Tom Walkinshaw Racing, the British motorsport and engineering company that achieved success in Formula 1 and the 24 Hours of Le Mans, went bankrupt in 2002 but has recently been revived by the founder’s son, who has now decided to invest in a supercar based on one of Jaguar’s historic models.
In this context, TWR has introduced the Supercat, a powerful GT based on the historic XJS, equipped with a V12 engine developed in-house by the brand’s engineers, producing an impressive 660 hp at 7600 rpm and 730 Nm of torque at 5350 rpm, which is more than double the power of the original model, while still retaining the XJS block that serves as its foundation.
To achieve all this power, TWR enhanced the V12 engine with new pistons, connecting rods, camshaft, springs, and valves. Additionally, the displacement increased from 5.3 to 5.6 liters, and the Supercat is equipped with a limited-slip differential at the rear and a six-speed manual gearbox from Xtrac.
The new Supercat, which was revealed for the first time in April, is now ready to begin production of the 88 units that TWR will produce, with deliveries expected to start in mid-2025.
With a body entirely made of carbon fiber, this “restomod” features a high shoulder line, slender pillars, a generously sized splitter, and a “ducktail” rear spoiler, all made of carbon fiber.
Also noteworthy is the exhaust system with side-mounted tips, which allowed TWR’s designers to install a massive diffuser that spans the entire width of the bodywork.
To make the model even lighter, the British company equipped this Supercat with a braking system featuring carbo-ceramic discs, along with 18-inch forged HRE wheels at the front and 19-inch wheels at the rear.
Furthermore, to handle the power of this model, TWR’s engineers reinforced the Supercat’s structure with an integrated tubular steel frame, while the lightweight carbon fiber body panels contribute to a 9.3% reduction in weight compared to the original Jaguar XJS, bringing its weight down to 1605 kg from 1770 kg of the original version.
Inside, the highlight is the carbon sports seats, leather upholstery, and a larger luggage space, as TWR replaced the rear seats with a luggage area, thereby ensuring a greater trunk capacity.
The internal comfort is enhanced by a completely redesigned cabin that integrates modern features, such as a fully digital multimedia interface (MMI) compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, while also paying homage to the classic design of the Jaguar XJS.
“The TWR Supercat represents a completely new expression of the original. As a designer, working with a new palette of highly technical materials has allowed us to boldly express our mission to create a true Super-GT. Collaborating with the TWR engineering and aerodynamics team, we created a model where every line and feature serves a performance purpose, authentically representing the TWR legacy both on the track and on the road.”, said Khyzyl Saleem, design lead of the TWR Supercat.
