My thoughts on all things motoring, press releases, reviews & techie stuff, from around the world.
Please note that the pictures of vehicles within this blog are used as examples of the specific press releases, on occasions, due to the lack of available official pictures, examples are re-produced.
ANY AND ALL PROFANITIES WILL BE REMOVED AND THE PERSON/S RESPONSIBLE WILL BE BANNED, NO EXCEPTIONS.
Purpose
I will try my best to provide detailed info on various cars and what is like to live with them, I have already produced a few for Jaguar-car-forums, I will do my best to be unbiased, but it will be hard for some cars. I will re-produce press releases and copy from other motoring news.
Jaguar’s Director of Design, Ian Callum, collects Designer of the Year Award after topping The Drum’s coveted Designerati list
Ian Callum top with Maggie Hodgetts, Head of Graphic Design at Waitrose and Christopher Bailey, Chief Creative Officer at Burberry in second and third place respectively
Ian praised for his dedication to innovation and eye for detail in his car designs including the Jaguar F-TYPE, XE and all-new XF
Designerati list celebrates elite group of the top 100 most influential individuals in UK design
Ian Callum, Jaguar’s Director of Design, has won the Designer of the Year Award after taking the number one position in The Drum’s second annual Designerati – a list celebrating the top 100 most influential individuals in UK design.
The expert panel of judges decided Ian is this year’s most influential UK designer finishing top ahead of Maggie Hodgetts, Head of Graphic Design at Waitrose and Christopher Bailey, Chief Creative Officer at Burberry in second and third place respectively.
Stephen Lepitak, editor of The Drum, said: "Ian Callum is a visionary of British design. From his roots at Ford in the 1970s, to his craftsmanship on Aston Martin, his influence on car design is legendary.
"His beautifully simple designs, including the 2013 Jaguar F-TYPE and the new XF, unveiled last month, have ushered in a new era for Jaguar, breathing life into the classic brand.
"Ian's dedication to innovation, his eye for detail and his strong vision for what Jaguar cars should look like truly represent the best of design in the UK."
Ian Callum, Jaguar’s Director of Design, said: “It is an honour to reach the number one position in the Designerati list. For an automotive designer to claim this award is very special indeed – especially considering the depth and array of talented UK designers across the disciplines of architecture, fashion and graphic design.
"Being ranked number one and winning The Drum's Designer of the Year Award is testament to the fantastic team at Jaguar I’m privileged to work with every day.”
Individuals on the Designerati list are judged on their overall career successes todate and highlights over the preceding 12 months as well as general involvement in the industry as a whole.
Ian’s career includes time at Ford, where he worked on the Escort Cosworth, and Aston Martin where he was key to the design of the DB7, DB9 and Vanquish. The first examples of Jaguar’s design direction under Callum were the luxury XK grand tourer, the XF saloon and XF Sportbrake, XJ saloon car and the two-seater F-TYPE sportscar. September 2014 saw the launch of an all-new Jaguar model line in the form of the XE, followed closely in March 2015 by the introduction of the second-generation XF.
Since joining Jaguar in 1999, Ian and his team have created striking concept cars such as the R-Coupe, RD-6, C-X17 and the C-X75, recently announced as featuring in the 24th Bond movie, Spectre due out later this year.
This is Ian’s second major honour within six months after he was awarded the Minerva Medal by the Chartered Society of Designers for his outstanding contribution to automotive design.
Jaguar C-X17 wins award for Concept Vehicle Interior Design at Automotive Interiors Expo 2014 Awards
Praised by judges for mix of interactive technology and traditional premium craftsmanship
Judging panel consists of some of the world’s leading automotive journalists
The Jaguar C-X17 has been honoured with an award for Concept Vehicle Interior Design at the Automotive Interiors Expo 2014 Awards.
The C-X17 concept was launched at the Frankfurt Motor Show as a design study to demonstrate the capabilities of Jaguar’s new advanced aluminium monocoque architecture, which will form the basis of the forthcoming XE sports saloon.
