Jaguar Details C-X17 Crossover Concept, Doesn't Mention Production Plans [74 Photos & Video]

Jaguar’s first crossover / SUV is a vehicle that will get a lot of people talking at this week’s Frankfurt motor show. It may be somewhat controversial from a historic standpoint, but it’s also fine looker and brings forth the promise of lightness and efficiency through the use of an all-new all-aluminum platform dubbed iQ[Al].

In fact, it’s strange because the official press information seems to go into a bit too much detail about this new platform, as if trying to fill space destined for different subtopics.

By that we mean the possibility of production, because it really is on everybody’s mind, a lot more than the technical side. For most people, the main issues are ‘does it look good?’ and ‘will they make it?’ in this current form. As we previously mentioned, we think they’ve got the first one covered, dispelling fears that they could mess it (and the entire brand) up quite severely. On the second front, however, you really have to do a lot of reading around, to get a somewhat informed opinion, and after having done that, it seems that officials are inferring that it will go into production, arguing that they’re not really into making unrealistic concepts any more…

Besides, we’ve said before that, bar the wheels and the usual flashy concept trinkets (which includes the whole interior in this case too), this really looks production ready on the otuside. Again, they are not stating it outright, and it doesn’t feel like they’re diplomatically and ambiguously denying it either. Still, this won’t be the first model to get the new underpinnings, that privilege being reserved for the upcoming sub-XF sedan that is to come in 2015.

One thing is for sure: since it is based on sedan running gear, and not Land Rover-derived, the future Jaguar SUV/crossover’s road manners will be more akin to a BMW X5, instead of some other models that are more capable all-rounders, but not as good-on road.

When it comes to powertrains, the company’s streak of ambiguity continues. They say “future Jaguars will be powered by engines with a wide range of capacities and output, all delivering inspirational performance and offering the latest innovations in fuel-efficient technologies, without sacrificing drivability or feel” – well thank you, that cleared up all of our questions. Who knows, if they launch this new taller model too late, it may miss out on V8s completely. Still, it will be the units at the frugal end of the scales that are most interesting and will obviously be most common. Jaguar says that these upcoming four-pot units will allow them to dip under 100 g/km of CO2 in the case of the smaller sedan.

The crossover concept is 4,718mm (185.7 inches) long, 1,649mm (64.9 inches) tall and 1,959mm (77.1 inches) wide, while it rides on a lengthy 2,905mm (114.4 inches) wheelbase and has a 213mm (8.4 inches) ground clearance, together, of course, with the brand’s intelligent All-Wheel Drive system. No mention on the specific powertrain (if there’s one actually hiding under the bonnet of the display model).

By Andrei Nedelea

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