November 23, 2010. Copyright 2010, Graphic News. All rights reserved

Will Jaguar's jet car move from drawing board to showroom?
By Neil Winton

LONDON, November 23, Graphic News:  Jaguar's C-X75 concept jet-electric supercar might not turn out to be the fastest supercar if it is ever made, but it will certainly be the quietest.

That's not to say it won't be lightning fast, in theory. The four electric motors teaming up with the twin micro gas-turbine jet engines spinning soundlessly at 80,000 revs per minute will blast the C-X75 from rest to 100km/h (62mph) in 3.4 seconds and on to 330km/h (205mph).

It promises to be green too. The lithium-ion batteries will give the car range of up to 110km (68 miles) on electricity alone, and when the jets kick in to top up the electricity, the C-X75 will be able to reach up to 900km (560 miles) on one tank.

The electric motors power each wheel individually, and this gives an added bonus -- all-wheel drive without the huge weight penalty which conventional cars need to link the engine and transmission to all four wheels.

The jet engines provide power to the batteries and not to the wheels, although it is possible -- in racing mode -- to link power directly to the wheels. The C-X75 could use biofuels, compressed natural gas, liquid petroleum gas, diesel or petrol. Gas turbines -- each weighing 35kg -- need far fewer moving parts than conventional engines and don't need oil lubrication or water cooling.

Jaguar, formerly owned by Ford and now by Tata of India, underlines the fact that this car is a concept, merely a design idea which may or may not actually make it into production. But when the car was unveiled at the Paris Car Show in October, the world's media excitedly and quickly assumed that it would sooner or later make it on to Jaguar forecourts. Jaguar says it would take two to three years to develop the gas-turbines, then another three to four years to integrate the technology.

The C-X75 is built from lightweight aluminium, using experience Jaguar has gleaned from use in its current top-of-the-range saloon, the XJ.

The interior design takes cues from fighter jets, using virtual "gimbals" which give the impression the dials are floating. There are LED lights everywhere, with electro-luminescent lighting. The jet engines are placed just behind the seats and are visible under the glass, which is bathed in blue light, at least on the prototype. The deep vents behind the doors look moody, but also help to provide a necessary flow of air to feed the gas-turbines.

Supercar aficionados are moaning about the lack of noise that this start of the art electric beast will make on the road. But there's no reason to despair. It shouldn't be too difficult to make an artificial noise to go along with the C-X75. You could choose the fabulous high-pitched whine of a Ferrari V-12, or more appropriately for a car with British heritage, the iconic head-turning blatter of a Spitfire's Rolls Royce Merlin.
/ENDS 

Jaguar C-X75
Engine: Four 195bhp electric motors, two 94bhp gas micro-turbines 
Power: 780bhp
Torque: 1,600 Nm
Batteries: Lithium-ion 19.6kWh
Drive: All wheels
Gearbox: Single speed
Acceleration: 0-62mph-100km/h 3.4 seconds
Top speed: 205mph-330km/h
C02: 28g/km
Battery range: 68 miles-110km
Extended range: 560 miles-900km
Length: 4,647mm
Width: 2,020mm
Height: 1,204mkm
Wheel-base: 2,725mm
Weight: 1,350kg