Road Going Vehicles
TWR created 'TWR Sport' in 1984 to produce heavily modified versions of the Jaguar XJ-S. Designated XJR-S, the cars benefited from the racing experience in European Touring Cars, featuring improved aerodynamics; uprated suspension and brakes; tuned engine and detail changes. The success of TWR Sport led to the formalising of a Joint Venture (50/50) in 1988 called 'Jaguar Sport'. Jaguar Sport would initially focus on building tuned versions of Jaguar road cars (the XJR-S coupe and XJR saloon). However, with overwhelming demand to put the concept Jaguar XJ220 into production, it was decided that Jaguar Sport would design and develop the new supercar, for which a new facility was secured at Bloxham, Oxfordshire. Production commenced in 1990 with the final cars delivered in 1993.
Following TWR's success with Jaguar at Le Mans in 1988, Tom Walkinshaw had been pressed by a number of wealthy enthusiasts to build them a car for privateering. He decided (initially outside of Jaguar's knowledge) to put a modified version of the XJR-9 into production, initially designated R-9R but ultimately designated Jaguar XJR-15, a limited-edition road-going racing car that in some respects provided competition for the XJ220. XJR-15 was produced in 1991 at Bloxham, alongside the XJ220.
TWR then took on the design and development role for the new Aston Martin DB7. This car was designed by Ian Callum and built at the former Jaguar Sport facility at Bloxham.
TWR's final fully developed roadcar was the XJ220S, limited edition road-racing version of the XJ220 supercar, built between 1996 and 1997. TWR took the XJ220 chassis, lightened it considerably by fitting carbon-fibre bodywork (derived from the XJ220C racing car) and stripping out the interior. A tuned XJ220 engine was fitted, delivering 680BHP and re-positioning the XJ220 as the most powerful car in production at that time.
TWR also undertook work for other manufacturers including development of the Renault Clio V6, as well as establishing a partnership with General Motors' Australian division Holden, re-creating the former Holden Dealer Team performance and tuning division, Holden Special Vehicles. TWR were involved in MG Rover's attempt to build a replacement for the elderly Rover 45/MG ZS; they were re-engineering the Rover 75/MG ZT into a smaller car. However, the demise of Arrows and TWR meant that RD/X60, as this product was known, never reached production.
Read more about this topic: Tom Walkinshaw Racing
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