Words: Violet
There’s something exciting going on at Jaguar. Unveiled last night, in time for the Frankfurt Motor Show, was the C-X17 concept. Yeah, yeah, we hear you say – a new car. That’s what car makers do, right? Make new ones every so often?
Yes and no. Sure, this is a new car (and a pretty cool one at that. Set to be the most advanced and refined in its class when it launches in 2015, this sedan has top speeds of nearly 190mph and is socially-networked up to the eyeballs, with an Interactive Surface Console). But what it really is is much more than that. It is a showcase design for the new technology that Jaguar is hoping will keep it fresh and relevant for the next few years.
That’s right, gentlemen. What you are seeing here is something entirely new. The technology that went into building this car is codenamed iQ[A1] for goodness’ sake. Only in Bond films do cars get codenames. It’s all because of something called advanced aluminium monocoque architecture. This means that the new Jaguar is incredibly light-weight while also being stiff and high-strength. It incorporates energy-efficiency (emissions are less than 100g of CO2 per km) with style, durability and, perhaps most importantly, being a fabulous drive.
As Adrian Hallmark, the Global Brand Director of Jaguar, puts it: ‘The C-X17 sports crossover represents an exciting new direction for Jaguar. Its purpose is to highlight our all-new aluminium architecture. With this technical foundation, we will dramatically expand Jaguar’s product offering, market potential and customer appeal. This new philosophy will bring technology from our luxury products into an accessible price segment, and when combined with our new ultra-efficient engines, we will set a global standard. Add to these rational values, the class-leading dynamics, and the beauty and purity of form that Jaguar is renowned for, and we have the formula for a monumental leap forward.’
Couldn’t have put it better ourselves.
So remember chaps, however desirable the C-X17 may seem to be, it is only a design study. Jaguar has a hell of a lot more where that came from. And we can’t wait to see what they do with it.
For more information, and to watch the unveiling of the Jaguar C-X17, visit jaguar.co.uk
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