14 years ago, Jaguar unveiled the C-X75, a concept car with clear intentions to mark the beginning of a new chapter in innovation and technological advancement, a supercar built with the refinement you’d expect from a brand known for models like the E-Type, XKR. The reality was, though, it was something of a fairytale, and the X-C75 project struggled to get off the ground, blamed mainly due to the expected £1,000,000 price tag for a car that was due to arrive at the tail end of a recession.
While the production car was a non-starter, four examples of the X-C75 were used as stunt cars to be driven by 007’s villain in ‘Spectre’, which led to an epic battle between two British concept cars, with Bond behind the wheel of the DB10. While those four cars survived the on-screen ordeal, their future would most likely be inside a museum or exhibition hall. But the car’s original designer Ian Callum and his new independent design firm wanted to change the fate of one stunt car, creating the ultimate climax for the ill-fated supercar.
Following on from another X-C75 that had been modified to comply with road legalities, this second, emerald-shaded example takes the project one step further, restoring much of the functionality that the C-X75 would have had if it made it to production. It’s fair to say Ian Callum knows every unique element this car possesses, having designed it back in 2010, and for this new commission, he and his team were able to fully realise the dream of a production example. They developed their own control electronics and software for the car, allowing it to have two drive modes: one focused on road use and the other for the track, releasing the exhaust valves, as well as sharpening gear and throttle response.
Under its sleek body sits a supercharged 5.0-litre V8 engine, mated to a seven-speed dual clutch transmission, with custom-made active aerodynamics to improve the car’s downforce at high speed. Over 1,000 hours of craftsmanship went into perfecting the car’s bodywork, including precise panel alignment and a lustrous deep paint finish in Willow Green.
The car is loaded with distinctive touches, including brushed aluminium finish window surrounds, bespoke filler cap and visual carbon-fibre accents for the quarter light intakes and diffuser, along with the polished metal grille. This attention to detail extends inside, too, an area that the design team needed to really work their magic on – being a stunt car, heated seats and air-conditioning were not the highest of priorities. Now, this driver-centric, premium interior features a sophisticated blend of dark green and cream tones, split by a bold and dynamic 40-degree-angled “waterline” that runs through the cabin.
While this is naturally a one-off creation, it is wonderful to see a car destined for the history books labelled under the ‘ones that didn’t make it’ section get a second chance. Now thanks to the expertise of Ian Callum Designs, we’re able to soak in this unique supercar’s beauty that little bit longer!
