Jaguar’s sold out F-Type Project 7 lands in Oz
BY TUNG NGUYEN | 21st Apr 2016
Of the 250 Project 7s earmarked for production, only 10 were put aside for Australia and despite the nearly $95,000 price premium over the F-Type R convertible, all local examples are already spoken for.
Billed as Jaguar’s fastest and most powerful production model to date – at least until the already confirmed F-Type SVR hits production next month – the Project 7 is powered by a 5.0-litre supercharged V8 tuned by Jaguar Land Rover (JLR)’s Special Operations team to 423kW and 700Nm, an increase of 19kW over the F-Type R Coupe.
Sending power to the rear wheels via a specially tuned eight-speed automatic transmission and a second-generation Electronic Active Differential, the all-aluminium-bodied Project 7 can accelerate from zero to 100km/h in 3.9 seconds and will continue to an electronically limited top-speed of 300km/h.
To stop the 1585kg Project 7, Jaguar has fitted Carbon Ceramic Matrix brakes with 398mm front and 380mm rear discs coupled to six- and four-piston callipers as standard, which sit behind 20-inch gloss black Storm alloy wheels wrapped in Pirelli P Zero or Continental ForceContact tyres.
To further differentiate the Project 7 from its F-Type siblings, Special Operations has fitted specifically engineered front knuckles to increase negative camber, as well as fitting new top mounts and revised front and rear anti-roll bars. Both the springs and dampers in the front and rear are height adjustable, while spring rates have been custom tuned for the Project 7.
Jagaur’s Adaptive Dynamics system is also fitted as standard, able to adjust damper rates on the fly as it reads the body movement, roll and pitch of the vehicle, as well as torque vectoring, which can apply precision braking to any individual corner to assist cornering.
Cosmetically, Jaguar has fitted the Project 7 with a new front splitter made in part with carbon-fibre, as well as carbon-fibre side skirts, rear diffuser and rear spoiler. Collectively, the new aerodynamics components contribute 177 per cent more downforce at 300km/h compared with the F-Type convertible.
Other carbon-fibre goodies include the rear deck, bonnet vents, side vent louvres and mirror caps and the specially designed roof can be folded away and stored in the boot which has 196-litres of storage space.
Jaguar has reduced the length of the windscreen by 114mm and the Project 7 is given new side mirrors to match the overall 30.5mm lower profile.
Inside, the Project 7 makes use of lightweight bucket seats finished with a quilted diamond pattern, carbon-fibre inserts on the centre console, an Alcantara steering wheel, bespoke treadplates and a specially numbered plaque located between the seats signed by Jaguar director of design Ian Callum.
Jaguar Land Rover Special Operations managing director John Edwards said the Project 7 is the ultimate expression of the Special Operations division and a unique tribute to Jagaur’s motorsport history.
“Special Operations exists to develop a suite of products and services that enable our most discerning and enthusiastic customers to indulge their passion for our cars,” he said.
“F-Type Project 7 is the perfect example of one such product. It’s the most powerful productions Jaguar ever built, and pays homage to Jaguar’s seven outright Le Mans victories with distinctive design cues inspired by the Jaguar D-type which celebrates its 60th anniversary this year.”
