Skip advert
Advertisement

2019 Jaguar XE SV Project 8 review – design

Jaguar's XE SV Project 8 takes a rather extreme approach to the supersaloon recipe than most, but has an equally extreme price tag to match

Evo rating
RRP
from £149,995
  • Performance, poise and ability on track, usable on road, bombastic soundtrack
  • Cup 2 tyres struggle in the wet, a few levels above the usual saloon price point

The full effect of the Project 8’s styling doesn’t really come across in photographs. The early, liveried Track Pack cars frankly looked a bit naff, but spend some time with a Touring in a decent colour and you’ll learn to love the cocktail of class and brutality, like a character from a gangster movie.

Advertisement - Article continues below

Some angles are better than others – in profile or any view taking in the front of the car, Project 8 looks fantastic, and those rear arches are so wide they can’t help but have an impact on the shape even if you’re staring directly at the profile. From the rear, things aren’t as rosy – neat though it is being able to see the rear tyres poking out either side of the bumper, it looks rather blocky, not helped by the bland rear details from the standard XE.

Some of the detailing is great, though, such as the carbonfibre splitters surrounding the car at its lowest point, many inscribed with an aircraft-style ‘no step’. The honeycomb holes in the front bumper are interesting too.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

Best performance cars 2025 – the year’s finest driver’s picks
Best cars 2025
Best cars

Best performance cars 2025 – the year’s finest driver’s picks

The last 12 months have been chock full of incredible driver’s cars from all corners of the market. We list them all
20 Dec 2025
Ferrari Amalfi review – Maranello’s 631bhp Aston Martin Vantage rival
Ferrari Amalfi – front
Reviews

Ferrari Amalfi review – Maranello’s 631bhp Aston Martin Vantage rival

The Ferrari Amalfi replaces the Roma as Maranello’s entry-level car – one with almost as much power as an Enzo…
19 Dec 2025
evo Car of the Year 2025: 12 best performance cars go head-to-head
eCoty 2025 video
News

evo Car of the Year 2025: 12 best performance cars go head-to-head

It's time. 12 outstanding contenders and 15,000 miles on some of Europe's best roads, we embark on the ultimate trip to identify the best performance …
19 Dec 2025