Scot Ian Callum reveals C-X17 09 | 09 | 2013
JAGUAR HAS UNVEILED its new C-X17 SUV concept ahead of tomorrow's Frankfurt Motor Show. It's no secret — despite the tight lips of the car's designer, Scot Ian Callum — that the ‘sports crossover’ concept previews an upcoming new SUV which will become part of a range of other new compact Jaguars.
Of equal significance is the fact the car is the first to use a new lightweight and extremely stiff aluminium monocoque architecture, which Jaguar bosses say “will underpin the entire innovative future of the Jaguar brand”.
Pushed on how closely the concept will reflect the appearance of the production version, Callum was quick to emphasise the C-X17 SUV is "only a concept".
But the Scot went on to say there's no point in modern design departments creating concept cars which weren't possible to be built. The strong hint there is that the sports crossover will, indeed, make its way to production looking very like the concept.
"It's an innovative sports crossover, one that uniquely combines our exciting sports car heritage with flexibility, usability and space," Callum said today.
"It is a Jaguar, but in a completely different form. It demonstrates our desire to push the boundaries of technology, performance and of course design.
"The C-X17 was born out of a distinct set of principles: a deep sense of what makes a Jaguar.
Related: Jaguar F-Type officially unveiled
"It's unmistakably inspired by the F-type, but also designed to launch an entirely new wave of Jaguars.
"For me, successful design is like a story, full of strong characters and great imagination. A story that can take us on a journey where wonderful experiences can be had.
“Getting the proportions to work was far from easy at first,” he continued. “In fact, we found the initial results quite difficult and disappointing.
"It was a matter of continuing to work hard on the small things. In circumstances like these, changing things by a couple of millimetres can make a huge difference.”
Despite being billed as a sports 'compact', the C-X17 is actually 40cm longer than the class-leading Range Rover Evoque. It is though no taller, measuring 1.65m in height.
The overtly sporty nature of the new Jaguar is emphasised through the use of huge 23in alloys, allied to the strongly raked screens front and rear, plus head and tail-lights similar to those of the F-type.
The crossover bulges too with muscular looks, thanks to its sizeable haunches and classic lines of the Jaguar bonnet.
Inside the cabin's airy four-seater cockpit, there's acres of leather, but no wood. The driving position mirrors that of the Evoque, in that it's set at a low height.
The C-X17's interior also showcases advanced interior technologies including Interactive Surface Console – a multi-screen infotainment network that links passengers with each other and the outside world through social media channels.
Related: Jaguar XF Sportbrake unveiled
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Jim McGill