Cool Cat: 'Green' Jaguar C-X75 That Can Top 200mph

Oleh news.sky.com

Jaguar has combined speed with green credentials as it unveiled an electric supercar which is capable of speeds over 200mph.

The C-X75 uses a combination of battery and gas turbine power

The C-X75 concept, that was launched at the Paris Motor Show, runs on a revolutionary eco-friendly power system.

The two-seater vehicle can sprint from 0-62mph in 3.4 seconds and has a top speed of 205mph, making it the fastest-ever electric road car.

It could be a successor to the XJ220 and takes the company in a new green direction, as it celebrates 75 years of business.

The C-X75 is powered by a lithium-ion battery, which runs four electric motors, one to power each wheel.

Each motor provides 195bhp, with a total of 780bhp. This gives the car 1180 lb ft of torque, reportedly eclipsing the 923 of the Bugatti Veyron.

It is not known whether the C-X75 will go into production

Using battery power alone on a six-hour charge from the mains, the C-X75 is limited to a range of 68 miles.

However, when it harnesses two super efficient gas turbines - derived from aircraft jet engines - it generates extra power to the motors to give it an extended range of 560 miles.

This is enough to drive from London to Berlin on a single 60-litre tank of fuel.

With fewer moving parts than a conventional engine, turbines do not need oil lubrication or water-cooling systems, which offer considerable weight-saving benefits.

They can also be run on a range of fuels including diesel, biofuels, compressed natural gas and liquid petroleum gas.

At the Paris Motor Show we will be hearing plenty about green technology and the rush to bring volume electric or hybrid cars to market.

Sky's Joel Hills at the Paris Motor Show

Because the gas turbines need to be refuelled, it means the car essentially uses hybrid technology.

However, it is classed as an electric car because it is driven by electric motors and there is no petrol engine.

Mike O'Driscoll, Managing Director of Jaguar Cars, said: "The C-X75 is a tribute to the people who shaped the iconic Jaguars that are revered to this day.

"By making it an innovative test-bed for the technologies of tomorrow, it also ensures that our reputation for engineering excellence will continue for another 75 years and beyond."

The C-X75 is a concept car only and it is not yet clear when, or if, Jaguar will release it on general sale.

If it does, the vehicle is expected to cost around £200,000.

Jaguar bosses plan to review the reception from critics and the public before making a decision.