Jaguar has unveiled a new supercar that has much in common with a jet plane. It'll accelerate quicker than a Lamborghini LP640, has a greater top speed than a Ferrari 458 Italia, and spews out fewer emissions than a Toyota Prius. Behold, friends, the holy grail of motoring: the Jaguar C-X75.
The car is a range-extended electric vehicle. In other words, it's powered primarily by electric motors and a battery pack, but it's given extra range (and performance) by an external power source that, in this case, is rather unusual.
At each wheel, Jaguar's installed an electric motor, each of which delivers 145kW (195bhp) of power. These are driven by a floor-mounted lithium-ion battery pack that can drive the vehicle for 68 miles on ordinary electric power alone. When it runs out of juice, it can be topped up via a standard household mains outlet or be given a boost via two 70kW (94bhp) micro gas turbines.
These gas turbines get their power from a flow of combustion gas -- diesel, biofuels, compressed natural gas, or liquified petroleum gas (the C-X75 has a 60-litre tank that accommodates all four). This fuel is mixed with air and ignited to charge the car's batteries to extend its range, but can also be used to power the electric motors directly in order to boost performance -- a lot.
With the batteries and turbines working in tandem, Jaguar believes the car will do 0-60mph in 3.4 seconds and hit a top speed of 205mph. Apparently, it'll even accelerate from 50-90mph in just 2.3 seconds and do a quarter-mile sprint in just 10.3 seconds, so there's a strong chance it'll be quicker than almost anything.
We haven't heard the car running at full pelt (Jaguar demonstrated it running on electric power only on a very short runway), but we've a theory the final model will sound like a full-on jet plane. Have a listen to this home-made gas-turbine van to see exactly what we mean.
When you're being sensible with the accelerator pedal, it'll return a maximum range of 560 miles, while spewing a mere 28g/km of CO2, which is pretty spectacular.
These numbers are quite difficult to comprehend, so we'll leave you to take a few deep breaths and soak it all in, while we twist a few arms for more information. In the meantime, click through our photo gallery above for a closer look at the car, then watch our video.
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Comments 16
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andydandy 30 September, 2010 05:59
I want the four door saloon version. Jaguar go from strength to strength though on their production cars. Still a fantastic job, and the gas turbines? Inspired.
Anonymous 1 October, 2010 11:35
Last I checked my Prius was doing 560miles on its 40 litre tank, but is rated at 89g / km CO2. Not sure how this thing works out at 28g/km - perhaps that's supposed to be 128.
Anonymous 1 October, 2010 11:56
Not exaclt a new idea to add jets but it does look like a great piece of engineering to put all this together .. well done to Jag..
For the original jet engine car see.. Chrysler_Turbine_Car in wikipedia..
Anonymous 1 October, 2010 11:56
Its 28g/km because its not using petroleum at all - from the article it sounds like natural gas.
Anonymous 1 October, 2010 13:18
I want one...
Anonymous 1 October, 2010 14:12
I would actually get a job, if I could buy one of these.
Anonymous 1 October, 2010 14:37
No, the Chrysler turbine tank was at least 10 years after the British inventor of the Jet Engine put one in a British car in 1950 see Wikipedia Rover Company. As usual the invention was made in England, shame we normally have to export the technology to the US to actually exploit it.
Anonymous 1 October, 2010 14:44
It sound like the turbine runs to recharge the battery when needed or at high loads. This will lead to some strange sounds. At times it will have a high turbine whine at low speeds or at a stop. That will freak the pedestrians. With full batteries, it could also do a high speed run in total silence. It will change our norms about how a car sounds. Now all I need to know is will it actually be produced, when, and how much? I'll start saving now.
Anonymous 1 October, 2010 14:52
> Last I checked my Prius was doing 560miles on its 40 litre tank, but is rated at 89g / km CO2. Not sure how this thing works out at 28g/km - perhaps that's supposed to be 128.
Piston engines aren't as efficient at converting fuel to mechanical energy. And being a full electric drive, these turbines can be run within their (usually very narrow) peak-efficiency range anytime they're in use.
Anonymous 1 October, 2010 17:53
anonymous 1 October, 2010 14:37: "As usual the invention was made in England, shame we normally have to export the technology to the US to actually exploit it."
As a Yank I can sympathize as times have changed. Nowadays it's invented in America but exported to Asia to actually exploit it. Why don't you folks exploit some Asian inventions before they can, and we can bring this thing full circle.
anonymous 2 October, 2010 11:20
Follow the video too..
Anonymous 2 October, 2010 17:18
Anonymous said: "As a Yank I can sympathize as times have changed. Nowadays it's invented in America but exported to Asia to actually exploit it. Why don't you folks exploit some Asian inventions before they can, and we can bring this thing full circle."
Since Jaguar is an Indian company, the question of parentage of this new product is murky even though it is most likely the work of English engineers. The question is- is this an Asian or English product.
Anonymous 4 October, 2010 16:08
Not to worry, only politicians,bankers and Wall Street types will be able to afford this ride as they syphon their money from others and only shuffel paper for a living.
Well done Ford/Jaguar
anonymous 18 October, 2010 15:53
Ford no longer owns Jaguar. The company's owned by an indian firm called Tata Motors. You can thank them.
whbarker 21 October, 2010 10:02
this platform (ie the 4 motor turbine supplemented) should be applied across Jaguar's range
myown 29 November, 2011 00:56
Beautiful car.
"British jet engine pioneer Sir Frank Whittle credited with developing the gas-turbine jet"
Actually the Germans had a more advanced turbo jet earlier (on the stocks in 1928). Whittle was c.1935.
(But British had the earliest electronic computer, not admitted because of stupid Official Secrets Act. Typically, Ferranti couldn't carry this forward while the Americans succeeded).
But, beautiful car.