Carlex Design presents a restomod Jaguar XJ-C. The 1970s English coupe received a 400 hp V8, an enlarged body and a modernized interior but still trimmed in leather and wood. Carlex plans to market in very small quantities. Discovery.
The Polish preparer Carlex Design, which specializes in rather flashy but high-end body kits and interior finishes, is embarking on restomod. He delivers, through 3D illustrations for the moment, his vision of a modernized Jaguar XJ-C. The treatment applied to the British coupe, produced in just over 10,000 units in the 1970s, concerns both the bodywork and the passenger compartment, the mechanics and the chassis.
The XJ-C pulls out its claws
The first thing you notice about the XJ-C from Carlex Design are the widened wheel arches housing full and resized offset rims. Their central part sports the same brilliant green as the body; their inner edge is chrome. The car loses in elegance what it gains in muscle. But, seen in profile, her silhouette remains uncluttered. The small original mirrors, which have been preserved, however seem very frail. At the front, the English becomes aggressive with the angular and vertical slats which occupy its air intakes and evoke certain recent BMW productions. On either side of these grids, the optical units are now occupied by LEDs. At the rear, the lights have been smoked and overlook two twin tailpipes.
The original six- or twelve-cylinder engines were abandoned in favor of a V8. But, apart from a power of 400 hp, more than 100 hp gained compared to an XJ-C V12, Carlex does not say more about the mechanics for the moment. The firm promises a suspension and brakes adapted to the performance of this engine.
A plush interior finish, but sportier
The interior of the Jaguar XJ-C revised by Carlex Design receives enveloping seats with a resolutely modern design but dressed in aged brown leather which is found on the storm doors and the front central armrest. The rim of the steering wheel, the dashboard and the central console are adorned with wood.
We notice in passing that the car is equipped with an automatic gearbox. The inner part of the steering wheel, the counters and the air vents receive a metallic finish that appears to be aluminum. The coupe has a modern air conditioning system. In the rear, the seats have given way to a luggage compartment surmounted by an arch which reflects the sporting vocation of the project. Carlex Design plans to offer a handful of transformed XJ-Cs each year. The price of the transaction has not been communicated.
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