Jaguar builds one-off C-X16 concept live

Designing a car using clay in a world where you can have a meaningful conversation with your telephone seems a little... antiquated. But Jaguar's persisted with it, insisting there's an artistry to the method.

So much so that it's building a C-X16 out of clay at this year's Clerkenwell Design Week, where the styling dept's modellers will demonstrate the skill involved and exalt the old school process's virtues.

If you don't know what the C-X16 is, kindly locate your finger, locate it on The Pulse and catch up with the last few months on TopGear.com: it's Jag's new two-seat, rear-wheel-drive sports coupe. And you can read all about it by clicking on these blue words.

Julian Thomson, Advanced Design Director at Jaguar Cars, says: "Jaguar is one of the most technologically advanced companies in the field of product development but we still believe in the sense of artistry. Emotional connections are at the heart of our vehicles and the traditional process of working with clay with some of the best sculptors in the world allows us to refine them into the purest surfaces."

Alongside the C-X16 clay model, the London event's hosting three bespoke sculptures that reflects on the past, present and future of Jaguar. Commissioned by Julian Thomson and painted by two designers from the Jaguar design team the artwork is based on the bonnets of an E-type, C-X16 and C-X75. Snazzy.

There'll also be some rather lovely metal there, including the 1966 one-off XJ13, an XFR and an XKR-S.

Clerkenwell design week runs in London from 22nd to 24th May 2012. The Jaguar C-X16 clay model, XFR, XKR-S, XJ13 and Jaguar sculptures are all located in the Farmiloe Building. Want free entry? Register here

Now click forth for some pretty images of a clay Jaguar C-X16.

Get free tickets here