The Jaguar XE has been a revelation in the segment, finally providing a legitimate challenger to the BMW 3 Series for driving dynamics. But the ceiling of performance for the XE has only been the XE-S – a supercharged V6 rival to the BMW 340i – with no rival to the M3 or Mercedes-AMG C63. Can a manufacturer really provide a credible performance rival to the 3 Series without targeting the M3? Alfa Romeo went all out targeting the M3, and it looks as if Jaguar may finally be doing the same with a Jaguar XE SV.
Full disclosure – this isn’t a production rival to the venerable BMW M3. This is the Jaguar XE SV Project 8 – and what it is, is a limited edition collector’s edition sports sedan designed, engineered, and manufactured by the folks over at Jaguar’s SVO (Special Vehicle Operations) division. They’re the same crowd responsible for the F-Type SVR, F-Type Project 7, and the Range Rover Sport SVR.
As expected from a SVO-built model, the Jaguar XE SV Project 8 shoehorns the 5.0-litre supercharged V8 under the bonnet. But in this instance, the V8 has been tuned to be the most powerful engine in any road-legal Jaguar, ever. 600PS (441kW) is the special number derived from the supercharged V8, but unlike the XE-S, the Jaguar XE SV Project 8 will channel power to the ground via an all-wheel drive system.
In addition, the limited edition model, limited to a maximum of 300 units, will also boast a massive rear wing, and specialised bodywork by SVO to suit the special power output and to house the widened front and rear track width within blistered wheel arches.
The full reveal of the Jaguar XE SV Project 8 will occur on the 28th of June at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, but until then these few teaser images and a preview video is all we have to feast our eyes and ears on.
But what about a credible BMW M3 rival?
Jaguar has been adamant that they aren’t developing a credible M3 rival of the XE, despite the wishes of many of us. However this XE SV Project 8 proves that the 5.0 V8 engine will fit in the Jaguar XE’s engine bay; and considering an M3/C63/Giulia QV rival would only need ±375kW to be competitive in the segment, this Project 8 shows the engine is more than capable of having those outputs and then some.
Lest we forget, Jaguar has done this before in the form of the Jaguar F-Type Project 7. Not only was the Project 7 a bespoke SVO project, but it paved the way for the F-Type SVR – which gleaned much of its development from the Project 7.
With that in mind, this may well be a technological test bed for an upcoming Jaguar XE SVR – finally a rival to the M3 out of England!
