Jaguar has finally pulled the covers from its sensational C-X16 concept car - ending almost a decade of speculation on the firm's plans to build a "small sports car".
The two seat coupe, which Auto Express was invited to see at a secret location in the UK for an exclusive preview in August, made its long awaited public debut at a packed event, held on the eve of the Frankfurt Motor Show.
New detail was also confirmed, including a potential price of between £60,000 and £80,000.
Named C-X16 to honour the fact that this is the 16th Jaguar project to be led by design director Ian Callum, the car gets and aluminium bodywork and carbon fibre detailing.
Speaking at the event, Callum said "With this car, we are creating our future, Jaguar is now in its rightful place."
"This is our first two-seat sportscar since... Well, you know what" He continued, referencing the historic E-Type, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year.
Jaguar Brand Director, Adrian Hallmark continued "Everything you see before you is technically feasible."
"In fact, the only part of this concept that wouldn't currently meet legislation for the road is the seat structures... Everything else you can see, from the wheels to the roof, meets all the requirements to be put into production."
However, when asked why Jaguar would not officially confirm this car would be built, and was sticking to the description of "production concept", Hallmark answered, "This car answers a question that Jaguar fans have been asking since 1975..."
"This is a long term play for the business. We are not launching it today, we are asking for potential customers to give us their feedback."
However, the firm's plans for the car are extremely detailed, Auto Express has learned.
Under the bonnet, there's a petrol electric hybrid engine. Most of the power comes from a 3.0-litre supercharged V6 producing 375bhp and 450Nm of torque.
This engine is all new, and has been developed using the architecture of the 5.0-litre V8 already found in the XFR, XKR and XJ,
To help improve fuel consumption, and cut emissions, it also features direct-injection and a twin-vortex supercharger both of which are also said to improve throttle response.
The hybrid's electric motor produces a useful 95bhp and 235Nm of torque, and is bolted directly onto the eight-speed ZF automatic gearbox. It draws power from a lightweight lithium-ion battery mounted behind the seats.
The electric motor's star turn is to provide an extra slug of power when a button is pressed on the steering wheel.
The system, dubbed "push to pass" is inspired by the Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS) fitted to Formula One racing cars and stores enough energy for a ten second burst of extra power.
But the hybrid's job doesn't end there. The system also improves fuel economy, and around town will even propel the car in an electric-only mode at speeds of up to 30mph.
Jaguar’s official figures are 0-62mph in 4.4 seconds and a top speed limited to 186mph. Yet fuel consumption is quoted at an amazing 41mpg combined, while the car claims 165g/km CO2 emissions – numbers helped by the inclusion of the stop-start system seen on the XF 2.2D.
More to follow
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It may have been premature to make previous comment on the CX-16 design and Callum when the car looks unfortunately similar to the Massarati Gran tourismo. Place the trident in the grill and it may be seen what is meant. Is there any originality out there or are some designers just plagiarising ideas?
Interesting too that the base price has risen £10k since the first pictures appeared. The main problem with the design is the nose. It doesn't say 'Jaguar' even if the rest of the design is a better-resolved homage to the E-type.
So much for all the talk of this being a Boxster rival - way too expensive for that. Will it replace the XK8 instead?
The rear design is good, but for some reason the front of it just looks like too many others out there and very Nissan.
And if the price is going to keep creeping higher and higher this will obviously not be as easy to sell when you can get a proven motor like the 911 instead.
The potential price was said to be between 60,000 and 80,000 Euro and not Pounds in Frankfurt. That's quite a significant difference, so the aricle should be amended guys.
for me the only issue is them double air intakes on both side ,...OVER DONE.. BUT ... it's got a lot of good selling points including the proven super charged power plant in 3L form hooked up with a electric motor Boost ... That's the right way to go!
Thought this was an auto website not a comedy forum!
I don't agree with the comments that it looks like a Maserati. The slope of the roofline is very different as are the fenders over the rear of the vehicle.
