THE BONKERS JAGUAR XE SV Project 8 high-performance saloon has set a new record at the Nürburgring Nordschleife.

This means it is now the world’s fastest four-door saloon in production-intent spec to lap the Green Hell. Although, the two-seater XE SV Project 8 does stretch the definition of four-door production car a little.

With a lap time of 7 minutes 21.23 seconds, the XE SV Project 8 is nearly 11 seconds quicker than the Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio – the previous fastest saloon around the legendary 20.76km (12.9-mile) German circuit. This lap time also puts the 600hp Project 8 ahead of some of the world’s fastest two-door coupés and supercars.

Behind the wheel was the Belgian racing driver Vincent Radermecker. The car was running on 265/35 R20 and 305/30 R20 Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres with optional weight-saving two-seat Track Pack. The Track Pack includes front carbon fibre racing seats with four-point harnesses fixed to a harness retention hoop in place of the rear seat as well as adjustable suspension, aerodynamics and electronic systems.

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Built by Special Vehicle Operations (SVO), the Project 8 is the most extreme performance road-legal Jaguar ever built. It has a 600hp 5.0-litre supercharged V8 that allows it to go from 0-100km/h in 3.3 seconds and on to a 320km/h top speed.

Compared to the regular XE, just the roof and front door skins of Project 8’s body are carried over unaltered. Some 75 per cent of its mechanical hardware is new and it is designed, engineered and hand-assembled by SVO.

Just 300 units will be sold worldwide and they will be hand-built at Jaguar’s new £20million SVO Technical Centre in Warwickshire, UK. Prices for the Jaguar XE SV Project 8 start at STG£149,995.

You can watch the record-breaking lap right here:

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