Automotive

Jaguar teams with Williams F1 to produce US$1.5 million C-X75 Hybrid Supercar

Jaguar teams with Williams F1 to produce US$1.5 million C-X75 Hybrid Supercar
The Jaguar C-X75 concept shown last October in Paris, 
is to be produced in a limited edition of 250 vehicles with prices beginning at GBP700,000 (US$1.15 million) and running to GBP900,000 (US$1.5 million).
The Jaguar C-X75 concept shown last October in Paris, 
is to be produced in a limited edition of 250 vehicles with prices beginning at GBP700,000 (US$1.15 million) and running to GBP900,000 (US$1.5 million).
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The Jaguar C-X75 concept shown last October in Paris, 
is to be produced in a limited edition of 250 vehicles with prices beginning at GBP700,000 (US$1.15 million) and running to GBP900,000 (US$1.5 million).
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The Jaguar C-X75 concept shown last October in Paris, 
is to be produced in a limited edition of 250 vehicles with prices beginning at GBP700,000 (US$1.15 million) and running to GBP900,000 (US$1.5 million).
Media star and auto enthusiast Jay Leno and the C-X75
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Media star and auto enthusiast Jay Leno and the C-X75
If you think this looks good, pictures do not do this thing justice - the Jaguar C-X75 is breathtakingly beautiful in real life
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If you think this looks good, pictures do not do this thing justice - the Jaguar C-X75 is breathtakingly beautiful in real life
The C-X75 interior is visually very impressive
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The C-X75 interior is visually very impressive
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The wraps get pulled off the C-X75 in Paris last October
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The wraps get pulled off the C-X75 in Paris last October
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Just how much the body shape in general and the rear in particular will differ once Williams gets to work in the wind tunnel will be interesting to watch
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Just how much the body shape in general and the rear in particular will differ once Williams gets to work in the wind tunnel will be interesting to watch
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The C-X75 will be one of the fastest and most visually arresting supercars available.
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The C-X75 will be one of the fastest and most visually arresting supercars available.
The C-X75 cockpit is pure Space Age
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The C-X75 cockpit is pure Space Age
View gallery - 16 images

Jaguar's stunningly beautiful C-X75 hybrid concept 
that wowed Salon L'automobile last October in Paris, 
is to be produced in a limited edition of 250 vehicles with prices beginning at GBP700,000 (US$1.15 million) and running to GBP900,000 (US$1.5 million).

The C-X75 will be developed in association with Formula One constructor Williams F1 and though the specification has changed significantly from the Paris car the 330 km/h C-X75 will still be one of the fastest production cars in the world particularly off the line where its 0-60 mph time will be significantly less than the magical 3.0 second mark, and a lot faster than the concept's claimed 3.4 seconds.

Emission-wise, the production version will still emit less CO2 than 99g/km, but its electric-only range has halved from the concept's 110 km to just 50 km.

The two 35 kg, 80,000 rpm lightweight micro gas-turbines of the concept car have been replaced with a compact, but otherwise-unspecified, forced-aspiration internal combustion engine and there are now two electric motors (one on each axle), instead of the concept's four wheel motors. How close the production model will come to the concept's 780bhp and 1600Nm (1180lb ft) torque output was not revealed.

The enrollment of Williams F1 in the development of the production vehicle seems to add momentum to a growing trend of association between Formula One constructors and elite sports car manufacturers.

Just how much the body shape in general and the rear in particular will differ once Williams gets to work in the wind tunnel will be interesting to watch
Just how much the body shape in general and the rear in particular will differ once Williams gets to work in the wind tunnel will be interesting to watch

Ferrari and McLaren are the best known of the F1 frontrunners for their fast transfer of motorsport technologies to sports cars, though Renault, Mercedes and more recently the Team Lotus purchase of Caterham means that now six of the twelve F1 constructors are transferring their leading-edge go-fast expertise to road cars.

With a carbon fiber chassis, clearly the biggest attraction of Williams F1 was its knowledge of weaving black magic, but not far behind that expertise in terms of relevant skills sets is its bleeding edge knowledge of vehicle aerodynamics and its vast knowledge of hybrid technologies.

Williams Hybrid Power has developed a novel KERS (Kinetic Energy Recovery System) using an electromechanical composite flywheel that is both highly efficient and cost-effective.

Though there's no intention this form of KERS might become part of the C-X75 bag of environmentally-friendly tricks, should the relationship bear fruit, mutually-beneficial collaboration between technology companies seems to be the way of the future.

The C-X75 will be one of the fastest and most visually arresting supercars available.
The C-X75 will be one of the fastest and most visually arresting supercars available.

Whatsmore, Williams' knowledge of hybrid technologies was specifically mentioned in the Jaguar press, so who knows what the future may bring as Jaguar seeks to reclaim its once world-leading automotive sporting heritage.

Similarly, while it was a disappointment that the innovative 80,000 rpm micro gas-turbines weren't ready for production in the short time frames Jaguar is envisaging, Tata (Jaguar's owner) has purchased a large stake in Bladon Jets, and hence there's every possibility that micro turbines will yet make a subsequent version of the C-X75.

The C-X75 cockpit is pure Space Age
The C-X75 cockpit is pure Space Age

Jaguar is already receiving expressions of interest on the internet from prospective purchasers of the C-X75. Alternatively, you can call 0800 015 8605 in the UK, 400 820 8955 in China or +44(0)1932 335370 or +44(0)1932 335365 from elsewhere.

View gallery - 16 images
7 comments
7 comments
nathism
So, it\'s a completely different car...
Adam Nightingale
I wonder if it will be another Jag flop like the 220 XJ.
Greg Beazley
The only thing that would ruin this car is when you need to chuck a number plate to the front and back.
daviddieter
Drop the price a tad, say $250k on three, one for me, one for my lady and one for the Mrs. with some \"brake adjustment\"s needed and we\'ve got a deal!
onearth1hominid
Tata\'s joining of micro gas-turbines and carbon fiber may signal the eventual end of the internal combustion engine\'s reign. New technologies are being developed faster than can be assimilated in production. I\'m glad companies and individuals are willing to invest in bringing these together and showing it can be done and done in a stunning way. I rarely travel more than 25 miles from home so would use the turbines for long trips. Sweet cockpit for flying on the ground across America\'s Heartland. With wings, paired micro thrust turbines and some adjustments I wonder if it could take off from an aircraft carrier. Would have to take a really close look at the brakes before I tried, though.
Søren Algreen-ussing
just the thing the sportscar world needs - a development of a fast, electric traction race derived vehicle, even if only for the collectors, !!,. Good Luck !!,. s.
Gargamoth
It's a foreign car so I expected this to be overpriced, like everything from Europe, but I do love the design of the vehicle and hope it proforms and outproforms better then expected. It could be my new dream car, as far as styling goes anyway and if it ever makes it to production.