Stunning Jaguar C-X75 EV Supercar Headed for Production

Car packs FOUR electric motors for extra power and hybrid fun

After an enthusiastic response to the hot C-X75 concept, British luxury carmaker Jaguar, Ltd. -- a wholly owned subsidiary of India's TATA Group -- is planning to green light the hot electric vehicle (EV) for productionaccording to Top Gear.

The concept riffed on the much beloved XJ220 supercar from the nineties, which packed a twin-turbocharged V6 engine capable of producing 500 braking horsepower (BHP), a top speed of 200+ mph, and a 0 to 60 mph time of 4 seconds.

The C-X75, however, features an advanced modern electric drivetrain.  Four electric motors at the wheels produced a combined 778 bhp and a whopping 1,180 lb-ft of torque.  That's good enough to propel the 1,350 kg body from 0 to 60 mph in 3.4 seconds and reach a top speed of 200 mph.

If the driver’s lead foot is kept in check, the concept vehicle has a respectable 68-mile range on a charge.  That's when range-extending gasoline turbine generator twins (80,000 rpm) kick in, recharging the battery pack.  With the gas generators, it can get another 492 miles on a full tank.

A key shift is that the production model will drop these turbine generators in favor of a "highly boosted" four-cylinder turbocharged gasoline engine.  Jaguar hasn't commented on how this might affect the range or power when operating under the gas generator.

The production model is expected to dash from 0 to 100 mph in under six seconds and cut the 0 to 60 mph acceleration to under 3 seconds. 

This stellar performance is largely owing to the light weight, which is partly the product of a carbon-fiber chassis design.  Emissions for the vehicle are expected to be under 99g/km of CO2.  

Approximately 250 C-X75s are expected to land in the UK and be shipped abroad within the next couple years.

In the luxury sector Jaguar will compete with Tesla Motor, Inc. (TSLA), makers of the Tesla Roadster, and Porsche SE (PAH3), makers of the Porsche 918 Spyder.  

Oh and the car will cost between  £700,000 ($1.14M USD) and £900,000 ($1.48M USD).  What, you thought all that power came for free?

Posted in: Geek Zone