The Austin 2200 was introduced in the early 1970s as part of the British Leyland range, offering a larger and more powerful alternative to the Austin 1800. It shared the same “Landcrab” body design as the 1800 but was fitted with a 2.2-liter inline-six engine, providing smoother performance and improved power delivery. This engine was a development of the E-Series, also used in other British Leyland models such as the Wolseley Six and the Morris 2200.

The car retained the Hydrolastic suspension system, which provided a comfortable and stable ride, making it well-suited for long-distance cruising. The interior was spacious, with a functional dashboard layout and improved materials compared to earlier models. Externally, the Austin 2200 looked similar to its smaller-engined counterparts but often featured additional trim details to distinguish it from the 1800 series.

Despite its refinement and practicality, the Austin 2200 faced competition from other executive cars of the time and suffered from the reliability and quality control issues that plagued British Leyland during the period. It remained in production until the mid-1970s, after which it was replaced by the newer and more modern Princess series.