Jaguar cool in white at L.A. Auto Show with C-X16 & XKR-S Convertible

Jaguar at the LA Auto Show with a brace of white cats

Jaguar has taken the C-X16 and the XKR-S Convertible to the LA Auto show resplendent in white paint jobs.

Jaguar may not be going to the Detroit Motor Show in January (forsaking it for Delhi) but it’s put on a show in Los Angeles with a new white version of the Jaguar C-X16 Concept (XE) and the new XKR-S Convertible.

The Jaguar C-X16 – which looks set to be the Jaguar XE when it arrives – conspires to look even more production-ready at LA than it already did at Frankfurt despite, as far as we can tell, nothing more than a new coat of paint.

Some of the elements that seem unlikely to make it in to production – such as the rear hatch which opens E-Type like and the ultra-modern interior – are still present, yet on the C-X16 they seem to fit; it would be a shame to see them go for the production XE.

The hybrid plant of the C-X16 is something that could also be sacrificed on the production XE – certainly for a while – as Jaguar establishes more traditional engines first. Those engines will include the new V6 (a cut-down version of the AJ8), a 3.0 litre turbo diesel and perhaps even a V8.

The Jaguar XKR-S we covered in detail the other day when Jaguar made it officially official ahead of its reveal. But despite its design being essentially a decade older than the C-X16 sitting alongside, the XKR-S Convertible conspired to look almost as contemporary as the C-X16 in its matching coat of white paint

We’re not completely sure that it’s just the XKR-S looking better than it ever has in its angry clothes that make the two Jaguars look contemporaneous (perhaps it’s a bit of the C-X16’s Jaguar DNA too), but whatever it is it’s an impressive feat from such an old warhorse.

Perhaps one way to realise the age of the XKR-S will be at the petrol station. The XKR-S will be lucky to better 15mpg if you drive it as it’s designed to be driven.

The C-X16 with similar performance will probably use half the fuel.