Jaguar Sport XJR-15

Manufacturer	Jaguar Sport (TWR), Wycombe Mill, Bloxham, Oxon
Production	1990-1992 (50 produced)
Successor	Jaguar XJ220
Body style	2-door coupé
Engine	6.0 L V12
Designer	Peter Stevens

The Jaguar Sport XJR-15 is a RMR layout sports car produced by British automaker Jaguar between 1990 and 1992. Only 50 were made, each selling for US$960,165. Based mechanically on the Le Mans-winning Jaguar XJR-9, the car had an aerodynamic body styled by Peter Stevens, who later went on to style the McLaren F1.

History

The car's production was announced in a press release on November 15, 1990. It was then built by Jaguar Sport in Bloxham Oxfordshire (a subsidiary of TWR) England from 1990 to 1992. While all are now privately owned, some were built for professional racing.

Design

The mid-engine, rear-wheel drive sports car is powered by a 450 hp (336 kW), naturally aspirated V12 engine of 5993 cc, and has a 6-speed manual, unsynchronized transmission (a 5-speed, synchromesh transmission was also available as an optional extra). The XJR-15's chassis and bodywork are composed of carbon fiber and Kevlar, and its engine features an advanced electronically managed fuel injection system. The XJR-15 has a 0–60 mph time of 3.9 seconds and a (gearing limited) top speed of 191 mph (307 km/h).

Because of its V12 engine, power-hungry buyers saw the XJR-15 as an attractive alternative to the Jaguar XJ220, which was powered by a twin-turbo V6. The XJ220 was also a limited production vehicle, of which 281 were built.

The XJR-15 stemmed from a concept car by Jaguar Sport and Tom Walkinshaw Racing (TWR) called Project R9R. The R9R was developed by Jaguar Sport for the purpose of testing the endurance of carbon and plastic bodywork at high speeds. It was based mechanically on the V12-powered XJR-9, which won the 1988 Le Mans. After thousands of miles of testing and thorough analysis, the R9R went into production as the Jaguar XJR-15 in 1990.

Technical specifications

• Engine
  • Engine type: 60º V12 overhead cam, naturally aspirated
  • Construction: aluminium-alloy block and heads, forged-alloy pistons, nitrided forged EN40B steel crankshaft with Holset harmonic damper, seven main bearings, cast-iron ‘wet’ cylinder liners, Cosworth pistons
  • Bore x Stroke: 87mm x 84mm
  • Valve Gear: two valves per cylinder operated by single chain-driven overhead camshaft per bank of cylinders
  • Fuel System: Zytec electronic engine management
  • Displacement: 5993 cc/ 365.7 in³
  • Compression ratio: 11.0:1
  • Max Power: 335.6 kw/ 450.0 bhp @ 6250rpm
  • Specific output: 75.09 bhp per litre
  • Torque: 569.4 NM/ 420.ft lbs @4500rpm
  • Max Torque: 420 lb ft (569 Nm) @ 4500rpm
  • Weight of Engine: 299 kg including clutch and accessories

• Transmission
  • Type: TWR 6 speed manual non synchromesh

• Body
  • Body/Frame type: carbon fiber
  • Body/Chassis details: Carbon fiber and Kevlar composite construction monocoque chassis with engine used as rear suspension load bearer; lightweight composite and carbon fiber reinforced body with under-surface adopting ground-effect venturi channels to the rear and regulation flat floor

Racing history

According to a press release by Jaguar Sport, it was built specifically with the 1991 Jaguar Sport Intercontinental Challenge in mind: a three-race competition held throughout the year as support events for the 1991 Formula One Grand Prix at Monaco, Silverstone, and Spa-Francorchamps.

Sixteen XJR-15s were entered in each of the first two events. The winner of the third and final race, Armin Hahne, was awarded a cash prize of US$1 million.

Current events

While Jaguar Sport never exported the XJR-15 out of Europe, at least three are known to have made their way to the United States. One was sold at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in 2001 for US$176,000. Another was sold at Pebble Beach in 2003 for US$154,000 (which was, incidentally, alongside a Jaguar XJ220 which sold for US$157,500). At least two made their way to Japan, one of which listed for sale, as of March 2011, for a price of 3360.0万円.

The most recent was sold at the Bonhams & Butterfields Auction in Carmel, CA in August 2004. It is reported to have been sold to a private collector for around US$175,000. The auctioned car in question was originally ordered in 1991 by British pop music producer Matt Aitken, one of the few owner-drivers participating in the Intercontinental Challenge.

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  XJR-15 front

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  XJR-15 interior

Other appearances

The car features in the 1998 video game Need for Speed III: Hot Pursuit, published by Electronic Arts. The car is the only Jaguar to make an appearance besides the Jaguar XKR.

It also made its first, and so far, only appearance in the Gran Turismo franchise in Grand Turismo 2. Its official name in the game is Jaguar XJR15 GT Race Car, and could be purchased in the special vehicles list in the Jaguar dealership.

See also

• Jaguar XJR Sportscars