SPIED: Jaguar C-X75 prototype
2013-02-06 10:17
WORK IN PROGRESS: A Jaguar C-X75 was spotted at a secret test track in Europe.
The Jaguar C-X75 hybrid supercar won’t make production as originally planned.
It was revealed as a concept at the Paris motor show in 2010, the flagship sports car was intended to enter a small production run of 250 units in 2015, but Adrian Hallmark, Jaguar global brand director, confirmed that’s no longer the case.
Image gallery: Jaguar C-X75 concept
Video: Jaguar C-X75 Paris launch
Hallmark told British magazine Auto Express: “When we first announced the project, during the worst economic downturn this country’s ever seen, we expected things to have improved by now. But considering the economic landscape as it is and the austerity measures, making a 1-million-Pounds (R13.8-million) supercar seems wrong – especially when there are more important projects we are working on.”
TURBOCHARGED AND SUPERCHARGED
Despite the news, five existing prototypes will continue to be developed until fully functional by a small team of Jaguar and Williams F1 engineers. The one spy shot is of a running prototype – snapped on a secret test track in southern Europe
Jaguar has managed to make the 373kW 1.6-litre turbocharged and supercharged F1-inspired engine, which revs beyond 10 000, work in sync with a lightt electric motor for a total of around 900Nm and 671kW. An advanced liquid-cooled and air-conditioned battery pack allows a 100km zero-emissions mode, while according to Hallmark the C-X75 is “quicker than a Bugatti Veyron, but emits less CO2 than a Toyota Prius".
“We’ve patented more than 100 technologies during this project," he added, "and many of those we’ll continue to develop for our other road cars."
The aerodynamics were significantly redeveloped for the prototype, too, with 17 radiators dotted around the car and a series of new vents and intakes around the bodywork.
Hallmark has confirmed that there would be media test drives in early 2013.
