The 1980s are relived with the rebirth of Tom Walkinshaw Racing (TWR) and its first offering, a heavily modified Jaguar XJS called the Supercat. The car was revealed today, showcasing a decidedly muscular makeover of the classic XJS coupe. And there’s muscle under the hood to go with the looks, thanks to a supercharged V-12 engine making “more than 600 horsepower.”
It’s not clear how many more. TWR is taking a measured approach with the Supercat’s debut, showing off only the exterior design for now. The classic grand tourer now has a body made largely of carbon fiber, a development process TWR says took “tens of thousands of hours.” A huge chin spoiler dominates the new lower fascia, flowing rearward into aggressively flared wheel arches. The new hood sports a large hood and louvers, while at the rear, a ducktail spoiler sits above a massive diffuser. The side exhaust outlets exit just in front of the retro-style wheels.
Details such as width or weight are not yet available, although the company promises substantial improvements in mass and aerodynamics over the original XJS. The Supercat’s design takes inspiration from the XJR-9, and British fashion designer Magnus Walker consulted on the design, adding his touch alongside lead designer Khyzyl Saleem to bring the Supercat to life.
“This project is an incredible opportunity to interpret TWR’s winning heritage into today’s design language,” said Khyzyl Saleem, Supercat design lead. “In many ways, my career in the digital and physical realms has led to this moment. By merging the demands of Super-GT form and racing functionality, we have created a unique identity that is instantly recognizable by its silhouette.”
The old XJS is also recognizable by its V-12 engine. It’s unclear whether TWR uses a modified version of the original Jaguar 5.3-liter twelve-cylinder or something newer, but a supercharger is part of the formula. It’s connected to a six-speed manual transmission, replacing the automatic transmission that was standard on all V-12 models except the very early versions from the 1970s.
Seeing the shifter inside the Supercat is another thing to wait for. More information is promised before the car goes on sale later this year, including a full interior reveal.
TWR is planning just 88 Supercats for production, an ode to the XJR-9’s victory at Le Mans in 1988. And with a starting price of around £225,000 ($281,000 at current exchange rates), they won’t will not be cheap. But they will be available to buyers in the UK and major international markets, including the US.
