Description
The Project 8 was borne out of SVO or Special Vehicle Operations, a centre of excellence within JLR where the finest automotive minds collaborated with a relatively free hand to produce a low volume specialised car. The P8 really was their swansong, a high-performance sports saloon designed to beat the Germans at their own game. Whilst looking like a slightly breathed upon XE saloon, in reality, the P8 shared little with its more mundane relative being full of carbon fibre and engineering sophistication, not to mention the supercharged V8 engine.
Only 200 cars were built for the world, just 35 of those were for UK production and of those only 15 were built to Touring specification worldwide. This latter version which we are offering here has become the most desirable model, losing the sizeable rear wing, vivid striping and bucket front only seats, resulting in a real under the radar Q car.
This car is the only Touring version finished in black and notably it was supplied when new as the private car for Hanno Kimer, the number two at JLR and major support of the SVO project. He retained the car until 2022, covering some 6, 500 miles before it was bought by the second and final owner directly from Jaguar Land Rover Classic as detailed in correspondence and invoicing on file. This second owner has enjoyed the car, the mileage increasing to 11, 000 miles and he has continued to look after it carefully, returning the P8 to JLR Classic for a service last year as required.
Today the Project 8 presents in superb virtually unmarked order throughout and benefits from a ceramic protective coat. The black exterior really does give it an appropriate ‘stealth’ look and every time you fire that potent V8 up you can’t help but smile at the noise. This really is the last of the old school slightly mad, ‘did they really make that?’ cars. This impression growing over time as legislation leads to such mundane motoring.
The last words are best left to EVO Magazine who named the P8 ‘Car Of The Year’ in 2019.
“Unlike many performance machines of today, the XE Project 8 feels more a product of passionate engineers than budget conscious accountants. Despite its big, bold and brawny nature, it’s able to deliver a sledgehammer of performance without sacrificing character and tactility at the altar of effectiveness.”
