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Jaguar XJ 220 - the fastest super sports car in the world for years

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Created on August 10, 2016

Reading time 8min

Written by:

Bruno von Rotz

Photos:

Daniel Reinhard

Wikipedia - Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported

Daniel Reinhard

Wikipedia - Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported

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Jaguar XJ 220 (1993) - eindeutig ein Jaguar

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Jaguar XJ 220 (1993) - für Abtrieb ist gesorgt

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Jaguar XJ 220 (1993) - über zwei Meter breit

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Jaguar XJ 220 (1993) - nur 1,15 Meter hoch

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Jaguar XJ 220 (1993) - der mächtige Diffusor sorgt zusammen mit dem Heckspoiler für 270 kg Abtrieb

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Jaguar XJ 220 (1993) - überholen ist ein Kinderspiel

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Jaguar XJ 220 (1993) - die Aussenhülle besteht aus Aluminiumblech

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Jaguar XJ 220 (1993) - deutlich über 320 km/h schnell

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Jaguar XJ 220 (1993) - seltener Gast auf unseren Strassen

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Jaguar XJ 220 (1993) - Überholprestige garantiert

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Jaguar XJ 220 (1993) - wirkt wie ein Rennwagen, war aber immer für die Strasse gedacht

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Jaguar XJ 220 (1993) - der V6 erzeugt tüchtig Vortrieb

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Jaguar XJ 220 (1993) - fast fünf Meter lang

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Jaguar XJ 220 (1993) - ein gelungener Wurf

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Jaguar XJ 220 (1993) - die Technik ist von allen Seiten sichtbar

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Jaguar XJ 220 (1993) - die Luft wird sorgfältig über und unter dem Wagen durchgelenkt

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Jaguar XJ 220 (1993) - interessant die Zusatzinstrumente in der Türe

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Jaguar XJ 220 (1993) - Cockpit des Linkslenkers

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Jaguar XJ 220 (1993) - einiges an Ford-Knöpfen im Millionen-Cockpit

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Jaguar XJ 220 (1993) - die Zusatzinstrumente klappen mit der Türe aus

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Jaguar XJ 220 (1993) - Drehzahlmesser im Zentrum

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Jaguar XJ 220 (1993) - auch etwas Musik darf sein

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Jaguar XJ 220 (1993) - sieht kaum anders aus als in einem Ford jener Zeit

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Jaguar XJ 220 (1993) - fünf Gänge mussten genügen

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Jaguar XJ 220 (1993) - Mittelkonsole und elektrische Scheibenheber

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Jaguar XJ 220 (1993) - Nummer 149 von 271 gebauten Exemplaren

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Jaguar XJ 220 (1993) - die 2500 Kilometer hat er bis heute nicht erreicht

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Jaguar XJ 220 (1993) - Pneudruck-Hinweise

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Jaguar XJ 220 (1993) - appetitlich präsentiert

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Jaguar XJ 220 (1993) - der Betrachter sieht den Motor auch von aussen

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Jaguar XJ 220 (1993) - 550 PS ungefähr leistet der V6 mit zwei Abgasturboladern

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Jaguar XJ 220 (1993) - der Motor ist gut einsehbar

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Jaguar XJ 220 (1993) - Rennsporttechnik strassentauglich gemacht

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Jaguar XJ 220 (1993) - der V6-Motor hat Rennsportwurzeln

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Jaguar XJ 220 (1993) - Einstelldaten im Motorraum

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Jaguar XJ 220 (1993) - der schnellste Strassen-Jaguar aller Zeiten

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Jaguar XJ 220 (1993) - der Motor ist deutlich beschriftet

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Jaguar XJ 220 (1993) - Scheinwerfer-Mechanismus

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Jaguar XJ 220 (1993) - schöne Designdetails

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Jaguar XJ 220 (1993) - fast wie eine Skulptur

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Jaguar XJ 220 (1993) - sorgfältig integrierter Heckspoiler

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Jaguar XJ 220 (1993) - Benzintankverschluss

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Jaguar XJ 220 (1993) - breite Räder hinten, die Pneus wurden extra für den XJ220 entwickelt

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Jaguar XJ 220 (1993) - Kühlung für den kräftigen Sechszylinder

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Jaguar XJ 220 (1993) - der Jaguar im Rad

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Jaguar XJ 220 (1993) - billig wirkende Schlüssel für das Millionenauto

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Jaguar XJ 220 (1993) - deutlich beschriftet

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Jaguar XJ 220 (1993) - flacher Heckspoiler

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Jaguar XJ 220 (1993) - wer ihm folgt, weiss immer, was er vor sich hat

