Jaguar XE SV Project 8 revealed

Jaguar is set to claw its way back into the super sedan segment with a car designed to beat the Mercedes-AMG C63 and BMW M3.

The Leaping Cat has previewed its rival to the fast four-door Germans, confirming its Special Vehicles Operations (SVO) division is in the final stages of developing a V8-powered version of the compact XE sedan that it claims is the most extreme road car ever produced by Jaguar.

The XE SV Project 8, as it will be called when it goes on sale later this year following its official debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in June, will be powered by a 441kW version of the company's 5.0-litre supercharged V8 that eclipses the most powerful versions of the M3, C63 and Alfa Romeo Giulia QV.

Jaguar has yet to reveal more mechanical details of the Project 8, but the official 'spy shots' issued by Jaguar of the car testing at the Nurburgring showcase it has wider bodywork, new front and rear bumpers and a massive rear wing on the bootlid. It is expected the car will have specially-tuned suspension, lighter and larger wheels with sticky tyres and an all-wheel drive transmission with a sharper version of the eight-speed automatic. The combined effect of the modifications should see it accelerate from 0-100km/h in under four seconds, potentially making it one of the fastest four-door sedans on the planet.

The Project 8 is the second hand-built collector's model to be created under the SVO banner, after the F-Type Project 7 that was an instant sell-out success. And while it will be limited to just 300 examples, it is understood to be a precursor to a full-production XE SVR that is due to be released in 2018.

"The time is right for SVO to produce the most extreme performance road car in the history of Jaguar," said SVO boss, John Edwards.

"The SVO team is possessed by the spirit of performance and committed to creating the most thrilling driving experience imaginable. Our clients worldwide were thrilled by the F-TYPE Project 7. The new XE SV Project 8 takes aerodynamics and performance engineering to another level - it is conceived for enthusiasts and the most discerning collectors. The price for such an extreme performance sports car available in strictly limited numbers will reflect that."

Jaguar will reveal full details of the XE SV Project 8 ahead of its public debut at Goodwood at the end of June.

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