With its long, low, and lean proportions, the iconic Jaguar XJ220 continues to look stunning even by modern supercar standards 25 years after hitting the road.
The XJ220 was the fastest production car in the world when it first went on sale in 1992, but sales were disappointing as Jaguar managed to coincide its expensive new car with a UK-wide recession.
Only 275 out of a planned 350 cars were sold before production was canned in 1994. The rarity of the supercar has ensured a keen interest on the classic market however, and while the design hasn’t aged a day the supply of tyres has run dry.
However, Bridgestone recently came to the rescue of the rare vehicle’s owners by introducing new rubber for the classic machine.
The Japanese tyre manufacturer has released a 42-minute documentary as a deep dive into the process of creating new tires for the XJ220. Even if you have no interest in engineering the rubber for the Jag the cinematography of the gorgeous supercar is worth seeing.
Bridgestone tested 17 mixes of rubber before the engineers found the perfect cocktail for the XJ220. Model specialist Don Law Racing aided the process by lapping a circuit in each compound and offering an opinion on how it affected the Jag’s performance. Former XJ220 engineers and test drivers even weighed in.
The XJ220 features a 3.5-litre biturbo V6 making 548hp, and the body’s slippery aerodynamics help it to a still-impressive top speed of 217mph.
Where the XJ220’s contemporaries like the Ferrari F40 and Porsche 959 can now command up to £1m or sometimes even more, tidy examples of the Jaguar can be found for as low as £300,000. Quite the bargain.
Now thanks to the work of Bridgestone, at least new owners don’t have to worry about getting tyres for them.
Gallery: Jaguar XJ220