Jaguar XJ220: The Modern Prometheus

Many reasons, mostly surrounding the adjunct economic downturn, have been used to excuse why the initial concept from Jaguar never made it as the delivered 281 production examples.

But if you look inside the engine bay, there is more room there than there should be. Many should be familiar with what happened: the initial proposal was for a car powered with a V12 and four-wheel drive. This evolved into a twin turbocharged V6 and rear-wheel drive only.

I know the engine is not any old thing, but from the 6R4.

I know Tom Walkinshaw had issues fitting the initial V12 into the bay.

I know there were further packaging issues with adding four-wheel drive and the attendant concerns over making it too heavy and further impacting handling.

But....

It makes this car an automotive anachronism. It should by rights have had that V12 in it. Or at the very, very, least a V8.

Forget what Mary Shelley wrote, it's easier to merge varying components to create a singular car, than it is to bring the brain from one into another person's body. But to also add Citroën, Ford and Rover parts mean that whilst it's a classic of British 'garagista' late night engineering, soul, is not something that could be manufactured in. But a V12 may have provided that missing link.

I know it's under covers here, but one day, I'm sure, I'll see it out in the sunshine...