Jaguar is investigating ways to put its gas turbine hybrid powertrain as used in its C-X75 concept car into full production, Headlineauto reports.
According to the news agency, Brand director Adrian Hallmark says that the technology is just one of many the car maker is looking at, as part of a strategy to make its cars more environmentally friendly.
The C-X75 uses four 195 hp electric motors, one for each wheel, and the twin gas turbine generators can recharge the battery pack or provide supplementary power to the four electric motors in "Track Mode".
Jaguar said the car can travel 68 miles on battery power alone, or up to 560 miles when the electric portion of the powertrain works in conjunction with the twin gas turbines. It can also accelerate from 0-60 mph in just 3.4 seconds and has a top speed of 205 mph. In total the combination of electric motors and gas turbines work together to produce a whopping 778bhp and an amazing 1,180lb/ft torque.
Hallmark said: "There is a potential for this technology and if we could get it to work it would be great. There are a lot of technical issues to be addressed, such as dealing with the heat from the exhaust, but it would be great if we could get it to work.
"It would also be great for a British company to do it. But we are seriously looking at it."
Hallmark said Jaguar’s green strategy is following two areas of development, one being the body architecture to make its cars lighter.
"We are already using aluminium for the bodywork and we are looking at ancillary materials and composites. The other stream is lowering emissions. We are looking at stop-start systems, classic hybrid and high performance systems."
