PARIS SHOW: Jaguar goes turbine-electric

2010 PARIS MOTOR SHOW NEWS SPECIAL

Jaguar has unveiled a range-extended electric vehicle like no other. Built to help celebrate the marque's 75th anniversary, the electric two-seater sports car features unique turbine range-extending powerplants.

The concept car - called C-X75 - draws on the brand's Limo Green study from last year's motor show circuit, but replaces the 'conventional' internal combustion engine series hybrid system with two small mid-mounted turbines to generate power.

Jaguar collaborated with British company Bladon Jets, who developed the turbines which are around half the size of the smallest helicopter turbines. Each of the micro gas-turbines weighs just 35kg and produces 70kW at a constant 80,000rpm.

From plug-in charge (battery alone) state, C-X75 can travel up to 110km before the turbines will take over to either charge the car's battery pack or directly power independent electric 145kW motors at each wheel. The turbines can power the car for a further 900km.

The concept car uses 50 per cent recycled metal and aluminium construction, and has a claimed top speed of 330km/h. Jaguar claims the 0-100km/h sprint is covered in 3.4 seconds. The car's non-electric running emissions are just 28g/km.

It's an ambitious project and Jaguar spokespersons admit there's a lot more work to do before the C-X75 components see production.

Head designer and 'father' of the Lotus Elise, Julian Thomson, told the Carsales Network at the concept car's unveiling this week in Paris, that the project: "Gives us a window of where we'd like to be in terms of technology."

However, Thomson commented, "there are some good ideas and some not so good... Hopefully we'll drop those."

Importantly, Jaguar wants to prove it is not merely boarding an electric vehicle bandwagon. "We've had people ask us when we're going to end up making gee-whiz [micro plug-in] models," Thomson told the Carsales Network. "But for us it's a matter of showing that our brand values can be future driven; that we can still have beautiful performance and luxury cars.

"We can't give up and basically admit these [current offerings] are dinosaurs," Thomson said.

Indeed, C-X75 is designed to prove "where jaguar can be during our next 75 years," says the designer.

Thomson says Jaguar's aim is not simply to substitute powertrains with efficient options that create the same effect, to maintain the performance experience.

"We've done a lot of work on how the turbines should work; how the driving experience should be; how the luxury experience should be... We want to prove that we don't just have an investment in the future but also some excitement in the future... We have exciting Jaguar experiences on offer."

When asked about other projects - namely a new E-Type - Thomson didn't deny the remake wasn't in store.

"We're working on lots of things... We're really excited about how we've been able to refresh the brand, and that we have permission to go further with concepts like this [Limo Green - turned C-X75]."

"We're committed to what the public would like us to do; what the public expects us to do," he said.

Jaguar is making some big claims for the C-X75. In addition to the "blistering" 0-100km/h time, it says the two-seater can accelerate from 80-145km/h in just 2.3 seconds.

Based on its published power to weight ratio of 578hp/tonne, the C-X75 weighs in at around 1350kg.

Four individual electric motors combine for an output of almost 600kW and 1600Nm. Jaguar says this layout creates "the ability to independently vector torque to each wheel".

"This offers potential benefits in terms of stability and control, creating an infinitely and instantaneously adjustable traction and stability control system," the company's C-X75 press blurb states.

The car also features active aerodynamics. The front grille and brake cooling vents only open when necessary, imporoving drag efficiency. And at the rear corners of the car airflow is redirected at high speed to improve stability and efficiency. An active rear diffuser increases downforce at high speeds and exhaust gases are used to increase the effectiveness of underody venture tunnels, says Jaguar.

Jag boss Mike O'Driscoll says the C-X75 is a "tribute to the people who shaped the iconic Jaguars".

Jaguar says the concept car's styling draws inspiration from cars like the 1950s C-Type and D-Type racers and the 1966 XJ13 Le Mans prototype, while still offering "hints at an exciting evolution of Jaguar's design language".

Said Ian Callum, Design Director, Jaguar Cars:"The C-X75 is everything a Jaguar should be. It possesses remarkable poise and grace yet at the same time has the excitement and potency of a true supercar.

"You could argue this is as close to a pure art form as a concept car can get and we believe it is a worthy homage to 75 years of iconic Jaguar design."

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