Skip advert
Advertisement

Jaguar C-X75

We get behind the wheel of the stunning Jaguar C-X75, which gets a hybrid powertrain and 880bhp

Overall Auto Express rating

5.0

How we review cars
Find your Jaguar C-X75
Compare deals from trusted partners on this car and previous models.
Or are you looking to sell your car?
Value my car
Fast, no-nonsense car selling
Value my car

We were expecting to find a hastily glued together prototype but in fact, even in its current state, the C-X75 is a match for the Porsche 918 Spyder (we’re yet to drive the P1 and LaFerrari), so it’s a crying shame that it won’t be built. And we’re not the only ones that think so: “We really should be building it shouldn’t we? I guess I’m probably not meant to say that,” Jaguar’s design director Ian Callum let slip.

Advertisement - Article continues below

The hybrid Jaguar C-X75 was supposed to go on sale this year - alongside the Porsche 918 Spyder, McLaren P1 and Ferrari LaFerrari - forming the fourth member of the greatest hypercar battle of all time. But back in December last year Jaguar pulled the plug, blaming economic conditions for the U-turn.

But the project wasn’t ditched altogether; five prototypes continued their development, and now that process has come to an end and we have been invited to take a drive and experience first hand what might have been.

To get your head around what a stunning technical achievement the C-X75 is here is a simple set of numbers that the whole team were given as targets: The finished prototype had to match the performance stats of a Bugatti Veyron, emit less C02 than a Toyota Prius and an electric-only range that's identical to a Chevrolet Volt, all while sticking as closely as possible to the gorgeous design of the concept car.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

Used - available now

Duster

2022 Dacia

Duster

15,700 milesManualPetrol1.0L

Cash £13,223
View Duster
TT

2023 Audi

TT

32,947 milesAutomaticPetrol2.0L

Cash £19,897
View TT
Golf

2024 Volkswagen

Golf

27,295 milesAutomaticPetrol1.4L

Cash £18,697
View Golf
Model Y

2023 Tesla

Model Y

43,784 milesAutomaticElectric

Cash £23,600
View Model Y

The last time Jaguar transformed a wild concept into a road car was with the XJ220 back in 1992, and the C-X75 shares the same 220mph top speed - but that's where the similarities end. Crammed into the narrow gap between the bulkhead and the rear wheels is a 1.6-litre four-cylinder petrol engine that produces a staggering 502bhp thanks to a combination of a twin-scroll supercharger and a gigantic turbo. When combined with the two electric motors – one at each axle – that add another 390bhp into the mix, the final performance figures are 880bhp and 1,000Nm.

Advertisement - Article continues below

Few - if any – cars can accelerate with the same ferocity as the C-X75 can. The engineers claim it will pull 1G on a dry surface and the tiny engine growls fiercely (more like a V8 than a four-cylinder) at low speeds before erupting into a bona fide racing car howl once it revs past 7,000rpm.

Fortunately for us, drive is sent to all-four wheels and it felt incredibly stable even when we hit an indicated 194mph on the straight. Drive is sent to the rear wheels through a seven-speed automated manual gearbox, while the front wheels are powered by their own separate electric motor. In normal driving 70 per cent of the torque is sent to the rear, but there is no mechanical link between the two and there is so much tech packed behind the driver that the fuel tank sits under the centre console.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

Pull the paddles on the steering wheel back and the gear changes slam home in less than 200 milliseconds, jerking your head back and adding to the raucous nature of the powertrain. In other areas, though, the C-X75 feels amazingly finished for a prototype. The light steering has great natural feel through the rim and allows you to place the two-metre-wide carbon-fibre body with relative ease, while the ride is impressively supple despite the 21-inch wheels. Simply put, it still feels like a proper Jag.

Yet the performance and handling capabilities are only half the story and there’s a pure electric mode, too. The claimed CO2 emissions of only 89g/km are an incredible achievement, while the combination of an incredibly powerful pair of lithium-ion battery packs and those electric motors mean the C-X75 is just as impressive during silent running.

Top speed is capped at 90mph in this mode and although Jaguar won’t release an exact figure, Williams engineer Paul Newsome did tell us that the batteries and motors weigh “easily more than the engine and gearbox combined”. They were developed in-house by a joint team that included the KERS specialists from the Williams F1 team – who also helped sculpt the active aerodynamics that give the prototypes its stunning looks.

Skip advert
Advertisement

More reviews

New & used car deals

MG MG4

MG MG4

RRP £26,995Avg. savings £7,361 off RRP*Used from £12,495
Nissan Qashqai

Nissan Qashqai

RRP £27,415Avg. savings £5,924 off RRP*Used from £12,295
Kia Sportage

Kia Sportage

RRP £28,065Avg. savings £2,884 off RRP*Used from £11,995
Toyota Yaris Cross

Toyota Yaris Cross

RRP £26,495Avg. savings £1,672 off RRP*Used from £15,800
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

Range Rover Sport SV gets massive £35k price drop as it enters series-production
Range Rover Sport SV Black - front

Range Rover Sport SV gets massive £35k price drop as it enters series-production

There’s also a new SV Black trim, and a Range Rover Sport Stealth Package for non SVs
News
1 Jul 2025
Arrivederci Roma: new Ferrari Amalfi slots in as brand’s latest entry-level model
Ferrari Amalfi - front static

Arrivederci Roma: new Ferrari Amalfi slots in as brand’s latest entry-level model

A slick new look and more power are the headlines for Ferrari’s new baby, but it’s probably some simple new buttons that will get customers’ attention
News
1 Jul 2025
Geely is coming to the UK, and its assault will start with EX5 SUV
Geely EX5 - front

Geely is coming to the UK, and its assault will start with EX5 SUV

Geely has looked to Lotus to ensure it's new electric SUV lives up to our driving expectations
News
2 Jul 2025