Teased in camo wrap last month, the production version of “the most powerful, agile and extreme performance Jaguar road car ever produced” has now been shown. Set for a dynamic reveal later this week at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, this limited-run of 300 sedans globally is the second Collector’s Edition car to be released by Jag, but the first to be fully assembled at the new SVO Technical Center in Coventry, England.
Like the prototype XE SV Project 8, Jaguar’s newest road warrior is be powered by a highly modified 592-horse/5.0-liter Supercharged V8 that sends it to 60 mph in 3.3 seconds and on to a top end of 200 mph. Bred to be light and lithe, the XE SV Project 8 sets off its boldly flared bodywork—only the roof and front doors are common to the base XE—with carbon fiber front/rear fascia elements, a vented carbon fiber hood, manually adjustable, dual-position adjustable front splitter and rear wing, aero-enhancing underbody panels, carbon fiber rear diffuser with dual-paired exhaust outlets and a set of 20-inch lightweight alloys wrapped in low-profile, staggered-width tires.
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The SVO team also tweaked the chassis bits on the XE SV Project 8, stiffening springs/shocks/bushings, redesigning the control arms, modifying the anti-roll bars to enhance grip and traction and recalibrating the electric power steering. The setup includes aluminum continuously variable dampers, race-spec coil springs and adjustable spring platforms that alter ride heights. Other touches include a recalibrated version of the automaker’s 8-speed Quickshift automatic transmission and All-Wheel Drive system along with a new electronic active differential, torque vectoring by braking and a dedicated Track Mode that further sharpens response and provides for a host of custom dynamic settings. Also on hand is Jag’s first-ever Carbon Ceramic Brake (CCB) system. Different than the Carbon Ceramic Matrix setup found on the F-Type SVR, these discs excel in consistency while lowering unsprung weight.
Enthusiast-grade interior
All XE SV Project 8 versions feature a sporting take on cabin appointments, but the 2-seat Track Pack iteration offered elsewhere will not be coming to the U.S. Instead we’ll get a 4-passeger version with magnesium-frame performance-spec front buckets and more heavily bolstered rear seats done in Premium Jet leather with Miko suedecloth centers set off with Oyster stitching. Other notable touches include a sport steering wheel with shift paddles, carbon fiber and Alcantara trim, a 12.3-inch TFT instrument panel display with full-screen 3D map view navigation, a 10.2-inch tablet-style touchscreen for the Jaguar InControl Touch Pro infotainment system with Dynamic-i that adds a stopwatch, g-meter and accelerator/braking graphics to the central touchscreen as well as a 380-watt Meridian sound system and a Riva Hoop ‘1 of 300’ Project 8 aluminum Commission Plaque. As expected, personalization possibilities also abound.
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“SVO’s raison d’être is to produce halo vehicles that push the boundaries in terms of luxury, performance and all-terrain capability. Project 8 is a great example of what happens when enthusiastic designers, engineers and manufacturing specialists are given the opportunity to create an extreme performance sports car without compromise,” said John Edwards, Jaguar Land Rover Special Operations Managing Director. There’s still no final word regarding U.S. pricing or specific on-sale date for the new 2018 Jaguar XE SV Project 8.
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