Only 300 Jaguar XE Project 8 sedans will be hand built

Engineering fine-tuning on the new Jaguar XE SV Project 8 has almost finished, ahead of production starting in June. Only 300 units will be hand built worldwide. The fastest high performance sedan in the world will hit top speeds of about 322km/h and 0-100km/h acceleration takes just 3.7 seconds. With a 441kW version of Jaguar’s legendary supercharged 5.0-litre V8, Project 8 is the most powerful Jaguar road car to date.

Unlike most high performance production sedans, the four-wheel-drive Project 8 is studded with genuine motor racing technology. This includes, as standard, adjustable ride height, adjustable camber, adjustable front splitter and rear wing, a flat underbody, a differential oil cooler, track-perfect Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres as standard on forged 20-inch wheels and – a production car first – F1-style ceramic wheel bearings.

The front uprights, two-part upper wishbones, balljoints in place of rubber bushes, twin coil springs, dampers, lower suspension bushes, anti-roll bars and latest specification carbon ceramic brakes are all new and bespoke to Project 8. The only carryover body components from the standard XE are the roof and front door skins, both made from aluminium. The vented bonnet and flared front wings and bumpers are made from lightweight carbon fibre.

In its most extreme settings, and in ‘Track’ mode, Project 8 delivers 122kg of downforce at 300km/h – that’s 25 percent more than its nearest rival. And, it is the first Jaguar to offer a Track mode, standard on all versions, which tailors driveline and stability control systems for circuit use by sharpening throttle and steering responses and tuning the dampers to their most aggressive setting.

Two versions of Project 8 are available. The four-seat version contains all the motorsport technology that is the hallmark of Project 8. In addition, there is a more hardcore two-seat Track Pack version that saves 12.2kg in weight and includes carbon fibre racing seats and four-point safety harnesses. In place of the back seat is a solid metal panel and Harness Retention Hoop, which helps boost torsional rigidity by 27 percent over the four-seat version.

Tosan Aduayi is a veteran motoring journalist and contributor - tosan@trendyafrica.com

Range Rover Velar named most beautiful car in the world

The Range Rover Velar has been judged the most beautifully designed vehicle on the planet, winning the World Car Design of the Year title at the 2018 World Car Awards. Bringing glamor, modernity and elegance to the Range Rover family, Velar offers a unique combination of design excellence and engineering integrity.

The distinctive design of the Range Rover Velar features perfectly optimized proportions and a stunning silhouette. Its super-slim Premium LED headlights, flush deployable door handles and sleek Touch Pro Duo infotainment are all hallmarks of Range Rover’s reductionist design philosophy.

Launched last year and named after the codename for the original concept Range Rovers of the late 1960s, the Velar fills the space between the Range Rover Evoque and Range Rover Sport.

In the U.S., three engines are currently offered, including a 247HP 2.0-liter Ingenium turbocharged gasoline engine, 180HP 2.0-liter Ingenium turbocharged diesel engine, and potent 380HP 3.0-liter supercharged V6 gasoline engine.

Designed, engineered and manufactured in the UK, the Velar delivers the practicality, connectivity and capability expected from the Range Rover family. With the latest technology and the inclusion of more sustainable materials, this luxury SUV is designed to go Above and Beyond.

The Range Rover Velar, priced from $49,900 (MSRP) in the US, the vehicle is available to order now at Land Rover retailers.

Tosan Aduayi, a motoring journalist since 1994, is the founder, Trendy Africa Magazine and Flowtran global blog. Contact; tosan@trendyafrica.com