The XJ220 remains the fastest Jaguar ever produced and, when launched in 1992, had the highest maximum speed, 342.7km/h, of any production car.
Constructed using advanced aluminium honeycomb, the car was immensely strong and, despite its size, weighed just 1470kg.
Originally conceived as a concept car, the XJ220 debuted at the 1988 British Motor Show. Designed by Keith Helfet, the car was signed off for production in December 1989, with TWR selected as the partner for the project.
A racing version called XJ220-C was introduced in 1993 to compete in the increasingly important GT class within international sports car races. Later that year, one of these factory-entered cars driven by David Brabham, David Coulthard and John Nielsen won the GT category at Le Mans, only to be controversially excluded by the French organisers.
Although originally conceived to feature a V12 engine plus four-wheel-drive, to meet emissions legislation and performance targets, the showroom XJ220 model arrived with a 3.5-litre twin-turbocharged V6 developing 550bhp and 644Nm, delivered to the rear transaxle via a 5-speed manual gearbox and an AP Racing twin-plate clutch. The Jag could accelerate to 100km/h in under 4 seconds.
The 18-inch Speedline rear wheels were shod in specially developed 345/35 Bridgestone Expedia tyres. Braking was supplied by a set of AP Racing discs and 4-pot callipers.
Built by hand in an all-new factory in Bloxham, Oxfordshire, prototype 001 was completed in 1990, while car 002 achieved 299.3km/h at Bruntingthorpe in September of the same year. The first customer car was completed in June 1992 with a retail price of £470,000.
Production ceased in 1994, by which time 275 XJ220s had been built.
Read our review of another ridiculously fast Jaguar, the F-Type SVR.
Fast & Furious star Michelle Rodriguez hit 323km/h in a fast and furious Jaguar coupe.