Amid all the historic autos on display at the annual Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, the Concept Lawn is a look at modern works of vehicular art – not all of them concepts either.

Vehicles on display at this year’s event included the the Infiniti Etheria concept, the SSC Tuatara concept and the Lotus Evora GTE Road Car Concept. The SSC car represents the next generation of the Ultimate Aero and will look to take back the title of the world’s fastest production car from Bugatti. As for the Lotus, it’s essentially a look at a possible street-legal track machine, merging the Evora road car and the GTE Le Mans race car together. Yet another concept was the Lexus LF-Gh – a design study that lead to the Pebble Beach reveal of the new 2013 Lexus GS350.

Other highlights included a rolling chassis of the new Lamborghini Aventador, as well as the Jaguar C-X75 concept. See all these, and even more in the video after the jump:

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The Williams Formula 1 team has a long and somewhat checkered history at the pinnacle of motor sports, and like some of its competitors, have delved into the business of sports cars. Williams was full at hand with the development of the Renault Clio Williams from the early to mid ’90s, and had even developed a concept van called the Renault Espace F1, which was a minivan with a Renault engine taken from an F1 race car.

While on the motor sport side, Williams is still doing business with Renault (with whom they have just signed on with again for the 2012 season), however it is also working with Jaguar on a very special road car.

The car in question is the C-X75 supercar that Jaguar has decided to put into production. This hybrid supercar will use kinetic energy recovery system (KERS) similar to the ones used in Formula 1 racers, and Williams is responsible for perfecting this technology for use in this super Jaguar.

Williams chairman Adam Parr wants to take thing even further, saying; “We would like to become the competition and sporting side of Jaguar.” In other words, Williams could become the AMG of Jaguar road cars.

Williams has been on hand with the C-X75 from the very beginning. Parr said; “When the C-X75 was first envisaged it was powered by two turbines manufactured by Bladed Jets, which is part owned by Jaguar owner Tata Motors. But we have concentrated on adopting a path that will make the C-X75 the cleanest and more environmentally friendly supercar of all time. “So at the moment we are concentrating on a downsized internal combustion engine combined with some pretty amazing kinetic energy recovery systems.”

This partnership could lead to this technology trickling down to more Jaguar road cars, and could also spawn the return of Jaguar in competitive racing.

Time will tell what more this partnership will bring. For now, expect to see the production C-X75 to hit the showrooms in about two-years time.

GALLERY: Jaguar C-X75

[Source: Autocar]

The British and the Germans swept the 2011 Concept Car of the Year awards in Dearborn, with top marks going towards Lotus, Jaguar, and Volkswagen.

The insane, beautiful Jaguar C-X75 took not only the Best Concept award but also the Most Significant—no doubt for its turbine engine, which sadly won’t make it to Jaguar’s production version (and kind of defeats the purpose, but that’s a different story). The best production preview, the car most likely to be built as close to its concept as possible, went to Lotus and its four-door Eterne sedan. And lastly, VW’s retro-tastic Bulli concept took Best Truck.

The two dozen jurors in the selection committee came from across North America, so there’s less accusations of Eurocentrism there. Cars displayed at last year’s major shows are all eligible for judging.

[Source: Detroit Free Press]

What seemed like a pipe dream is about to become reality with Jaguar today announcing plans to put the C-X75 hybrid supercar concept into production. First unveiled at the Paris Auto Show, the stunning machine will be brought to reality thanks to a partnership between Jaguar and the Williams F1 team. Using a carbon fiber chassis, Jaguar said it plans to further explore the use of jet engines in its models through a partnership with Bladon Jets, but in order to bring the C-X75 to reality within a reasonable timeframe it will instead opt to use a “highly boosted” internal combustion engine with an electric motor at each axle.

With this drivetrain configuration Jaguar is promising a 0-60 mph time of less than 3 seconds and a 0-100 mph time of less than 6 seconds. The top speed will be above 200-mph, and Jag is also targeting an all-electric (emissions free) range of 30 miles).

“People expect Jaguar to be innovators – that is when Jaguar is at its best,” said Adrian Hallmark, Jaguar Brand Director. “The C-X75 received an incredible reception as a concept car. We’ve been building on that momentum and there is a clear business case for this exclusive halo model. No other vehicle will better signify Jaguar’s renewed confidence and excellence in technological innovation than this.”

