Is Jaguar going to be taking a stab at Porsche’s sports car market with a new machine? Jaguar has been making large strides in their line up recently with some exciting new models, particularly their newly redesigned XJ and XFR models which, despite still lacking in many ways, are still a huge improvements over previous models. Even though they have had success hitting their particular clientele up to this point, let’s not forget that Jaguar has a healthy sports car pedigree.
In 1948 the XK120 was the fastest production car available. The E-Type was the only car Enzo Ferrari called “beautiful”. And the XJ220 speaks for itself.
In more recent years, Jaguars have gotten bigger, softer, more comfortable, and make a very distinct statement when they pull up at the country club. It seems, now, that Jaguar have gone back to their roots, introducing their smallest car since 1954. The rear-wheel-drive two-seat C-X16.
Go ahead, take a second to stare.
The C-X16 debuted at the Frankfurt Motor Show last month, and it turned the head of just about every attendee. This is definitely a step in the direction of the Jaguar I would like to see. “Jaguars have always been dramatically different. With the C-X16 we have moved the current award-winning design language on to the next generation, creating a car that is the very essence of future Jaguar performance” quotes design chief Ian Callum.
Opinions aside, let’s get down to the specs. The 4.4 0-60 and 186mph top speed are provide by a supercharged 3.0-litre v6, packing 380bhp and 332 ft-lb of torque from the front of the car to an eight-speed gearbox attached to the rear wheels. That is impressive in an of itself, but in addition to that a button on your steering wheel will allow a motor generator integrated into the transmission (recharged through energy from braking, think F1’s KERS) to provide a 95bhp and 173lb ft of torque on demand. I don’t think we have to sell you on how cool that is. Did I mention if you run out of fuel the C-X16 can go up to 50 miles on electric power?
There is nothing out of the ordinary inside of the car, but that’s all right with us. Standard creature comforts include grab handles (which will come in handy), a normal gauge cluster, carbon backed seats and some pretty stitching.
In case you were wondering, yes, it is going into production, and you can buy it in 2012. Who wants to see it as one of Secret’s project cars? Something tells me a set of ADV.1s, carbon accents, and a sick exhaust would make this car even more perfect.