Jaguar Design Director Ian Callum said: “I am delighted that the C-X17 has won the award for Concept Vehicle Design at the 2014 Automotive Interiors Expo Awards. We worked hard to ensure that C-X17 had a cabin that was both innovative and hi-tech and yet also luxurious, stylish and timeless – in fact, it’s what we set out to achieve with the interior of every car that Jaguar makes, from the forthcoming XE sports saloon to the XF, XJ and F-TYPE.”
Hosted at Automotive Interiors Expo 2014 in Stuttgart, the awards honour the world's finest designers, innovations and products, championing all aspects of automotive interior excellence and innovation.
With a judging panel that boasts some of the world's leading automotive journalists, the Automotive Interiors Expo Awards is now in its third year, and continues to cement its place as one of the most sought-after accolades within the automotive industry.
Dean Slavnich, Editor of Engine Technology International and Co-chairman of the awards, said: “The C-X17 takes interactivity to a new level. The judges recognised how its concept interior is able to blend high-end interactive technology with premium traditionally crafted materials. The unique Interactive Surface Console brings interior automotive design right into the modern age, running the length of the car’s centre tunnel, and made up of a series of interconnecting touch-screens, the Surface Console connects rear passengers with the driver and front seat passengers via a secure in-car Wi-Fi network, so occupants can upload pictures, video and sound files from their mobile devices and share them with their fellow passengers as well as on all social media channels.
“Enabling sharing, both in terms of technology and information, between the occupants of the C-X17, the Interactive Surface Console puts as much focus on the rear compartment as on the front and immerses all four passengers in a unified multisensory experience.”
Jaguar is set to replace the XK with a larger luxury GT car based on the next XJ saloon. Our exclusive images show how it could look.
The Jaguar XK will be quietly phased out in the summer, but Jaguar is already working on its more upmarket successor, set to be pitched as a larger 2+2 grand tourer to take on the Bentley Continental GT and new Mercedes S-Class Coupe.
Our exclusive images show how the model could take design cues from the F-Type and increase its dimensions, becoming more of an XJ Coupe than an oversized F-Type.
A larger grille, chrome-ringed lower air intakes and horizontal instead of vertical headlights set it apart from its sportier brother, although the muscular rear wheelarches, flowing lines and wraparound tail-lamps tie the two cars together.
Although Jaguar sold around 54,000 XKs over its lifetime, only 4,000 found homes last year – largely because the faster F-Type has been taking sales from it. The new car will start from £100,000 to put daylight between it and the F-Type.
There’s likely to be a choice of supercharged V6 and V8 petrol engines, plus, for the first time, a six-cylinder diesel, while the platform is believed to be a stretched version of the F-Type’s aluminium architecture. Don’t expect to see the new GT for several years, though, as Jag enters one of the busiest periods in its history.
With the F-Type Coupe and Convertible now on sale, its next new car will be the XE small saloon – due in mid-2015 with an all-new iQ[Al] aluminium architecture. Then, in early 2016, comes an SUV (below) using the same structure and previewed by the C-X17 concept.
Coupe and estate versions of the XE are expected in 2016, with an all-new iQ[Al]-based XF following towards the endof that year. This means we’ll have to wait until 2017 at least before we see a new XJ and the car shown here.
Our spies have managed to snap new photos of a mysterious Jaguar / Land Rover prototype. We initially believed the model was a high-performance version of the Freelander successor but it now appears that it could be a test mule for Jaguar's crossover.
Nothing is official but the prototype is wearing a modified Range Rover Evoque body with a rectangular grille that mimics the XFand XJ. Interestingly, the prototype is a radical departure from previous mules which were based on the XF.
Jaguar hasn't said much about the crossover lately but it is expected to follow in the footsteps of the C-X17 concept which was introduced at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show. At the time, Jaguar confirmed the model rode on the iQ[Al] platform that will also
underpin the 2015 XE.
Engine options could be shared with the XE, so expect an assortment of four-cylinder Ingenium engines. There could also be a couple of V6 options but nothing is official as of yet.
