Jaguar XE SV Project 8 full details revealed

With the engine from Jag’s tyre-munching F-Type, the XE SV Project 8 is a 322km/h track-killing four-door.

But, in an effort to “ensure exclusivity”, a maximum 300 units of the high-powered sedan will be produced from SVO’s Coventry Technical Centre.

The car is the second limited edition ‘Project’ to come from Jag’s performance division, the first being the F-Type Project 7.

The 5.0-litre supercharged V8 produces a bit more power than it does in the F-Type SVR Coupe, with 441kW at the driver’s disposal allowing a run to 60mph (97km/h) in a claimed 3.3 seconds.

It’s also an all-paw setup, meaning more traction via its Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2s, which are wrapped around 20-inch forged aluminium alloy wheels.

The front bumper of the 8 is a design that might divide opinion, but Jag calls them “enhanced cooling ducts”, which feature over an adjustable front splitter.

Through extensive use of carbon fibre, Jaguar says the Project 8 will be the “lightest V8 sedan” in its range, not that there are many in the first place.

17 hottest fast cars Of 2017

Underneath, the XE’s front double wishbones and integral link rear suspension get stiffer springs and manually adjustable continuously variable dampers, with new carbon ceramic brakes and “an industry-first use of Formula 1-style silicon nitride ceramic wheel bearings” nearby.

There’s also a two-seater option, which includes “lightweight front carbon fibre racing seats with four-point harnesses fixed to a harness retention hoop in place of the rear seat” saving 12.2kg.

Jaguar F-Type four-cylinder revealed

The Project 8 isn’t electronically limited to 300km/h like the Project 7, making it the fastest production Jag so far (according to Jaguar, though we recall the XJ220 being a tad quicker), but that won’t matter to Aussie hopefuls, as the XE Project 8 won’t be sold here)

According to Jaguar, the super sedan will be available in the following countries:

Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Cyprus, Denmark, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Ireland, Japan, Jordan, Kuwait, Malta, Mauritius, Netherlands, Norway, Oman, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, UK, UAE and USA.

If you want a Project 8, you’d have a better chance getting one if you lived off the coast of Madagascar than you do in Australia.