Image Credit: DriveTribe/YouTubeTiff Needell, former racing driver and Top Gear host, has never been a big fan of the Jaguar XJS. But when DriveTribe asked him to drive a very special version of that car, he simply couldn't say no. Because this is the V12-powered monster that is the TWR Supercat.TWR stands for Tom Walkinshaw Racing, led by the man of the same name, and it is synonymous with the Jaguar XJS. The car won the 1984 European Touring Car Championship under TWR, and the team offered tuned-up road-going versions of the car as well.The TWR Supercat, however, is not one of those cars. It is a modern reinterpretation, a restomod, bringing back the spirit of the TWR classics. And it is still made by TWR under that legendary name. So this is a very special car, and it still uses the Jaguar XJS as its basis.AdvertisementAdvertisementThe chassis, engine block, and some other small parts come from donor Jaguar XJS cars. So it does keep the spirit of the original car. But everything else has been extensively modified, or made bespoke, to give us the stunning car that Needell drove for DriveTribe.What Makes the TWR Supercat So Special?Now run by his sons, the TWR Supercat was the brainchild of Fergus Walkinshaw, one of those three. The TWR name disappeared for a while, but it was recently relaunched, and the XJS was chosen as it is arguably the car that is most synonymous with the name.The Supercat has a supercharged V12 under the hood, with supercharging chosen for a nice, linear power delivery. All of the aerodynamic parts have been CFD aero-tested, so they are functional and not just for aesthetics. There are some stunning details, like the rear ducts by the windows, the ducktail spoiler, and the big front splitter. Yet while it looks extreme, it doesn't go too over the top as some restomods can.Image Credit: DriveTribe/YouTubeThe 5.6-liter supercharged V12 is a monster, producing 660hp and 538lb-ft of torque, or 730NM. There is no automatic transmission either, as the Supercat comes with a manual transmission to make it a real joy for enthusiasts. Driving on the road, Needell was very impressed. It was smooth and comfortable for normal running, and it had a pleasing digital but retro-inspired dashboard. So how did it feel when, as Needell said, it was driven "properly"The Supercat Comes Into Its Own When It Is Driven HardImage Credit: DriveTribe/YouTubeNeedell put the car through its paces to really see how the Supercat felt. "Fergus talked about supercharging the engine to make it more drivable. But there's no doubt that it works so well," said Needell as he put his foot down, blown away by the acceleration. The power builds up progressively, and it's not dumped on you all in one go, in a violent manner. It is a world away from the original TWR XJSs that shot to fame in the 1980s.AdvertisementAdvertisement"This is the joy of driving cars," said Needell, on how the car feels so much more analogue compared to other modern performance cars. Naturally, the Supercat isn't cheap. In fact, it comes in at £500,000, which is around $676,800 at the current exchange rate. And only 88 of these will ever be made. But the revived TWR has done an incredible job with the Supercat. It is a fitting tribute to Tom Walkinshaw and his original Jaguar XJS race cars.If you want more stories like this, follow Guessing Headlights on Yahoo so you don't miss what's coming next.
