Jaguar B99
| Jaguar B99 | |
|---|---|
 The Jaguar B99 at the Festival Automobile International 2012 | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Bertone |
| Also called | Jaguar B99 GT |
| Production | 2011 (Concept car) |
| Designer | Ian Callum |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class |
Compact executive car (D) (B99) Grand tourer (S) (B99 GT) |
| Body style | 4-door saloon |
| Layout |
Front-engine, rear-wheel-drive (B99) Front-engine, all-wheel-drive (B99 GT) |
| Related |
Jaguar XF Jaguar XE |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine |
1.4 L with 2 electric motors (B99) 1.4 L with 4 electric motors (B99 GT) |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 2,800 mm (110.2 in) |
| Length | 4,500 mm (177.2 in) |
| Width | 1,950 mm (76.8 in) |
| Height | 1,350 mm (53.1 in) |
The Jaguar B99 was a concept car designed and developed by the Italian design house Bertone. It was first shown to the public on the Bertone stand at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show. The 4-door saloon was shown in two versions: compact executive (B99) and grand tourer (B99 GT). It was designed by Bertone's Michael Robinson and Adrian Griffiths[1] and was based more on traditional Jaguars of the Geoff Lawson era compared to more recent Jaguars designed by Ian Callum.[2]
B99
The B99 was a 4,500 mm (177.2 in) long 4-door saloon with 4 seats constructed of aluminium panels[3] and featured rear suicide doors. It was only 1,350 mm (53.1 in) high and 1,950 mm (76.8 in) wide and stood on a 2,800 mm (110.2 in) wheelbase. The Jaguar B99's competitors are the Audi A4, BMW 3 Series, Infiniti Q50, Mercedes-Benz C-Class and the Volvo S60.
The power train was also developed by Bertone as a hybrid; featuring a 1.4 L engine for range extension purposes with two electric motors of 201 bhp (150 kW; 204 PS) each driving the rear wheels. The car’s maximum output of engine and electric motors is 570 bhp (425 kW; 578 PS). Average CO2 emissions were estimated at 30g/km with a claimed 60 mile range electric-only mode.
The B99 name stands for B for Bertone and 99 for Bertone's 99th year in operation.[4]
B99 GT
The GT2 grand tourer version was called the Jaguar B99 GT[5] and is 500 mm (19.7 in) wider than the standard car and is 100 mm (3.9 in) lower, while the interior is stripped out and fitted with a roll cage. The GT added an additional two electric motors giving it a four-wheel drive and a total power output of 972 bhp (725 kW; 985 PS).
Reception
The B99 was reported to be well received at the Geneva Motor Show unveiling and that the B99 might form the basis of a replacement for the previous Jaguar X-Type but Jaguar confirmed that they would not be asking Bertone to develop the concept. Jaguar’s Global Brand Director Adrian Hallmark was quoted as saying ‘we appreciate the fact that Jaguar is interesting enough for people to do a concept around. It's not that we are offended by it, or against it - it is just not for us.’[6]
References
- ↑ You must be logged in to post. "Automobile June 2011". Automobilemag.com. Retrieved 2011-12-18.
- ↑ "Car Magazine 18 february 2011". Carmagazine.co.uk. 2011-02-18. Retrieved 2011-12-18.
- ↑ "Evo 2 March 2011". Evo.co.uk. 2011-03-02. Retrieved 2011-12-18.
- ↑ "Bertone press release 1 March 2011". Bertone.it. Retrieved 2011-12-18.
- ↑ "Top Gear 18 February 2011". Topgear.com. 2011-02-18. Retrieved 2011-12-18.
- ↑ "Evo 9 March 2011". Evo.co.uk. 2011-03-09. Retrieved 2011-12-18.
External links
- Bertone official website Jaguar B99 press release