Jaguar And Williams To Produce Hybrid Supercar

Jaguar and Williams to produce £700,000 hybrid supercar

Luxury car maker Jaguar Land Rover has announced it will team up with Formula One manufacturer Williams to produce its first hybrid supercar.

The partnership have confirmed they will begin production in 2013 on the C-X75 concept car which was first revealed at the 2010 Paris Motor Show. The firms say that only 250 models will be produced to begin with, with each one starting from a cool £700,000.

The C-X75 features a 1.6 litre petrol engine, two electric motors and a lightweight carbon fibre chassis which is expected to incorporate Williams' innovative carbon composite manufacture technology.

Capable of reaching a top speed of 205mph and 0-60mph in under 3 seconds, the C-X75 has an electric range of 50km and its low CO2 emission figures make it one of the greenest cars in the industry. The firm says the model proves that green does not have to mean 'boring'.

'This will be the finest- looking and most innovative Jaguar. Even in the world of supercars, we can still produce the most beautiful,' commented design boss Ian Callum.

Jaguar are hoping the model will put them on a par with other luxury car brands such as Ferrari, McLaren and Lambourghini and have hinted that the new technology used in the C-X75 will be filtered down to other models including a successor to the popular E-Type.

The brand has confirmed that the C-X75 will be entirely British built and will use local expertise from key areas such as Worcestershire, Coventry and Northampton. The firm have also hinted that the new model will create between 100 to 150 jobs in the UK when production begins in 2013.

The launch falls in line with Jaguar Land Rover's £5 billion pledge to launch 40 'new significant products' in the next 5 years. As part of the pledge, the brand also promised to create a new £750 million engine plant and hundreds of new jobs.

In addition to the pledge, the brand have also announced plans to expand production in key markets such as China and India.