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Jaguar XJ 220 Prototyp (1988) - ausgestellt im Heritage Motor Centre Gaydon

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Jaguar XJ 220 (1992) - flach und agressiv

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Jaguar XJ 220 (1992) - vor englischer Kulisse

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Jaguar XJ 220 (1992) - wirkt fast wie ein Ufo zwischen den alten Mauern

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Jaguar XJ 220 (1992) - fast fünf Meter lang und über zwei Meter breit

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Jaguar XJ 220 (1992) - 1500 Leute wollten ursprünglich einen haben

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Jaguar XJ 220 (1992) - viele Klappen zum Öffnen, aber viel Kofferraum gab es deshalb nicht

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Jaguar XJ 220 (1992) - optisch hat sich der Wagen beim Umbau von V12 auf V6 kaum verändert

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Jaguar XJ 220 (1992) - der Supersportwagen von Jaguar

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Jaguar XJ 220 (1992) - die Serienversion ist deutlich kürzer als der Prototyp von 1988

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Jaguar XJ 220 (1992) - auch gekürzt wirkt der Mittelmotorsportwagen immer noch lang

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Jaguar XJ 220 (1992) - unterwegs im Vorserienfahrzeug in England

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Jaguar XJ 220 (1992) - auch in Kurven gut zu beherrschen

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Jaguar XJ 220 (1992) - mit fast 350 km/h wurde er gemessen, man hätte ihn also XK220 nennen dürfen

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Jaguar XJ 220 (1992) - viele XJ220 landeten direkt im Museum, aber kaum je auf der Strasse

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Jaguar XJ 220 (1992) - aerodynamische Formgebung

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Jaguar XJ 220 (1992) - Cockpit der rechtsgelenkter Version

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Jaguar XJ 220 (1992) - viel Connolly-Leder im Cockpit

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Jaguar XJ 220 (1992) - Aluminium, wohin man schaut

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Jaguar XJ 220 (1992) - eigenständige Aluräder

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Jaguar XJ 220 (1992) - der Tankverschluss erinnert an Renntechnik

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Jaguar XJ 220 (1992) - Fenster geben Einblick in die Technik

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Jaguar XJ 220 (1992) - man kann sich kaum sattsehen an den Details

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Jaguar XJ 220 (1992) - sorgfältig integrierter Heckspoiler

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Jaguar XJ 220 (1992) - Blick in die Produktionshalle von Jaguar Sports

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Jaguar XJ 220 (1992) - Produktion in Handarbeit

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Jaguar XJ 220 (1992) - Wagen 018 in Rechtslenker-Konfiguration

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Jaguar XJ 220 (1992) - hier ist Wagen 015 RHD an der Arbeit

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Jaguar XJ 220 (1992) - die Karosserie besteht aus Aluminium, auf Kevlar wurde verzichtet

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Jaguar XJ 220 (1992) - hinterer Hilfsrahmen mit V6-Motor

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Jaguar XJ 220 (1992) - schöner Motorenbau

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Jaguar XJ 220 (1992) - Arbeit an der Technik

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Summary

When it was unveiled at the 1988 Birmingham Motor Show, the Jaguar XJ 220 was a sensation. It was still uncertain whether the sports car with a V12 mid-engine and all-wheel drive would ever be built. But so many buyers came forward that Jaguar couldn't help itself. 271 Jaguar XJ 220s with a V6 twin-turbo engine were built between 1992 and 1994, each costing almost seven figures. This driving report tells the story of the Jaguar XJ 220 and shows an almost virgin example in the picture, along with historical pictures from back then.

This article contains the following chapters

Overture - the prototype from Birmingham
Allegro - production decision
Fortissimo - Nürburgring record
Capriccioso - an expensive pleasure
Mezzopiano - end after 271 units
Vivace - at the wheel of the rare super sports car
Further information

Estimated reading time: 8min

Preview (beginning of the article)

The fastest super sports car of the nineties is approached with awe! The Jaguar XJ220 was measured at a top speed of over 350 km/h and held the Nürburgring production car record for eight years at under eight minutes. And then you are amazed at how civilized the super-predator behaves. It all began with an after-work project. Jaguar chief designer Jim Randle did not want to simply leave the market for super sports cars to Ferrari and Porsche, especially as they had won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1988 (and again in 1990). Randle and his boys worked on the prototype in the so-called Saturday Club and finished just eight hours before the official presentation at the Birmingham Motor Show on October 18, 1988. Up to this point, hardly anyone had seen the super sports car and even Jaguar bosses John Egan and Roger Putnam only had a week's notice before giving the go-ahead at the motor show.

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