Jaguar’s CX-75 supercar will no longer feature micro gas-turbine technology, but will instead make use of an equally impressive alternative – a 1,6-litre, four-cylinder engine developing a staggering 373 kW.
In its original configuration, the CX-75 was technically an EV/Hybrid/jet-powered supercar. The two Bladen-developed micro gas-turbines sitting behind the driver provided 70 kW at 80 000 r/min apiece which was then channelled to the car’s lithium-ion battery pack and then further transferred to an electric motor housed in each wheel.
It has now conspired that the costs and engineering involved in such a system has ultimately proved unviable, and the aforementioned turbine-based set-up has been ditched in favour of a (seemingly) more conventional petrol/electric hybrid arrangement.
We say seemingly because, while there is an electric powertrain comprising a lithium-ion battery feeding a pair of hub-mounted electric motors, it will be supplemented by a remarkable petrol unit. This powerplant is a port- and direct-fuel injected, twin-charged (super- and turbocharged) four-cylinder unit displacing 1,6-litres and capable of revving to a dizzying 10 000 r/min.
This set-up will send power to the rear wheels via a 7-speed single-clutch automatic transmission (a system that Jaguar claims is considerably lighter than a dual-clutch unit) and will act as both propulsion for the car and a means to help charge the on-board battery pack.
According the Jaguar, the CX-75’s new set-up will be capable of propelling the car from standstill to 96 km/h (that’s the Imperial 0-60 mp/h run) in 3,0 seconds on the way to a 320 km/h top speed. Although this system is capable of powering the CX-75 from 0-96 km/h in 6,0 seconds and provide motivation for 60 km in electric-only mode, it does not offer a petrol-only propulsion mode.
Jaguar plans to produce just 200 examples of the CX-75, each with a price tag of around R8-10 million each.
