Jaguar C-X75

The Jaguar C-X75 is a manifesto for the firm’s future, demonstrating its ability to mix classical, elegant design with cutting edge technology. Most exciting is the fact that lots of the elements of the concept will make production, ranging from the high tech stereo to the aircraft-inspired switchgear. The powertrain is further away, but the Technology Strategy Board escaped the government’s financial cuts, ensuring a substantial grant to develop sustainable propulsion systems could make Jaguar’s innovative gas turbine dream makes the leap to reality. 

Jaguar stole the show in Paris with its stunning jet engined concept car... and now, ahead of the C-X75's LA Motor Show debut, Auto Express is first behind the wheel.

Created to celebrate 75 years of Jaguar, the C-X75 of the car that sets a thrilling blueprint for the future of the brand.

The styling showcases a new evolution of Jaguar’s design language, while its groundbreaking gas turbine range extender powertrain shows how the firm has embraced new ways to power its performance cars.

Inspired by the swooping XJ13 Le Mans prototype of the mid-1960s, the C-X75 features a prominent, oval grille flanked by feline, sweeping headlights. At the side, the profile remains simple and elegant, with the flowing shape only interrupted by a sculpted air intake.

The body tapers towards the rear, which incorporates a carbon fibre rear diffuser. There’s no doubting that the Jaguar is stunning, and that impression is only enhanced by the beautifully crafted interior.

Despite being a concept, there’s no overly complex door mechanism, just conventional, front-hinged doors which swing open to reveal a pair of swooping seats. The chairs are fixed to allow for air to channel from the side intakes to the mid-mounted gas turbines, so instead, the steering wheel, controls, main binnacle and pedal box all adjust towards the driver.

The seats are hard, but your attention is soon diverted to the superb TFT screens which are used for the instruments. Lights sweep around each dial’s perimeter, showing the activity of each turbine, while the dials themselves are virtual gimbals – rotating cylinders like those in a fighter jet cockpit – which display speed and battery charge.

The C-X75’s interior features a host of LEDs which make parts of the dash appear to float, while hi-fi specialist Bowers & Wilkins has created honeycomb speakers which are hidden throughout the dash and doors.

To compliment the theatrical looks, the Jaguar is started using a switch mounted in the aircraft-inspired overhead control panel. But even after the engines spool up, there’s no real noise, and certainly none of the drama that comes when you fire up the engine of a modern supercar.

We are under strict instructions to take the utmost care with this priceless prototype, and as a result have  top speed limited to less than 20mph.

But there's still a sense of theatre as we strap into the drivers seat. You are sat so low to the tarmac, that you could almost be behind the wheel of a single-seat racing car.

There's almost no noise as we leave the line - save for the slightest whine from the electric motors. The car responds to the slightest touch of the throttle and as we reach (and then pass!) our lowly speed limit, the noise of the chunky tyres drumming on the rumway surface fills the cabin.

While it may not make much of a sound, the claimed performance figures suggest this car's speed should be nothing less than staggering.

The C-X75 features lithium-ion batteries which can be charged from a household plug in six hours, giving a range of 68 miles. However, when the cells are depleted, the two 94bhp gas turbines kick in. Spinning at up to 80,000rpm, the micro-turbines can either charge the batteries or supplement battery power.

The batteries provide power to four 195bhp electric motors, one for each wheel, which deliver a total of 780bhp and an incredible 1,600Nm of torque. The range is 560 miles and the car emits just 28g/km!

Performance figures are equally impressive, with the benchmark 0-62mph sprint taking just 3.4 seconds and a 205mph top speed claimed.

The C-X75 has two modes. In standard mode, the concept is driven solely by battery power, while Track Mode adds extra boost from the turbines and changes the TFT display to show available power, performance and lap time data.

Currently, the concept is still very much that – a priceless one-off. The near-silent drive is somewhat disconcerting at first and a little anti-climactic given the stunning looks.

But the design is more striking, the interior technology just fabulous and the amazing view afforded down the swooping bonnet means the next generation Jaguar’s sports cars can’t come soon enough.