With the green lobby placing a stranglehold upon the automotive industry, blaming the humble automobile on the death of cuddly pandas, global warming and melting ice caps it's no wonder that the marques are becoming more and more conservative when it comes to new designs and technology.
When the Bugatti Veyron was developed, with it's 16 cylinder quad-turbo engine developing 1000bhp and enough CO2 to turn the third world into a dustbowl, the world stood in awe. Able to do 252mph and having comforts such as air conditioning and sat-nav it was seen as the pinnacle of engineering, outdoing the next best by some 12mph. It may not seem a great achievement, but when you realise that the Veyron needs to develop an extra 400bhp to reach the last 30mph it becomes more apparant that it's a technological marvel. So naturally, with a large fuel tank it can empty in just 18 minutes when at full tilt, it's not small wonder that the environmentalists look upon this car as the bastard love child of Hitler, Hindley and the Royal Mail.
So with the world becoming increasingly brainwashed by "scientific" findings, you can imagine that the marques would be scared to make the mistake of a Veyron again. Ford, Fiat and Mercedes are all investing millions in alternative fuels and alternative drivetrains, such as hybrid technology and hydrogen fuel cells, but it's good to see that Jaguar are of the time.
Jaguar recently revealed it's latest revolutionary concept, the C-X75, or to the common man a hybrid car, developing 975bhp and capable of 200mph. It has four wheels, two seats and has an all aluminium construction. Doesn't sound too revolutionary does it? That is until you find it is powered by Jet engines. Honest to god, two jet engines which top up the electrical engines located on each wheel. At 28grams of CO2/km the superJag can look down at the Prius and laugh, which delivers a hefty 90grams per km in comparison.
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