The purpose of the Jaguar XJ220 of the 1990s was to move the marque into the last decade of the millennium with a state-of-the-art supercar. It was designed to rival the Lamborghini Diablo and Bugatti EB110, two of the fastest production cars in the world at the time. Almost 20 years later, Jaguar has confirmed plans for a new high-tech supercar that will once again compete directly with the aforementioned brands along with the upcoming Porsche 918 Spyder and Mercedes SLS E-Cell. The C-X75 will become the make’s first supercar since the XJ220, the first supercar under Tata Motors, and the British brand’s most advanced model ever.

The production car will feature the same sexy sheetmetal that made the concept so desirable. Unfortunately, the concept's futuristic power plant will not make it into production. The concept utilized four 195-hp electric motors, one at each wheel, for four-wheel-drive propulsion. Two micro-turbines extended the car's 68-mile range to 560 miles. Although jet-like turbines would certainly solidify the C-X75’s place as a state-of-the-art supercar, these types of devices have never been integrated into a production automobile and, due to very high exhaust temperatures, have yet to prove themselves as a viable alternative to the internal combustion engine. Therefore, Jaguar is going to implement a more-stable hybrid powertrain. The production car will use a highly boosted 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine supplemented by one electric motor at each axle.



The C-X75 (it will be renamed before production) will have an all-electric range of 30 miles. The gasoline motor will extended that range by another 270 miles. Calling forth all the power from both the combustion engine and electric motors, the Jaguar C-X75 will instantly transform from electric car into one of the fastest production cars in the world. Jaguar did not specify how much power the C-X75 will create, but we believe it will be close to the concept’s 800 hp and 1,000-plus lb-ft of torque. With a carbon fiber F1-inspired chassis from a partnership with Williams F1, weight should remain below 3,000 pounds. Jaguar claims the C-X75 will run zero-to-60 mph in less than three seconds, 0–100 mph in less than six seconds, and on to a top speed in excess of 200 mph.

Only 250 examples will be built, each costing approximately $1.1 million. Jaguar will be taking orders after it announces the car’s official specifications in September. Jaguar has learned never to accept down payments too early. The XJ220 left the factory with heavy modifications due to emissions standards and the result was cancellations, lawsuits, and unsold cars. We hope that is one road that the C-X75 doesn’t follow the XJ220 down.

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