TWR has formally unveiled the Supercat, its radical new Super-GT underpinned by the legendary Jaguar XJS.
“Almost 40 years after my father’s (ED: Tom Walkinshaw) original company dominated the racetrack, we’ve brought the TWR name roaring back with our new Supercat,” said Fergus Walkinshaw, director and founder, TWR.
“Our debut product, designed as an authentic, analog Super-GT for the committed driving enthusiast, has been developed for over three years by some of modern motorsport’s brightest talent. Built on the foundations of the classic Jaguar XJS, it uses modern materials and production methods, plus our in-house supercharged V12, to deliver a visceral, immersive driving experience on the road and the track.
“With production limited to just 88 examples and every car individually commissioned, it’s a chance to own something truly unique and personal, rooted in motorsport history but completely contemporary in its design, engineering and performance.”
True to its motorsport heritage, the Supercat has rear-wheel drive and a six-speed manual gearbox, coupled with a V12 supercharged engine, developed in-house by TWR engineers, producing 660bhp and 730Nm of torque.
To corral the uplift in power, the body has been stiffened with an integrated, tubular steel structure with body panels finished in carbon fiber to deliver significant weight savings, versus the original (1,605kg vs 1,770kg, a 9.3% weight reduction).
Further enablers of the car’s dynamic capabilities include the option to specify carbon ceramic disc brakes from launch, fully programmable traction control, launch control, and five distinct driving modes. Double wishbone suspension, augmented by an active dynamic damping system, delivers a composed Super-GT driving experience on long continental trips while providing assurance, feedback and stability in highly dynamic road and track driving settings.
“I am proud to have designed a TWR true to its racing and performance DNA from the foundations of one of Britain’s great automotive icons,” said Khyzyl Saleem, designer.
“The TWR Supercat represents a ground-up new expression of the original. As a designer, working in a new palette of highly technical materials has allowed me to re-energize the form and stance of the Jaguar XJS to express our mission to create a true Super-GT boldly. In collaborating with TWR’s exceptional team of engineers and aerodynamicists, we have created a car where every line and feature serves a performance purpose, authentically representing TWR’s legacy on the track and on the road.”