Jaguar XJ220 is a Criminally Underrated Supercar

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Jaguar’s unique supercar is wonderfully weird and full of odd features, says Doug DeMuro.

Supercars are interesting vehicles. They’re designed for a very specific demographic. And most of them probably don’t ever come close to being pushed to the limits they’re designed to tackle. But despite their extreme capabilities, most of them are developed without too much drama.

Enter the XJ220. The Jaguar debuted with significantly different specs than what Jaguar promised. And its track performance was marred by a particularly disastrous racing series that involved a lot of crashes. The production XJ220, through no fault of its own, earned a bad reputation simply due to the negative press surrounding its development. Roughly twenty five years later, YouTuber Doug DeMuro got the chance to sample one, and he came away impressed. He also had a field day explaining all the unusual features of the Jaguar, which are numerous.

DeMuro Jaguar XJ220

DeMuro typically exudes an affable demeanor during his reviews. For the XJ220 review, his enthusiasm is kicked up a notch, as it seems he has a particular affinity for the Jaguar. This extra helping of DeMuro’s charm appeared in his reviews of the Ford GT and Ferrari F40 too. And he’s right up front about why he’s so excited to talk about the Jaguar. “It isn’t just a supercar. It’s a weird supercar. You see, cars like the Ferrari F40 and Aventador and the Bugatti Veyron…everybody knows about them. They get all the press. But this car is just as special” says DeMuro.

DeMuro Xj220

For DeMuro, the Jaguar is extraordinary because of its peculiar history. The car itself is also a bit of an odd duck. That explains why the video is about ten minutes longer than his other reviews. There’s simply a lot to talk about. DeMuro covers the supercar inside out and front to back. Even the keys got examined. That’s because unlike regular keys, their design is cylindrical instead of the bladed setup in just about every other vehicle on the market. Other Jaguars also featured those keys, but since rival automakers didn’t replicate the design, it’s still a pretty rare sight. The doors also gets discussed because the opening is extremely awkward and a bit small for taller people.

DeMuro XJ220

The XJ220 also boasts some very unique interior peculiarities. There’s the offset side mirrors, the boost gauges that are mounted to the left of the steering wheel, and the push button start, which operated as a precursor of sorts to the modern setup available in nearly every modern passenger vehicle. DeMuro decided to focus on two features that are probably related: the fixed glass roof and the four individual climate vents available to the driver. The glass roof really isn’t a terribly big deal except for the lack of sunshade. “This car was made in the UK, they don’t really have hot, sunny days there. So they don’t think of such things. And this fixed sunroof with no cover is the result of that” says DeMuro. His theory about the Jaguar’s lack of sunshade is probably sound, but it’s still a very weird oversight by the engineers. He also thinks the four driver side vents exist to compensate for the lack of interior shade.

demuro xj220

The exterior also has its share of unique characteristics. For one, it’s a very long supercar. As DeMuro notes, the Jaguar is 194 inches long, which is about four inches shorter than a modern Ford Explorer. And that’s without all the cargo space of the Ford. The XJ220 devoted space for engine cooling and other important engineering considerations, which resulted in almost no storage. An extremely long car with only two seats and meager storage probably turned a lot of potential buyers off. DeMuro thinks people likely thought a plus-sized car couldn’t handle well and went with something they thought would be more nimble.

Jaguar’s 3.5 liter turbocharged V6 also gets recognized by DeMuro for several reasons. The engine earned additional notoriety through no faults of its own because the company initially promised a V12 but nixed those plans because of the prohibitive costs associated with developing one. Ditching the V12 for something with half the displacement isn’t an issue in 2019, but thirty years ago that was a huge deal. “When this car was new NOBODY was doing that. Everything had at least a V8, most of them had V12s, and coming out with a V6 just really disappointed a lot of people” says DeMuro. He thinks that Jaguar’s engine choice contributed to the supercar’s failure in the marketplace. It’s a reasonable assumption to make.

DeMuro XJ220

After a half hour of picking over the XJ220 with a fine tooth comb, DeMuro finally takes the Jaguar out for a spin. He immediately notes the hot cabin, an understandable observation, especially because he tested the car in the summer. As for the driving experience, the steering at low speed is rough and the brakes are a bit unforgiving, but once he gets going, DeMuro falls in love with the handling and the powertrain. “This car is not just 90s exotic car fast. This is still pretty fast” says DeMuro. Enthusiasts balked at the XJ220 because it wasn’t the Jaguar they were promised, but DeMuro feels that they should have given the supercar a chance, because they would have found it to be quite rewarding.

The Jaguar XJ220 isn’t the most celebrated or flashiest supercar. Jaguar clearly chose substance over style during its development cycle, a move that peeved enthusiasts. DeMuro’s review clearly demonstrates that customers unjustifiably dismissed the XJ220. Unfortunately, that has resulted in a lack of support for the supercar, with the tires going out of production, something that was rectified several years ago. The XJ220 is due for a revival of sorts, and with Jay Leno and DeMuro’s endorsement, it seems likely that more people will start to recognize the Jaguar for what it is: a trailblazing supercar that was way ahead of its time.

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