When it comes to compact sports sedans, the likes of the BMW M3 and Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG always come to mind. These cars have set the standard which all others aspire to become. Now Jaguar wants to join this club and even hopes to raise the bar with the introduction of the XE SV Project 8 Sedan.
Taking its cue from the standard XE, the Project 8 has been massaged by the boys at Jaguar Land Rover’s Special Vehicle Operations (SVO) to bring out the most extreme, agile, and powerful XE (and Jaguar) to date. The lightweight aluminum outer shell, for instance, has been given a slew of functional modifications to help improve performance.
It begins with a carbon fiber bumper with cooling ducts up front, matched by a vented carbon fiber hood, adjustable front splitter, and flared fenders, At the rear, a carbon fiber bumper (just like the front) is complemented by a carbon diffuser, and an adjustable wing. The look is finished off by 20-inch forged aluminum alloy wheels.
Just like the outside, the cabin gets cool goodies such as a Project 8 sports steering wheel with carbon fiber and Alcantara, as well as door cards and instrument cluster binnacle covered in the same material. At launch, the XE SV Project 8 will be available in two configurations: a four-seater or a track-focused two-seat sports sedan.
What really sets this Jaguar apart from its brethren is the 5.0-liter supercharged V8 that puts out 600hp. This not only makes it the most powerful Jaguar but likewise allows the XE SV Project 8 to blast from rest to 100kph in just 3.3 seconds before going all the way to a 322kph terminal velocity.
Beyond the supercar-like straight-line grunt, this XE offers extreme and agile performance courtesy of such niceties as front double wishbone and rear integral link suspension with stiffer springs, Continuously Variable Dampers, 15mm lower ride height, silicon nitride wheel bearings (a la Formula 1), and carbon ceramic brakes. There is even a dedicated Track Mode that sharpens steering responses and pits driveline and stability control settings for track use. It’s meant to bring out the most from the Jag.
The Jaguar XE SV Project 8 is the second exclusive project following the F-Type SV Project 7 that came out in 2014. This one will likewise be limited to 300 copies.
