Jaguar Unveils the XE SV Project 8

When Jaguar teased the XE SV Project 8, I assumed it would be awesome. I never would have expected what the British automaker just released.

The XE SV Project 8 is nothing short of freaking incredible.

I’ll go ahead and fast-forward to the good bits: the powertrain. This compact sedan will boast a revised version of the brand’s 5.0-liter supercharged V-8 engine. These revisions take it to a whopping 592 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque. These numbers make it the most powerful Jaguar road car.

Helping this V-8 breathe is a lightweight Titanium Variable Active Exhaust with 3.5-inch tailpipes. Keeping things cool is a vent in the carbon-fiber hood and a fully revised cooling system.

Shifting duties are handled by a reworked version of the brand’s eight-speed Quickshift automatic transmission. These revisions allow the transmission to do things on the track the typical eight speed cannot, like non-sequential shifts. The transmission ships the power through an all-wheel-drive system and out to an electronic active differential (a first for the XE).

Jaguar XE SV Project 8 (Credit: © Jaguar )

It goes without saying that the XE SV Project 8 is fast, but its 200-mph top speed and 3.3-second sprint to 60 mph are quite ridiculous.

Of course Special Vehicle Operations couldn’t just leave the XE’s suspension standard, so it installed tons of tweaks. These include front and rear axle modifications for added stiffness, SVO-designed knuckles with Formula 1-style silicon nitride ceramic bearings, which cut 1.9 pounds of unsprung mass from the car, stiffer bushings, and more.

The rear wing panels are flared by 2.2 inches to allow for 305-width tires, the front end’s flared by 0.7 inches to accommodate 265-width rubber, and the trunk is reshaped for better airflow. To help with downforce, Jag adds a manually adjustable two-position carbon-fiber front splitter, carbon-fiber lower rear skirt, a carbon-fiber rear diffuser, and a manually-adjustable two-position rear wing.

Other changes include reprofiled aluminum rear door skins, a carbon-fiber hood that shaves 6.6 pounds, and a reduced curb weight of 3,847 pounds.

Inside, the North American-spec model will come only in a four-seat setup, whereas other continents will have an available Track Pack with two racing seats and a Harness Retention Hoop. The North American model’s sport front seats will feature Miko suedecloth centers, premium jet leather bolsters, and magnesium-colored borders. The dash is coated in a soft, black Alcantatara to help reduce reflections in the windshield, while Project 8 branding makes its way to the headrests, steering wheel, and tread plates.

Jaguar XE SV Project 8 (Credit: © Jaguar )

On the tech side, the XE SV Project 8 will include a 12.3-inch virtual instrument panel display with a full-screen 3D map, and Jaguar InControl Touch Pro with a 10.2-inch central touchscreen, a stopwatch, g-meter, and accelerator and braking graph. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay will come standard, as will a 380-watt, 11-speaker Meridian sound system.

There is no mention of when the XE SV Project 8 will go on sale, but Jaguar did announce it’s limiting this performance sedan to just 300 units worldwide.

Stay tuned for updates.