Martin Brundle's Jaguar XJ220 Road Test | Fifth Gear

Way back in 2003, Martin Brundle produced a DVD with the Fifth Gear team, called Martin Brundle's Supercars. In this clip, Martin test drives the Jaguar XJ220. For access the FULL Martin Brundle's Supercars film, join our channel / @fifthgearuk
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[@GarryMcGovern]

Still one of the most beautiful supercars ever made. Beyond stunning, even now.

[@vika0194]

I totally disagree and I have 2 Jaguars.

[@marcwareham9351]

It’s stunning 😍

[@markfox1545]

Rather ungainly I've always thought and I love Jags.

[@Coasterdude02149]

Always loved Jags, I'm on my second one and agree with you. It's still a beautiful car that looks futuristic even in 2021

[@jamiekeeper6204]

Yes and the xjr15 tgst came before is even prettier,the xj220 held Nurburgring record so it does not get the glory it deserves,everyone knows the f1 and the f40… I prefer the jaguar

[@samsoulee]

Still looks AWESOME today ...

[@Pickchore]

5:00 - That van driver stills talks about the day he saw a Jag XJ220 to this day.

[@canto_v12]

Whoever can test drive an XJ220 deserves a Like.

[@farmerlamb2372]

I love my XJ220 1/12th scale

[@haydn.oneill]

I still have my scale model 1/12th

[@andrewward1887]

I was working for a Jaguar dealer back then and Snap- on tools made a limited run of British racing green tool boxes they were sponsoring a 220 race car and I ended up getting one of the tool boxes.

[@jimelb83]

Got any pics of it?

[@adambritain5774]

I’m looking to buy one of them!

[@Milkydrummer]

Crazy to thing this bloke was driving cars a third the weight of this with double the power back in the day… with a once severed foot…

[@Scotracer1987]

I think the V6 sounds great.

[@georgejacob3162]

It sounds better in the Metro 6R4 it was derived from. Jaguar tried to tone the sound down to make it a bit more classy rather than boy racer.

[@abbzb2083]

George Jacob top knowledge G. 410bhp and redlined at 11k I think...and naturally aspirated 🤓

[@MagicAyrtonforever]

@@georgejacob3162 Yeah twin turbos mute the sound somewhat

[@skarceoneafd9609]

The way this dude talks you can just tell he’s a badass

[@dg115]

Check out his F1 crash in Australia he is bad ass.

[@Suprahampton]

Well he's won the '88 Daytona 24hr, the '88 World Sportscar Championship, the '90 Le Mans 24hr & raced in Formula 1 from '84 til '96....the man CAN drive

[@tonychavez2083]

Yeah Brundle's like a Jason Statham kinda dude.

[@radishparsnip]

@@dg115 l

[@noodlebike]

Looks a bit like a British Bruce Willis 😆

[@michaelbanton5555]

Remember Martin racing at Donnington against senna in his early day in the lower formula's before F1 and him nearly beating senna in the championship he pushed senna all the way great racing from some of the best drivers around, the XJ220 was the car to have to be in the 2ton club what a guy to have one

[@SuperDougie89]

I think its the engine what gives it it's charm.

[@diogooliveira9530]

This car is so amazing. How can u don't love a Jag ?

[@ryiin]

I idolised that car growing up..

[@heroicrockstar]

Me too, had the game on the Amiga 👍

[@andreasbeaufort3594]

I do it by this day.

Me too, had a Maisto 1/12 scale model on its plinth on my bedroom shelf. Also had the luck to see one in the flesh in the jaguar garage in Brentwood Essex when I was about 8 when my mum was getting her XJS serviced. Definitely the first car I would buy if I won the lottery and will always be my favourite car of all time.

[@edwindude9893]

You can’t idolize a car ! Only admire it. You can’t become a car !

[@RestlessFisher]

I still do

[@William-Bill-Munny]

I still remember the day I saw this model driving in Newport Beach, Ca. I flipped a u-turn battled the OC traffic and never caught up, but what a moment and treat to see an icon of Jaguar actually being driven. That was 1996 & what seems like a different world now.

[@georgejacob3162]

I recently saw one on an episode Jay Leno's garage. He reckons there are only 6 left in the States now. I've seen one on the road. It was travelling on a UK motorway in the opposite direction to me and it was being followed by a gaggle of around 7 classic E Types!

[@mikeyerke3920]

Still looks good even today.

[@russellparratt9859]

Jaguars are known for having a few quirks. It helps make them more interesting than normal cars.

