Friday 28th June 2013

Jaguar C-X75: Time For Tea?

Please Jaguar, change your mind about canning the C-X75...

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It seems like only yesterday we were talking about Cosworth's reinvention of its abandoned four-cylinder F1 engine programme for use in road cars. Oh, that's because itwas.

313hp per litre from Cosworth 1.6-litre F1 motor

Anyway, off the back of that and a slightly odd PR initiative that has seen Jaguar boasting about how clever the now abandoned C-X75 is/was here's a cool little video explaining a bit more about how that 500-odd horsepower turbo AND supercharged 1.6 replaced the original turbine-based drivetrain. And showing it being put through its paces.

It's all a bit Jim Bowen 'look at what you could have won' and all the more frustrating for it, because the C-X75 looks like a hell of a piece of kit and more than a match for the McLaren P1, LaFerrari and Porsche 918 Spyder it might otherwise have competed with.

"Our challenge was monumental," says Rob Atkin, C-X75 Vehicle and Programme Manager. "We needed to achieve the performance of a Veyron, the range of a Volt and the CO2 of a Prius and package it all inside the beautiful C-X75." By all accounts they did it too.

Jaguar is trying to soften the blow of canning the C-X75's by saying the technology - including possibly that amazing little engine - will make it into future JLR products. But really we wanted it in this one. Because it looks like they hit those goals and created one hell of a vehicle. Perhaps a cooler one for the fact that they're not going to sell it. But that comes as small comfort when you imagine that four-way hypercar grouptest with the C-X75 and its 10,000rpm Cosworth engine at the core.

What might have been, eh?

 

 

 

 

[exceed]

I personally think Jaguar are going to do this but bring it more in line with 458 and 12C territory.

They have too much backing and support to worry about losing money on these things so think the drop to a 1.6 Turbo and hybrid system is going to drop it into a better price bracket.

Although speculation on my behalf, and given Jaguar's history of not making the amazing prototype models most likely incorrect...

[TAHodgson]

exceed said:

I personally think Jaguar are going to do this but bring it more in line with 458 and 12C territory.

They have too much backing and support to worry about losing money on these things so think the drop to a 1.6 Turbo and hybrid system is going to drop it into a better price bracket.

Although speculation on my behalf, and given Jaguar's history of not making the amazing prototype models most likely incorrect...

I too would like to think that they're making us all believe it's not going to happen, then BAM launch it as a world beater where everyone wants it and everyone lives happily ever after. Alas, I can't truly believe it's going to happen.

[Digga]

I hope you're right - that something is salvaged from the project, because I love this concept.

I was a bit ho-hum when I saw it had a 4 cyl motor, but I think that winding it up to 10,000 rpm, turbo-supercharging it and then throwing a few electric motors into the bargain certainly looks like a very fun mix.

[smilo996]

I thought the title said that Jag were going to build it. Heart jumped. If they did I cannot see how it would be a commercial failure like the XJ220.
It looks amazing, then engine is innovative and essentially like a pimped F1 engine. it looks amazing, the performance is in excess of Porsche and more real world than La Ferrari & the Mc Laren.

With 1.6L force fed engines in F1 in 2014, how much more do they need to produce it?

[BBS-LM]

Why the hell aren't JAGUAR making this car, look at it, it looks stunning.

[Mezzanine]

Given the recent resurgence in the press of the C- X75 in the last few weeks, I would think they are likely to announce a 'come back' of the project with a few key (read less expense) changes to the initial prototype.

They need a halo car for the brand and they have the development funds and market inertia right now to make it work.

Have to say it looks great on the move.

[dantournay]

I'm sure they could shoehorn a XKR-S V8 in there if they wanted to.

[ChrisG99]

TAHodgson said:

I too would like to think that they're making us all believe it's not going to happen, then BAM launch it as a world beater where everyone wants it and everyone lives happily ever after. Alas, I can't truly believe it's going to happen.

Hahaha, that made me laugh but I completely agree with you.

I think it looks stunning. It's like a classic XJ220 and XJR-15 rolled into one.

[NGK210]

Mezzanine said:

Given the recent resurgence in the press of the C- X75 in the last few weeks, I would think they are likely to announce a 'come back' for the project ...

Oh Lordy, let's hope so

The C-X75 makes the P1 look weird, the 918 Spyder look like it lives above a Greggs and the LaFerrari just plain vulgar. And the C-X75 revs to 10k

[valverguy]

Gives me chills looking at this, probably the only car in 20 years that i would buy brand new if it was released and i wasn't poor lol

[Nick644]

One can only assume there are severe long term reliability problems with the engine/electric tech. Why else wouldn't they produce it in limited numbers as Porsche/Ferrari have done.

[loudlashadjuster]

Certainly seems like Jaguar are gearing up for some kind of followup announcement.

Autocar have even driven it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CspcnZ1IBs8

[FraserLFA]

When they canned it, wasn't there only one prototype with a space age interior?

And now there appears to be three with a much more realistic interior for mass production.

bks are they not going to make it. They're just drumming up excitement!

[PtheP]

They'll make it. Trust me.

[Mezzanine]

FraserLFA said:

They're just drumming up excitement!

It's working!

/rubsthighs

[Newro]

exceed said:

I personally think Jaguar are going to do this but bring it more in line with 458 and 12C territory.

They have too much backing and support to worry about losing money on these things so think the drop to a 1.6 Turbo and hybrid system is going to drop it into a better price bracket.

Sorry, but just can't see this happening. Even if they could produce it down at that price level maintenance costs alone are going to make the kit very difficult to punt. IMHO. And for that kind of cash, they will have to shift 'reasonable' numbers in order to get the books balanced.

If at all, I think it would be a safer option to go down the Pagani route. Put some teaser out there, see if some rich kids bite and sell a very limited amount of units at a profit each. But as mentioned, the top end of the market is already oversaturated.

Either way, expect to see something very similar looking, slightly less exciting, but on sale, in the near future.

The XK is getting a bit dated, don't you think?

[MrTappets]

I don't think they've canned it for a second. Some changes, sure, but it's too good to just throw away and the management knows it. It would be a perfect halo car now they've just reminded everyone they do sports cars again too.

[iamAlegend]

I can't decide weather to angry at Jaguar for not putting yet another excellent car into production, or to be happy they developed it and released videos of it

[Plainview23]

Newro said:

Sorry, but just can't see this happening. Even if they could produce it down at that price level maintenance costs alone are going to make the kit very difficult to punt. IMHO. And for that kind of cash, they will have to shift 'reasonable' numbers in order to get the books balanced.

The point wouldn't be to make money on it --- it's to make the F-Type a slightly easier psychological purchase at the price point. One of these in a show room will help to sell 20 F-Types, strange perhaps, but people are!

[Gorbyrev]

Really want them to make this but that is irrelevant because it will sell for the sort of money that buys a house in my price bracket! Looks amazing but Jaguar do have hypercar previous with the XJ220 and its lack of cylinder count. Though I suppose this is a four pot from the outset so its not like people will ask for their deposit back. Perhaps their is an article to write about overcoming our prejudices concerning cylinders, or the lack thereof.