IAA 2011: C-X16 Production Concept is “The Future of Jaguar Sports Cars”

Jaguar is so far under-performing, recording a 27% sales drop in the first quarter of the year. Indian owner Tata Motors is determined though to turn its fortunes around by investing US$2.5 billion annually for the next five years in the British luxury carmaker and its Land Rover stable mate in order to develop 40 new models and variants.

A spiritual successor to the legendary E-Type is certainly a good start: a modern sports coupe along with a roadster variant boasting compact dimensions and 21st century design and driving dynamics. This is exactly Jaguar’s main attraction at the 64th Frankfurt Motor Show: the C-X16 “production concept”, as the study is officially named, clearly pointing at a road-going model.

To mark the event, Jaguar organized a motorcade of 50 classic models, such as XK120s, C-Types, D-Types and, of course, E-Types that drove through the city of Frankfurt starting at the Villa Kennedy and ending at the Palais Thurn and Taxis where the C-X16 was presented to the media.

Jaguar/Land Rover head of communications, Frank Klaas, who drove a D-Type in the parade, commented: “What better way to start the motor show than by driving such a selection of beautiful sports cars through Frankfurt, culminating with the global debut of the future of Jaguar sports cars, the C-X16.”

The two-seater compact coupe (4,445 mm in length, 2,048 mm in width and 1,297 mm in height) uses a shortened version of the next-generation XK aluminium platform. The concept features a hybrid system that combines a 380 HP 3.0-liter supercharged V6 with a 95 HP electric motor integrated in the eight-speed automatic transmission’s structure.

Like the much more exclusive and expensive C-X75, the C-X16 has a Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS). This allows the driver to use the electric motor for extra acceleration by pushing a steering wheel-mounted button, just like in Formula 1 cars. The difference is that, unlike the four-wheel drive, two-electric motors equipped C-X75, the small coupe's KERS will be simpler and drive will be directed only to the rear wheels.

Jaguar has even announced performance data for the C-X16: it accelerates from 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) in 4.4 seconds, reaches a top speed of 300 km/h (186 mph) and weighs 1,600 kg (3,527 lbs). Looks like Porsche’s Cayman and 911 will, in the near future, have another contender added to their rivals’ list.

 

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New Alpina B6 Bi-Turbo with 507HP to Bow in Frankfurt

For more than four decades now, German tuning house Alpina has been modifying BMWs cars. The Bavarian luxury carmaker has a tight relationship with the tuner going as far distributing the high-performance models through its official network.

 

Alpina's newest creation is the B6 Bi-Turbo Cabrio based on the latest 6-Series Convertible, which will make its world premiere at the rapidly approaching Frankfurt auto show on September 13.

At the heart of the Alpina B6 Bi-Turbo Cabrio is specially modified 4.4-liter twin-turbocharged V8 engine capable of delivering 507-horsepower and a monstrous 700Nm (516.3 lb-ft) of peak torque delivered between 3,000 and 4,750 rpm.

Power is channeled to the rear wheels through an eight-speed automatic Switch Tronic transmission, with Alpina claiming 0-100km/h (62mph) sprint time of 4.8 seconds and a top speed of 311km/h (193mph) with a combined fuel consumption of 10.9lt/100km (21.6mpg US) for the Convertible model.

In comparison, the factory 650i Convertible features a 4.4-liter turbo V8 producing 407HP and 600Nm / 443 lb-ft. It completes the standard sprint in 5.0 seconds while reaching an electronically limited top speed of 250 km/h (155 mph), and returning an average fuel consumption of 10.7lt/100km.

Along with the powertrain modifications, the Alpina flavored 6-Series Convertible gains the tuner's trademark multispoke alloy wheels plus carbon fibre trim bits, front apron and rear spoiler as well as bespoke interior parts.

The B6 Bi-Turbo Cabrio model will soon be followed up by the coupe derivative.

 

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Bentley CEO Confirms SUV and Smaller Four-Seat Sports Car

The above photo is not the actual Bentley SUV but a rendering from the Xenatec Group

At the recent Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance event in Monterey, California, Bentley boss Wolfgang Duerheimer told reporters that the British luxury carmaker is indeed looking to add an SUV model to its range, confirming earlier reports.

Duerheimer went into more details revealing that the crossover model would utilize the platform architecture as well as other hardware from the Porsche Cayenne and Audi Q7 models.

“This car will not be made from scratch," he said. "But you can use existing components with different settings and calibrations.

The Bentley CEO added that the new SUV, which could debut as early as 2014, won’t necessarily be powered by a V12 engine like other Bentley models noting that “not everyone needs to have a V12.”

Duerheimer, who during his stint at Porsche signed off the Cayenne, insists that an SUV can stay true to Bentley’s heritage.

“The question is the overall configuration. While certain components may come from somewhere else, the systems architecture will be Bentley. The command position, the packaging, design and suspension of the car will be typically Bentley.”

Duerheimer also revealed that the British brand is considering the development of a new four-seat sports car. However, he was much less forthcoming on the details, commenting only that “it will be contemporary, fast and futuristic.”

While it's safe to say that all future Bentley models will share a certain number of components with other VW Group models, Duerheimer didn’t want to be drawn into a conversation about whether the four-seat sports car would be based on Porsche or Audi underpinnings, nor comment on its projected launch time and pricing.

Story source: Autoweek

 

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