What if someone were to tell you that there is a car that has the performance of the Bugatti Veyron, the electric range of the Chevrolet Volt, and the C02 tailpipe emissions of a Prius? You’d probably think we’re mental, right?
Hold onto your jawbones. Here’s the Jaguar C-X75, a prototype car that combines all those aforementioned attributes with the body of a high-performance Jaguar supercar.
Powering this alluring wild cat is a 502-horsepower 1.6-liter inline four-cylinder gasoline engine that has been both supercharged and turbocharged. It boasts the world’s highest specific power output at 313 horsepower per liter. Coupled with two electric motors, the C-X75 is good for more than 850 horsepower.
Revving to over 10,300 RPM, the hugely muscular four-banger can push the C-X75 from 0-100mph – not kph – in less than 6.0 seconds.
Don’t forget, though, folks: this is still a plug-in hybrid. The C-X75 can also travel 37 miles on electricity alone. This means you can pop to the shops without feeling guilty about poisoning the planet just as easily as you can lap the ‘Ring with the best of them. Simply astonishing.
Now how much does this British beast cost? It doesn’t cost a thing because Jaguar won’t sell it. It’s simply a prototype, a bragging right for the brand. Jaguar wanted to prove not only that such an outlandish goal could be achieved but also in two short years.
Don’t be too sad, though. A very similar powertrain will find its way into Jaguar and Land Rover products in the near future. Think the F-Type Coupe R-S. Yeah.
That, just like Jaguar’s engineers, is going to be mental.
