Behind every car is a story, and the element of design is always a chapter within it.

Jaguar UK has chosen Clerkenwell Design Week to showcase the one-off C-X75 concept car and has depicted the process from the first sketch to production through a bespoke art installation designed and produced by the Jaguar design team.

Hugo Nightingale, Senior Designer, Jaguar Cars, said: ‘We want to explain to people the art of creating a car. In some companies car design is a technical, cold process. At Jaguar it is about emotion, artistry and craftsmanship.’

He added, ‘Clerkenwell Design Week is the perfect environment for us to present the C-X75 to the design world and explain how its existence was founded on a desire to continue Jaguar’s design philosophy of flowing lines, purity of form and bespoke luxury for years to come.’

The installation reveals insights into the car design process through eight ‘windows’ each measuring two metres wide. Starting with inspiration, the journey includes creating sketchwork, material choice and sculpting full-size clay models. It is revealed that for that in the early design phase of a new car, approximately five hundred sketches are pencilled before a single theme is decided upon.

On the C-X75 Ian Callum, Design Director, Jaguar Cars, commented, ‘The C-X75 is everything a Jaguar should be. It possesses remarkable poise and grace yet at the same time has the excitement and potency of a true supercar. You could argue this is as close to a pure art form as a concept car can get.” Also on display are a selection of Jaguar’s current range of cars; the XFR, XKR-S and XJ Supersport.

Source: Jaguar PR

Photos: World Car Fans

Two things you don’t normally hear together – “Hybrid” and “Jet Engine” – well friends, it looks like Jaguar is going to change that. As it goes, Jag is looking to produce a hybrid luxury sports car, which will use a small jet turbine engine to power its electric motor. We know, it sounds like something an Austin Powers villain would create – but the British government is taking this proposal seriously…and giving up $24 million to the car maker for development.

Jaguar is joining with British gas turbine manufacturer Bladon Jets and electric motor manufacturer SR Drives for this creation. This is not the first time Jag has wanted to combine cars & jets – subsidiary U.K. Rover built the first gas turbine-powered car in 1950, the Jet-1. That two-seater was capable of 88 mph (Great Scott!) at an amazing 50,000 rpm.

During the year Jaguar will also celebrate 75 of making some of the world’s greatest automobiles – and delivering concepts to shows like Goodwood Festival of Speed and Revival in the UK; the Concours D’Elegance at Pebble Beach in the US and at the Mille Miglia classic in Italy.

Source: GayCarFans | Wired