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Jaguar XJ220

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It's been 20 years since the Jaguar XJ220 burst onto the scene, setting new benchmarks for supercar design and performance, and now it's going to celebrate its birthday.

Unfortunately, you'll have to be in England to get in on the party, which will be held this weekend, June 23-24, at Weston Park in Shropshire as part of the International Jaguar Weekend.

The car's designer, Keithe Helfet, as well as Jim Randle, another member of the build team, and Mike Moreton, build team member and author of the book "Jaguar XJ220 - The Inside Story," will all be in attendance at the celebration.

Though it was launched and first started delivery in 1992, the XJ220 was first unveiled to the public in 1993 at the Autosport International Show--though it was first shown as a concept car five years before, at the 1988 British Motor Show.

Jaguar XJ220

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Regardless of the specifics of its age, the XJ220 was simply breathtaking at the time of its launch, both in looks and in performance. Powered by a twin-turbo 3.5-liter V-6 engine rated at 542 horsepower, and weighing in at just 3,200 pounds, the potent Jag could reach as high as 220 mph, giving the car its name. The XJ220 also managed a very impressive 7:46.37 lap time of the famed Nordschleife--a figure now eclipsed by much less exotic cars, but incredibly quick for its time.

Only 275 XJ220s were built over a two-year model run, but despite the short production span and tiny volume, it remains an icon in the supercar world.