Making its global dynamic debut among the most powerful and extreme performance cars in the world at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, the new Jaguar XE SV Project 8 claimed the hotly-contested Michelin Supercar Paddock Showstopper Trophy – just four days after the car was officially unveiled.
As the only four-door car in the Michelin Supercar Run, the Jaguar vehicle faced formidable competition in the 50-car paddock, but voters in an online poll hosted by Michelin UK singled out Project 8 as one of the six most popular cars of the weekend, qualifying it for the overall Showstopper final on Sunday afternoon.
This shortlist of six was judged live on stage by a panel of motoring experts, headed by Michelin Supercar Paddock presenter and former BTCC Champion Tim Harvey. Joining him were British automotive journalist and broadcaster Jon Quirk, American drift racer Vaughn Gittin Jr., Supercars of London channel star Paul Wallace, Seen Thru Glass channel star Sam Fane and London-based custom car aficionado Jason Pelosi.
Tim Harvey, Chief Judge, said:
Jaguar’s Project 8 really took everyone by surprise at the Festival this weekend. Not only was it the car’s world debut – but the sheer extremes of the car, and the way it’s pushed the boundaries in every single way, made it an absolute standout in the Michelin Supercar Paddock.
This shone through in the online vote, and when it came to our judging panel, we were all pretty quickly won over by the Jaguar as a true star of the shortlisted six. It really does it for me as a former touring car racer, and the car’s uncompromising looks and performance secured the rest. Congratulations Jaguar.
John Edwards, Jaguar Land Rover Special Operations Managing Director, said:
We are absolutely delighted to receive the Showstopper award for Jaguar XE SV Project 8 on its world dynamic debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, and to see the fantastic reaction it’s had from car enthusiasts.
With spectacular looks, supercar performance, and a soundtrack to match, Project 8 was always intended to turn heads on and off track.
The second Collector’s Edition by SVO, following the successful F-TYPE Project 7 of 2014, Project 8 is a road-legal hand-built four-door sedan with an extraordinary combination of V8 power, dynamic agility and all-wheel drive traction.
The Project 8 exclusively features the most powerful version of the Jaguar Land Rover 5.0-liter Supercharged V8 gasoline powertrain. The 592HP power unit, which has a Titanium Variable Active Exhaust, is complemented by a standard All Wheel Drive (AWD) system and motorsport-derived aerodynamics to deliver a 200mph top speed and 0-60mph in 3.3sec, making Project 8 the fastest accelerating Jaguar yet.
To ensure exclusivity, no more than 300 examples will be created for global sale, each to be assembled at the SVO Technical Center in Coventry, England.
Building on the award-winning lightweight aluminium Jaguar XE compact sedan, Project 8 features a number of purposeful modifications that are fundamental to the performance of the most track-focused car SVO has ever produced, including the first application of Jaguar’s ultimate new Carbon Ceramic Braking system, which uses a Formula 1-style silicon nitride ceramic wheel bearings, and incorporates a rear Electronic Active Differential (EAD) with oil cooler.
The high-performance theme continues inside with subtle applications of Gloss Carbon Fiber trim as well as Alcantara on the rim of the Project 8 Sport Steering Wheel, instrument panel and door panels. The eight-speed Quickshift® transmission can either be operated by aluminum paddle shifters behind the steering wheel or by the central Pistolshift lever – another first for XE.
Globally, the Project 8 will be available in two- and four-seat specification. In North America the vehicle is available exclusively as a four-seat model featuring the brand’s latest front Performance seats with magnesium frames, plus a more heavily contoured rear seat cushion to maximize support. In some global markets, an optional two-seat Track Pack includes lightweight front Carbon Fiber Racing Seats with Four-Point Harnesses fixed to a Harness Retention Hoop in place of the rear seat. All Project 8 models will be built in left-hand drive configuration only.
Note: Press release courtesy of Jaguar USA.
