Power and Control
The energy created by the turbines and stored in the batteries is transmitted to the road using four independent electric motors. Using individual motors has benefits in terms of weight saving and distribution, packaging and efficiency. Each motor weighs just 50kg but produces 145kW (195bhp) of power and an astonishing combined total torque output of 1600Nm (1180lb ft).
Because each wheel is driven by its own electric motor, the Jaguar C-X75 Concept is four-wheel drive - with all the traction, grip and safety benefits that entails - without the weight disadvantages of a purely mechanical set-up. Inherent in this drivetrain is the ability to independently vector torque to each wheel across the full speed range. This offers potential benefits in terms of stability and control, creating an infinitely and instantaneously adjustable traction and stability control system.
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 Jaguar C-X75 Concept will accelerate from 80-145kph (50-90mph) in just 2.3 seconds. The quarter-mile sprint takes 10.3 seconds at a terminal velocity of 251kph (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 363kph (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 respectively.
Exterior Design
"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." Ian Callum, Design Director, Jaguar Cars
Finished in Jetstream Silver, the Jaguar C-X75 Concept's beautiful proportions, sculpted lines and powerful stance have been created, in the words of Julian Thomson, Assistant Design Director and head of the Jaguar Advanced Design Studio, to "pull at the same emotional heartstrings as classic Jaguars such as the D-Type and XJ13 racers."
The Jaguar C-X75 Concept borrows more than simply elegant looks from previous classic designs, however, for those cars were equally respected for the purity of their engineering. C-X75 has been created to indicate the future for luxury carmakers such as Jaguar. It shows that it is possible to retain core brand values while offering zero emissions motoring for much of the time, as well as range-extending technologies that will make electric vehicles significantly more practical.
Aerodynamic Purity
Shorter, slimmer and lower than the current crop of supercars, its exterior design is about pure performance with a simple central fuselage surrounded by prominent wheelarches. Thanks to the packaging efficiencies provided by the absence of a conventional piston engine, the car's designers had maximum freedom in placing the mechanical components and creating the most elegant engineering package available. Consequently the car has the most perfect proportions and sense of balance possible with a compact cabin placed centrally between the dramatic wheel arches. The lines of the supercar are purposeful and agile, suggesting a sense of movement and poise.
Aerodynamics are a key factor in designing a supercar capable of accelerating to speeds in excess of 320kph (200mph). Yet, as Thomson explains, the designers weren't prepared to sacrifice the car's beauty when it came to creating downforce and stability at high speeds: "Because we want this to be one of the most beautiful Jaguars ever, we took a much more elegant approach to the Jaguar C-X75 Concept's aerodynamics and exploited the benefits of having an electrically-powered drivetrain."
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 principle drivers behind many of the design cues that were incorporated into the bodywork. Principal designer Matt Beavan reveals how the airflow into the turbines helped to shape the surfaces of the car itself: "We wanted to emphasize how the air makes its way not just over the car but is also channeled into the rear airbox. When operating at 80,000rpm, each gas-turbine requires 25,000 liters of air a minute which means we need a series of carefully honed intakes."
The two beautifully sculpted sill-mounted aluminum intakes have a striking two-tone finish, with polished inner surfaces emphasizing their functionality. Above them sit two further intakes that feed cold air to a separate turbine cooling system.
The turbine theme is also echoed in the stunning alloy wheels which appear to have been cut from a single block of aluminum with a spoke design inspired by the fan blades of the engines themselves. The tires have been custom-made by Pirelli with an asymmetric tread pattern and bold green F1-style wear indicator running the circumference of the tire.
Forward-hinged doors are opened using Jaguar Sense touch technology, raising outwards and upwards for excellent cabin access. To maintain the purity of the side profile, the designers replaced conventional door mirrors with cameras housed in a tailfin which is a miniaturized echo of that of the D-Type - images are displayed on screens inside the cabin. Behind the doors, fuel fillers sit either side of the cockpit - reminiscent of the twin-tank system on the original XJ6 - which on the C-X75 access respectively the fuel tank for the turbines and the plug-in battery charging point.
The eye is then drawn towards the sealed compartment which houses the twin micro gas-turbines and the beautiful structural bracing that supports them. Exposed through the rear window - much like with the XJ13 - the remarkable turbines are showcased by their elegant aluminum housing and Texalium woven fabric lining the engine bay.
The compact packaging of the turbines allowed the designers further freedom at the rear of the car, which is shaped like the trailing edge of an aircraft wing. This is both functional - incorporating the Venturi aerofoil - and beautiful with a sharp swage line and dramatic, slim full-LED rear lights
Interior
Jaguar has a long tradition of using the finest materials to create a cosseting and luxurious cabin that allows the driver to concentrate on the experience of driving, culminating in the award-winning interior of the current XJ. With the C-X75, Jaguar has blended beautiful leathers with innovative materials and finishes to create an elegantly tailored and driver-focused cabin that is defined and inspired by the technology that powers this sustainable supercar.
The twin micro-turbines provided great inspiration when designing the interior architecture. The turbines themselves require vast amounts of air and driver and passenger are placed in the calm centre of this storm. The soft shapes and surface changes of the cabin reflect the movement of air, unseen and unheard by those inside, within the channels surrounding it.
The seats are fixed into the rear bulkhead that forms part of the airbox feeding the turbines, integrating driver and passenger not only into the structure but also the function of the car. A beautifully formed aluminum spar directs air into the turbines which are supported by spiral-shaped cast brackets that appear to flow directly from the seats' headrests.
Jaguar C-X75
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