Jaguar XE Confirmed as New Name for Premium Sports Sedan with State-of-the-Art 'Ingenium' Engine Family and Advanced Aluminium Construction Technology
Jaguar announces the name of its all-new mid-sized premium sports sedan as the Jaguar XE
The Jaguar XE will be the first aluminium monocoque product in the segment and is set to be the most advanced, efficient and refined sports sedan in its class
This will be the first product from the new advanced aluminium architecture which was showcased for the first time in the C-X17 concept car at the Frankfurt Auto Show in 2013
The new family of high-output, fuel-efficient petrol and diesel engines will be named Ingenium. The Jaguar XE will be the first user of the Ingenium engines in four-cylinder two-litre petrol and diesel variants. They will be built at Jaguar Land Rover's new UK Engine Manufacturing Facility
The full engine line-up will enable Jaguar to offer vehicles with class-leading performance, including top speeds of over 300km/h (186mph), and emissions lower than 100g of CO2 per km
Today Jaguar confirms that it will bring an all-new mid size sports sedan to production; the Jaguar XE.
Speaking at the Geneva Auto Show Dr Ralf Speth, Chief Executive Officer, Jaguar Land Rover, confirmed: “We announced just a few weeks ago that our new Engine Manufacturing Centre would produce a new family of premium, lightweight, low-friction, low emission four-cylinder petrol and diesel units. The first of our Ingenium engine range will be used in our all-new mid-sized Jaguar sports sedan. That car will be called the Jaguar XE, and it will be unveiled in production form later this year.”
The XE will be the first product from the new advanced aluminium architecture which was showcased in the C-X17 concept car in 2013. Its global rollout will begin in 2015, and it will be the first aluminium monocoque vehicle in the segment. It brings our customers all the benefits of aluminium: lightness and stiffness for unbeatable handling, performance, refinement and efficiency. The new engine and aluminium chassis complement each other perfectly.
Power will be provided by engines with a wide range of capacities and output, all delivering inspirational performance and offering the latest innovations in fuel-efficient technologies without sacrificing drivability.
Utilising the most flexible engine architecture ever produced by Jaguar Land Rover, with an advanced design configured to suit in-line and transverse installations for rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive configurations, the new engines will be both efficient and powerful – including top speeds of over 300km/h (186mph), and emissions lower than 100g of CO2 per km.
Kevin Stride, Jaguar's Vehicle Line Director for XE, said: "The engineering development of the XE has focused on delivering customers with the most advanced, efficient and refined sports sedan in its class. We are excited about our progress to date and are looking forward to soon being able to demonstrate what we have achieved."
Ian Callum, Director of Design, said: "The new Jaguar XE is every bit a modern Jaguar; more compact in size but visually striking. Customers will expect a great deal from a mid-size Jaguar - it must be practical but premium. We never forget we are designing a Jaguar and that means it must be as exciting to look at and drive as it is brilliant to run and practical to own. We believe we’ve done just that with the Jaguar XE.”
The name of the Jaguar XE follows a logical progression, positioned alongside the XF and XJ saloons in the range. Full XE technical and range details will be announced later in 2014. The global roll-out will begin from mid-2015.
Jaguar's head of design, Ian Callum, reveals F-Type Targa is being considered
Jaguar could extend the F-Type lineup by adding a Targa variant to the range. Ian Callum, head of design at Jaguar hinted that a Targa model, with a retractable hard top roof, could be in the pipeline after sketches had been drawn up, with the Porsche 911 Targa firmly in the brand’s sights.
Speaking at the UK launch of the Jaguar F-Type Coupe, Ian Callum told Auto Express about the potential for what would be the third F-Type model. “We're considering it, but it’s not definite.”
He added: “The issue with the Targa is volume. If you think of Porsche, 10 per cent of its cars are Targa, 10 per cent of ours is less than theirs. You have to work out the business case but we have considered it, it’s not decided yet.”
Last year Jaguar announced investment plans of £1.5 billion in UK operations that would fund and support new products and product development, spearheaded by the 2015 BMW 3 Series rival. Callum also revealed the brand was working on “three or four cars at the moment”, with the production version of the Jaguar C-X17 SUV set to follow the small saloon – likely to be called the XS – in 2016.
We've had the chance to drive the Jaguar C-X17 4x4 concept in this video review
We’ve waited for a long time to see a Jaguar 4x4, and finally the Jaguar C-X17 concept was revealed at the Frankfurt Motor Show earlier this year. The blue paintwork of the show car is gone with this version getting silver paint. Jaguar has kindly let us drive it, too – though not for very long.
