Jaguar’s elegant C-X16 Concept made its auto show debut today at Frankfurt. Jaguar is labeling the C-X16 as a production intent concept, meaning what you see is darn near what you will get when the car finally rolls off of the assembly line. The concept proudly boasts a perfect 50:50 weight distribution with an aluminum chassis for weight savings.
What really makes this car unique is its use of a hybrid system with a special mode intended just for immediate, and immense performance gains. The standard engine is a supercharged 3.0-liter V6 good for 375 horsepower and 332 lb-ft of torque, but an electrical hybrid powertrain can also be activated with the push of a button on the steering wheel – instantly increasing peak output by 94 horsepower and 173 lb-ft of torque.
The electrical power comes from a 1.6kWh battery pack, which also benefits from regenerative braking and can drive the C-X16 in pure electric mode up to 50 miles per hour. All of that power is distributed to the wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission, to which the motor generator is directly attached.
As a result, the C-X16 has Porsche 911-beating acceleration of 4.4 seconds to 62 miles per hour (60 mph in 4.3 seconds), topping out at 186 miles per hour (also higher than the Porsche).
“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,” said Adrian Hallmark, Jaguar global brand director.
In terms of design, the car features large rotors front and rear, with particularly massive calipers up front. In the rear the car spews C02 via quad chrome exhaust tips, which rest beneath a rear window that opens with a side hinge, as opposed to the tradition bottom to top motion. The wheels are two-tone black and polished aluminum and have a propeller-like design.
Another unique attribute of this concept is its size, or lack there of for that matter. The C-X16 marks the smallest Jaguar to be created since the XK120 back in 1954. The car’s total length comes in at 14.58 feet, 6.71 feet wide and 4.25 feet high.
Watch a video of the C-X16 in motion below.
Live photos by Mark Elias
