Jaguar's latest concept features real-world technologies to make future models more fuel-efficient. The concept also shows a distillation of Jaguar's current design language.
Wayne Cunningham
Wayne Cunningham reviews cars and writes about automotive technology for CNET's Roadshow. Prior to the automotive beat, he covered spyware, Web building technologies, and computer hardware. He began covering technology and the Web in 1994 as an editor of The Net magazine.
Jaguar follows last year's stunning C-X75 concept with the C-X16, a new concept featuring more developed fuel-efficiency technologies. The C-X16 showcases how Jaguar will respond to new European and U.S. emissions and fuel efficiency regulations. At the same time, it reveals a refinement of the design language launched on the XK.
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The C-X16 is small by Jaguar standards, more than a foot shorter than the XK. Designer Ian Callum brought a bit of whimsy into this baby Jaguar by putting sunglasses on the traditional Jaguar badge.
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Despite its smaller dimensions, the C-X16 shows off a stunning design. It remains a classic grand tourer with a long nose and sleek lines down the sides. The cab narrows toward the back, allowing the rear fenders a more prominent, and muscular, look. The back end of the concept has a negative drop-off, making for a nice edge.
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The C-X16 heralds Jaguar's first hybrid. The concept uses a supercharged 3-liter V-6 producing 375 horsepower, substantially smaller than Jaguar's current 5-liter V-8s. And although 375 horsepower may seem plenty to push this smaller Jaguar, the car also has a small electric drive system.
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An electric motor powered by a 1.6 kilowatt-hour lithium ion battery adds its own 94 horsepower to the C-X16. It can drive the car under electric power alone with low acceleration at up to 50 mph, useful for urban zero emission zones. It also adds extra power for passing. The entire power train gets the C-X16 to 62 mph in an estimated 4.4 seconds.
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With as much power as it has, Jaguar equips the C-X16 with robust brakes. The rear wheels also have a regenerative braking function, developed from F1 racing kinetic energy recovery systems.
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Jaguar says the cabin of the C-X16 was designed to emulate airplane cockpits. The car uses a ZF eight-speed transmission to combine power from the electric motor and gasoline engine and drive the rear wheels.
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The red button on the steering wheel activates the electric motor while under way, giving extra power to pass or just show off. Paddles allow for manual control of the automatic transmission.