[@3LionsCoaching]

This made me wonder if he was at one point "The Stig" on TG..

[@FrowningIke]

I saw my first one last year. Going through the M6 roadworks near Stoke. He said it and the thing that struck me was how terrible it sounded. Looked stunning though and typically, was being chased by a multitude of other cars right up its arse.

[@georgejacob3162]

I also saw one on a motorway... followed by a convoy of about 7 E Types and other classic XK's!

[@captainobvious9188]

The engine seems to perform fantastic, and I like the idea of it, but it sounds like a pick-up truck with a hole in the muffler.

[@paullord3549]

I saw one a couple of months ago on the D road in Stoke too.

[@RichCSR2]

The XJ220 is stunning and is a true legend. Does it have flaws? Of course but would we talk about it as much if it didn't? Probably not. The engine however is not one of those flaws and it's technically stupid to say it should have had a V12. Yes the size and presence of the car points towards needing a V12 and yes Jag makes gorgeously smooth V12's but that the car WOULD have been slower so why would you. The 6R4 engine was a monster anyway, in twin turbo form it's a rocket ship. Pound for pound the most powerful engine of it's day. The extra weight may have added stability at high speeds but the acceleration would t have been there, so I do wonder if we'd talk about it anywhere near as much if it did have the V12 as it would have been less of a contention.

[@beaviccoon470]

If jaguar did the run at Volkswagen test track (the one they usually test Bugatti's at) then I'm sure that this car would have gone beyond 220mph.

[@jdsk8914]

Yeah 212 no problem and then without catalytic converters 220 all the way

[@MultiWalrus1]

"It scared me a little bit." Balls of depleted uranium.

[@bicyclist2]

I had the Mastio 1/18th scale die cast model in dark blue. I love this car. The look is so sexy. Thanks.

[@aljack1979]

I wish more programmes would look at the classic super/hypercars.

[@scottstrailerpark]

2020 still the most beautiful car in the world. Would you like to tell me why not? I do not care!

[@filmopfil]

i remember this jag from catalog i had 20 years ago , this jag was so cool compared to all others cars . this jag was like a ferrari .

[@leonardomendieta8160]

1:22 This car actually does it, how do I know ? Wait for It... 1:25 EPIC FLEX

[@johnchappell5477]

This is one of my favorite vehicles ever made..thanks

[@gibby7616]

I'll never forget building a 1:25 model when I was 13 back around 1993. #StillStunning

[@Amiga500_User]

Absolutely LOVE this car. It's design is timeless and beautiful.

[@skelejp9982]

Did they do a Fix on that Hood... What most people do not understand is , how Light this Car is. I was already in Love with this Car, but after racing with it, in a TOCA game, it really earned my Respect, because it Corners like a Go Kart.

[@richardoakley8800]

217 mph was on a BANKED circuit. 221 was achieved on a straight line

[@THE-BUNKEN-DRUM]

We all watched it mate.

[@jdsk8914]

Hurrah

[@andyscott0]

Amazing how they built such a sleek slip stream of a car then stuck big dirty wipers on top of it

The ultimate...XJ220. Best car ever produced imo.

[@matthew-jy5jp]

Martin is the man. A legend of racing

[@timyo6288]

a legend of every part of racing except the actual f1 racing.

[@n0w3lly90]

It is certainly a very evocative piece of automotive design, the XJ220, and suddenly collectors are waking up. Design that is still fresh today. But, the engine and aspects of the interior stealing from cheap parts bins - for a more than £400,000 car back in the day - just didn't make it special enough. And THEN: the McLaren F1 happened, within 12 months... it's death nail

[@farmerlamb2372]

Wouldn't call the engine clattery.....

[@eddjordan2399]

and then the mac f1 came out

[@johnbarrett9673]

BEAUTIFUL .....

[@gdfggggg]

Lovely looking car.

[@robertsaca3512]

An ugly blob with an even worse interior, especially the dash. Notoriously unreliable and expensive, no soul, sounds average, feels heavy.

[@richardstokes6827]

Its a jaguar what do you expect. Wish i had one I've had my xk8 for 19 yrs and still love it .😊

[@geriatricmotorcars9516]

Jaguar is one the iconic car companies Build special cars again please More Jaaags

[@TotallyNotASpy1]

Say what you will, but for me to this day this is still the most beautiful vehicle that ever came out of Jaguar. What a stunner!

