The Jaguar C-X75 debuted at the 2010 Paris Motor Show as a futuristic hybrid-electric design study, equipped with four electric motors and batteries that utilized diesel-fed micro gas turbines to recharge. It was definitely pushing the boundaries of technology.
A more conventional small capacity forced induction gas engine and electric motor set-up was developed for a planned run of 250 road-legal cars, but due to a faltering global economy the project was canned after just five prototypes were built. Instead, the C-X75 got another chance at fame when it was chosen to be the vehicle of choice for Bond Villain Mr Hinx in the 2015 film Spectre.
Williams Advanced Engineering was commissioned to build six new cars for the films intense chase sequence, where the Jaguar would face off against Bond’s Aston Martin DB10 along the Tiber River in Rome.
Unlike the prototypes, which used a twin turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder gas engine and two electric motors to produce an estimated 890 hp sent to all four wheels, the Spectre cars borrowed the growling V8 (converted to a dry-sump setup) from the F-Type and reverted to a rear-wheel-drive layout. The power delivery was so vicious that the ECU was reprogrammed to limit torque for more accurate driver control.
Further changes involved a Ricardo short-travel six-speed transaxle with unique left-hand side sequential paddle shifter and a strengthened tubular spaceframe and extra-long travel for the suspension system. Four such cars were built, as well as two standard versions, and chassis no. 24001 is the first of the modified models. It lived a slightly less arduous life thanks to it being a ‘pod car’, meaning that it was used for close-up shots and had a secondary driver mounted in a pod on the roof.
Post-filming the car was serviced, had its V8 engine rebuilt and went on to be utilized for Spectre promotions including an appearance at the 2015 Mexican Grand Prix where Felipe Massa demonstrated its dynamic capabilities on track. In 2016 it went on to a British collector where it led a far calmer existence, being driven only a handful of miles and displayed at a few events around the UK.
This C-X75 is now ready to take on its next role under a new owner and will be offered for sale at the upcoming RM Sotheby’s auction at Abu Dhabi on 30 November.
Images courtesy of RM Sotheby’s
