Geneva 2011: Jaguar B99 Concept by Bertone is a futuristic 3-Series challenger

Filed under: Concept Cars, Geneva Motor Show, Europe, Jaguar, Design/Style, Luxury

Jaguar B99 Concept by Bertone – Click above for high-res image gallery

Jaguar has been mulling the idea of taking another stab at the venerable BMW 3 Series after its last attempt, the underwhelming X-Type, failed in spectacular fashion. This is the other stab.

The Jagaur B99 concept is a team effort between Jag and Bertone and serves as way for Bertone to celebrate its 99th Anniversary. The new compact Jag’s name is a melding of the company’s first initial and its age.

Bertone says the concept is a design study in what it calls “dynamic imbalance” between parallel lines and “leaping forms.”

It represents not only Bertone’s new direction and a possible answer to the ubiquitous 3 Series, but a big leap in terms of technology. The B99 is powered by an all-new extended-range hybrid drivetrain designed by Bertone to run on two electric motors whose batteries can draw a charge from a small onboard engine. Bertone says they’ve been looking into sustainable energies for the last two decades and the B99 is the top of that evolution chain.

Bertone also presented a race car iteration of the B99 Concept (inset, right), saying it is working on a GT2 version of the B99 in hopes of proving the car is not just a pretty face.

Gallery: Jaguar B99 Concept by Bertone: Geneva 2011