The fastest car Jaguar has ever built is coming to New Zealand.
The supercharged 441kW Jaguar XE SV Project 8 - first revealed last year - is set for production in late Q2, and Jaguar New Zealand expect to have one on our shores by the end of the year.
“We are planning to bring one of these models here for our next Jaguar Art of Performance Tour held across NZ,” said Jaguar Land Rover NZ general manager Steve Kenchington.
The 321km/h, four-door, road-legal Project 8 is recognised as the world’s fastest four-door sedan after lapping the Nürburgring Nordschleife in a record 7min 21 last year.
Final tests are planned for Portimão in Portugal, Motorland Aragón in Spain and Laguna Seca in California, USA, before production of the 300 cars will begin at Jaguar's Special Vehicle Operations’ Technical Centre in June.
The Project 8 sedan has carbon fibre panels, adjustable aerodynamics, a unique suspension setup with adjustable ride height and camber, and is the first road car with F1-style ceramic wheel bearings. It’s also the first Jaguar with a dedicated Track Mode.
British driver and Le Mans 24 Hours winner Andy Wallace recently joined the Special Vehicle Operations development team at Goodwood Motor Circuit last month to drive the supercharged all-wheel-drive sedan for the first time.
After the session Andy Wallace said most road-legal cars on track are a disappointment on track, but Project 8 is 'really something.'
"It’s absolutely staggering how it has been made to feel like a proper racing car. It keeps wanting you to push harder," said Wallace.
"It’s not bothered by Goodwood’s undulations, it just hunkers down and feels totally at ease, so you're happy to get on the throttle earlier. It inspires confidence straight away.”
Project 8 is priced from £149,995 (NZ$291,000) and all cars will be built in left-hand drive configuration.
The sedan is available to order now as either as a four-seater or in lightweight two-seat Track Pack configuration.