2011 Jaguar C-X75 Concept

The C-X75 concept is both a celebration of 75 years of iconic Jaguar design and a look into the future of automotive technology.

Designed as a range-extended electric two-seater supercar, it explores the outer limits of both performance and sustainability. With plug-in capability the car can achieve a zero tailpipe emissions range of 110km (68 miles) – three times round Paris’s Péripherique – when running under battery power alone, plus a potential top speed of 330km/h (205mph) and blistering acceleration.

The car demonstrates that it is possible to retain Jaguar’s core values of performance, design and luxury using technology that will make environmentally responsible performance and electric vehicles a practical proposition.

The C-X75’s 580kW propulsion system combines powerful 145kW (195bhp) electric motors at each wheel for outstanding performance. At the centre of the car sit state-of-the-art, mid-mounted micro gas-turbines. These can either generate 140kW (188bhp) to charge the batteries and extend the range of the car to a remarkable 900km (560 miles) – enough to drive from London to Berlin on a single tank – or when in Track mode provide supplementary power directly to the electric motors. The four electric motors provide torque-vectored, all-wheel drive traction and grip, essential in a car that produces 580kW (778bhp) and 1600Nm (1180lb ft) of torque.

The C-X75 – At a glance

DESIGN – A celebration of 75 years of beautiful, fast Jaguars which points the way to a new design language

PERFORMANCE – 0-100km/h (62mph) in 3.4 seconds, top speed of 330km/h (205mph) and 80-145km/h (50-90mph) in just 2.3 seconds

PROPULSION SYSTEM – A Range-Extended Electric Vehicle (RE-EV) using a unique combination of electric motors and micro gas-turbines to increase its range to 900km (560 miles)

EMISSIONS – A zero tailpipe emissions range of 110km (68 miles) while running solely on battery power

SUSTAINABILITY – By capitalising on its plug-in charge capability the C-X75 will produce just 28 grams of CO2 per kilometre on the EU test cycle

CONSTRUCTION – Jaguar’s advanced lightweight aluminium construction techniques provide great weight-saving and economy benefits. Additionally, up to 50 percent of the metal content is recycled

ACTIVE AERODYNAMICS – Drag coefficient of 0.32Cd and active downforce created through the use of an underbody Venturi

THEATRE – A dramatic entrance to the car is created by striking electro-luminescent wire lighting which alters to enhance the driving experience

UNIQUE USER INTERFACE – The touchscreen Jaguar Co-Pilot interface manages the information workload by predicting the needs of the driver

BESPOKE MATERIALS – Interior seamlessly blends traditional, hand-tailored leathers with textured neoprene panels and two different aluminium finishes

CELEBRATING 75 YEARS – Entirely forward looking, the C-X75 marks three-quarters of a century of iconic Jaguar design

FUTURE FOCUS – The current XF, XK and XJ have already won plaudits for their design and the C-X75 points the way to an evolving future style language

DESIGN-LED SOLUTIONS – An elegant demonstration of how Jaguar’s core values – performance, design, luxury – will be delivered in the future

DESIGN PURITY – The simple tubular fuselage exterior shape of the C-X75 has been achieved without sacrificing aerodynamic efficiency

AIRFLOWED INTERIOR – The simple, flowing curves of the interior are inspired by the movement of air to the turbines

DRIVER-FOCUS – The C-X75 tailors itself perfectly to the driver through an adjustable instrument binnacle, steering wheel and pedal box

INTERIOR THEATRE – Unique interior electro-luminescent wire lighting welcomes the driver to the car and alters its output according to driving mode

CABIN TECHNOLOGY – An innovative nano-technology sound system offers active noise-cancelling and an exclusive clock is wound by the acceleration and braking forces of the car

UNIQUE MATERIALS – Bespoke interior materials combining Jaguar-commissioned leathers, metal micromesh panels, soft-feel textured neoprene and a mixture of polished and vapour-blasted aluminium surfaces

Finished in Jetstream Silver, the C-X75’s beautiful proportions, sculpted lines and powerful stance have been created, in the words of Julian Thomson, to "pull at the same emotional heartstrings as classic Jaguars such as the D-Type and XJ13 racers.”



Using an underbody Venturi and directional exhaust gas control kept the car as sleek, compact and low as possible while still generating immense amounts of grip and downforce. Indeed, the movement of air itself was one of the principal drivers behind many of the design cues that were incorporated into the bodywork. Principal designer Matt Beaven reveals how the airflow into the turbines helped to shape the surfaces of the car itself: “We wanted to emphasise how the air makes its way not just over the car but is also channelled into the rear airbox. When operating at 80,000rpm, each gas-turbine requires 35,000 litres of air a minute which means we needed a series of carefully honed intakes.”

