Jaguar will launch its C-X75 concept vehicle as an exclusive hybrid supercar.The C-X75 - which boasts top speeds in excess of 200mph - is expected to deliver ultra-low CO2 emissions of less than 99g/km.Jaguar C-X75 is a hybrid supercar"We were always determined that the C-X75 would be as striking on the road as it was in concept form," said Jaguar exec Ian Callum. "This will be the finest looking and most innovative Jaguar ever produced. Even in the world of supercars, we can still produce the most beautiful."According to Callum, the Jaguar C-X75 is slated to be developed in association with Williams F1, who will provide their engineering expertise in various areas, such as aerodynamics, carbon composite manufacture and hybrid technologies.To be sure, the supercar's chassis is made of carbon-fibre, effectively creating an incredibly lightweight, yet rigidly strong structure. In addition, the C-X75 is powered a small-capacity, highly-boosted internal combustion engine with one electric motor at each axle."The engine's compact size allows it to be mounted low in the car for optimum weight distribution and to retain the concept's stunning silhouette," explained Jaguar engineer Bob Joyce. "This will make the Jaguar C-X75 a bona fide hybrid supercar capable of silent electric running with an extensive EV range in excess of 50km."When C-X75's motors and combustion engine combine, it will be one of the fastest production cars in the world, with a sub-three second 0-60mph time and a top speed in excess of 200mph.Production, however, is expected to be limited, with Jaguar building only 250 of the C-X75 supercars. Each will be priced between £700,000 ($1,149,190) - £900,000 ($1,477,530) depending on market and local taxes.
Engine and performance
In terms of performance, Jaguar envisions future super cars reaching 330 km/h (205 mph) and accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h (0 to 62 mph) in 3.4 seconds and 80 to 145 km/h (50 to 90 mph) in 2.3 seconds. It is powered by four 145 kW (194 hp) electric motors – one for each wheel - which produce 780 hp (582 kW) and a total torque output of 1,600 N·m (1,180 ft·lbf). Inherent in the drivetrain is the ability to independently vector torque to each wheel across the full speed range. Each motor weighs 50 kilograms (110 lb).The micro gas turbines from Bladon Jets generate enough electricity to extend the range of the car to 900 km (559 mi) while producing 28 grams of CO2 per kilometre on the EU test cycle. While running solely on battery power, the C-X75 has an all-electric range of 110 km (68 mi). Among other advantages, the micro turbines used in the C-X75 can be run on a range of fuels including diesel, biofuels, compressed natural gas and liquid petroleum gas. The 15kWh lithium ion battery pack weighs 185 kilograms (410 lb). Jaguar estimates an average carbon emission of 28 g/km on European test cycle, however, the carbon emission is around 150g/km if the turbines are running.Jaguar also focused on the aerodynamics in order to improve performance. For example, the carbon-fibre rear diffuser, an element in guiding airflow under the car and creating downforce, includes an active aerofoil and is lowered automatically as speed increases. Moreover, the C-X75 features an extruded and bonded, aerospace-inspired, aluminium chassis, saving on weight and improving sustainability and performance
Production
In May 2011 Jaguar unveiled plans to build a GB£700,000 (US$1.15 million) petrol-electric plug-in hybrid supercar in the UK. The carmaker will build a maximum of 250 cars in partnership with Formula One team Williams F1. The move is part of a GB£5 billion investment plan, announced by Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) in March 2011 at the Geneva Motor Show, to launch 40 "significant new products" over the next five years. The model will be built from 2013 until 2015, although it has not yet been decided where production will take place.The C-X75 will be built without the diesel-powered micro-turbines, instead, the road version will use a downsized highly-boosted petrol engine with one electric motor at each axle. In order to create a lightweight strong structure, the chassis will be made of carbon-fibre, and the engine will be mounted low for optimum weight distribution and to retain the concept’s silhouette. The C-X75 production version is expected to deliver CO2 emissions of less than 99 g/km, a sub-three second 0-60 mph time, a top speed in excess of 200 miles per hour (320 km/h), and a reduced all-electric range of 50 km (31 mi) as compared to the 110 km (68 mi) for the concept car.
