of info, the 1987 P87 WM recorded a testing speed of 416km/h on a yet to be opened motorway but the car failed very early in the race after 13 laps, but the teams own radar recorded 407 rather than the the official trap speed from the ACO of 381.
@@automobilistic The Jag and the Dauer didn't officially hold the fastest production car title as to he j as g was modified further than the normal version and only ran in one direction to set a time recorded by Jaguar. The Dauer didn't have a valid VIN number to be eligible when it independently set the 404km/h.
Remember seeing this car from Need For Speed 2 and Gran Turismo 2.
Beautiful classic
Possibly the most beautiful car ever made.
Pity about everything else under the skin...
So I am 84 years old and owned an XK-140 and then an E-Type. Raced one, and toured Europe with the other. I could not afford the XJ220 but thought that it was a good idea to have it in the era of supercars, for people with supermoney. Anyway, when they downgraded the engine (not really, but buyers thought V-12 was twice V6) I thought that it was a mistake, because the owners were not engineers, but fashionistas and they would not sell. Remember the DeLorean, and everybody remembers the car but few remember that it did not have an engine. They could not find an engine. Somebody said Renault, but they could not stop laughing and someone said Volvo and everyone left. Anyway, the original idea of a fire-breathing V-12 in a Jaguar was exactly what the doctor ordered. It was to be an expensive car. V-6 was for a Mazda. Anyway, I can tell you what I have learned. Jobs could sell an apple computer. He was not an engineer. He was a visionary. Tesla is made by a man who is not an engineer. My son owns a Plaid, and I have to say it outdoes my Jaguars, by a lot. Anyway, sometimes you have to have the thing that people actually want, rather than what the engineers want. If they put a V-12 in the XK-220 it would be selling today.
People saying “oh it was before it’s time”. No it bloody wasn’t. Everyone knew it was gorgeous. Everyone knew it was incredible. But the moment they castrated it and replaced the proposed NA V12 with that pissing twin turbo V6, interest dried up. And no wonder! This was a halo car and nothing beats a V12 NA engine for feel and sensations.
The fact that performance cars are using turbos now is purely down to emissions and *not* for how good it feels to the driver. The GMA T50 makes this quite obvious!
Its a thing of immense beauty
I really didn't care for the looks of the thing, and then there was the turbo v6. Never really missed it.
Had they stuck with the V12 I’m sure it would’ve been ok. The AWD not being there would’ve still been annoying for buyers & maybe would’ve dissuaded SOME but to completely toss out the V12 for half the cylinders despite the turbocharging was just asking for people to cancel orders left & right. I love this car & always have since I was a kid growing up. But I can’t help but wonder “what if” if they stuck to the original concept as much as possible…
i saw one of these before... on the M4... on the hard shoulder, steam coming from under the bonnet, and the hazard lights on.
Just another thought, I'm not sure how they counted them but I remember having be poster on the wall as a kid of the Koenig Competition, which I thought predated the XJ220 and was capable of 230mph or so. Might make a nice video too for the future?
The Koenig Competition is an interesting suggestion. I dont think it counted as a production car because if memory serves is was a built-to-order rework of the Ferrari Testarossa. However, I'll look into it a bit more and who knows, perhaps it'll get a video!
@@automobilistic It was based on the Testarossa but with a few turbos added and an awful red interior if memory serves, but it did lose the side gills for a big intakes which made it look better. it came with a million dollar price tag which was pretty out there at the time.
@@automobilistic I'm pretty sure Koenig were the first to produce a road going 962, but I may be wrong.
I've seen only one. Many Scalexteic and similar models, but only one real one. It is a MASSIVE car. ENORMOUS. COLOSSAL. And although it is not ugly, it has the oddest proportions. It is not pretty and doesn't even qualify as "jolie-laide". It just looks slippery and awkward.
Although the 6R4 motor is a snarly beast, it is not a hypercar power unit.
At tickover and low revs it sounds odd; rattly; lumpy on a bad way, like an untuned lawnmower. Sound is a part of the game in these cars. A lot of it is visual and aural - and the XJ220 fails both tests. People pretend they are used at the edge of their performance envelope, but they rarely exceed 70mph and usually only in a straight line. It is partly a noise thing, and the noise was wrong.
In the end the XJ220 was a sort of Sigue Sigue Sputnik big-hair extravaganza the week after big hair became a joke.
It was an attempt to jump on the "more is more" wagon that had stalled before it left the drawing board.
It is bought by collectors and speculators. Good for them! As a car for highway use, it was always a non-starter.
Gran turismo 2 jazz in the background
To me this is the best looking production car of all times, followed by Camilo Pardo's reincarnation of the Ford GT
Cars business is ultra competitive, company has to be run by enthusiast, designed by enthusiast, supported by enthusiast, even that does not guarantee success.
XJ220 was designed by enthusiast, unfortunately when the finance people sees the receptions and potential profit, they intervened, and unfortunately lost the support from enthusiast buyers.
They should make a XJ200v2 today with similar looks, AWD, twin turbo V8 and scissor doors.
Love that British craftsmanship. Designer: We've designed it to 220mph. Fitter: OK it looks awesome and its fast but how do I make sure the doors go on straight? Designer: I don't know, hang them by hand then eyeball the gap.
It was one of the poster cars of my youth. Despite being born in 1985, I preferred the Countach, and let's be honest... the McLaren F1 is just a leaner, badder and better version of the XJ220.
I think the biggest problem was Jaguar's own XJR-15. That was such an awesome car, Jaguar had to come with something absolutely out of this World, a McLaren F1-beater, to match the expectations.
The XJ220 in itself wasn't a bad car. It just had the misfortune of the XJR-15 preceeding it on the market by just a couple of years.
But the XJR-15 had its own issues. Very raw car with racing feel, and said to be difficult to drive. Underpowered next to what would come after.
Due to its rarity the XJR-15 had even less impact than the XJ220. To the point the Nissan R390 and Lister Storm were better known...
spectacular channel. I am interested in your videos!