Automotive

Jaguar takes the wraps off the C-X17

Jaguar takes the wraps off the C-X17
Jaguar's C-X17 sports crossover concept, on display at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show
Jaguar's C-X17 sports crossover concept, on display at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show
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The C-X17 is Jaguar's first sports crossover concept
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The C-X17 is Jaguar's first sports crossover concept
Side view of the C-X17
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Side view of the C-X17
The grille of the C-X17 is an evolution of the classic Jaguar nose
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The grille of the C-X17 is an evolution of the classic Jaguar nose
The C-X17 is part of Jaguar's goal of breaking into wider markets
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The C-X17 is part of Jaguar's goal of breaking into wider markets
Oblique view of the C-X17
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Oblique view of the C-X17
The C-X17 has 23-inch alloy wheels
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The C-X17 has 23-inch alloy wheels
Top view of the C-X17
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Top view of the C-X17
The C-X17 with door closed
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The C-X17 with door closed
The C-X17 with door open
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The C-X17 with door open
View of the C-X17 emphasizing the clearance
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View of the C-X17 emphasizing the clearance
Interior of the C-X17
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Interior of the C-X17
The instrument panel includes a Heads-Up Display
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The instrument panel includes a Heads-Up Display
The C-X17 is a four-seater
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The C-X17 is a four-seater
The interior is trimmed in white leather with tactile stiching
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The interior is trimmed in white leather with tactile stiching
The C-X17 has its own secure Wi-Fi network
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The C-X17 has its own secure Wi-Fi network
The dashboard showing the infotainment display
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The dashboard showing the infotainment display
The glass roof is vaned
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The glass roof is vaned
The Interactive Surface Console
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The Interactive Surface Console
The braking system of the C-X17 distributes torque to all four wheels
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The braking system of the C-X17 distributes torque to all four wheels
LED headlamps
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LED headlamps
Detail of Interactive Surface Console
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Detail of Interactive Surface Console
The gearshift is a knob that also controls driving modes
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The gearshift is a knob that also controls driving modes
The gearshift knob changes color
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The gearshift knob changes color
Swing-out leisure seats in the boot
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Swing-out leisure seats in the boot
Interior showing the roof vanes on the C-X17
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Interior showing the roof vanes on the C-X17
The designers wanted to retain as much of Jaguar design vocabulary as possible
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The designers wanted to retain as much of Jaguar design vocabulary as possible
The C-X17 has 23-inch alloy wheels
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The C-X17 has 23-inch alloy wheels
Interior detail of the C-X17
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Interior detail of the C-X17
Interior details are tactile as well as visual
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Interior details are tactile as well as visual
Tire detail of the C-X17
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Tire detail of the C-X17
The C-X17 as sedan-like performance
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The C-X17 as sedan-like performance
The architecture of the C-X17 will be common to future Jaguar models
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The architecture of the C-X17 will be common to future Jaguar models
The first of the new Jaguar line debuts in 2015
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The first of the new Jaguar line debuts in 2015
The new Jaguar models will have a variety of engines available
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The new Jaguar models will have a variety of engines available
The C-X17 was unveiled at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show
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The C-X17 was unveiled at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show
Bright work on the C-X17 is made of ruthenium
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Bright work on the C-X17 is made of ruthenium
The C-X17 features the intelligent All-Wheel Drive system
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The C-X17 features the intelligent All-Wheel Drive system
The C-X17 has Torque Vectoring by Braking
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The C-X17 has Torque Vectoring by Braking
The C-X17 uses iQ[Al] architecture
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The C-X17 uses iQ[Al] architecture
The new Jaguar line will be built at Solihull, UK
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The new Jaguar line will be built at Solihull, UK
The new Jaguar strategy is part of a £1.5 billion investment
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The new Jaguar strategy is part of a £1.5 billion investment
Jaguar is aiming to expand into the high-growth premium markets
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Jaguar is aiming to expand into the high-growth premium markets
iQ[AI] is an advanced aluminum monocoque architecture
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iQ[AI] is an advanced aluminum monocoque architecture
Computer rendering of the C-X17
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Computer rendering of the C-X17
Computer rendering of the C-X17
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Computer rendering of the C-X17
Computer rendering of the C-X17
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Computer rendering of the C-X17
Concept sketches of the C-X17
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Concept sketches of the C-X17
Concept sketches of the C-X17
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Concept sketches of the C-X17
Concept sketches of the C-X17
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Concept sketches of the C-X17
Interior concept of the C-X17
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Interior concept of the C-X17
Detail concept of the C-X17
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Detail concept of the C-X17
instrument layout concept of the C-X17
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instrument layout concept of the C-X17
Jaguar's C-X17 sports crossover concept, on display at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show
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Jaguar's C-X17 sports crossover concept, on display at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show
Jaguar's C-X17 sports crossover concept, on display at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show
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Jaguar's C-X17 sports crossover concept, on display at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show
Jaguar's C-X17 sports crossover concept, on display at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show
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Jaguar's C-X17 sports crossover concept, on display at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show
Jaguar's C-X17 sports crossover concept, on display at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show
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Jaguar's C-X17 sports crossover concept, on display at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show
Jaguar's C-X17 sports crossover concept, on display at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show
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Jaguar's C-X17 sports crossover concept, on display at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show
Jaguar's C-X17 sports crossover concept, on display at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show
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Jaguar's C-X17 sports crossover concept, on display at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show
Jaguar's C-X17 sports crossover concept, on display at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show
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Jaguar's C-X17 sports crossover concept, on display at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show
Jaguar's C-X17 sports crossover concept, on display at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show
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Jaguar's C-X17 sports crossover concept, on display at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show
View gallery - 60 images

After hinting at its new C-X17 concept, Jaguar has finally taken the lid off of its first sports crossover concept vehicle at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show. This is not only the first vehicle of its kind to be designed by Jaguar, but it also acts as a demonstration of a new architecture that will be common in future Jaguar models as the company seeks to expand into new markets.

