*NOW UPDATED WITH VIDEO* Jaguar Land Rover Special Vehicle Operations unveils the most powerful road-going Jaguar in company history, the 592bhp XE SV Project 8.
This is it. THIS is the most powerful road-going Jaguar in the company’s history, the XE SV Project 8.
Previewed in camouflage form ahead of its unveil at this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed, the XE SV Project 8 is the latest limited edition project from Jaguar Land Rover Special Vehicle Operations, and follows the F-TYPE-based Project 7 that first appeared three years ago. And for just an added dash of exclusivity, only 300 examples have been confirmed for production.
Fashioned from Jaguar’s mid-sized ZE saloon, Project 8 received a newly upgraded version of the 5-litre supercharged V8 used in both Project 8, the F-TYPE SVR, and the performance-focused Range Rover Sport SVR. Power though has increased from 567bhp to a sizeable 592bhp. As well as being 25bhp more powerful than the aforementioned F-TYPE SVR, this figure is also 56bhp more than Jaguar’s seminal 90s supercar, the XJ220.
Unlike the rear-wheel driven Project 7, power in the XE SV Project 8 is sent to all four wheels via a specially reinforced eight-speed ZF gearbox. Performance figures have yet to be unveiled, Jaguar suggesting only that the tuned XE will offer ‘supercar performance’, theoretically aligning it with the Mercedes-AMG GT R and the new Porsche 911 GT3 on sub-3.5 second 0-100kph runs. Mechanical revisions have also been kept hush hush, though it’s been speculated that stiffer suspension will have been incorporated alongside a lower ride height and a faster steering rack. The camouflaged images also reveal a fixed rear wing and larger wheel arches, suggesting lighter-weight alloys beneath.
Development has been conducted, unsurprisingly, at the Nürburgring, so you might want to check out the track-based teaser clip below. Prices? Dream on. But while you do, bear in mind the comparable BMW M4 GTS was sold to customers comfortably north of $175K.