The most we can really hope to learn from this drive, though, it what the car will look like. In this intense Dubai sun it looks like almost every Jaguar in the range, with the XJ-inspired grille and F-Type-style rear lights meaning it looks fantastic.
It’s likely to stay this way, too. Julian Thomson, Advanced Design Director, told us: “we’re not in the business of letting customers down, we can’t show this concept and then come out with something that looks nothing like it.”
The interior reveals the purpose of this car: you sit low down in the car, which makes it feel much more sporty that something like a Range Rover. You feel quite cocooned in, with the sleek concept styling meaning the interior is very futuristic, too.
The 3.0-litre supercharged V6 engine booms away in the car – it’s the same engine used in the Jaguar F-Type. In this concept car it’s not insulated – so the roar of the engine is always there. The steering is very basic, and the ride is harsh too – but that can be forgiven for a concept car that won’t be driven by customers.
There’s not much we can get out of this drive in terms of handling or performance, but we have learned that this is being launched as the most dynamic, the most efficient and the best-looking” car in the large SUV class.
We wouldn’t bet against the success of the Jaguar C-X17 – or even Jaguar as a company in the future.
Seeing the Jaguar C-X17 moving under its own steam really brings to the fore just how striking its design is.
The concept may be full of rough edges but the packaging and character of this car is clear to see from behind the wheel. If Jaguar’s design team can deliver on the styling and the engineering team can deliver on this new aluminium-mix architecture then the big three German brands will seriously have to start watching their backs.
We waited forever to see a Jaguar SUV, then finally the Jaguar C-X17 concept arrived at the Frankfurt Motor Show earlier this year. Now, the blue paintwork of that original show car has been ditched in favour of silver, and Jaguar has allowed Auto Express behind the wheel ahead of the production car’s debut late in 2015.
It’s worth remembering that this is a hand-built concept so we’re not expecting the most refined driving experience in the world, but it’s great for showing off how the C-X17 will look. Sitting in the blazing Dubai sunshine it looks every inch a Jaguar, from its large XJ-inspired grille to the muscular rear wheelarches and narrow taillights borrowed from the F-Type.
The design team behind this concept is keen to see it through to production almost unchanged as well; as Julian Thomson, Advanced Design Director revealed: “we’re not in the business of letting customers down, we can’t show this concept and then come out with something that looks nothing like it.”
Step in to the cabin and you start to get a sense of what the C-X17 is about; it’s the four-seat layout and sporty F-Type steering wheel that reveal this isn’t so much an SUV but a dynamic crossover. You sit relatively low down so you feel a little more connected to the action than you do in a Range Rover.
Underneath the bonnet is the 3.0-litre supercharged V6 engine used to great effect in the F-Type but also available detuned in the XJ limo and XF. In the production car it would be bolted in to Jaguar’s new iQ[Al] aluminium architecture – set to underpin all future Jags except the sports cars – but here it’s a mixture of unique parts and XF leftovers.
Without any sound insulation the roar of the V6 is always with you and there’s no polish on the ride or steering but you really get the sense of being cocooned within the C-X17, much like you do in a sports car. That’s no accident, as design and engineering teams have worked together from day one to help create these proportions, including the long bonnet and a shallow glass area.
In terms of what a drive like this can actually teach us about how the C-X17 will drive, there’s actually very little to learn. But it is interesting to talk to the team behind the project and hear how they want the production version to be “the most dynamic, the most efficient and the best-looking” car in its class.
Those are ambitions that Jaguar holds for each one of its future line-up, and with a generous head of steam behind it, you wouldn’t bet against a seriously strong future for Jaguar, bolstered by models like the C-X17.