PERFORMANCE – 0-100km/h (62mph) in 3.4 seconds, a top speed of 330km/h (205mph) and 80-145km/h (50-90mph) in just 2.3 seconds

EFFICIENCY – Explores the outer limits of Range-Extended Electric Vehicle (RE-EV) technology with CO2 emissions of just 28g/km and a range of 900km (560 miles)

ZERO EMISSIONS – Fully charging the C-X75 from a domestic power supply takes six hours and allows the car to run with zero tailpipe emissions in electric-only mode for 110km (68 miles)

PROPULSION SYSTEM – 2 x 70kW (94bhp) micro gas-turbines and the plug-in Lithium-ion batteries provide power to four independent electric motors each rated at 145kW (195bhp) and 400Nm (295lb ft) of torque. These in turn provide drive to all four wheels

CONSTRUCTION – Uses Jaguar’s advanced lightweight aluminium construction techniques. Additionally, up to 50 percent of the metal content is recycled

ACTIVE AERODYNAMICS – An underbody Venturi system incorporates a movable aerofoil and directional control of the exhaust gases to provide maximum downforce without using spoilers

DRIVING POSITION – An electrically adjustable instrument binnacle, steering wheel and pedal box ensures the car is perfectly tailored to the driver

HUMAN MACHINE INTERFACE – Data from the car’s complex systems are shown on three information screens and can be transferred and filtered between displays as needed

British engineering firm Bladon Jets achieved a recent breakthrough in producing the multi-stage axial flow compressors – the technology used on all large gas turbines – on a miniaturised scale and to very high tolerances. This increased the compression and efficiency of micro gas-turbines to the point at which they can be viewed as a realistic power source. Each of the micro gas-turbines weighs just 35kg and produces 70kW of power at a constant 80,000rpm.



Electric motors also produce maximum torque from almost zero rpm, making the traditional power curve a thing of the past. In fact, such is the C-X75’s power that Jaguar’s engineers had to artificially limit the torque available from rest in order to improve the driveability of the car. The performance available in the mid-range is truly startling. The C-X75 will accelerate from 80-145km/h (50-90mph) in just 2.3 seconds. The quarter-mile sprint takes 10.3 seconds at a terminal velocity of 251km/h (156mph) and acceleration peaks at 0.88G.
Such astounding performance requires equally impressive braking. Jaguar already has a system proven to be up to the task. The C-X75 is fitted with the brakes used on the supercharged XFR which in 2009 became the fastest Jaguar ever, achieving 363km/h (226mph) at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah. In this application, regenerative braking technology on all four wheels helps recharge the batteries during driving. The 380mm internally ventilated front discs and 345mm rears are covered by polished alloy wheels of 21 and 22 inches wrapped in bespoke hand-cut Pirelli rubber measuring 265/30 ZR21 and 365/25 ZR22 front and rear respectively



Technical Specifications
Propulsion System & Transmission
Electric motor Four 145kW (195bhp) traction motors (580kW/780bhp total)
Generator Two switched reluctance generators
Range Extender power 2 x 70kW (94bhp) gas micro-turbines (140kW/188bhp total)
Batteries Lithium-ion
Total Battery Capacity (kWh) 19.6
Transmission Single-speed
Final Drive Ratio 3.1:1
Performance
0-100km/h (seconds) 3.4
Top Speed (km/h/mph) 330/205
0-160km/h (seconds) 5.5
0-300km/h (seconds) 15.7
1/4 mile (seconds@km/h) 10.3@251
Max. Power (kW/BHP) 580/780
Max. Torque (Nm/lb ft) 1600/1180
Power to Weight ratio (BHP/tonne) 578
Aerodynamics (Cd) 0.32
Economy
EV range (km/miles) 110/68
Extended range (km/miles) 900/560
CO2 emissions (g/km) 28
Fuel tank capacity (litres) 60
Dimensions
Wheelbase (mm/inches) 2725/107.28
Overall Length (mm/inches) 4647/182.95
Overall width (mm/inches) 2020/79.52
Overall Height (mm/inches) 1204/47.40
Kerb weight (kg) 1350
Wheel size front and rear (inches) 21 and 22
Tyres (front and rear) 265/30 ZR21 and 365/25 ZR22
Battery weight (kg) 230