Jaguar has confirmed that their C-X75 concept car, first seen at the 2010 Paris Motor Show, is to go into production and become a reality for 250 lucky customers.
Production is due to start in 2013 with a price tag expected to be around £850,000. Jaguar has also teamed up with the Williams F1 Grand Prix team to ensure their futuristic hybrid supercar features crucial technology and development from a company with significant racing pedigree.
Although the C-X75 will be built at Jaguars Castle Bromwich Assembly plant in the West Midlands, the Oxfordshire F1 outfit will utilise their expertise in carbon fibre body construction, aerodynamics, hybrid powertrains and battery technology to ensure the C-X75 will become one of the most unique supercars money can buy.
The initial concept car used two diesel-fed, micro gas turbines to re-charge batteries that powers four electric motors, one on each wheel. The end result was a car that produced 778bhp through four-wheel drive, had an effective range of 550 miles (60 miles on battery alone) and emitted just 28 grams of CO2 per kilometre.
The production C-X75 will be slightly more toned down but is still expected to reach zero to 60mph in less than three seconds, zero to 100mph in less than six seconds and have a top speed in excess of 200mph. But yet again, the stat that really grabs your attention is the CO2 figure, which is expected to be significantly less than 99g/km. The gas turbines are not going to feature on the production version, neither are the four electric motors. Instead, the production version is going to get a highly boosted, 1.6 litre turbocharged and supercharged petrol engine, which will be based on the next generation 2013 downsized Formula 1 regulations with two powerful electric motors, one on each axle.
Tellingly, Jaguar's parent company Tata has taken a significant stake in the Isle of Man-based company who builds the micro gas turbines – Bladon Jets – and will develop this very advanced technology as a medium-term aspiration that will play a part in Jaguars of the future.
"People expect Jaguar to be innovators − that is when Jaguar is at its best," said Adrian Hallmark, Jaguar brand director. "The C-X75 received an incredible reception as a concept car. We've been building on that momentum and there is 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."
Sir Frank Williams, chairman of Williams F1, said: "Our new association with Jaguar Land Rover provides us with an exciting opportunity to work with one of the motoring world's most famous and iconic brands. Williams has always considered itself an engineering company and so this project will allow us to combine our technical expertise to create something truly exceptional."
