On Wednesday, the eve of the Paris auto show, Jaguar unveiled a gas-electric hybrid two-seat sports car concept that the automaker says is capable of a top speed of 205 miles per hour, and up to 68 miles of all-electric operation.
The exotic-looking C-X75 concept, so designated in honor of Jaguar’s 75th anniversary this year, “explores the outer limits of both performance and sustainability,” the company said in a news release.
The vehicle is powered by four 195-horsepower electric motors, one in each wheel. The wheel motors give the vehicle an all-wheel drive system, with torque-vectoring controls to distribute power as needed to each wheel.
A “track” driving mode provides additional performance and power, Jaguar said, when supplemental power is needed directly to the wheel motors. In addition to the 780 total horsepower provided by the wheel motors, the system also produces a reported 1,180 foot-pounds of torque.
The car also has a center-mounted, 188-horsepower gas turbine engine that can recharge the batteries and help extend the car’s range from 68 miles on all-electric power to a total of 560 miles, Jaguar said.
Mike O’Driscoll, Jaguar’s managing director, called the C-X75 “an innovative test-bed for the technologies of tomorrow.” With “test-bed” designation, the car seems unlikely to be headed for production. But elements of the design and propulsion technologies could certainly be expected to influence future Jaguar products.
Mr. O’Driscoll added, “The C-X75 is a tribute to the people who shaped the iconic Jaguars that are revered to this day.”
