XE Project 8 sets ’Ring record

JAGUAR’S new XE SV Project 8 has been crowned the world’s fastest four-door saloon, after setting a new lap record at the Nürburgring Nordschliefe.

Developed by JLR’S Special Vehicle Operations division, the Project 8 lapped the 12.9-mile track in seven minutes 21.23 seconds, beating the previous record holder, the Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio, by just under 11 seconds. The XE Project 8 has a 592bhp 5.0-litre supercharged V8 and comes with an eight-speed ZF gearbox and four-wheel drive, while the optional Track Pack removes the rear seats and adds two carbon fibre racing buckets up front.

Only 300 Project 8s, all left-hand drive, will be produced; more than 100 had already been snapped up before the car was revealed at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in the summer.

Project 8 broke the four-door track record by 11 seconds