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Jaguar releases stunning C-X16


Jaguar releases stunning C-X16

Author: Trent NikolicDate: 13 September 2011
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You get the sense at the moment that Jaguar is a company with vision and purpose.

You also get the sense that Jaguar is a company that doesn’t churn out concept cars purely to steal some spotlight at motor shows or grab some ink in publications around the world.

In fact, you do get the sense that like their stable mates at Land Rover, Jaguar is all about sustainable concept cars that are almost production ready. It makes the whole process of releasing a concept car more exciting and a whole lot more relevant.

The reason I make that statement is to illustrate that this brilliant new sports car, codenamed C-X16 might not be as far from reality as most. And it might not look too much different if it does go on sale.

In fact, at the reveal just before the official opening of the Frankfurt Motor Show, Adrian Hallmark, Global Brand Director for Jaguar said to the world’s motoring press: ‘if it was to go into production, it would be priced around the 80 to 100 thousand Euro mark. Wow.

“The C-X16 is our compelling vision for a 21st century Jaguar sports car,” Adrian said.

“It embodies the established Jaguar strengths of sensual design, animal like agility and inspirational performance.”

And it’s also a fairly strong pointer toward what Jaguar’s next evolution of design across their range should look like. The styling is obviously a big part of the overall package and the sensual shape is defined by three distinctive heartlines along the front wing crease, chunky rear haunches and a sweeping roofline. From any angle, this is a truly beautiful sports car.

That sweeping body is entirely crafted from aluminium, which Jaguar tells us has been chosen because it maximises torsional rigidity for sharper responses on road. It also helps to keep weight significantly under what a similar, steel bodied car would weigh. Ian Callum, Design Director at Jaguar is justifiably proud of what they have achieved.

“This car has been designed from first principles,” he says.

“It is an evolution of the design ethos of past Jaguars and defines the agenda for a future of dramatic, innovative sports cars. Purity of line and intent is what Jaguar does best.”

Under the bonnet there’s a lot to get excited about and take interest in. And again, this combination of current engine technology and future melding of the two hints at what Jaguar is thinking. The primary powerplant is a supercharged 3-litre petrol V6 engine that churns out 280kW and 450Nm.

However, it’s the use of hybrid engineering that is most interesting. The high performance hybrid system used in C-X16 generates an extra 70kW and 235Nm. Shifting gears, you’ll find the brilliant eight-speed ZF gearbox.

These two engines combine to deliver impressive performance numbers beyond sheer power and torque. 0-100km/h comes up in 4.4-seconds and there’s an astonishing thump between 80 and 110kph that is dispatched in 2.1-seconds.

Similar to the KERS fitted to F1 cars, the extra performance is available via a ‘push to pass’ feature. When charged, a boost button mounted on the steering wheel delivers the extra 70kW and 235Nm for up to 10-seconds, and because of the lag free nature of an electric engine, this power is available instantly.

Both the battery pack and electric motor are liquid cooled, preventing any loss of performance due to heat build up that is common in air cooled applications.

Another area where the C-X16 differs from many concept cars is inside the cockpit, which is both complete, and fully functional.

“In the philosophy of a true Jaguar sports car, the driver is the focal point of the elegant, purposeful cockpit,” Ian says.

“The material, the instruments and the switches are a bold and engaging statement of performance and technology.”

The bold interior, primarily trimmed in red is aircraft inspired, and a pointer toward the direction of all future Jaguar designs. Pushing the starter button initiates an aircraft inspired starting sequence that powers up the hidden displays in a cascade down the centre console.

The carbon fibre seats are comfortable and functional, all the switchgear is designed to work as it should, and there’s a host of computer style functionality inside everywhere you look.

The centre console houses Jaguar’s ‘Connect and View’ system. Designed in conjunction with Blackberry, this allows a range of various smart phones to be plugged into the machined aluminium tray between the front seats and the central touch screen then reconfigures to reflect that smart phone’s display. Clever stuff.

In short, the C-X16 is a concept car in the purest sense of the word. Sure it’s a stunner from any angle capable of genuinely eye-catching performance and loaded to the hilt with technology and functionality.

However, it’s also fully functional, working and driving. And as I said from the outset, Jaguar/Land Rover as a company does have a habit of releasing concept cars that end up being very close to the end result. Let’s hope the C-X16 is the next example of that philosophy.

 

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