Jaguar XE SV Project 8 Packs a Nearly 600-HP Punch

Jaguar is once again ready to go toe-to-toe with the heaviest hitting German sports sedans, with the British brand unveiling the 592-horsepower XE SV Project 8 ahead of its Goodwood debut.

The second Jaguar model to be fine-tuned by the folks at its Special Vehicle Operations (SVO) division, the XE SV Project 8 will feature a host of performance upgrades, including a fire-breathing supercharged V8 engine that makes 592 horsepower and 516 lb-ft of torque. The most powerful iteration of the brand’s 5.0-liter engine, that powerplant helps the hopped-up XE complete the sprint from a standing start to 60 mph in just 3.3 seconds (zero to 100 km/h in 3.7 seconds), making it the fastest-accelerating factory Jaguar ever. Its top speed has been capped at 200 mph (322 km/h).

“SVO’s raison d’être is to produce halo vehicles that push the boundaries in terms of luxury, performance and all-terrain capability. Project 8 is a great example of what happens when enthusiastic designers, engineers and manufacturing specialists are given the opportunity to create an extreme performance sports car without compromise,” John Edwards, director of Jaguar Land Rover SVO, said in a statement.

Underpinning the XE SV Project 8 will be an all-wheel-drive system and adjustable dampers at all four corners, as well as carbon-ceramic brakes. A differential cooler has been integrated into the rear diffuser to keep temperatures as low as possible in the all-wheel drive system.

The automaker said the four-door XE will be available in both two- and four-seat configurations, with North American examples all built as four-seat models. All four seats in four-passenger models will feature magnesium frames to reduce weight, while the optional two-seat Track Pack available in some undisclosed markets will include carbon fiber racing seats up front with four-point harnesses.

Limited to just 300 units globally, the Jaguar XE SV Project 8 will be hand-built at the brand’s new technical center in Coventry, England. Pricing has yet to be announced. The car will make its public debut at the famed hill climb during the Goodwood Festival of Speed.

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