In addition, Jaguar designer Ian Callum is promising the production model will stay true to the design of the concept. “This will be the finest looking and most innovative Jaguar ever produced,” he said. “Even in the world of supercars, we can still produce the most beautiful.”

Just 250 C-X75 models will be built, priced from £700,000 (roughly $1.2 million).

GALLERY: Jaguar C-X75

GALLERY: Jaguar C-X75 Debut in Paris

Unveiled as a design concept, pointing the way towards the styling of the British automaker’s future models, the C-X75 may see production after all.

When unveiled at the Paris Auto Show last week, Jaguar was firm in its statement that the 780-hp electric supercar was not destined for the road, but after being what might just be the biggest hit of the show, that may change.

According to a report by AutoCar, sources inside Jag are hinting that the C-X75 could see production in a limited number: anywhere from 1,000 units to 2,000 units.

But don’t expect to see such a car any time soon. According to Jaguar powertrain boss Tony Harper it would take two or three years to fully develop the gas-turbine technology shown in the concept, and another three to four years to put it into the car.

As far-fetched an idea it is to think of the C-X75 in production, many of Jag’s competitors (including BMW, Audi, Mercedes and Porsche) are all currently working towards models that will compete a this level.

GALLERY: Jaguar C-X75 Concept

[Source: AutoCar]

For years under Ford, Jaguar had to play second fiddle to Aston Martin, both in terms of performance and style. With new ownership, Jag has expanded its performance capabilities in recent years with a new line of 5.0-liter V8 engines that make over 500-hp in certain applications. Now, Jag is looking to ramp-up the style of its models. Sure the XF and new XJ are a significant departure from Jaguar’s past, but they have nothing on the breathtaking style of the C-X75 Concept.

Looking to Jaguar’s future, the C-X75 is a concept car that’s set to inspire future Jaguar productions models – like the next XK. It also looks at Jaguar’s past, with a distinct look reminiscent of the XJ220.

Along with being achingly beautiful, the C-X75 is also a range-extended electric and has a propulsion system similar to that found in the Chevy Volt, using electric power to drive the wheels, while additional “micro gas turbines” can recharge the lithium-ion battery packs to add extended range. The C-x75 is touted to be capable of 68 miles of range before the two 96-hp gas turbines kick in to give a total range of 560 miles. It also makes an incredible 780-hp from the four 195-hp electric motors, while 1,187 ft-lbs of torque enables a 0-62 mph time of just 3.4 seconds and a top speed of 205-mph.

The goal, says Jaguar, “was to produce not only the most innovative but also one of the most beautiful Jaguars ever; one which 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.” Goal, achieved.

With the C-X75 set to inspire future Jaguar models, we can’t wait to get a look at the upcoming next-gen XK.

GALLERY: Jaguar C-X75 Concept

With styling hints reminiscent of the stunning XJ220, Jaguar has just released the first photos of an 780-hp range-extended electric supercar concept ahead of its official debut tomorrow at the Paris Auto Show.

Along with being achingly beautiful, as a range-extended electric car it has a propulsion system similar to that found in the Chevy Volt, using electric power to drive the wheels, while additional “micro gas turbines” can recharge the lithium-ion battery packs to add extended range. The C-x75 is touted to be capable of 68 miles of range before the two 96-hp gas turbines kick in to give a total range of 560 miles. It also makes an incredible 780-hp from the four 195-hp electric motors, while 1,187 ft-lbs of torque enables a 0-62 mph time of just 3.4 seconds and a top speed of 205-mph.

The goal, says Jaguar, “was to produce not only the most innovative but also one of the most beautiful Jaguars ever; one which 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.”

Unfortunately, the goal was not to build anything from this technology, rather the C-X75 will stand as a design concept to inspire future Jags. And with that in mind, we can’t wait to get a glimpse of the next-gen XK.

Check back tomorrow for live photos from the C-X75′s unveiling with AutoGuide’s extensive coverage of the Paris Auto Show.

GALLERY: Jaguar C-X75 Concept

Official release after the jump:

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