Jaguar C-X17 concept to preview luxury Brit’s first crossover
A teaser image of the Jaguar C-X17 concept has been released, giving us our first look at the brand's first-ever crossover.
The luxury British manufacturer says the concept has been created as a design study to "introduce Jaguar's new, highly advanced, modular aluminium architecture".
While still refusing to officially confirm its plans to produce a crossover model, Jaguar says the C-X17 “illustrates the diversity of vehicles that could be produced using this architecture, which underpins the innovative future for the Jaguar brand”.
The shadowy rear three-quarter image previews the C-X17 concept’s athletic lines, teasing a slim greenhouse, muscular rear haunches and piercing LED tail-lights reminiscent of those on the F-Type.
Tipped to reach showrooms in 2016 wearing Jaguar XQ badges, Jaguar product planning manager Steven De Ploey told CarAdvice last month that the brand’s crossover model – if confirmed for production – would have a focus on on-road performance rather than off-road capability.
In March 2012, Jaguar chief designer Ian Callum told CarAdvice a traditional SUV was “categorically … out of the question”.
“An SUV is too utilitarian-like for Jaguar, but maybe there are some grey areas in between we could investigate,” Callum said.
Full details of the Jaguar C-X17 concept will be revealed at an exclusive event on September 9 ahead of its Frankfurt motor show debut the following day.