I am dissapointed because I understood from the press releases that this was going to be a Boxster priced Jaguar sportscar and this is obviously now not the case since they are saying it's a 911 competitor. So for me, as peencv3 suggests this could be a replacement for the XK8.
So when Jaguar will you have a Boxster competitior because I think the market wants one ASAP.
It is not a 911 rival as i cannot get my 2 kids in the back. I would like to be patriotic ( yes i know Jag is not Brit owned) so PLEASE Jag made a 4 seat coupe - the rear seats in an XK are useless.
Concept car looks great though!
comparing it to a boxter... is no contest jag wins hands down! as for the 911 that's a matter of opinion but I know which one I would like to own and it's not the Porsche
May I gently remind some of you what Jaguar did to the C-XF.....C as in Concept, and that one was a show-stopper!! Then out popped the ugly-duckling XF. Jaguar still have time to do anything to the car you see here. And could include 'bloody awful'.
If the final car ends up being called anything-16 it will be a disgrace, and a fop. Callum is pumped full of his own importance, opinionated, and a lime-light stealer. It would be trashing Jaguar's heritage and core values namiing a car after him. Cant be any sort of comparison to a porsche because, as noted, its 2 seats less, and 200kgs heavier. I can see definite excess weight in the completely unnecessary four exhausts posing as bazookas. It will have 2 cats on it. Put 2 pipes out the back. All that excess ['material'] at the rear of a car, that is somehow de rigeur, is overkill posing as design, or copycating. Design......what design??
Hope is is a massive hit Jaguar, if the concept is anything to go by l don't think they will have a problem.
I wish Callum would stop trying sell compare his design as the next e-type, there is only one e-type and like Enzo said it is the most beautiful car he had ever seen.
Please stop comparing it Callum! Stunning as C-X16 it is it is not an e-type replacement or in the same league!! Jaguar e-type was a very special one off design that comes along once in a lifetime, l can't ever see what Jaguar achieved with the e-type being bettered, Jaguar broke the mould when they made the e-type.
Jaguars stunning C-X16 will be a big hit its bang on price but its not mould breaking design like the e-type, you get a lot of car and technology, exotic materials for the money. It will steal a lot of customers from the opposition, and thats what l want to see Jaguar do.
Jag are working with Williams GP developing an improved KERS system for the production car.
Considering the car has KERS Jag have done well with the weight.. a 95 BHP motor is a solid lump of metal almost, along with the batteries.. I'm guessing it will have to have it's own clutch and a flywheel to recover the energy... all heavy but make all the difference to the car..
This car is brilliant .. it's fun! the overtaking acceleration helped by that motor will be a instant neck snapping pull... with economy when needed ..
AS top gear wrote even a blind man can see this car is beautiful... it is! Who cares what Callum calls it he has done a great job along with all at Jag! end of the day it's not Callum who will decide it's name
I don't understand. The only thing I see that separates this rather bland blob from every other bland blob is the side opening hatch, which ofcourse the production car will most probably not have.
Not only is this yet another rehash of every other current or concept Jag and indeed Aston (to name but two) but it isn't particularly (in my opinion) pushing any boudaries. You can bleet on all you like about KERS but to be fair, I've had (and every car that's ever been made has) the use of my right foot all my life and no-one's ever made a song and dance about it!
I once had a Datsun 120Y. It was horrid. It was ugly. But...an amazing thing happened when I applied pressure through my right foot and onto a revolutionary thing called the accelorator pedal...I went faster and passed people going slower than I wanted to...WOW!! What a complete waste of earths' resources and human ability...
As for it being a 'small' sports coupe...in which dimension exactly would we categorise this as 'small'??
I do like the front lights though...Jag, definately put those into production! As for everything else...ummm...I believe Pininfarina (is that right?) had a brilliant crack at a wonderful, modern Jag...and it was and still is the best (potential) Jag I've seen in 50 years.