Jaguar’s $1.1M Hybrid Supercar Is a Go

By Chuck Squatriglia
Article Source: http://www.wired.com/autopia/2011/05/jaguars-1-1m-hybrid-supercar-is-a-go/
Photo Source: Jaguar

Jaguar has leapfrogged Porsche in the race to build the world’s most expensive, if not extreme, hybrid.

The venerable British automaker announced today that it is working with Williams F1 to develop the C-X75, the spectacularly gorgeous supercar that dropped jaws at the Paris auto show last fall. Jag promises a car as fast as it looks, claiming it will do zero to 60 in less than 3 seconds and top out north of 200 mph — yet emit almost as little CO2 as a Toyota Prius.

“People expect Jaguar to be innovators. That is when Jaguar is at its best,” Adrian Hallmark, Jaguar’s brand director, said in a statement. “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.”

The C-X75 is the latest “green” supercar to come out of Europe, following the striking Porsche 918 plug-in hybrid and the Mercedes AMG SLS E-Cell and Audi e-Tron electric cars. It also promises to be the most expensive, coming in at 700,000 pounds, or about $1.1 million. That eclipses the Porsche 918 by 255 large.

Williams F1 will assist with the aerodynamics, carbon-composite manufacturing and hybrid drivetrain — skills it has honed during decades in Formula 1. The Brits didn’t offer any specs but said the C-X75 will feature “a highly boosted” gasoline engine and two electric motors for all-wheel drive. It will have an electric range of 50 kilometers (31 miles).

Alas, the car will not feature the turbines shown on the concept, but Jag promises the production model will be every bit as sexy as the concept.

“We were always determined that the Jaguar C-X75 would be as striking on the road as it was in concept form,” Ian Callum, design director at Jaguar, said in a statement. “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.”

Jaguar said production will be limited to 250 cars.