SR Auto Group recently got back a superb Jaguar XJ220 they had once before at the showroom, and decided to celebrate the occasion with a nice photoshoot. The V6 twin-turbo monster in British racing green was captured by photographer Marcel Lech who went for sunset as the backdrop for this shoot.  

The story of Jaguar Xj220 is one of the most fascinating in the automotive history. The car started out as a V12 concept designed to be the fastest and most striking car; a symbol of British ingenuity. But like most things British in the 80s and 90s, the dream quickly fell apart.

The V12 engine proved too difficult to get past increasingly strict emission regulations. But that didn’t matter really, because it was way too big for the car anyway. That engine was replaced with a Tom Walkinshaw-developed 3.5 L V6 based on the engine used in the Austin Metro 6R4 rally car and fitted with twin Garrett T3 turbochargers, generating 542 bhp of maximum power at 7000 rpm and 476 lb-ft (645 Nm) of torque at 4500 rpm.

The production Jaguar XJ220 was rear-wheel-drive, even though the customers were promised all-wheel-drive. Again, they really didn’t care about the number of driven wheels, because they were more concerned about the extra 40 grand Jaguar made them pay!

Despite all these issues Jaguar XJ220 was made and it did become the fastest car in the world; albeit for a short period between 1992 and 1994. It held the record for the highest top speed of a production car (350 km/h, 217 mph) until the arrival of McLaren F1.

Photos by Marcel Lech for SR Auto Group