Jaguar cool in white at L.A. Auto Show with C-X16 & XKR-S Convertible
Thu, 17 Nov 2011Jaguar at the LA Auto Show with a brace of white cats
Jaguar may not be going to the Detroit Motor Show in January (forsaking it for Delhi) but it’s put on a show in Los Angeles with a new white version of the Jaguar C-X16 Concept (XE) and the new XKR-S Convertible.
The Jaguar C-X16 – which looks set to be the Jaguar XE when it arrives – conspires to look even more production-ready at LA than it already did at Frankfurt despite, as far as we can tell, nothing more than a new coat of paint.
Some of the elements that seem unlikely to make it in to production – such as the rear hatch which opens E-Type like and the ultra-modern interior – are still present, yet on the C-X16 they seem to fit; it would be a shame to see them go for the production XE.
The hybrid plant of the C-X16 is something that could also be sacrificed on the production XE – certainly for a while – as Jaguar establishes more traditional engines first. Those engines will include the new V6 (a cut-down version of the AJ8), a 3.0 litre turbo diesel and perhaps even a V8.
The Jaguar XKR-S we covered in detail the other day when Jaguar made it officially official ahead of its reveal. But despite its design being essentially a decade older than the C-X16 sitting alongside, the XKR-S Convertible conspired to look almost as contemporary as the C-X16 in its matching coat of white paint
We’re not completely sure that it’s just the XKR-S looking better than it ever has in its angry clothes that make the two Jaguars look contemporaneous (perhaps it’s a bit of the C-X16′s Jaguar DNA too), but whatever it is it’s an impressive feat from such an old warhorse.
Perhaps one way to realise the age of the XKR-S will be at the petrol station. The XKR-S will be lucky to better 15mpg if you drive it as it’s designed to be driven.
The C-X16 with similar performance will probably use half the fuel.
(12 photos – click any thumbnail for full gallery)
(12 photos – click any thumbnail for full gallery)
(12 photos – click any thumbnail for full gallery)
By Cars UK