Jaguar XE SV Project 8 sets track record
LOS ANGELES — Well, I guess this backs up Jaguar’s seemingly over-the-top reference to the XE SV Project 8 as “the most extreme Jaguar ever.”
On the eve of the 2017 Los Angeles Auto Show, the legendary British brand announced — OK, boasted — that the prototype has set “the fastest time ever by a sedan of production-intent specification” of the 20.7-kilometre Nürburgring Nordschleife.
The new record of seven minutes, 21.23 seconds around the “Green Hell” is a full 11 seconds quicker than the previous time set by a sedan of production-intent spec, putting the 592-horsepower Jaguar ahead of some of the world’s fastest two-door coupes and exotic cars.
According to the automaker, the XE SV Project 8 — designed, engineered and hand-assembled by Jaguar Land Rover’s Special Vehicle Operations (SVO) division — sprints from zero to 60 mph (97 km/h) in 3.3 seconds and has a top speed of 200 mph (322 km/h).
“SVO exists to push the boundaries of performance, luxury and all-terrain capability,” said John Edwards, Jaguar Land Rover Special Operations Managing Director.
“The hand-assembled XE SV Project 8 takes that principle to the limit, extracting supercar-beating performance from Jaguar’s most compact four-door sedan.”
The automaker has limited the production of the 2019 Project 8 to 300 units for sale worldwide, with a price tag of US$187,500 and an expected delivery date sometime in 2018.