The project 8 came from no where first we had the XE, then the fabulous Project 7 based on the F-Type harking back to the glory years of Jaguar racing heritage, then when we all wondered if Jaguar had lost the plot, along comes Project 8. Suddenly the small compact saloon in Jaguar's range gave us the fastest production Jaguar ever produced and its bonkers!
Now enter the touring version a slightly more restrained version... or as jaguar's official press release states:
"Jaguar’s Special Vehicle Operations division has developed a more restrained road-oriented version of the extreme XE SV Project 8 featuring a discreet new rear spoiler, delivering a covert design that belies the 600PS vehicle’s race track-honed performance capabilities.
The new Touring specification is available alongside existing 200mph Project 8 derivatives, which currently hold production saloon lap records on three continents – at circuits including the Nürburgring Nordschleife, Dubai Autodrome and Laguna Seca.
The fixed Touring Spoiler replaces Project 8’s adjustable carbonfibre rear aerodynamic wing and is complemented by a fixed front splitter to maintain aerodynamic balance.
Despite this significant aerodynamic revision, the 5.0-litre Supercharged V8 Project 8 with Touring Spoiler retains an extraordinary level of on-road performance and driver engagement for a sports sedan, accelerating from 0-60mph in 3.3sec (0-100km/h in 3.7sec) and on to a limited top speed of 186mph (300km/h)."
Jamal Hameedi, Engineering Director, Jaguar Special Vehicle Operations, said:“Project 8 has received outstanding critical acclaim since its launch, demonstrating the Special Vehicle Operations team’s ability to create a compact Jaguar sedan with supercar-rivalling performance. Touring specification extends the appeal of Project 8 to performance car enthusiasts and collectors who prefer a more discreet appearance, without compromising its driver-focused on-road dynamics.”
Special Vehicle Operations will hand-assemble no more than 15 examples of the Touring specification Project 8 at its Technical Centre in Warwickshire, exclusively in four-seat configuration.
Valencia Orange, Velocity Blue, Corris Grey Satin and British Racing Green paint finishes are available, while the absence of body decals – though optional – confirms this as the ultimate Q car.
More details at the official Jaguar here