Inspirations & Icons the Jaguar C-X75

C-X75's Design Story

JAGUAR'S C-X75 DESIGN STORY IS TOLD AT CLERKENWELL DESIGN WEEK

Behind every car is a story, and the element of design is always a chapter within it.

Jaguar UK has chosen Clerkenwell Design Week to showcase the one-off C-X75 concept car and has depicted the process from the first sketch to production through a bespoke art installation designed and produced by the Jaguar design team.

Hugo Nightingale, Senior Designer, Jaguar Cars, said: 'We want to explain to people the art of creating a car. In some companies car design is a technical, cold process. At Jaguar it is about emotion, artistry and craftsmanship.'

He added, 'Clerkenwell Design Week is the perfect environment for us to present the C-X75 to the design world and explain how its existence was founded on a desire to continue Jaguar's design philosophy of flowing lines, purity of form and bespoke luxury for years to come.'

The installation reveals insights into the car design process through eight 'windows' each measuring two metres wide. Starting with inspiration, the journey includes creating sketchwork, material choice and sculpting full-size clay models. It is revealed that for that in the early design phase of a new car, approximately five hundred sketches are pencilled before a single theme is decided upon.

On the C-X75 Ian Callum, Design Director, Jaguar Cars, commented, 'The C-X75 is everything a Jaguar should be. It possesses remarkable poise and grace yet at the same time has the excitement and potency of a true supercar. You could argue this is as close to a pure art form as a concept car can get."

Also on display are a selection of Jaguar's current range of cars; the XFR, XKR-S and XJ Supersport.

Clerkenwell design week runs in London from 24th to 26th May 2011. The Jaguar art installation, C-X75, XFR, XKR-S and XJ Supersport are all located in the Farmiloe Building. For free entry register at http://www.clerkenwelldesignweek.com

It's Official: Jag C-X75 to be built...

...in limited production numbers. 250 units to be exact.

Today Jaguar has confirmed that by 2013 this thing will be on the roads. The production version will initially feature a plug-in hybrid setup with dual electric motors, a downsized internal combustion engine and all-wheel drive. This should be good for 40mpg. 

Jaguar to launch C-X75 as a hybrid supercar

• Mixes internal combustion power with electric motors to achieve supercar performance and less than 99g/km CO2 emissions
• Downsized highly boosted petrol engine with two powerful electric motors and four-wheel-drive
• - 0-60mph in less than 3 seconds
• - 0-100mph in less than 6 seconds
• - Top speed in excess of 200mph
• All-electric running range in excess of 50km
• True-to-concept, lightweight, all carbon-fibre chassis
• Groundbreaking association with Williams F1 – built in the UK
• Direct technology transfer from top-level motorsport
• Prices from £700,000 depending on local market and taxes
• Exclusive limited volume hybrid supercar – only 250 will be built

Jaguar can today confirm that it will launch the remarkable C-X75 concept car as an exclusive hybrid supercar.

Jaguar C-X75 will become the British marque's most advanced model to date. It will offer performance on a par with the fastest production cars on the market, while adopting cuttingedge technology that offers remarkably economical running. Jaguar expects this hybrid supercar to deliver incredibly low CO2 emissions of less than 99g/km while being able to achieve in excess of 200mph.

"People expect Jaguar to be innovators - that is when Jaguar is at its best," said Adrian Hallmark, Jaguar Brand Director. "The C-X75 received an incredible reception as a concept car. We've been building on that momentum and there is a clear business case for this exclusive halo model. No other vehicle will better signify Jaguar's renewed confidence and excellence in technological innovation than this."

Project C-X75 will be the ultimate expression of Jaguar design and engineering innovation. This high-performance hybrid supercar will stay true to the initial concept design study that made its debut at the 2010 Paris motor show, while fulfilling requirements that allow it to be homologated for road use.

"We were always determined that the Jaguar C-X75 would be as striking on the road as it was in concept form," said Ian Callum, Director of Design, Jaguar. "This will be the finest looking and most innovative Jaguar ever produced. Even in the world of supercars, we can still produce the most beautiful."

In an unprecedented move, Jaguar C-X75 will be developed in association with Williams F1, who will provide their engineering expertise in areas including aerodynamics, carbon composite manufacture and hybrid technologies. This association will be at the leading edge of British automotive engineering and innovation.

"Confirmation of this project today signposts Jaguar Land Rover's continued determination to embrace new technologies," said Jaguar Land Rover CEO, Dr Ralf Speth. "A supercar like the C-X75 is the logical choice to showcase cutting-edge design, intelligent use of new environmental technologies and motorsport-inspired performance."

