Some C-X75 supercars will have turbines

It's about time.

Ever since Chrysler teased us with their Turbine test car in the early '60s, consumers have longed for an automobile that made a roaring, whirring noise when the engine spooled up.   

Now Jaguar, with a little help from parent company Tata Motors, is making that dream a reality.

They're installing two 95-horsepower turbine engines in the back of their new C-X75 supercar.

Huzzah! Jet cars for all! —Wait, what? Oh. They're telling us apparently the turbines will be available in only a select number of the 250 C-X75 supercars slated for production.

The rest will be powered by a hybrid electric system attached to a turbocharged four-cylinder developed by the Williams F1 team.

Well, huzzah! Jet cars for some! —What now!? Oh, the turbines will drive the rear wheels, so "jet car" isn't technically accurate. Y'know, no jet propulsion or afterburners or stuff.

The turbines – tiny things, about 35 kg each, with a lot fewer moving parts than an internal combustion engine and no cooling/lubrication required – are still plenty cool.

They'll be built by Bladon Jets Engineering Centre in Coventry, England. The company is partially owned by Tata.

Like the regular, boring supercar model, the turbines will be backed by an electric-drive system for commuting. That way the jets turbines can cool off for when you're trying to nail the advertised zero-to-100 km/h in three seconds.

The C-X75 is due out 'round 2015. In the meantime, we'll have to keep dreaming of that old Chrysler.

(AutoExpress)