Making its global dynamic debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, the new Jaguar XE SV Project 8 has picked up the coveted Michelin Supercar Paddock Showstopper Trophy.
As the only four-door car in the Michelin Supercar Run, the Jaguar faced strong competition in the 50-car paddock, but voters in an online poll hosted by Michelin UK singled it out 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 cars was judged live on stage by a panel of motoring experts, headed by former BTCC Champion, Tim Harvey, who commented: “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 stand out in the Michelin Supercar Paddock.
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.”
The second Collector’s Edition by SVO, following the F-TYPE Project 7 of 2014, Project 8 is a road-legal hand-built four-door saloon combining V8 power, dynamic agility and All-Wheel Drive traction.
Project 8 features the most highly tuned version of JLR’s 5.0-litre Supercharged V8 petrol engine, developing 600PS. The powertrain has a Titanium Variable Active Exhaust and is complemented by All-Wheel Drive and motorsport-derived aerodynamics and carbon fibre panels to deliver a 200mph top speed and 0-60mph in 3.3sec, says Jaguar.
To ensure exclusivity, only 300 examples of Project 8 will be hand-built at SVO’s Technical Centre in Coventry, priced from £149,995 in the UK.
Based on the aluminium XE compact saloon, Project 8 features a number of modifications, including height-adjustable suspension, the first application of Jaguar’s ultimate new Carbon Ceramic Braking system, and an industry-first use of F1-style silicon nitride ceramic wheel bearings on a road car.
The high-performance theme continues inside, with Gloss Carbon Fibre trim as well as Alcantara, on the rim of the Sport Steering Wheel, instrument binnacle and door cards. The eight-speed Quickshift transmission can either be operated by aluminium paddle shifters behind the steering wheel or by a central Pistolshift lever.
Project 8 is available with four seats or an optional two-seat Track Pack. It’s also the first Jaguar to feature a dedicated Track Mode, which tailors driveline and stability control systems for circuit use, and sharpens both throttle and steering responses for ultimate precision and driver feedback.