Jaguar XE SV Project 8 debuts at Goodwood Festival of Speed

Pick the lightest car in the arsenal and plonk in the most powerful engine from the shelf. This elemental process is exactly what Jaguar Land Rover’s Special Vehicle Operations department (SVO) did to produce the XE SV Project 8 that they revealed at this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed.

Jaguar themselves calls this car a “crazy idea”, as it comes with a 592 hp 5.0-litre Supercharged V8.

Finished in Valencia Orange, the Project 8 flaunts many hand-built panels that are unique to the car. The front end of the car has been worked to accommodate the larger 5.0-litre V8. The wheel arches are also flared to contain the 305mm rear racing tyres. The body is littered with carbon fibre, which can be found from the front bumper to the rear wing. A carbon fibre valance around the lower edge also helps in improving airflow. Other exotic materials like titanium and forged aluminum are used for the exhaust and wheels respectively.

The interior is typical Jaguar XE, with some obvious changes. The carbon fibre racing seats at the front are covered in black leather. In the track version of the Project 8, the rear seats give way to a protective roll cage. Amenities in the car include USB ports, two cupholders, touchscreen GPS and a 4G WiFi hotspot.

592 hp is the highest state of tune ever given to JLR’s supercharged V8. This monstrous power, when mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel-drive, propels the XE SV Project 8 from 0 to 100 kph in less than 3.5 seconds. The top speed is more than 320 kph. The suspension is tailored for the track as the Project 8 was extensively tested at the ‘Ring and Nardo circuits. A ride-height selection system is included.

The production of the Jaguar SE SV Project 8 will be capped at 300 units, costing GBP 149,995 GBP apiece, equivalent to Dhs 713,000.