What do you get when you combine a famous name in British (and Australian) motorsport, an outlaw and a free-thinking designer? The answer is the TWR Supercat, a supercharged V12 “Super-GT” that combines retro style with a modern take.
It’s the first product of the re-born TWR, a new bespoke performance car maker founded by Fergus Walkinshaw, son of the late Tom Walkinshaw and brother to Ryan. As previously reported by Torquecafe, Walkinshaw has partnered with two internet icons, Porsche fanatic Magnus Walker and vehicle designer Khyzyl Saleem.
Walker is known online as the ‘Urban Outlaw’ and has amassed a collection of German sports cars but, as an Los Angeles-based ex-pat Brit, has a soft spot for the Jaguar XJS the Supercat is based on.
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Saleem, who is best known by his social media handle @Khyzyl, has made a name for himself designing real and virtual cars with wider bodykits and more outlandish designs.
Jaguar’s XJS is an appropriate starting point for this new take on TWR, as the original Tom Walkinshaw Racing won endurances races at Bathurst and Spa in the British coupe during the 1980s.
The new, custom-designed Supercat is powered by a 447kW supercharged V12 engine and has been engineered by a number of ex-Formula 1 personnel to meet modern performance and safety standards. While it still looks like a XJS, TWR has built every exterior panel from carbon fibre, to save weight.
“After more than two years of extensive design, engineering and development work, we are proud to unveil the design of TWR’s debut product,” said Fergus Walkinshaw. “The outcome is a true drivers’ Super-GT built from the foundations of the iconic Jaguar XJS and appropriately named the Supercat. This bold expression of the breed fulfils our mission to build cars worthy of TWR’s winning legacy, starting with this remarkable car as it enters its 50th year.”
The styling, led by Saleem, is meant to give a modern look to the nearly vintage coupe, but each of the strictly limited 88 buyers will be able to personalise their final vehicle.
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“This project is an incredible opportunity to interpret TWR’s winning legacy in today’s design language,” Saleem explained. “In so many ways, my career in the digital and physical realms have been leading to this moment. In merging the requirements of Super-GT form and racing functionality we have created a unique identity that is instantly recognisable from its silhouette. I am proud of the work we have done to bring inspirations from TWR’s performance and racing car history into this extraordinary new design. I cannot wait to work with our clients in shaping their own personal styling requirements for this incredible modern interpretation of a car that deserves its place among the most celebrated examples of British automotive design.”
TWR hasn’t confirmed with the Supercat will be available to Australian buyers, but have committed to building for the right-hand drive UK audience and have said it will be sold in “major international markets”, including the USA.
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