Jaguar C-X75 Featured in James Bond Flick Lives Twice
Stunning Jaguar custom stunt car built for Spectre is retired from showbiz, and heading to auction.
We know that when it comes to his signature ride, James Bond is an Aston Martin man. But after seeing his arch nemesis behind the wheel of this brilliant Jaguar C-X75, the super spy might just be lured over to our favorite British marque. The sweet supercar was used in the 2015 Bond film Spectre. Interestingly, Spectre was full of Jaguar action, including a massive fleet of Land Rover Defenders. But this concept Jaguar C-X75, one of four custom built by Williams Advanced Engineering, is the real scene-stealer.
And if you’d like a slice of double oh heaven, you’re in luck. It is on the docket at RM Sotheby’s upcoming Abu Dhabi auction on November 30. Of course, you’ll need deep pockets as it is expected to go for about a cool million.
In 2010, Jaguar wanted to create a rare hybrid supercar. The result was the gas turbine-powered all-wheel-drive electric C-X75 concept car. It was unveiled at the 2010 Paris Auto Show to much acclaim. Jaguar planned to produce 250 with a standard hybrid-electric powertrain with an inline four-cylinder gasoline engine.
Unfortunately, only five were produced before Jaguar pulled the plug on production.
Then, Hollywood came calling. Producers for Spectre were looking for an especially kickass ride. Jaguar partnered with Williams, a company that drew on its Formula One DNA to build four C-X75s for use in the film. It was a perfect fit. Daniel Craig‘s Aston Martin-driving Bond squared off against Dave Bautista‘s villainous assassin Mr. Hinx. Hinx piloted the C-X75 in a thrilling car chase featuring two exotic automotive titans.
To endure the stunts, the cars were modded out. Williams adhered to World Rally Championship specifications for modifications. They added a dry-sump V8 engine paired to a Ricardo six-speed transaxle, and the all-wheel-drive was swapped out to rear-wheel power.
The model offered up at the Sothebys auction is in fact the first of four stunt cars built. After the production ended, the Jaguar was sent to Williams where they fixed the car and rebuilt the V8 engine. Post-Hollywood, the car appeared in the Mexican Grand Prix driven by Williams-Martini team driver Felipe Massa.
Of course the car is fully loaded–we’d expect nothing less from a Bond flick-caliber car. The interior is fitted with Recaro sport seats, a hydraulic handbrake, and an array of of cool racecar buttons on the dash, including a knob to adjust the AP Racing brakes. It also comes with Jaguar SVO spec sheet documentation as well as a copy of the Spectre production call sheet for the chase-sequence filming. There is also special badging verifying its stunt vehicle status.
The real star here is the car itself. Curvy and cunning, sleek and agile; it is pure Jaguar design and performance at its finest. If you’re looking for the ultimate Jaguar rarity, nobody does it better than the C-X75.
Photos: RM Sotheby’s