Jaguar announces next-generation lightweight technologies in the form of an all-new advanced aluminium monocoque architecture
It is lightweight, extremely stiff and incorporates innovative technologies that emphasise Jaguar’s commitment to sustainability
This advanced lightweight architecture will form the basis for a new range of future Jaguars; the first product will be a mid-size premium C/D segment sedan on sale in 2015
This will be the first aluminium monocoque product in the segment and is set to be the most advanced, efficient and refined sports sedan in its class
Power will be provided by a range of engines including the new family of high-output, fuel-efficient petrol and diesel engines to be built at Jaguar Land Rover’s new UK engine manufacturing facility
These will enable Jaguar to offer vehicles with class-leading performance, including top speeds of over 300km/h (186mph), and emissions lower than 100g of CO2 per km
Looking to the future, the C-X17 concept is a study to demonstrate the capabilities of the new advanced aluminium monocoque architecture
It blends the sleek design and sporting performance that are hallmarks of Jaguar, with the crossover benefits of an assured driving position and high levels of flexibility
The C-X17 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
Jaguar’s first ever sports crossover concept vehicle – the C-X17 – makes its debut at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show.
The C-X17 has been created as a design study to introduce Jaguar’s all-new advanced aluminium monocoque architecture, codenamed iQ[Al], on which an exciting range of future Jaguars will be built. This new philosophy underpins the entire innovative future of the Jaguar brand. A modular and scalable vehicle architecture, engineered and developed for Jaguar, the architecture is high-strength, lightweight, extremely stiff and incorporates innovative efficiency technologies. It enables flexible high-volume production while allowing creative design freedom and competitive interior packaging, without compromising the unique character, dynamics, performance and luxury that Jaguar is famous for. This will enable Jaguar to grow its product portfolio, targeting high-growth areas of the premium market.
As a sports crossover, the Jaguar C-X17 stretches the design possibilities of the segment by combining the character and driving experience of a sports car with increased presence, style and flexibility. The sports crossover concept represents the potential expansion of Jaguar’s portfolio of body styles, with the associated enhancement of the brand’s relevance and appeal to a wider global audience.
“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.”
Adrian Hallmark, Global Brand Director, Jaguar
Jaguar’s first product from the new iQ[Al] architecture will be a new premium C/D segment sedan. Its global rollout will begin in 2015, and it will be the first aluminium monocoque product in the segment.
Power will be provided by engines with a wide range of capacities and output, all delivering inspirational performance and offering the latest innovations in fuel-efficient technologies without sacrificing drivability. These will include the high-output petrol and diesel engines to be built at Jaguar Land Rover’s new engine manufacturing facility in the UK, as well as the powerful V6 petrol engine in the F-TYPE, which will provide best-in-class specific power output thanks to the lightweight architecture. These attributes will enable Jaguar to offer a wider variety of vehicles, with exhilarating performance, top speeds of over 300km/h (186mph), as well as emissions below 100g of CO2 per kilometre.
The C-X17 concept illustrates the diversity of vehicles that could be produced using the architecture. A four-seater sports crossover concept built on the aluminium-intensive architecture, it blends sleek lines, sporting design and luxurious sophistication with enhanced flexibility and an assured driving position. In its exciting proportions, purity of form and its beautiful lines – overseen by Director of Design Ian Callum – the C-X17 is every inch a Jaguar.
The C-X17 could offer refined on-road dynamics and sedan car-like handling, thanks to its low height, optimised centre of gravity, and use of cutting-edge dynamic technologies such as Torque Vectoring by Braking, in which the car intelligently uses its brake system to balance the distribution of engine torque to the wheels during cornering, reducing understeer and maximising grip.
“We designed the C-X17 from the ground up from a distinct set of principles, a deep sense of what makes a Jaguar: exciting proportions, clean lines, balance of form. Assertive and powerful, yet with a beautiful sensuality about it, the C-X17 is boldly, distinctively Jaguar.”
Ian Callum, Design Director, Jaguar
At 4,718mm long and 1,649mm tall, its dimensions are clearly that of a crossover, yet in its design it shares strong family traits with Jaguar’s current range. For instance, the grille is an evolution of the distinctive nose of the Jaguar XJ luxury sedan, while the sculptured haunch lines hint strongly of the award-winning design of the Jaguar F-TYPE sports car. A low-sitting stance and overall profile combine with 23-inch alloy wheels to give the C-X17 a sporting, aggressive presence, while the LED headlamps, J-shaped running lights and frosted-glass foglights set into the large front intakes add to the C-X17’s purposeful intent. The C-X17 is painted in a lustrous Caesium Blue finish, with gloss black brightwork surrounding the windows, while the split five-spoke alloys are Dark Atlas graphite with gloss black finishers.
