Today is a good day. Today, Jaguar has announced plans to build a limited run of its stunning C-X75 supercar in conjunction with the Williams F1 team.
You'll no doubt remember the Jag. It premiered at the Paris motor show last year as a proper surprise debut, packing four electric motors - one on each wheel giving it four-wheel-drive - and jet engines to supplement the car's range and make it ridiculously cool.
Sadly, Jaguar tells us the production version will drop the jets and instead pack a ‘highly-boosted' four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine with an electric motor on each axle. The fiery canons of goodness might make it into a later section of the production run though, as parent company Tata has a big stake in Bladon Jets. No word on power output but expect it to hover near 800bhp, possibly more, housed in that lovely 1,350kg body, complete with a carbon-fibre chassis.
Williams will provide a helpful hand in aerodynamics, carbon composite manufacture and hybrid technologies, and Jag promises a direct tech transfer between motorsport and road-going production cars.
Key stats are 0-60mph in less than three seconds, 0-100mph in under six and a 200mph top speed. Jag plans to build around 250 C-X75s that will hit the UK in a couple of years.
Why is Jag building this ballistic car? Adrian Hallmark, Jaguar Brand Director tells us: "The C-X75 received an incredible reception as a concept car. There is a clear business case for this exclusive halo model. No other vehicle will better signify Jaguar's renewed confidence and excellence in technological innovation than this."
No doubt you're dancing around the room in your underwear, praising the gods of speed. Well, you might want to sit down for the next part. It'll cost somewhere between £700,000 and £900,000. Ahem.
It'll be British built and forecasted emissions sit at less than 99g/km of CO2, no doubt keeping sandal-wearing hippies slightly less displeased. Get ready for a war, Porsche 918 Spyder. It really is a good day. Your thoughts, please.
UPDATE: And as if by magic, here is the original Jag concept which has just turned up outside our office. It's going to be on the One Show tonight (Friday 6 May), alongside Hammond. BBC1, 7pm.
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