Key Takeaways
- 600-horsepower TWR Supercat revealed as orders open.
- Limited to 88 units in celebration of Tom Walkinshaw Racing’s 1988 Jaguar XJR-9 Le Mans-winning campaign.
- The Supercat features a six-speed manual gearbox and carbon fiber body panels.
- Pricing starts at over $282,000 before taxes or options.
TWR Performance announced last year that it would be producing bespoke cars, teasing a sports car that would aim to “preserve and perfect the analog driving experience,” while a design created with the help of Porsche enthusiast Magnus Walker and digital artist and automotive designer Khyzyl Saleem, better known as The Kyza, would bring the design of the Jaguar XJS into the modern era. That creation has now been revealed in render form, and orders have opened. We also now have more details, including the powertrain, production numbers, and pricing.
Just 88 examples will be made as a nod to the year in which Tom Walkinshaw Racing won Le Mans for the first time (1988), using a V12-powered Jaguar XJR-9. That naturally aspirated 7.0-liter engine produced 750 hp and was based on the 5.3-liter unit in the XJS of the time, but the modern interpretation – dubbed Supercat – uses a supercharged V12 of undisclosed capacity producing “in excess of 600 hp.”
Six-Speed Manual
Unlike the original XJS, which used a three-speed automatic slushbox, the Supercat has a six-speed manual, and it should be pretty good to drive because engineers on this project include former Ferrari, McLaren, Mercedes F1, Porsche, Renault F1, and Williams F1 employees. They spent more than two years developing this project and chose to construct every exterior panel from carbon fiber while the design of the body itself was honed with aerodynamic and computational fluid dynamics testing.
“This project is an incredible opportunity to interpret TWR’s winning legacy in today’s design language. […] In merging the requirements of Super-GT form and racing functionality, we have created a unique identity that is instantly recognizable from its silhouette.”
– Khyzyk Saleem, TWR Designer.
The interior of the vehicle has not been shown in these early renders, but that will follow in the summer when the car will make its dynamic debut. The venue for this presentation has not yet been announced, but given the pricing and proposed production numbers of the Supercat, we suspect the setting will be glamorous and exclusive. So, what kind of scratch do you have to pony up for a chance at ownership?
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TWR Performance promises “a full scope for personalization,” which means a nearly limitless variety of colors and finishes will be available for each of the 88 lucky owners. It also means that pricing will fluctuate depending on the requests of each customer, but indicative pricing excluding local taxes is set to start at £225,000 – just over $282,000. With some fancy paint, some luxurious leather, and a smattering of carbon fiber, you’re probably looking at over $300k. In a world where the next Bugatti is expected to cost $5 million, that’s somewhat reasonable.
Moreover, this is a name that has been associated with epic McLaren, Aston Martin, and Renault Sport road cars, as well as Le Mans winners. If you think that’s a good enough investment, orders are now open, with deliveries scheduled to begin by the end of the year.
“TWR’s uncompromising approach to delivering pure performance and driver involvement takes [the Jaguar XJS] to another level. I couldn’t be more proud to have contributed to this landmark statement of TWR’s bold future.”
– Magnus Walker, TWR Design Consultant.
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