Jaguar Delivers Its Fastest Production Vehicle With the XE SV Project 8
Jaguar is doing another run of its extremely limited production SVO cars. We haven’t seen a new one since the decked-out Project 7 F-Type arrived in 2014, adorned with its conspicuous spoiler and upgraded internals. The British automaker is now doing the same for the XE SV Project 8, resulting in the most powerful sedan in its long history.
In addition to some extremely loud bodywork, Project 8 is equipped with a 592 horsepower, 5.0-liter supercharged V8, connected to an eight-speed automatic transmission delivering power to all four of its wheels. Jaguar claims it can hit 60 mph in a scant 3.3 seconds and possesses a top speed of 200 mph, which also makes it the quickest accelerating model Jag has ever produced. It’s one hell of a refresh for the subdued XE.
Project 8 keeps much the suspension of the original sedan, adding updated springs and adjustable dampers. Brakes are carbon ceramic with silicon nitride ceramic wheel bearings, which the automaker states is another first for itself and the industry as a whole.
It will be available to order as either a “normal” sedan or two-seat track bandit with roll-cage and harnesses at the ready. In typical SVO fashion, Jaguar is only producing 300 examples for the entirety of the globe. Pricing for North America has yet to be announced but the U.K. base of £149,995 would place it around $192,000.
Jaguar will have the track packaged car showing off at the Goodwood Festival of Speed on Friday, June 30th. However, if you’re not in the neighborhood, there was also a video released of the track-day XE hustling up Shelsley Walsh.
[Image: Jaguar Land Rover]
A staunch consumer advocate tracking industry trends and regulation. Before joining TTAC, Matt spent a decade working for marketing and research firms based in NYC. Clients included several of the world’s largest automakers, global tire brands, and aftermarket part suppliers. Dissatisfied with the corporate world and resentful of having to wear suits everyday, he pivoted to writing about cars. Since then, that man has become an ardent supporter of the right-to-repair movement, been interviewed on the auto industry by national radio broadcasts, driven more rental cars than anyone ever should, participated in amateur rallying events, and received the requisite minimum training as sanctioned by the SCCA. Handy with a wrench, Matt grew up surrounded by Detroit auto workers and managed to get a pizza delivery job before he was legally eligible. He later found himself driving box trucks through Manhattan, guaranteeing future sympathy for actual truckers. He continues to conduct research pertaining to the automotive sector as an independent contractor and has since moved back to his native Michigan, closer to where the cars are born. A contrarian, Matt claims to prefer understeer — stating that front and all-wheel drive vehicles cater best to his driving style.
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I really like the look of the Jag.
600hp supercharged V8 sedan w/AWD, carbon brakes, etc?! I love it. I just wish there were down-market cars with similar elan. I want something with a Toyota Corolla interior but IS-F performance.