Jaguar C-X16 Concept Sizzles on Stage: 2011 Frankfurt Auto Show [video]

With details released just ahead of its world debut, Jaguar‘s C-X16 two-seater concept was already generating a great amount of buzz. Now, with the car officially unveiled, it’s so far more than lived up to expectation.

The first two-seater Jaguar since the XJ-220 super car of the early 1990s, the C-X16 explores a new market for the brand, one where the company could possibly compete against cars like the Porsche Cayman S and 911.

Power comes from a 380 metric horsepower 3.0-liter supercharged V-6 that’s supplemented by a steering activated; Formula 1 inspired Hybrid Boost system that, via an electric motor integrated with the car’s eight-speed automatic transmission adds an additional 95 metric horsepower and 143 lb-ft of torque.

Jaguar claims the C-x16 concept can accelerate from 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) in just 4.4 seconds, will reach a top speed of 186 mph and thanks to a virtual 50:50 front/rear weight distribution (the Hybrid battery pack is mounted behind the seats) reportedly delivers superb cornering ability.

During the unveiling, Global Brand Director of Jaguar Cars Ltd; Adrian Hallmark, declared that, “theC-X16 embodies the established Jaguar strengths of sensual design, animal-like agility and inspirational performance and combines these with attributes that set us on a course to create sustainable sports cars of the future.”

Ian Callum, Jaguar’s Director of Design, added; “Jaguars have always been dramatically different. With the C-X16 we have moved the current award-winning design language on to the next generation, creating a car that is the very essence of future Jaguar performance.”

Given the response it generated; if there was one concept car on display at this year’s Frankfurt show that deserves to be put into to production, the C-X16 is most certainly it.