It also marks a new milestone in both company's histories as Jaguar Land Rover and Williams F1 collaborate for the first time to produce one of the world's highest performance and environmentally sustainable supercars. The production of Jaguar C-X75 will create more than one hundred highly-skilled jobs in the UK.

A direct technology transfer between elite motorsport and road-going production cars is key to C-X75's success. The supercar's chassis will be made of carbon-fibre to create an incredibly lightweight, yet rigidly strong structure. Aiding the transition from concept to production vehicle is the choice of powertrain. Jaguar continues to develop the use of the micro-turbine technology that was showcased in the original concept C-X75. Jaguar's parent company Tata has taken a significant stake in Bladon Jets, and will develop this very advanced technology as a medium-term aspiration that will play a part in Jaguars of the future.

To bring Project C-X75 to showroom reality within the timescales of a conventional model programme, an equally innovative powertrain had to be developed. The road-going supercar will use a state-of-the-art, small-capacity, highlyboosted internal combustion engine with one powerful electric motor at each axle.

"The engine's compact size allows it to be mounted low in the car for optimum weight distribution and to retain the concept's stunning silhouette. This will make the Jaguar C-X75 a bona fide hybrid supercar capable of silent electric running with an extensive EV range in excess of 50km," explained Bob Joyce, Group Engineering Director, Jaguar Land Rover.

When C-X75's motors and combustion engine combine, it will be one of the fastest production cars in the world, with a sub-three second 0-60mph time and a top speed in excess of 200mph. Crucially, this performance will be generated alongside incredibly low emissions, with a target of less than 99g/km CO2, thanks to Project C-X75's lightweight construction and cutting-edge powertrain technology.

Williams F1 has been at the forefront of motorsport engineering for three decades. The project engagement on Jaguar C-X75 is testament to the team's ambitions and will bring together two leading lights of the UK motoring industry.

"Our new association with Jaguar Land Rover provides us with an exciting opportunity to work with one of the motoring world's most famous and iconic brands," said Sir Frank Williams, Chairman of Williams F1. "Williams has always considered itself an engineering company and so this project will allow us to combine our technical expertise to create something truly exceptional."

Jaguar C-X75 will redefine the customer experience, and will set new standards in sales and after-sales services that will be recreated across the range in the future. Only 250 examples will be built, each costing between £700,000 - £900,000 depending on market and local taxes.

"Never before has the company launched such an ambitious, world-beating vehicle programme," said Carl-Peter Forster, CEO Tata Motors. "This is the Jaguar of the future. The opportunity for innovation like this in the UK is part of the reason Tata Motors invested in Jaguar, and it's fantastic that products like the C-X75 can now become reality."

Jaguar C-X75 Receives Louis Vuitton Classic Concept Award

"It's fantastic for us to be recognised by the world of fashion with this award," said Ian Callum, Design Director for Jaguar. "We're at our best when we’re breaking the mould – making our cars stand out for all the right reasons. C-X75 is only a concept supercar, but it's a clear statement of Jaguar's intent to continue creating bold, innovative and beautiful performance cars."

“It showcased the technology of the future with a beautiful design without looking to the past.”

images: dailymail.co.uk 

Jaguar C-X75 concept

Jaguar 'wants a supercar'

Jaguar bosses have supported the idea of the firm having a supercar ‘halo’ model in its range — and admitted that the idea of producing the stunning C-X75 for sale has not been ruled out.

Jaguar’s chief designer, Ian Callum, believes that the famous British sports car company needs a supercar in production if it is to have the ideal model line-up.

See pics of the Jaguar C-X75 in action
Commenting on production prospects for the C-X75, revealed at the Paris motor show, Callum said it was not possible to say yet whether a rumoured batch of cars could be built for sale. But he admitted that he is in favour of the idea.
"Our job as designers is to destabilise things,” Callum said, “and to dream of exciting cars the company is not making now. I happen to think Jaguar needs a car like this. Everything about it is new yet it recalls one of our greatest designs of all time, the XJ13.
“It’s no secret that the reception we’ve had for C-X75 has been fantastic,” he added. “The company won’t allow such a reaction to be lost without at least having a detailed discussion about how it can best be harnessed.”

Read Autocar's first drive of the Jaguar C-X75 concept
Callum’s comments have been supported by Jaguar Land Rover boss Carl-Peter Forster. He said the firm had been “overwhelmed” by reaction to the concept and admitted: “We would love to do it, but it will take up a lot of resources. We have not come to a conclusion yet.”

At the very least, the C-X75’s grille design is sure to be seen on Jaguar sports cars of the future. “The idea was born with the XF saloon, and has developed quite a bit from that,” Callum said.

Steve Cropley

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