Today’s Rare Ride is a fairly elaborate concept. A project that came a long way but was not to be, in a case of much ventured and little gained.
It’s the Jaguar C-X75, from 2015.
Jaguar debuted the C-X75 concept in 2010 at the Paris Motor Show. Looking to the future, Jaguar’s concept was a plug-in hybrid, with propulsion provided by four electric motors — one at each wheel. Combined, they produced a total of 778 horsepower. The batteries for the motors were charged by dual diesel turbines, instead of a standard internal combustion engine. Paris was impressed, and Jaguar continued its work.
Along the way, the brass at Jaguar realized the concept version of the C-X75 may have been too optimistic. Revisions were drawn up, and the diesel turbines were dumped in the bin. Their replacement was a singular (supercharged and turbocharged) gasoline engine, mated to two electric motors rather than four. Now, Jaguar was convinced it could produce the C-X75.
The time was May of 2011, and the price estimate for the new plug-in hybrid supercar was between $1.15 and $1.48 million. Jaguar planned to build no more than 250 examples of the C-X75, making it very limited-production. Said production would be in conjunction with the experts at the Williams F1 team. But more changes were in store.
This time, the changes were of the termination variety. By December of 2012 there was a slight economic issue happening around the globe, as the Great Recession spread from North America to Europe. Jaguar, realizing it was the wrong time to introduce such an expensive car, cancelled the project.
Before tossing all of its work, Jaguar produced five developmental prototypes. Word is they sold three at auction, one was sent to a museum, and Jaguar kept the fifth one for its own purposes. A couple of years later, the most recent James Bond film, Spectre, was underway. The filmmakers approached Jaguar about using the C-X75 in the film. Jaguar agreed, and set to work making a few more C-X75s.
Reportedly, though the Bond cars look just like regular C-X75s, they’re not related. The exterior panels are a faithful representation of the prototypes’ outward appearance, all wrapped around a WRC-spec space frame. Of the seven cars provided for Spectre, four of them were stunt vehicles. Today’s Rare Ride is number 001, and was likely used in the film’s very boring chase with a Aston Martin DB10 (though the one in the movie was painted orange). Power for the movie vehicles matches the lesser spec of the developmental prototype cars, so the speed should be there. Just don’t expect an interior in your movie prop.
Price is on demand, and the C-X75 is located in England.
[Images: seller]
I think it took some interior modifications just to get Bautista to fit!
They still should have built the thing. Everyone needs a halo car – the F-Type is still a looker, but this is just stunning. And there are enough filthy rich tycoons and car nuts out there that would have been more than ready to scoop one of these up and install it next to their other million dollar supercars.
I’m hoping there was a very little bit of sarcasm with the “boring car chase” line! I have to say, I’ve driven through Rome multiple times and at no time do I ever remember the streets being that empty!!! Keep it real Mr. Bond! There’s still a tear in my eye with each chase – it seems the cars keep getting destroyed. Sigh…
That’s what I meant. And it went to the corny extent of having a single car on the road, the Fiat 500 that Bond bumps out of the way.
The chase also was too low-speed, and featured much inefficient intentional sliding.
Which isn’t what you do when you’re trying to escape someone.
You have to admit though – the car selection was just right! Rome is the wrong city for a car chase. You’ll get a ton of great scenery, but not a whole lot of straight lines on that road map!
but I would have been that guy trying to salvage a flooded DB10 out of the Tiber and thinking…mmmm…
This week, on Russian Resto Garage…
Fantastic design except for the idiotic doors. By comparison, the Acura NSX, Lexus LFA and Nissan GT-R are fugly.
Jaguar keeps doing supercars half-heartedly. First, it was the XJ220, now this.
Probably the only redeeming feature of the film besides the intro scene.
Jaguar should still build a car like this but at the Porsche 911 price point.