Jaguar's XE SV Project 8 is its most powerful road car ever

Jaguar has taken the wraps off its new hardcore XE SV Project 8 saloon, its most powerful production car ever.

Based on the standard XE and tuned by Jaguar's Special Vehicle Operations (SVO) team, the Project 8 features a front-mounted 592bhp naturally aspirated V8 engine that sends drive to all-four wheels through an eight-speed automatic gearbox.

This makes the Project 8 around 25bhp more powerful than the company's F-Type-based Project 7 supercar.

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It also helps the hardcore saloon go from zero to 60mph in just 3.3secs and on to a supercar-rivalling top speed of 200mph.

Despite the Project 8 sharing much of its looks with the standard car, Autocar says that 75 per cent of the saloon is new. Only the roof and front doors remain "unchanged from the production models."

Aside from the car's large front splitter and rear wing, the magazine says the Project 8 is "fitted with a carbon fibre bonnet" that shaves 6.6lbs from its weight. It also has a "flat underbody" to improve airflow passing underneath the vehicle – this generates more grip at higher speeds.

Drivers can switch between three driving modes: Normal, Dynamic and Track, although Evo says the base car's "eco mode" has not been carried over.

Adjusting these driving modes alters the car's steering and suspension settings, adds the magazine. Drivers can also tweak the vehicle's torque vectoring system, which individually brakes each wheel when going around corners to improve grip and traction.

"Every model gets a luxurious interior with special Performance seats and unique Oyster contrast stitching", says AutoExpress, adding that the three rear seats have been exchanged for "two sculpted chairs."

Only 300 examples of the Project 8 will reach production, each costing £149,000 when the car is released next year. This puts it in direct competition with the hardcore BMW M4 GTS and Porsche 911 GT3.

Those attending this year's Goodwood Festival of Speed will be among the first to see the Project 8 as Jaguar will run its super saloon up the event's hillclimb on 30 June.

Jaguar's XE SV Project 8 is its most extreme car yet

26 May

Jaguar has unveiled a teaser image of its hardcore XE SV Project 8 saloon – the most powerful road-legal car it has ever made.

Based on the company's XE executive saloon, the SV Project 8 has been designed by Jaguar's SVO special operations team and will be limited to a run of just 300 units.

While Jaguar has only released images of the XE SV Project 8 in camouflage, it's clear that the car has flared wheel arches and a massive rear wing. It also has a large diffuser and a similar quad-exhaust layout to the company's F-Type Project 7 sports car.

Under the bonnet sits a 5.0-litre V8 engine that produces a monstrous 592bhp, which Autocar says is around 24bhp more than the F-Type Project 7.

Unlike the rear-wheel drive Project 7, the magazine says the XE SV Project 8 gets an all-wheel drive layout and a "specially tuned version of its eight-speed ZF automatic gearbox".

Little else is known about the XE SV Project 8, but AutoExpress says that it could be priced to compete with BMW's £121,000 M4 GTS track-car.

Jaguar is expected to announce the car's release closer to its public reveal, which Evo says is due on 28 June. The following month, the firm will bring the XE SV Project 8 to the Goodwood Festival of Speed that runs from 29 June to 2 July.