The C-X17 represents a bit of a gamble for Jaguar. The carmaker want to expand its vehicle range to widen its market; especially in the high-growth premium niches. However, Director of Design Ian Callum and his team were also faced with how to do so without morphing Jaguar into a slightly more upmarket version of Vauxhall.

The key to the Jaguar strategy is iQ[Al]. Focused on the company’s £1.5 billion (US$2.3 billion) investment at its plant in Solihull, UK with a global rollout in 2015, iQ[AI] is an advanced aluminum monocoque architecture that will be the basis for the new Jaguar range, starting with a mid-size premium C/D segment sedan.

Under the tagline "anything we can imagine, we can create," the architecture is described by Jaguar as lightweight, extremely stiff, modular, and scalable. The idea behind it is to provide a common, interchangeable architecture for all future Jaguars, which will allow for higher volume production by making it possible to manufacture different products on the same line at the same time, as well as responding to sudden market changes.

Jaguar's C-X17 sports crossover concept, on display at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show
Jaguar's C-X17 sports crossover concept, on display at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show

The style of the C-X17 showcases the strengths and potential pitfalls of Jaguar’s new strategy. Decked out in Caesium Blue finish, with gloss black brightwork and intimidating 23-inch alloy wheels, it’s clear that the designers want this concept to be a Jag. However, its not as successful as it could be. Despite the touches on the grille, the nose based on the Jaguar XJ, and the I-drink-your-milkshake LED headlamps, it just doesn't make you think of an E-Type.

There are some aggressive lines, a pair of nicely understated air scoops, and it is beautifully proportioned with a low appearance that suggests hidden power, but at the end of the day, it’s a hot hatchback with a glass roof and four-wheel drive.

Jaguar hasn't said what engine is in the C-X17 concept, but it does say that the future Jaguar range will offer a variety of petrol and diesel engines including the V6 engine in the F-Type with top speeds of 300 km/h (186 mph) and emissions of under 100g of carbon dioxide per kilometer.

Jaguar says that, if it were a production car, the C-X17 would have an on-road bias and sedan car-like handling thanks to its optimized center of gravity, and the light weight and all-aluminum body. It features the intelligent All-Wheel Drive system, which continuously monitors grip levels and driver inputs. The system then uses feed-forward torque distribution to respond to wheel-slip, while giving most of the power to the rear wheels when possible. There’s also Torque Vectoring by Braking, which uses the brakes to balance the distribution of engine torque to reduce understeer while taking a corner.

The C-X17 has its own secure Wi-Fi network
The C-X17 has its own secure Wi-Fi network

The interior of the C-X17 concept has a very roomy, futuristic look with its four white leather contour bucket seats and the multi-screen infotainment network in case the passengers need to do a bit of social media surfing. The glass roof has contoured vanes and in the boot there are two swing-out “leisure seats” made of milled aluminum and finished in Connolly saddle leather. There’s even a torch and a camera in their own leather holsters.

With all this, it’s no surprise to learn that the brightwork is made of ruthenium.

The driver’s instrument panel incorporates a twin-dial configurable TFT console and a heads-up display to project information on the windscreen. The only real disappointment is that the gear shift is a dial, also decked out in ruthenium. It seems a bit more like tuning a radio than driving, but it does allow the driver to toggle between driving modes such as Road, Sport, or All-Road.

However, the eye catcher of the C-X17’s technology is the Interactive Surface Console that makes up the top of the center tunnel running through the cabin. This is a touchscreen interactive multi-passenger infotainment hub made of transparent acrylic glass that connects with the car’s Wi-Fi network, that allows passengers to share what they think of the C-X17 on Facebook and Twitter while enjoying “a unified multi-sensory experience” via the car’s 28-speaker sound system. Hopefully, the screen is stronger than it looks.

The video below introduces the Jaguar C-X17 Concept.

Source: Jaguar

View gallery - 60 images
5 comments
5 comments
Purple-Stater
Not aesthetically pleasing, though I think most of that could be fixed by using standard sized tires and rims.
JPAR
Too similar to the Range Rover equivalent, except with a stupid grill! However, Im sure they'll sell like hotcakes, as it's what the mindless masses appear to want in their cars.
mados123
As part of the mindless mass, I can't wait to see this car on the road!
ActiveGuitar
Oh, no... enough of those stupid SUVs. No style, no elegance that you expect from a Jag.
dsiple
It looks like a Volvo, and the color just doesn't fit the Jaguar image. Do we really need another crossover vehicle (station wagon)?