The interior of the C-X17 features four individual bucket seats, which are luxuriously appointed, yet designed for a sculpted, lightweight appearance. The car’s unique roof features contoured vanes that provide a distinctive ‘elliptical’ panoramic view to the C-X17’s passengers, while retaining the roof’s sleek appearance from the exterior. Two additional rear-mounted leisure seats incorporated in the boot floor swing out for recreational use. Accessories that support an active lifestyle, such as a torch and a camera, are positioned in storage compartments in the boot.
The interior of the C-X17 marries premium, authentic materials and traditional craftsmanship with modern finishing techniques. It features a combination of Jet saddle Connolly leather and Orchid Connolly leather on the instrument panel, seats, armrests, doors, floor and in the boot, with stitching on the saddle leather creating a tactile feel. A subtle layered effect is created through the use of die-cut Houndstooth-pattern leather patches on the main leather panels. Ruthenium, milled aluminium and black brushed anodised metal finishes impart a darker tonal effect to the C-X17’s interior. The door finish is gloss black.
A centre tunnel running the length of the car, from the instrument panel through to the rear passenger seats, incorporates the Interactive Surface Console – an interactive multi-passenger infotainment hub with a series of touchscreens under a continuous panel of transparent acrylic glass, which in conjunction with the secure in-car wi-fi network, enables the vehicle’s passengers to connect and share experiences with each other and the outside world via social media. The C-X17’s premium in-car digital audio system has been specially designed for the vehicle by British specialist audio firm Meridian, and the car’s centre console is configured for a Head Up Display projector.
ALL-NEW ALUMINIUM ARCHITECTURE: UNDERPINNING THE FUTURE
iQ[Al] is not just a vehicle architecture, it is a completely new philosophy that underpins the innovative future of the Jaguar brand, enabling Jaguar to significantly grow its product portfolio, targeting high-growth areas of the premium market in global markets.
The first Jaguar to be delivered from the new architecture will be a new C/D segment premium sedan, which will be rolled-out globally from 2015. The first aluminium monocoque product in its segment, the new sedan will be produced at an all-new, ultra high-tech production facility in Solihull, creating new jobs and substantial opportunities for the supplier base.
The aluminium-intensive architecture will be modular and scalable, providing a high degree of flexibility and making it possible to produce a wider bandwidth of models and derivatives than ever before. It is lightweight, extremely stiff and incorporates innovative technologies that emphasises Jaguar’s commitment to sustainability, such as a new high-strength alloy made from almost 100% recycled raw material.
The architecture is being carefully developed to fully incorporate all the vehicle attributes established by Jaguar engineers. All products will perform like true Jaguars, the flexibility and scope of the architecture guaranteeing the individual character of each one. Jaguar design and engineering teams collaborated closely on its development from the outset to ensure versatility of design combined with fully competitive interior packaging.
The flexibility that this architecture will provide, means Jaguar designers and engineers can apply the philosophy “anything we can imagine, we can create,” to deliver a new portfolio of products less restricted by technical or manufacturing constraints. The new architecture will allow Jaguar to move into higher volume production, without compromising the unique character, breath-taking design, outstanding vehicle dynamics, performance and luxury that Jaguar is famous for. The flexibility of the new architecture will enable the manufacture of different products on the same production line at the same time. The highly efficient, state-of-the-art production process will allow rapid response to variations in market demand for individual models by balancing production volume accordingly.
Powertrains
Future Jaguars will be powered by engines with a wide range of capacities and outputs, all delivering inspirational performance and offering the latest innovations in fuel-efficient technologies, without sacrificing drivability or feel. The new sedan will be the first vehicle to be equipped with all-new four-cylinder diesel and petrol engines, allowing Jaguar to break the 100g CO2/km barrier for the first time. These advanced, high-output engines will be built at Jaguar Land Rover’s new engine production facility, currently under construction in Wolverhampton in the UK as part of a £500 million investment, which will be operational from 2015.
These vehicles are also designed to be powered by the powerful V6 petrol engine seen in the Jaguar F-TYPE sports car, which, combined with the lightweight architecture, will bestow them with best-in-class specific power output as in the F-TYPE. Together, the family of engines will offer the best of both worlds and deliver all-encompassing capabilities: sporting performance and class-leading fuel efficiency and CO2 emissions.
