What's all this about?

This is the TWR Supercat and we're going to pin our colours to the mast: it looks magnificent. As you've probably no doubt worked out already from looking at these images, it's a significantly rebuilt Jaguar XJS, but there's a lot more to it than a mere revisioning of a British classic.

Hold on, TWR? You mean Tom Walkinshaw Racing?

Correct. This is the first 21st-century product from the new iteration of the company, revived by racing driver and original founder (in 1976) Tom's son Fergus. It is an outfit with a long and illustrious history associated with the Big Cat, as Tom won the European Touring Car Championship in 1984 with a 5.3-litre V12 competition XJ-S (it still had its hyphen in its name until the 1990s, by the way), and TWR would go on to be involved in projects such as the XJR-15, XJ220 and the Le Mans-winning XJR-9 which romped to victory in 1988.

Therefore, it's fitting that the Supercat is based on the XJS. Only 88 examples will be built, that particular number chosen to tie in with the XJR-9's glory at La Sarthe, and each one will cost at least £225,000, excluding local taxes. There's good reason for that enormous price tag, though: every panel on the Supercat's body is made from carbon-fibre, to keep it light, while the engine is listed as a supercharged V12 with in excess of 600hp at its disposal. TWR is also going to fit it with a six-speed manual gearbox for a "connected and analogue driving experience", apparently.

That's a lot of power. What about the handling? And the interior?

We'll find out more about both when the TWR Supercat makes its dynamic debut later in the summer - what price that happening at the Goodwood Festival of Speed? - but for now Fergus Walkinshaw is happy to say that he has collected some of the finest technical and operational talent from other top-end automotive marques and companies, such as McLaren, Ferrari, Porsche, Williams, Mercedes F1 and Renault F1. Also involved in the process are Walkinshaw's business partner John Kane, chief designer Khyzyl Saleem, and former fashion magnate and famed car collector Magnus Walker.

Sounds cool. Anything else to add at this stage?

Just a few words from Walkinshaw himself, who said: "After more than two years of extensive design, engineering and development work, we are proud to unveil the design of TWR's debut product. 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. As order books open, we cannot wait for clients to experience the most powerful, dynamic and visceral evocation of a British icon that has been revolutionised from the ground-up to be ready for those that demand to be connected to the cars they drive, whether on the track or the road. This is the TWR way, and will define this and every future project we undertake."