A JAGUAR sports car that was first seen over 10 years ago but was never put into production has finally been made road legal.
The elusive motor made its first appearance at the 2010 Paris Motor Show and even featured in a famous scene in a James Bond film – but was never made available for wealthy petrolheads to buy.
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Driving the stunning C-X75 model has been the stuff of mere fantasy for over a decade after Jag refused to mass produce the supercar.
Only four were built as stunt cars for the 2015 Bond film Spectre, with one driven by villain Mr Hinx, played by Dave Bautista, in a memorable on-screen car chase.
These motors boasted a supercharged 5.0-litre V8 engine – rather than the twin-charged and hybridised 1.6-litre that the supercar was originally set to use – and all reportedly were snapped up by collectors.
But one such example has now been thoroughly modified to pass vehicle approval test for use on the road in a one-of-a-kind commission.
Worked on by the car’s original designer, Ian Callum, along with his engineering consultancy firm, aptly named CALLUM, the car now functions in much the same way it would have had if it made it to production.
Callum said: “C-X75 was the one that got away – a car brimming with unfulfilled potential.
“We’ve combined the customer’s wishes with carefully engineered solutions to bring C-X75 to the thoroughly satisfying conclusion it always deserved.”
Changes to the car are said to include a re-engineered drivetrain, active aero, and a new interior which improves the driving experience.
The car has also undergone a number of visual changes compared to the stunt car, including a blend of dark green and cream materials, while its cabin now boasts a digital instrument cluster and a roof-mounted console, along with a centre console and integrated touchscreens.
There’s even a digital rear-view mirror, and an electronic parking brake integrated with the transmission.
On the outside, the car’s bodywork has been repainted to a very fetching Willow Green.
The project’s engineering director Adam Donafresco said: “Integrating features including air-con and premium audio while also balancing the [noise, vibration and harshness], refinement and hygiene factors such as engineering the door seals to keep the elements out, all while ensuring it still sounded mega, was a formidable but thrilling challenge.”
Unfortunately, the catch for car fans is that it does appear the C-X75’s timeline could finally be concluded, as there is no further hint that the car will be mass-produced in the future.
Upon its initial unveiling as a concept car, the C-X75 was earmarked for an expected £1million price tag at a time when the world was in the midst of a global recession.
However, Jaguar were able to get some use from the failed C-X75 project, having later used some of the tech developed for the car in future models.
Indeed, the F-Type and the I-Pace were heavily influenced by the C-X75, with the two Jaguars using many design cues and tech features from it.
This comes as Jaguar are currently going through a mighty transitional phase, having officially halted production of all their cars after discontinuing five models this year – including the two mentioned above.
The famous British car brand announced earlier this year that they won’t sell any new cars in the UK for an entire year.
Dealers will now only have used cars and Land Rovers in stock until 2026, with their future models to be announced in 2025.
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