RE: Jaguar XJ220: PH Heroes

[Ved]

It's just wonderful and for me was the greatest thing Jaguar did and probably has done. It's just the pinnacle of their second generation of cars. Damn good game on the Amiga too

[CalibreDan]

They've always been THE supercar for me... Absolutely awesome! I had the story of the XJ220 VHS when I was about 5 and I'd sit pinned in front of the TV watching the whole thing at a rate that probably drove my Mum bonkers! It had the record setting Nuburgring lap driven by Neilsen as per the Chris Harris video... It was fully of dodgy music and angles but you can see how committed the driving was!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DesFwgSvIW4

[james_gt3rs]

90s supercars are the best

[anonymous-user]

A stunning car, the one at Silverstone Classic almost made up for the frostbite

[michael243]

[redacted]

[robinessex]

Well, someone has to post the other (flawed ?) Jag. And it's dam good looking as well.



Those of an easily upset disposition, please look away !

[Chris Wilson]

I remember the first time I saw one in the flesh, in the paddock at Donington, and thinking how much smaller it was in the flesh than how it appeared in photographs. Still a stunning looking car today!

[hookedonboost]

Love these cars, I was also at the Motor Show when these were at prototype stage with my old boy, I can recall him lifting me up so I could see the engine bay which would have been the fabled V12.

Does anyone else recall the XJ220 they found hidden behind a wall?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/3005938.stm

[ST270]

Harris did a great video at the ring with the XKR S - the 220 looks fierce under full boost......

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SInTigWaDFs

[soad]

james_gt3rs said:

90s supercars are the best

I'll take a Bugatti EB110.

[NDNDNDND]

ST270 said:

Harris did a great video at the ring with the XKR S - the 220 looks fierce under full boost......

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SInTigWaDFs

You can actually SEE the steering feel… If an XJ220 is perfectly good without PAS, why the hell does everything from the crummiest hatchback upwards have to be saddled with numb PAS these days?

[PHMatt]

[redacted]

[Escort Si-130]

Nicely write article, shame about the car imo. It was called 220 for a reason and never even made that speed. It also didn't do them justice by making it RWD and ditching the V12. IIRC they had get a few lawsuits in the States over the car not being able to make 220mph. Never liked the rear styling, it just didn't go with the beautiful crafted front. The rear lights and grill between it makes it look unfinished.
also noticed the heater switches and vents are from the mk5 Ford Escort

[Countersteer]

My favourite production Jaguar (because there is always the XJ13 which this kind of reminds me of in a way). I think it was hard done by, back in the day. Deemed a failure because all those hoping to make a quick buck on it, like the 959 or F40, rushed to put their deposits down and then the ar$e fell out of the economy - not exactly Jaguars fault, that. And ok, it got a V6 instead of a V12 which was a shame but rear wheel drive instead of 4x4 was IMHO the better, purer choice.
But most of all; just look at it. You could argue that the tail beyond the rear wheel is a bit long or Rover 216 rear lamps are a bit naff but that bodyline, that roofline. Those ovals everywhere, from the grille to the lights to the c-pillar. In my eyes I'd still put it up there in the top 3 best looking cars of all time. And I'd never seen Venturi tunnels on a car before. What joy and mystery they held to me back in 1992 at Stratstones of Mayfair. I would watch it go round and around on its motorised plinth, daring once in a while to step inside the showroom for a closer look.

No, the worst thing about this car wasn't the car but the timing: the recession, the attitude to speed at that time (Lotus Carlton came in for a slating too) and the McLaren F1. This is an astonishing car - this is everything that I love about cars...

[PHMatt]

Escort Si-130 said:

Nicely write article, shame about the car imo. It was called 220 for a reason and never even made that speed. It also didn't do them justice by making it RWD and ditching the V12. IIRC they had get a few lawsuits in the States over the car not being able to make 220mph. Never liked the rear styling, it just didn't go with the beautiful crafted front. The rear lights and grill between it makes it look unfinished.
also noticed the heater switches and vents are from the mk5 Ford Escort

You drive an Escort and you don't think the 220 looks nice?

That's like being married to Dawn French and saying Megan Fox is a munter.

[markcoznottz]

Escort Si-130 said:

Nicely write article, shame about the car imo. It was called 220 for a reason and never even made that speed. It also didn't do them justice by making it RWD and ditching the V12. IIRC they had get a few lawsuits in the States over the car not being able to make 220mph. Never liked the rear styling, it just didn't go with the beautiful crafted front. The rear lights and grill between it makes it look unfinished.
also noticed the heater switches and vents are from the mk5 Ford Escort

Took the cats off for the top speed run at nardo, 217 mph iirc. Maybe they tweaked the boost as well. Chris Harris also mentioned they removed the cats from the mclaren f1 that autocar tested, which is intriguing, for a NA engine.

[Escort Si-130]

Sorry Matt, but the rear of the Escort looks far better than the XJ220. Looking at the XJ220 from the front and the side it is stunning, just don't go and watch it full on at the rear. It looks very kit car at the rear than Supercar.

PHMatt said:

Escort Si-130 said:

Nicely write article, shame about the car imo. It was called 220 for a reason and never even made that speed. It also didn't do them justice by making it RWD and ditching the V12. IIRC they had get a few lawsuits in the States over the car not being able to make 220mph. Never liked the rear styling, it just didn't go with the beautiful crafted front. The rear lights and grill between it makes it look unfinished.
also noticed the heater switches and vents are from the mk5 Ford Escort

You drive an Escort and you don't think the 220 looks nice?

That's like being married to Dawn French and saying Megan Fox is a munter.

[AutoEvo]

Perhaps PH would like to try my yellow XJ220 (22OJ, in some of the nice photos above!), which has been upgraded by Don Law to S Spec. Uprated brakes that work far better, 680bhp with much more torque and wider power band (Although still laggy , and a much more dramatic step from no boost to lots of boost), nicer noise from the straight through decatted large diameter exhaust, and some downforce from the uprated front end with big splitter and rear wing. Please do contact me. And thanks for the nice comments.

Edited by AutoEvo on Wednesday 23 September 17:52

Edited by AutoEvo on Wednesday 23 September 17:55

Edited by AutoEvo on Wednesday 23 September 17:57

[PHMatt]

Escort Si-130 said:

Sorry Matt, but the rear of the Escort looks far better than the XJ220. Looking at the XJ220 from the front and the side it is stunning, just don't go and watch it full on at the rear. It looks very kit car at the rear than Supercar.

PHMatt said:

Escort Si-130 said:

Nicely write article, shame about the car imo. It was called 220 for a reason and never even made that speed. It also didn't do them justice by making it RWD and ditching the V12. IIRC they had get a few lawsuits in the States over the car not being able to make 220mph. Never liked the rear styling, it just didn't go with the beautiful crafted front. The rear lights and grill between it makes it look unfinished.
also noticed the heater switches and vents are from the mk5 Ford Escort

You drive an Escort and you don't think the 220 looks nice?

That's like being married to Dawn French and saying Megan Fox is a munter.

I'm sure if you put it to a vote, most would pick the rear of the Jag.
The exposed engine serves a purpose. It was left "unfinished" to help cooling and ventillation. The Veyron doesn't even have an engine cover.

[Blayney]

Pure childhood fantasy stuff. This was my supercar of choice when I was 6.

I also loved the viper.

Neither would have made good investments yet...