Jaguar plans SUV and C-X16 06 | 03 | 2012
HOURS AFTER BENTLEY unveiled its new SUV, Jaguar confirmed it's line-up will grow to include not only a new offroader, but also a model which will target the BMW 3 Series.
And Jaguar's global brand director, Adrian Hallmark, also confirmed the company is very close to signing off the C-X16 sports cars for full production.
Jaguar's plans will also include the C-X75 (pictured alongside the C-X16) — a hypercar which will boast Bugatti Veyron performance from 0-100mph, an all-electric range to exceed the Chevrolet Volt, and Toyota Prius level of CO2 emissions.
Based on the current line-up, Hallmark stated there will be six significant products launched within the next two years: these will include new engines, facelifts of existing cars and new variants altogether.
It's likely these will include more premium versions of the Jaguar XK, an XFR-S model, a four-cylinder diesel option for the XJ and a facelift for the XJ.
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Once the overhaul of the current range is completed, Jaguar will then turn its attention to the future models, with the C-X16 expected to be the first.
Expected to be priced between the Porsche Cayman R and Porsche 911 Carrera — at least in its basic form — the range will include a full line-up of models such as hardcore GT3 versions.
As soon as it has it's 'halo' car, Hallmark confirmed the Jaguar would then turn its attention to the volume model: and that means targeting the 3 Series.
“We can offer a different proposition in that class,” he said on the eve of the Geneva Motor Show, “that costs more and is worth more but it is more than worth the extra outlay.”
The new 'volume' Jag would significantly boost sales in its traditional core markets,UK, US and Europe. Global growth though will be provided by the new SUV, a car which will share its mechanicals with a Land Rover model.
“It will lead to more geographical growth,” Hallmark continued. “We have the technology in the group and can use it, so why shouldn’t we?
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"It’s not a top priority and as a group we already dominate the SUV segment, but we can do something different from Land Rover and not harm sales.”
But at the top of Jaguar's plans is the £700,000 — plus taxes — C-X75 hypercar. The company plans to build only 250 models, but production is believed to be at least three years away.
And this is no pipe dream. Much of the aerodynamic work has already been completed on the car in the Williams F1 wind tunnel. Scot Ian Callum is now overseeing the final design detail.
And development of the car's Cosworth-developed twin-turbo four-cylinder engine — which is claimed to have a massive output of 313bhp per litre — is also at an advanced stage.
The petrol engine will be mated to an advanced electric motor with 13 moving parts, and a battery pack with an all-electric range of 60km and CO2 emissions “well below 99g/km”.
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Jim McGill