Μαζί με το Bertone Jaguar B99 concept, ο σχεδιαστικός οίκος παρουσιάζει στη Γενεύη και την GT έκδοση του. Το Bertone Jaguar B99 GT που προορίζεται για την κατηγορία GT2 της FIA. Το φάρδους 2.5 μέτρων πρωτότυπο διαθέτει άκρως επιθετικό bodykit, ζάντες 19″ με ελαστικά Pirelli PZero 325/50, τεράστια πίσω αεροτομή, έχει χαμηλώσει και από το εσωτερικό του έχουνε αφαιρεθεί όλες οι “περιττές” ανέσεις. Μηχανικά φορά 4 ηλεκτροκινητήρες συνολικής απόδοσης 725 kW (986 άλογα).
[Πηγή: Bertone | Live Photos via: autoblog.nl]
[learn_more caption=”Δελτίο Τύπου”]
BERTONE JAGUAR B 99
Jaguar B99 GT: Mr. Hyde
Robert Louis Stevenson’s “Dr Jeckyll and My Hyde” novel helps us all understand how great paradoxes can coexist inside the human soul. Jaguar has thrived on such a powerful duality for decades, combining the subtleties of exclusive luxury cars perfectly suited to red carpet evenings and the predator-like brute force of the full race cars perfectly suited to 24 hour race track punishment. For this reason Bertone has decided to transform the elegant B99 luxury sedan into a GT race track monster.
The carryover components of the original sedan (front doors, greenhouse, hood and trunk) are very obvious but the 2.5 meter wide body leaves no doubt, the race version is just as wild as every Jaguar in the jungle, ready to eat the competition alive. The overall height car has been lowered 100mm compared to the street version, and has been given a mere 50mm ground clearance along with a perfectly flat belly for aerodynamic efficiency. The Pirelli PZero race tires are 325/30/19. The giant front spoiler pulls in the cooling air while the giant rear extractor returns it. The side spoilers are filled with giant exhaust side pipes. The rear spoiler is a traditional bi-level race spoiler. The interior has been completely emptied and filled with a safety roll cage, a full race drivers seat and a few minimalist instruments. The graphics are in bright fluorescent green in contrast with the silver body and the carbon fiber aerodynamics components.
In order to meet the demanding performance requirements on the track, the modular “pure” hybrid system in the B9 has been modified to include two additional Lucchi electric engines for a four-wheel drive layout producing the equivalent of 725 kW, around 980Cv. Now the Jaguar racing dynasty has a new member, the B 99 GT.
Bertone designed Jaguars of the past
As the only Italian designer to penned five Jaguars, over and above the two concept cars presented this year at the Geneva Auto Show, Bertone has a long history of collaboration with the elitist British brand:
- Jaguar XK 150 – 1957: produced in a mini-series of four automobiles, this coupé was based on the XK 150 and was inspired by subtle elegance. The bodyside was characterized by sculpted lines coming from the front fender, the greenhouse was shortened but was also very light and airy, almost a classic Bertone signature at the time.
- Jaguar FT – 1966: designed as a direct request from Jaguar, the FT was based on the S Type platform and was presented at the 1966 Geneva Auto Show. The four passenger, two door coupé was a very popular layout at the time and was interpreted with a low beltline, wide side glass and an original Jaguar grille with four headlights.
- Jaguar Pirana – 1967: based on the legendary E Type, the Jaguar Pirana was presented at the 1967 London Motor Show. The unmistakable proportions of the E Type led to what was considered a futuristic design at the time, with long hood, a short tail and muscled bodyside.
- Jaguar Ascot – 1977: based on the XJ-S platform with a V12 engine, the Jaguar Ascot was presented at the 1977 Geneva Auto Show. Typical 70s wedge shaped design with hard edges gave a sneak preview to the modern day 5 door coupés which became so popular some 30 years later.
[/learn_more]