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Jaguar C-X16 concept revealed


Jaguar C-X16 concept revealed

Author: Isaac BoberDate: 7 September 2011
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Jaguar has released details of the hybrid C-X16 concept ahead of its world debut at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show. Like the E-Type all those years ago, the C-X16 marks a new chapter for Jaguar.

The two-seater concept has inspired new advances in design, in engineering and in vehicle technology to create the most compact and responsive Jaguar in a generation.

The C-X16 takes the traditional front-engined, rear-wheel drive formula that Jaguar defined over the decades and reinvents it for the 21st century in a performance-oriented hybrid drivetrain with 50:50 weight distribution.

According to Adrian Hallmark, Global Brand Director, Jaguar Cars: “The C-X16 embodies the established Jaguar strengths of sensual design, animal-like agility and inspirational performance and combines these with attributes that set us on a course to create sustainable sports cars of the future.”

Ian Callum, Director of Design, Jaguar Cars: “Jaguars have always been dramatically different. With the C-X16 we have moved the current award-winning design language on to the next generation, creating a car that is the very essence of future Jaguar performance.”

Under the clamshell bonnet is a next-generation supercharged V6 petrol engine producing 280kW and 450 Nm. The performance of the C-X16 is further supplemented by a Formula One-inspired hybrid boost system with a steering-wheel-mounted button for on-demand acceleration.

Integrated into the eight-speed gearbox is a motor/generator, which draws power from a 1.6kWh battery pack mounted behind the seats for ideal 50:50 weight distribution. Charged through a brake energy regeneration system, the batteries allow the motor to provide an additional 70kW and 235Nm.

Mounted in an aluminium chassis structure, the result is 0-100km/h in 4.4 seconds, and a top speed of 297km/h. The C-X16 is also able to travel at speeds of up to 80km/h under electric power alone and has CO2 emissions of 165g/km.

The C-X16 measures 4445 mm in length, 2048 mm in width and 1297 mm in height and has a wheelbase measuring 2622 mm.  In terms of overall length, the C-X16 is the smallest Jaguar created since 1954 and the XK120.

“The C-X16 is our compelling vision for a twenty-first century Jaguar sports car. It embodies the established Jaguar strengths of sensual design, animal-like agility and inspirational performance and combines these with attributes that set us on a course to create sustainable sports cars of the future,” said Adrian Hallmark.

The C-X16 makes use of newly established Jaguar styling signatures such as the subtly rounded trapezoidal grille. Inspired by the C-X75 concept car and recognisably related to the current XF and XJ, this is the focal point for the front end of the car, providing instant rear view mirror recognition.

The aluminium bodywork is wrapped as closely to these mechanicals as possible to distil the essence of Jaguar sports cars into the next evolution of an already award-winning design language.

By stretching the main feature lines back from the focal point formed by the grille and pushing the wheels as far into the corners as possible, the car has a taut, poised-for-action stance that is unmistakeably Jaguar.

The interior showcases important future technologies such as multimodal rotary controls. These incorporate miniature OLED screens, which reconfigure to reflect the different functions that can be performed via the controls, all of which are designed for maximum compatibility between sports car needs and everyday usability.

An example of this is the full smartphone integration via the ‘Connect and View’ system by which the central Touch-Screen reconfigures to mimic the screen of a connected device.

The central screen also features a second-generation interface with fingertip touch supplemented by buttons that provide short cuts to top-level menu functions.

The cabin is trimmed in the finest leather and Suedecloth. As expected of a Jaguar, premium materials are used throughout, with the main touch surfaces composed of a combination of anodised aluminium, rich piano blacks, dark chrome and carbon-fibre that underline the car’s performance potential.

The manually-adjustable bucket seats are made of lightweight composite materials with a central carbon-fibre spine for rigidity and support.

 

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