Bonding together

First shown as a prototype at the 2010 Paris Motor Show, the Jaguar C-X75 was due to go on sale this year and expected to sell for around £800,000. The economic slowdown in the emerging markets, however, has meant this rival to the Porsche 918 Spyder and Ferrari La Ferrari had to be shelved. Well, that’s the official line, anyway.

If it does happen, it’s unlikely to come with the 880bhp hybrid 1.6-litre petrol/electric engine, or the all-wheel drive system, they debuted in France five years ago. But it could, just maybe, re-emerge as the same car which will be seen in the forthcoming James Bond film, Spectre.

Leaked photos show it remains virtually identical to the way Ian Callum, Jaguars’ Design Director, intended. For sure it’s a beautiful thing to behold, but it’s more than just a collection of sleek lines.

There’s actually a poetic eloquence in the way its bodywork effortlessly ebbs and flows, as if it’s been crafted from mouton chocolate. This car isn’t just beautiful; it’s bite-the-back-of-your-hand gorgeous.

However, Bond doesn’t get to drive it, he’s been put behind the wheel of the new Aston Martin DB10 (guelle surprise). Instead, the keys have been entrusted to the villain of the peace, Franz Oberhauser, played by Christoph Waltz.

Oberhauser isn’t going to be too happy when he lifts the bonnet to find the petrol/hybrid motor has been substituted for a 5-0-litre V8 engine, the same found in the current F-Type model. And the all-wheel drive system has also gone, it’s now rear-wheel driven.

The remit for the original C-X75 was that it should match the performance of the Bugatti Veyron while emitting less CO2 gases than a Toyota Prius. Whilst this 550bhp supercharged V8 engine may not quite match the promised performance of the hybrid – 220mph top speed, 0-62mph in 2.9 seconds – 4.1 seconds from a standing start to 62mph and 186mph top speed is far from languid.

It does fall at the fuel emissions hurdle, though. Jaguar smugly proclaimed the hybrid would return 72.4mpg while only emitting 89g/km of Co2 emissions. That can’t be said for this V8 version. Those figures are now more than likely to read: 26.4mpg and 255g/km of CO2.

But the big question still remains; will the C-X75 ever go into production? The suits at Jag are adamant it’ll never happen. Nonetheless, Jaguar are in business to make money and once this latest Bond franchise is released they may very well find themselves inundated with thousands of enquires for the C-X75.

Money always concentrates the mind and Jaguar may want to reconsider their rash decision. As every James Bond fan will tell you, never say never again.