[@ApolloVIIIYouAreGoForTLI]

The dodgy bonnet & windscreen wipers & quintessentially British.

Need For Speed II SE brought me here!

[@guranshsingh1685]

Me too man

I love that car ! My all time favourite supercar , id love to own one .

[@derjorgo2860]

What was this beautiful music at the beginning of the video ?

[@ericsmith6692]

Why is it Only NOW this car is getting Traction???.

[@pb5x5]

The bonnet looked like it was lifting on that one as well round the track.

[@okhan]

ジャガーのＮＳＸだよね とても素晴らしいデザイン でも量産化されてない

[@dracula5487]

I have two.............😜..............Models............😜

[@rivenmotors7981]

Seems like it would be fitting to at least upgrade the brakes. Would be a shame to lose any examples due to a poor system.

[@oldbenz3123]

There seems to be a problem with bonnet lift. Martin Brundle tells us that he was fearful the bonnet was about to spring open on his record attempt car, the bonnet on this car is rattling on its safety catch (see 3.43 for example) and the Top Gear test car i also doing the same on its runway 200mph run - so thats three out of three cars trying to open their bonnets at speed ......

[@kallesundqvist2582]

LABORGHINI DIABLO NEVER TESTED TOPSPEED

[@jordanthomson7682]

looks YES at the front but wheels NO! hahahaha

[@bobopatchnosuke229]

I like those stock rims for some reason.

[@sayharris1361]

One of my favorite looking cars in the world. But sorry to say $150,000 in upgrades to make it the car that it should’ve been so many years ago. 230 or 240 mph easy with the upgrades.

[@simonmcpartlin6547]

30 years after launch and it could be a new concept car. Beautiful and an almost unique look.

[@jaguarxj2208]

Omg 🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯

[@Callrissian]

Still remember the very first time I saw one of these beasts. I was astounded as I was driving a 18 ton truck at the time down the "Old Kent Road" I let it out of a side street and it was being driven by a young blonde super model style of girl and it was also as wide as my truck was. This was about a month after it's release and I'm 60 now.

[@abbzb2083]

Mad when you think that 3.0l v6 motor originated in a metro!

[@hitmaniak1737]

that sound 😁

[@kallesundqvist2582]

FERRARI F40 NEVER TESTED TOPSPEED

[@YUSKHAN]

I got the DVD back in 2003 😁😁😁

[@saelfeman]

What is the background music at the beginning of this episode?

[@dogukanmi6904]

1:17 gold line

[@ciaranburke3243]

Astonishing car 😮👍

[@baobabs727]

He’s so negative lol

[@MetikalMan]

I look at this as the 1990s F40.

[@kimcheebowl]

🤦🏻‍♂️

[@rickb.4168]

From the front, is there anything prettier?

[@Mark.D.H.]

Amazing in its day, but on the Grand Tour it was only a few seconds faster around the track than a VW Up with its 1 litre engine!

[@aaa84gt]

Well that's a letdown. However, car is still amazing. Only 90s hypercar that isn't worth multi millions yet.

[@madushanrandima9853]

This camera quality is the best for this beautiful car😍

[@logwind]

Stunning looking thing, isn't it?

[@blxtothis]

Too big, wrong engine , enough said!

[@astonmartin4360]

A lovely car but who designed the dash board ? Looks like a family saloon.

[@lastmanstanding9389]

Ford owned the company at the time iirc, they were against this car being built and only allowed stock Ford parts to be used.

[@AlanReynoldsBucklandJunction]

Yes coz it,s British

[@andrewrichardson7814]

XJ200 my dream car.

[@HotRod16]

The person who work along Murray Walker? Awesome car indeed! I only driven it in Need For Speed.

[@rnichol22]

How old are you, he was a formula one driver for over ten years

[@HotRod16]

@@rnichol22 i born in 1985. Ya, I know he was a F1 racer. But not too much about him. Just impressed he own this iconic supercar.

[@colin5577]

Sigh.... depressing to note that despite the Nardo scares, the bonnet is still lifting at speed and the wipers still give up.

[@brendonmatingo1195]

When were these videos made? It looks like 1996

[@liamcinq]

2003.

[@F1Kamel_1992]

An old 90's supercar that's still looking pristine today and in the clip racing driver turned pundit Martin Brundle recalled the scariest moment while attempting to break the magical 220 mph barrier in southern Italy

[@jamiekeeper6204]

Martin is arguably the best driver of all time

[@bobopatchnosuke229]

One of the greatest cars ever made

[@RestlessFisher]

Man went from F1 race winner/bad ass corespondent/car tester. To Lewis Hamilton's personal excuse spoutting dog.

