What's the news?

Jaguar has decided to can its innovative C-X75 supercar, which would have sold for £1m. Initially shown as a gas turbine/electric machine the firm had okayed the car for production in a slightly less ambitious format, powered by a turbo- and supercharged 1.6-litre petrol engine combined with two electric motors. Despite Jaguar claiming it had serious interest from potential buyers the project has been cancelled and focus moved to volume production models.

Exterior

There's no denying that the C-X75 would have wowed, its stunning shape arguably the most alluring of the current crop of £1m super and hyper machines on or just about to hit the market.

Interior

Likewise the interior would have been pretty special, the concept's cool TFT panel instruments and aircraft-style aluminium detailing certainly appealed, though any production car would have likely been a little bit more conventional. We'll never really know now though, save for the rumour that Jaguar might finish off three of the five working prototypes and send them to the auction house.

Mechanicals

Like Jaguar's previous XJ220 foray into the world of extreme supercars, the C-X75's drivetrain was diluted from its show car debut to its anticipated production reality. The showroom model wouldn't have delivered the gas turbine/electric motor set up of the concept, but then the super- and turbocharged 1.6-litre petrol engine with two electric motors and a combined output just short of 900hp doesn't sound like too bad a compromise.

Anything else?

Should those three cars make it to the open market expect them to be bought by savvy collectors and hidden in hermetically sealed garages for a few decades before rolling out at an exclusive Concours d'Elegance or auction with an astronomical figure attached. Indeed, if you've the means, it could be the canniest buy of the glut of £1m machines set to hit the market in the next year of two.

Kyle Fortune - 13 Dec 2012