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Robbie Stammers has no doubts about which two cars stood out at the 2010 Paris Motor ShowWhat a treat! Not only have I just returned from the most romantic city in the world, Paris, but I was able to salivate over a host of the world’s best vehicles at the 2010 Paris Motor Show. There were definitely two straight winners that stood head and shoulders above the rest this year. The futuristic Range Rover Evoque and the gorgeous Jaguar C–X75.
As a die-hard Land Rover and Range Rover fan, the unveiling of its much anticipated new vehicle had me initially reeling with disdain, but as the day progressed, I found myself coming back time and again, and by the end of the day, the new Evoque had definitely won me over.
Range Rover’s new Evoque is a production-ready vehicle based on Land Rover’s LRX concept — and the final version is faithfully captured in that coupé concept. But, unlike much of Land Rover’s product, the Evoque is moving the brand in a new direction, combining a light, fuel-efficient car with a capable, sporty off-roader.
In fact, the Evoque is the lightest Range Rover ever and, rather than being powered by a grunting V8, it is being driven by a new 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine that features direct fuel injection, turbocharging and twin variable valve timing. Together, this technology not only nets decent power, but the engine also boasts a fuel-efficiency rating of approximately 5.0 litres per 100 kilometre on average.
“This is a highly relevant and contemporary vehicle that will suit the modern needs of our customers,” says Phil Popham, Land Rover’s managing director. “The Evoque will appeal to a new group of customers who may not have considered a Range Rover before.”
The Evoque has a much lower driving position in relation to other Land Rover products, which translates to the vehicle’s sporty nature. Yet, with its full-time all-wheel drive system, it will still offer traction on varied surfaces.
And, for customers who want to run the Evoque off-road, its design has sharp approach- and departure angles and substantial ground clearance. It is further equipped with Land Rover’s proven Terrain Response system.
Engineers put an emphasis on keeping the Evoque’s weight down. The use of the turbocharged four saves 88 pounds compared with Land Rover’s 3.2-litre in-line six-cylinder, with comparable output.
The Evoque is fitted with an electric-power-steering system to reduce engine load.
Aluminium suspension components and high-strength steels in the body contribute to a base curb weight of 3 582 pounds.
A MagneRide damping system is optional.
The shocks are filled with fluid that contains magnetic particles. Running an electric current through the shocks can soften or stiffen the damping effect up to 1 000 times a second.
Land Rover packs the Evoque’s interior with technology, including an eight-inch touchscreen display that will control audio, video, navigation and cellphones. The Evoque uses Bluetooth to connect to a driver’s phone for hands-free calling and audio streaming.
A five-inch display in the centre of the instrument panel provides the driver with important information, and a voice-control system.
The Evoque can be equipped with an optional surround camera system, giving the driver a 360-degree view around the SUV which is displayed on the eight-inch screen. A full-width glass roof is an optional extra.
The Evoque goes on sale in the third quarter of 2011, and the South African price is yet to be confirmed.
This is the type of vehicle that puts a smile on your dial immediately. It reminds us all why we have loved smart sleek sports cars since we were young.
At the Paris Motor Show, testosterone levels went through the roof when the C–X75 was unveiled. This is why.
The C–X75 concept is a celebration of 75 years of iconic Jaguar design and a look into the future of automotive technology. Designed as a range-extended electric two-seater supercar, it explores the outer limits of performance and sustainability.
With plug-in capability, the car can achieve a zero tailpipe emissions range of 110 kilometre (68 miles) – three times around Paris’s Périphérique – when running under battery power alone, plus a potential top speed of 330km/h (205mph) and blistering acceleration.
The car demonstrates that it is possible to retain Jaguar’s core values of performance, design and luxury using technology that will make environmentally responsible performance and electric vehicles a practical proposition.
The aim was to produce not only the most innovative but also one of the most beautiful Jaguars ever; one that hints at an exciting evolution of the marque’s award-winning design language, while paying homage to some of its most admired cars of years gone by.
Advanced design features such as a groundbreaking propulsion system and active aerodynamics allow for an elegantly simple fuselage section that remains stable at very high speeds.
“The C–X75 is a tribute to the people who shaped the iconic Jaguars that are revered to this day. By making it an innovative test-bed for the technologies of tomorrow, it also ensures that our reputation for engineering excellence will continue for another 75 years and beyond,” said Mike O’Driscoll, managing director at Jaguar Cars.
The C–X75’s 580kW propulsion system combines powerful 145kW (195bhp) electric motors at each wheel for outstanding performance.
At the centre of the car sit state-of-the-art, mid-mounted micro gas turbines. These can either generate 140kW (188bhp) to charge the batteries and extend the range of the car to a remarkable 900km (560 miles) – enough to drive from London to Berlin on a single tank – or, when in Track mode, provide supplementary power directly to the electric motors. The four electric motors provide torque-vectored, all-wheel drive traction and grip – essential in a car that produces 580kW (778bhp) and 1 600Nm (1180lb ft) of torque.
The car’s interior is equally impressive, with the driver and passenger seated ahead of a sealed airbox that houses the micro gas turbines. The seats are fixed to the bulkhead as in a single-seater racing car, and air to feed the turbines passes smoothly around them via channels in the structure of the body. With the seats anchored in place, the steering wheel, controls, main binnacle and pedal box all adjust toward the driver.
Dramatic theatre lighting is activated as the driver approaches the car; phosphor blue electro-luminescent wire lights illuminate the perimeter of the cabin and the turbines. When the car is started, additional blue LED lighting gently floods the door and bulkhead speaker cavities – highlighting the car’s lightweight construction.
Bespoke interior materials include cream and grey leathers, polished and vapour-blasted aluminium, and a soft-feel textured neoprene.
A new interface for the driver has been created for the C–X75, using high-resolution TFT screens. Building on Jaguar’s 10-year expertise in touchscreen technology, the Jaguar Co-Pilot display in the centre console supports the driver in extracting the full potential of the C–X75 by seamlessly managing information.
Using previously unseen combinations of technology, the C–X75 supercar provides a glimpse into the future of Jaguar and its commitment to producing beautiful, fast cars powered by sustainable means. ▲
Robbie Stammers
