Jaguar's XE SV8 is the most powerful road-legal car in its history

Pretoria - Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) Special Vehicle Operations (SVO) announces the most powerful Jaguar yet: the XE SV Project 8.

A prototype version of the 441kW sedan offering dollops of performance has now undertaken its debut test at the Nürburgring Nordschleife.

Sadly, they ain't coming to Mzansi

With the most highly-tuned version of JLR’s 5.0-litre supercharged V8 engine, Project 8 will become the second Collectors’ Edition vehicle from SVO, following the launch of the F-TYPE Project 7 in 2014. No more than 300 cars, all hand-assembled at SVO’s Technical Centre in Coventry, will be created for sale worldwide.

The XE SV Project 8 will only be available in left-hand drive and none are destined for sale in South Africa.

Watch: This is XE SV Project 8

John Edwards, MD of SVO said: “The time is right for SVO to produce the most extreme performance road car in the history of Jaguar. The SVO team is possessed by the spirit of performance and committed to creating the most thrilling driving experience imaginable.

Jaguar says the XE SV Project 8 takes aerodynamics and performance engineering to another level – it is conceived for enthusiasts and the most discerning collectors. 

Full specification details for SV Project 8 will be on June 28 , ahead of its world debut at Goodwood Festival of Speed on June 30.