C-X17 DYNAMICS: FLEET-FOOTED AND SURE-FOOTED
As a sports crossover, the C-X17 concept is positioned as a driver’s car. It has an on-road bias, and its low height, optimised centre of gravity and lightweight all-aluminium body endow it with superior, car-like driving dynamics and a level of agility that would make it quite at home on the fastest roads. The C-X17 also features cutting-edge dynamic technologies such as Torque Vectoring by Braking, a system which constantly monitors the vehicle’s cornering dynamics and, when required, intelligently uses the brake system to rebalance the distribution of engine torque to the wheels, in order to reduce understeer and maximise grip.
With its 213mm ground clearance and intelligent All-Wheel Drive, the C-X17 could also offer reassuring capability and enhanced grip on poor roads and in varying weather conditions. Jaguar’s intelligent All-Wheel Drive system continuously monitors grip levels and driver inputs and uses feed-forward torque distribution to both pre-empt and react to wheel-slip, providing greater driver confidence and vehicle stability in low-grip conditions. In normal grip conditions, the system predominantly delivers drive to the rear wheels, providing the dynamic driving experience all Jaguars are renowned for.
EXTERIOR DESIGN: BEAUTY OF PROPORTION
With a crossover being a new journey for Jaguar, Director of Design Ian Callum and his team were clear that the C-X17 would not compromise on the time-honoured values of Jaguar car design: purity of form, beauty of line and balance of proportion. Even as it subscribed to the practicalities expected of the crossover category, the C-X17 had to be stylish, sporty and exciting. It had to instantly stand out from the crowd, yet retain the sense of timeless sophistication that is typically Jaguar.
The C-X17 has dynamic yet perfectly balanced proportions, with the low profile and large wheels giving it a powerful, planted stance. In terms of form, it is sleek and fast, relying on pure lines rather than exaggeration or showmanship. The long bonnet’s twin ‘power bulges’ and prominent grille impart a muscular look. The headlamps hint at the C-X17's sedan siblings while the grille is inspired by the XJ, resulting in a distinctive family look that is reassuringly familiar yet uniquely appealing. The grille features a hexagonal pattern, with small aluminium panels within its structure that can close to enhance the vehicle’s aerodynamic properties.
The C-X17's twin ‘heartlines’ are clearly visible when viewed in profile. Two clean and simple design lines, with a subtle crease in the metal to catch the light, visually tie together the C-X17's shoulder and haunch. The accentuated length of the windows adds to the vehicle’s overall sense of sleekness.
The rear of the vehicle has a distinctive touch of sports car about it, with the haunch, taillights and detailing all bringing to mind the seductive Jaguar F-TYPE. The C-X17's roofline swoops quickly rearwards, culminating in a distinctive cantilevered spoiler over a steeply raked rear window that enhances the crossover's sporting, ‘fast-even-at-standstill’ appearance.
The exterior paint finish is a lustrous Caesium Blue, and the window liners are gloss black, with the only brightwork on the vehicle being the badging at each end, lending the car a darker, sportier look. The large 23-inch wheels, which enhance the C-X17’s solid stance, are a one-off design with five split spokes. They have a Dark Atlas graphite grey finish with gloss black finishers on the spokes.
INTERIOR DESIGN: CRAFTSMANSHIP AND TECHNOLOGY
“The C-X17's design is timeless, yet absolutely up-to-the-minute. Artisan treatment meets modern techniques in an innovative cabin full of luxurious touches and cutting-edge technical ideas.”
Julian Thomson, Director of Advanced Design, Jaguar
The interior of the C-X17 blends high-end interactive technology with premium, traditionally crafted materials, resulting in a spacious, airy, luxurious and sophisticated cabin.
The C-X17 seats four passengers in individual bucket seats. The seating position is relatively low for a crossover, giving the occupants a feeling of sitting deep within the cabin. The seats are lightweight units with a sculpted free-standing appearance, visually enhancing the airiness of the cabin.
