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Jaguar Debuts XE SV Project 8, Super Sedan Hits 60 MPH In 3.3 Seconds

M3, C63, Giulia Quadrifoglio. None of these steroidized compact executive sedans can hold a candle to the XE SV Project 8, a four-door brawler described by its maker as the “fastest accelerating Jaguar yet.”
2018 Jaguar XE SV Project 8 13 photos
Photo: Jaguar
2018 Jaguar XE SV Project 82018 Jaguar XE SV Project 82018 Jaguar XE SV Project 82018 Jaguar XE SV Project 82018 Jaguar XE SV Project 82018 Jaguar XE SV Project 82018 Jaguar XE SV Project 82018 Jaguar XE SV Project 82018 Jaguar XE SV Project 82018 Jaguar XE SV Project 82018 Jaguar XE SV Project 82018 Jaguar XE SV Project 8
Based on the XE but heavily modified by the Special Vehicle Operations department, the SV Project 8 serves as a follow-up to the F-Type Project 7. The first model completely hand-assembled at the SVO Technical Center in Warwickshire, the maddest Jaguar of them all is limited to 300 examples worldwide, and all of them will be made in left-hand drive form.

That’s an interesting decision for a British brand. And speaking of origin, pricing starts at £149,995 in the United Kingdom. In other words, it is the most expensive model in the Jaguar lineup for the 2018 model year. At one end of the spectrum, there’s the F-Type SVR (£116,365). The other extremity is taken by the entry-level variant of the XE, which is £28,295.

Boasting the most highly tuned version of the Jaguar Land Rover 5.0-liter V8, supercharged lump propelling the XE SV Project 8 develops 600 PS (592 horsepower) and sends the goodies to all four wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission. Compared to other Jaguar models fitted with the ZF-developed box, the Project 8 features a Pistolshift lever.

Other than a blistering sprint to 60 mph (3.3 seconds), the most extreme road-going Jaguar of them all is also capable of hitting 200 mph (322 km/h) on full song. In the aural department the XE SV Project 8 ships as standard with a variable exhaust system made from lightweight titanium.

“SVO's raison d'être is to produce halo vehicles that push the boundaries in terms of luxury, performance and all-terrain capability,” declared John Edwards, managing director of Jaguar Land Rover Special Operations. “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,” he concluded.

SVO went the extra length with customization options for the Project 8, and the best example for it comes in the form of no less than 10,000 exterior paint colors. As standard, the super sedan features seats with magnesium frames, whereas the options list features a carbon fiber two-seat setup complemented by four-point harnesses and a retention hoop.

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About the author: Mircea Panait
Mircea Panait profile photo

After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well.
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