Jaguar's First SUV with Aluminum Monocoque

Jaguar has announced the C-X17, a sports crossover concept featuring an advanced aluminum monocoque body, a first for Jaguar in the C/D segment, at the Frankfurt Motor Show.


The C-X17, with its elevated body characteristic of a sports crossover, is not only a design study for Jaguar's first SUV but also serves to introduce Jaguar's entirely new, advanced aluminum monocoque architecture, dubbed iQ[AI].


Simply put, this signals Jaguar's entry into the SUV or sports crossover segment, and also implies that all future Jaguar models will transition to aluminum bodies.

The "C-X17" demonstrates the versatility of models that can be manufactured using the new aluminum architecture. Alongside the unveiling of the "C-X17," Jaguar announced plans for a production model based on this aluminum architecture to debut in 2015.


This new vehicle is expected to be a C/D segment sedan. Jaguar has thus demonstrated the potential of its next-generation aluminum chassis with a sports crossover model that deliberately differs in body style.


Of course, this doesn't mean the C-X17 will remain merely a concept. The Jaguar C-X17 projects the sporty image and performance Jaguar has cultivated into an SUV model, with a realistic appearance that emphasizes presence and off-road capability.

A Prelude to Future C/D Segment Sedans

The body dimensions are announced as 4,718mm in length and 1,649mm in height. This is approximately 400mm longer than the Range Rover Evoque. While the height is nearly the same, Jaguar's design language gives it a commanding presence. The front face evolves the distinctive nose of Jaguar's flagship sedan, theXJ, and the three-dimensional lines of the rear fender are reminiscent of the JaguarF-Typedesign.


The details also strongly suggest a connection with Jaguar's current models. The LED headlamps within the sharp-edged headlight units and the "J"-shaped running lights convey Jaguar's DNA, while the fog lights integrated into the large front intakes express SUV robustness. The 23-inch wheels also contribute to Jaguar's sporty image.

The interior is a full four-seater configuration, with bucket seats in each position. The dashboard, seats, armrests, doors, and floor, as well as the trunk, are all finished in a combination of black Connolly saddle leather and orchid-colored Connolly leather, creating a luxurious atmosphere.


Furthermore, the dashboard and center console are finished with a combination of silvery-white ruthenium, rolled aluminum, and matte black metal with anodized treatment, accented by an alluring blue illumination.

The surface of the center tunnel, which extends from the dashboard to the rear seats, incorporates an "infotainment system" featuring touchscreens beneath acrylic glass panels called "Interactive Surface Control" by Jaguar. In addition to in-car Wi-Fi and Meridian audio, the center console can also function as a projector for the head-up display.


The powertrain options include high-output gasoline and diesel units planned for production at a new engine plant under construction in the UK, as well as the powerful V6 gasoline unit found in the F-Type. This likely serves as proof that the architecture will also form the basis for the next C/D segment sedans.

Jaguar's concept car names have historically included numbers commemorating anniversaries or alphabets indicating vehicle class. Considering the "C-X17" again, the final number is intriguing. Perhaps the crossover embodying this concept will be released in 2017... but this might be an overly optimistic speculation driven by fan enthusiasm.


For Jaguar, which shares a sister brand with Land Rover, developing an SUV or crossover would not be a difficult task. However, considering the reasons why it hasn't happened until now, the role of the C-X17 seems particularly significant. This is an epoch-making model that symbolizes Jaguar's entry into a new era, alongside Land Rover.