Jaguar C-X75 supercar: production confirmed
The news means the gorgeous Paris 2010 concept car has made the leap from show to showroom – and Jag vows much of the clever tech will appear on the production car.Top speed is claimed at more than 200mph while 0-60mph takes 'less than three seconds'. It'll sprint to 100mph in less than six, making this hybrid supercar comfortably the fastest Jaguar of all time, even eclipsing the XJ220.
So the Jaguar C-X75 is as fast as a Bugatti Veyron?
Pretty much, if you believe the claims. Yet since it employs hybrid tech, CO2 output will be 'significantly' under 99g/km.Williams F1 is teaming up with Jaguar on the hybrid tech, which mates a 'state-of-the-art, small-capacity, highly boosted internal combustion engine' with an electric motor on each axle and lithium-ion battery technology from Williams. The Jaguar C-X75 will be four-wheel drive, and able to drive using just the combustion engine, in EV mode (with a range 'in excess of 30 miles' thanks to a plug-in facility) or use a combination of the two to record its stellar performance claims. Expect three different drive modes: EV, Normal and Track.CAR understands the engine will be a 1.6-litre four-cylinder, pointing to a unit being readied for the proposed F1 downsizing regs in 2013. CAR understands that it will be both turbocharged and supercharged, while its compact size allows it to be mounted low in the car for optimum weight distribution and to retain the concept’s stunning silhouette. The full technical specification will be announced later in 2011.The micro-turbines that featured in the C-X75 concept won't appear in the road car at first, but parent company Tata has a taken a signigicant stake in Bladon Jets (the British firm behind the technology), and will 'develop this very advanced technology as a medium-term aspiration that will play a part in Jaguars of the future'.
As quick as a Veyron, as clean as a Prius? Sounds pie-in-the-sky...
Let's hope that the C-X75 isn't struck by the same optimistic claims that wrought such trouble during the Veyron's gestation – or the Jaguar XJ220’s. The last Jag supercar was meant to have scissor doors, a screaming V12 and four-wheel drive, none of which made it to production.But Jag points to its all-carbon chassis, a kerbweight rumoured to be around 1450kg and plenty of aerodynamic, carbonfibre and hybrid expertise at Williams F1, which should see the supercar use the latest tech. Jaguar claims that production of the C-X75 will create more than one hundred highly-skilled jobs in the UK.'The C-X75 received an incredible reception as a concept car,' said Adrian Hallmark, Jaguar's brand director. 'We've been building on that momentum and there's a clear business case for this exclusive halo model. No other vehicle will better signify Jaguar's renewed confidence and excellence in technological innovation than this. People expect Jaguar to be innovators – that is when Jaguar is at its best'.
Jaguar C-X75: the looks
Expect the the C-X75 concept car's stunning good looks to be translated almost undiluted into production as well. 'We were always determined that the Jaguar C-X75 would be as striking on the road as it was in concept form,' said Ian Callum, Jaguar design director. 'This will be the finest looking and most innovative Jaguar ever produced. Even in the world of supercars, we can still produce the most beautiful.'Just 250 Jaguar C-X75s will be built, with 200 destined to be road cars and 50 designated as racers, but the C-X75 name is expected to be dropped for production. The order books open today, deliveries start in 2013 (just as plug-in hybrid tech arrives on other Jaguar road cars), and this amazing car is priced at £700k + local taxes. That's £840,000 if you're a potential UK customer.
The C-X75 hints at an exciting evolution of Jaguar's design language while paying homage to some of its most admired cars of years gone by. Advanced design features such as a ground-breaking propulsion system and active aerodynamics allow for an elegantly simple fuselage section that remains stable at very high speeds.
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