The Jaguar super-saloon racer that will never be

The Jaguar XE SV Project 8 is the “most track-focused car SVO has ever produced”.

It uses a host of technology and aerodynamics developed from motorsport. It’s a single-minded pure performance car — a bewinged road-going V8 monster super-saloon. Frankly, it’s practically a racing car already.

Jaguar XE SV Project 8 revealed as brand's quickest, most powerful model yet

So… does SVO have a plan to go racing? “No. None at all,” said Special Operations boss John Edwards.

Oh. By way of further explanation, he added: “Our motorsport activities are firmly focused on Formula E. We want to make cars that people can take on the track, but we don’t have the resource or the desire to run a motorsport programme ourselves.”

That’s a shame. The XE SV Project 8 looks like a solid basis for a successful GT racer — a field in which many of Jaguar’s rivals are currently running profitable customer motorsport programmes.

Racing would also seem to be a way for SVO, a relatively new division of Jaguar Land Rover, to build its profile and show the outside world what it stands for. It would help build SVO’s pedigree and enhance its future offerings.

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Of course, it’s unlikely SVO will have trouble shifting the 300 Project 8 models. But it’s a shame we’ll only see them on circuits at track days.