Tinseltown’s favourite petrolhead Jay Leno, became the first person outside Jaguar to drive the C-X75 on a public highway.

The reason? Leno loves cars partly because of Jaguar. Leno’s garage houses hundreds of cars and motorbikes, including a Jaguar XK120, XK140, an E-Type (XKE in the US) and a new XJ.

The inspiration for the C-X75 comes from the same decade as the E-Type. In the 60s, Jaguar made the XJ13 racecar, to take on the Ferraris and GT40’s at Le Mans.  But only one of the V12 machines was ever made.

It’s clear Leno is keen to get behind the wheel. When the car is made. If the car is made, it will be powered by twin turbines charging four electric motors. 

A touch on the accelerator and the world’s only C-X75 pulls away silently. Jay takes the Jag up the street and back.  It can easily manage the urban speed limit but the car’s starring role in LA means treating it with kid gloves.

 
“There is no point talking handling and performance.  It is just a thrill to even feel it move,” beams the comedian.  “It’s such an important car for Jaguar.  The design, the propulsion, and the statement it makes about the company’s take on the future. It is just aching to be built. I hope. I really hope they do make it. It’s beautiful.