The Jaguar C-X75 sports car, previewed by a concept at the 2010 Paris auto show, is nearing production. Jointly developed with Williams F1, the lightweight hybrid will be powered by two powerful electric motors (one at each axle), with a 2.0-liter, four-cylinder gasoline engine pulling range-extension duties. This four-cylinder engine is not a commodity part but an entirely new unit co-developed with Williams F1.
The two miniature gas turbine engines that served as range extenders in the concept car won’t make it into series production—and were never intended to, we are told from a source within the company. Rumors abound on a racing version that makes use of the turbines, but we couldn’t get firm confirmation. Jaguar has promised that research on the turbine technology continues—including via Indian mother company Tata Motors—but it is far from ready to be offered to customers for street or track use.
The roadgoing C-X75 will be a 200-mph-plus supercar; performance targets include 0 to 60 mph in less than three seconds and 0 to 100 in less than six. It will be sold in the U.S. for around $1 million. Tests of prototypes should begin within the next few months, so you may want to start pinching your pennies. Expect the final car to arrive in late 2013 or early 2014.
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