Feline Hype: Jaguar C-X16 Concept (With Video)

The good people at Jaguar found themselves much too eager to wait for the Frankfurt Motorshow to debut their newest creation, the C-X16 concept.  First thing’s first: this car is F’ing beautiful!  I think this is the first car to ever literally drop my jaw from its looks alone.  The C-X16’s lines, dimensions, and wheel base all lend themselves to one of the most stunning automotive sculptures I have ever seen! I don’t know who Jaguar hired to design this concept for them but they need to give that person a raise ASAP because this is hands down the best looking car I’ve seen all year.  The good looks aren’t just on the outside either.  The C-X16’s interior struck the perfect balance between plush class with leather, alcantara, and carbon fiber wrapped around race inspired ergonomic bits everywhere.

I think by now it is quite clear that I am totally in love with this car, and I haven’t even talked about the specs yet!  What motivates a car this beautiful?  If you went by current trends you may be inclined to think that there is some massively over powered V8 forced under the hood of the C-X16 but you’d be wrong (you know what they say about assuming things).  The C-X16 houses a supercharged 3.0 liter V6 that makes just under 380HP and 332ft-lbs of torque.  Consider those numbers along with its 3,500 curb weight shows that Jaguar was not trying to create some type of supercar beast with the C-X16, they wanted something balanced, lean, and ready to do battle with the likes of the Porsche Cayman and Lotus Evora.  Speaking of doing battle, if you’re driving the C-X16 and just happen to come across one of your rivals on the track but you just can’t seem to get around them Jaugar has created a hybrid “Push to Pass” type system for the C-X16 concept.  Simply push the big red button on the steering wheel and an electric motor mounted to the transmission will provide an extra 92hp and 173ft-lbs of torque to help you complete the attack.  The hybrid boost is so powerful that you can maintain 50mph on just the electric motor alone.  If you keep your foot planted the C-X16 will reach a top speed of 186mph.

While Jaguar is still calling the C-X16 a “concept” it looks pretty damn close to a production model.  If you’re name is Porsche or Lotus I would be afraid right now, very afraid…  Check out all the beautiful pictures of the C-X16 as well as the debut video below.  In the meantime I will be praying that this concept will make its way to the LA Auto Show at the end of the year.

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Press Release:

C-X16 PRODUCTION CONCEPT REDEFINES JAGUAR SPORTS CARS

• C-X16 is a bold statement of Jaguar’s future design and technological intent
• A compact, rear-wheel drive, two-seater, with a true sporting character, underpinned by immensely strong aluminium architecture – perfect 50:50 weight distribution
• Powered by an innovative supercharged 3.0-litre V6 producing 380 PS (280 kW) and 332 lb ft (450 Nm) of torque
• Hybrid system controlled by a steering-wheel mounted ‘Push to Pass’ button boosts output by 70 kW and 235 Nm
• Top speed of 186 mph, 0-62 mph in 4.4 seconds and 50-75 mph acceleration in 2.1 seconds with CO2 emissions of 165 g/km

Jaguar has released details of the C-X16 concept ahead of its world debut at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show.

Looking firmly to the future, the C-X16 marks a new chapter for Jaguar.  The two-seater concept has inspired new advances in design, in engineering and in vehicle technology to create the most compact and responsive Jaguar in a generation.  A hybrid, the C-X16 combines searing performance with beautifully realised styling.

Adrian Hallmark, Global Brand Director, Jaguar Cars:”The C-X16 embodies the established Jaguar strengths of sensual design, animal-like agility and inspirational performance and combines these with attributes that set us on a course to create sustainable sports cars of the future.”

Ian Callum, Director of Design, Jaguar Cars:”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.”

Under the muscular clamshell bonnet is a next-generation supercharged V6 petrol engine producing 380 PS (280kW) and 332 lb ft (450 Nm) of torque. Already boasting a high specific power output of 126 PS-per-litre, the performance of the C-X16 is further supplemented by a Formula 1-inspired hybrid boost system with a steering-wheel mounted button for on-demand acceleration.

Integrated into the eight-speed gearbox is a motor generator which draws power from a 1.6kWh battery pack mounted behind the seats for ideal 50:50 weight distribution. Charged through a brake energy regeneration system, the batteries allow the motor to provide an additional 95 PS (70 kW) and173 lb ft (235 Nm).

Mounted in an aluminium chassis structure, the result is 0-62 mph acceleration in 4.4 seconds, a top speed of 186 mph and acceleration from 50-75 mph of 2.1 seconds. The C-X16 is also able to travel at speeds of up to 50 mph under electric power alone and has CO2 emissions of 165 g/km.

The C-X16 measures 4,445 mm in length, 2,048 mm in width and 1,297 mm in height and has a wheelbase measuring 2,622 mm.  In terms of overall length, the C-X16 is the smallest Jaguar created since 1954 and the XK120.

The C-X16 will be presented at the Jaguar Land Rover press conference in Hall Five at the Frankfurt Motor Show on Tuesday September 13 at 09:15 CET.