Jaguar makes the 567-hp F-Type Project 7 into expensive reality

Posted By Justin Hyde

@ MOTORAMIC, YAHOO AUTOS

 

 

Jaguar Project 7

 

The Jaguar F-Type Project 7 always seemed suspicious. When we drove the concept car last year, we doubted it could ever be sold, but noted how finished it seemed for a one-off, and how ready Jaguar was to push something it had cobbled together in a shop.

 It turns out Jaguar had greater ambitions for the Project 7: to become the fastest production Jaguar ever, even if "production" only means 250 expensive copies.

 

Starting from the already powerful F-Type S, Jaguar's new Special Operations division boosted the power on the supercharged V-8 to 567 hp. Meanwhile, engineers went to work on the chassis, shaving 176 lbs. from the aluminum unit body.

That allows Project 7 to hit 60 mph in 3.8 seconds, with a top speed of 186 mph. (The 1992 Jaguar XJ220 supercar, which for historical purposes isn't considered a production Jag, was just 0.2 seconds faster to 60 mph and had less horsepower.)

The Project 7 also recieves a number of go-fast upgrades, from standard carbon brakes and roll hoops for both driver and passenger to several aerodynamic tweaks, a lower windshield and carbon-fiber accents.

 Torque vectoring braking has been added to bring some greater control over the Project 7 at high speeds, and a trick exhaust system which can open into a straight-pipe setup at speed.

Jaguar says it's committed to keeping the Project 7 rare; each copy will get its own plaque signed by designer Ian Callum and other bits of bespoke kit befitting its uniqueness.

 The price that will help keep that rarefied feel: Roughly $220,000, give or take pocket change for people who could afford a Project 7 in the first place, and who know better than to underestimate Jaguar's modern ambitions.