[@timbotha4422]

Budget McLaren f1

[@timbotha4422]

Not that it's a bad thing

[@timbotha4422]

Not that it's a bad thing

[@gdfggggg]

Not that it’s a bad thing

[@lastmanstanding9389]

Yep, Ford was the problem.

[@corglass]

It's fast, but not faster than my 1.3xli Toyota Starlet

[@hybridShinx]

Sleeper built ?

[@corglass]

@@hybridShinx 😏 why? Wanna race?

[@hybridShinx]

I dont do 1/4 drag race or rolling races that goes for few seconds

[@corglass]

@amarjit singh sorry but you're wrong. The xli is a beast

[@corglass]

@amarjit singh the XLI is quicker off the line. In all practically its a nippier car in day to day use. The XJ would be all day getting going, big wide lump of a thing

[@RafaelOliveiraBR]

The most spetacular 6cc 1990s car!

[@colinmorand129]

Amazing car - only beaten by the Mclaren F1 after years and years

[@energymc22]

Years and years? They were released within months of each other

[@vitorangelo4245]

no views, three likes

[@nessuno5403]

Algorithm doing the right thing to validate views and eliminate abuse (since views is what YT relies on)

[@FenderUsa]

you must be new to youtube

[@vitorangelo4245]

@Oh. no, i’m not new on youtube

[@nessuno5403]

The 220mph record was short-lived and car wasn't stock

[@nessuno5403]

@amarjit singh they also taped some parts to make it slippery. Brundle in the video says they did remove the catalytic converters.

[@gordonmichaellee]

2nd comment

[@nessuno5403]

2nd of the idiots then

[@miketheman4341]

Talk about the worst of all worlds. It’s not fast and it’s not very good as a drivers car! It’s certainly not safe!

[@markfablesmurphy]

I'd say 217 mph in 1993 is pretty fast. Hardly a Fiat Panda.

[@miketheman4341]

How a Camel Smiles Yes it takes 3 miles to get to 200 and god help you on anything but a perfect day or a perfect road. Not that this a unique to this car! All such cars were terribly unsafe and unstable during this time period. BTW a BMW 3 series is faster to 60!

[@markfablesmurphy]

@@miketheman4341 Yeah, so is the highest spec Tesla. XJ220 is flawed but a rare masterpiece of aesthetic beauty that broke speed records. Ferrari F40s aren't uniquely fast either by today's standard and they have wind-up windows, string for door handles and no radio. Still special and stunning though.

[@miketheman4341]

How a Camel Smiles Huge difference! The F40 is a nice car by today’s standards unlike this which was bad when introduced let alone now. The F40 handled well and in addition to being fast it was stable whereas this thing will kill you. That’s comparing apples with oranges. See the prices of this today vs an F40. That tells you what the world thinks about this vs the Ferraris and Porsches of the day. See the prices of a 959 today vs the XJ. There were great cars from the era but this is just bad and worst given the absurd asking price which is about 1 million dollars in 2020. On what planet was this thing a great car given you could have bought either 959 or a F40 for far less? Forever to get to 60! Forever to get to 200 plus mph. Terrible sounding engine! Terrible stability! Terrible braking and in short as he noted in the test it’s able to take off at any minute given the aero. This is why it’s on no ones list of great cars from the era. I drove the 959 after it came out and it was great. Decades ahead of its time but this is the Dodge Viper of its time. Getting to 200 mph is not as hard as one might think but doing it in a car that won’t kill you is the hard part. Pro drivers refused to push this car during testing for exactly this reason. Unless everything is perfect you would be crazy to drive this car anywhere near 200. F40 is selling for 4 times its original price. The Jag is selling for 20% to 30% less than its original price!

[@markfablesmurphy]

@@miketheman4341 I'm not saying it was as good as those cars, which rank as two of the most important supercars ever built, but it was a beautiful looking machine - much more aesthetically stunning in my view than the slightly awkward 959, albeit the Porshe was significantly more impressive from a technical standpoint. And 0-60 in 3.7 seconds in 1993 is hardly "forever".

[@man0war9993]

The most beautiful car ever made 🤍🖤🤍

[@lakermangmx]

Honest opinion, most of the guys said the same except Leno :D

[@hybridShinx]

The car that nearly killed the company lol In all seriousness, if the Midnight Club had one of these, they be unstoppble