The spacious boot incorporates two leisure seats that swing up and out of the boot floor for use when the car is stopped and the rear hatch opened. Solidly constructed from milled aluminium and finished in Connolly saddle leather, these seats swing outwards on a beautifully engineered hinge to provide a practical seating area when the car is stationary. Accessories that support an active lifestyle, such as a torch and a camera, are positioned in leather holsters, in storage compartments located in the boot.
Panoramic sculpted roof
The sense of openness inside the cabin is heightened by the C-X17’s unique panoramic roof. The designers of the C-X17 have constructed the interior of the roof from a series of sculpted vanes running from front to rear, closely arranged in parallel and integrated into the header and cant rails. They are contoured on the lower side to generate extra headroom, and shaped to create a ring of space that enables a whole-roof view of the sky above, giving the occupants a sense of openness. The topside of the vanes follows the smooth profile of the glass roof, maintaining the sleek exterior lines of the C-X17.
Premium two-tone leather trim
The interior of the C-X17 is a juxtaposition of premium traditional materials and modern finishing techniques. Designers drew inspiration from a variety of sources, from extruded aluminium lampshades and lattice-framed stools to premium leather shoes, jackets and handbags, which favoured strong colour contrasts.
Accordingly, the seats, instrument panel, floors, doors and boot are finished in an overlapping combination of Jet saddle leather and Orchid leather panels. Renowned British leather specialist Connolly, the benchmark name in premium automotive cabin craftsmanship, created the bespoke leather panels specially for the C-X17. The 3mm-thick saddle leather, which features bands of stitching to increase the passenger’s tactile experience of these surfaces, is die-cut in a Houndstooth pattern inspired by traditional tailoring materials, lending the interior of the car a classy yet contemporary feel.
The interior door finish is gloss black, while for the interior metal finishes, ruthenium (a member of the platinum family) is used instead of brightwork, creating a darker, more tonal effect that suits the subtle, premium feel of the cabin.
Multi-passenger interactivity
The C-X17 takes interactivity to a new level with the unique Interactive Surface Console that runs the length of the car’s centre tunnel, from the centre console of the dashboard through to the rear seats. Made up of a series of interconnecting touch screens encased in transparent acrylic glass, the Interactive Surface Console connects those in the rear cabin with the driver and front seat passengers via a secure in-car Wi-Fi network.
The Interactive Surface Console allows the vehicle occupants to upload pictures, video and sound files from their mobile devices and share them with their fellow passengers, as well as on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and other social media channels. Using the touchscreens and an intuitive user interface, information can be ‘flicked’ forwards and rearwards between the front and the rear passengers. By enabling sharing, both in terms of technology and information, between the occupants of the C-X17, the Interactive Surface Console puts as much focus on the rear compartment as on the front and immerses all four passengers in a unified multisensory experience.
The C-X17 features a 12-loudspeaker system specifically developed for the vehicle by British ultra-premium audio experts Meridian. Designed closely in conjunction with the development of the C-X17’s interior, the system draws on Meridian’s award-winning digital sound processing technology. Trifield technology creates an all-enveloping sound field that makes each listener feel that the music is exclusively focused on him or her. With sub-woofer drive units in the rear centre tunnel, dashboard-mounted tweeters, speakers in the A and B pillars, twin door speakers, rear speakers, and head-height speakers situated in the tops of the front seat head rests, this unique system enables every occupant of the C-X17 to enjoy optimum, authentic sound for an exceptional in-car audio experience.
The C-X17’s instrument panel has a twin-dial configurable TFT console with provision for a Head Up Display – a system which projects vital information onto the windscreen for the driver to process quickly, akin to the systems used in modern fighter aircraft.
The gearshift has a rotary dial, finished in ruthenium, which rises on activation and serves as the interface to toggle between driving modes such as Road, Sport or All-Road. Milled aluminium vents on the console, seats and doors mirror the pattern of the grille mesh.
The C-X17 has been created as a design study to introduce Jaguar’s new, highly-advanced, modular aluminium architecture.
The concept illustrates the diversity of vehicles that could be produced using this architecture, which underpins the innovative future of the Jaguar brand.
Jaguar will also display its newly introduced production models at the Frankfurt Motor Show.
These will include the recently launched ‘R’ performance models – the XJR and XFR-S – as well as the XF Sportbrake and highly-acclaimed F-TYPE.
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