Jaguar C-X75

The jet-powered C-X75 will propel Jaguar into the future when it goes into production in 2013 - but the first examples won't be powered by the gas turbines that wowed observers at the Paris motor show last year.

The British car maker - owned by Indian company Tata - has confirmed it will limit production of the all-wheel-drive super-coupe to 250 examples, most of which will instead use a boosted small-capacity internal combustion engine combined with powerful electric motors, one on each front wheel.

The engine is likely to be a version of the 400kW 1.6-liter four-cylinder unit being developed by Formula One team Williams for the 2013 season. Jaguar and Williams recently joined forces to collaborate on future technology.

Reports in Europe say the final 50 C-X75s will carry gas turbine engines. Jaguar itself has said that at least 50 of the 250 models will be racing versions.

The show car measures 4647mm long, 2020mm wide and 1204mm. It rides on a 2725mm wheelbase and turbine-themed polished alloy wheels measuring 21 inches at the front and 22 inches at the rear.

Jaguar has priced the production C-X75 at between £700,000 and £900,000 ($1.45 million and $1.87 million) and invited expressions of interest on its website.

Jaguar's last supercar was the XJ220, recognized as the world's fastest production car - until the McLaren F1 came along.