Wednesday 10th July 2013

Jaguar F-Type Project 7

550hp Jaguar F-Type Project 7 for Goodwood - story updated with video!

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The Project 7 F-Type is one of those 'file under harmless fun' concepts the Jaguar team has probably earned after soaking up the praise from the F-Type. A bit of summer fun timed for Goodwood and an attempt to steal just a little of Porsche's thunder from its title sponsor role off the back of the 911's 50th birthday. Well, who can blame them.

Of seven Le Mans wins the D-Type's shout loud

Taken from the sketchpad of Jaguar designer Cesar Pieri to reality in just four months, the Project 7 pays homage to Jaguar's seven victories at Le Mans. Most obviously in its visual reference to the D-Type, which took victory three years in a row from 1955 to '57. But you'll have spotted that, the fairing behind the driver's head a clear stylistic nod to this classic Jag racer.

The thuggish F-Type doesn't quite have the delicacy of line of its celebrated influence, even with the chopped down windscreen and single-seat layout, but it's certainly got plenty of visual impact. Likely to be matched with a suitably Goodwood 'optimised' exhaust system through which the upgraded 550hp supercharged V8 can make itself heard above all the other cars at the Festival of Speed. Some challenge there but even the standard F-Type isn't shy about announcing its presence so it's working from a solid basis.

That power upgrade matches the XKR-S and bewinged GT offshoot revealed at New York earlier in the year and bearing a similar 'after hours' look about it. Jaguar has said it'll make 30 of those for North America at £130K a pop but don't hold your breath if the Project 7 tickles your fancy. Still, they said if they get enough interest they'll make a few GTs for the UK too so if your wallet shouts loudly enough never say never...

Downforce? Weight saving? Nah. Looks ace though.

On the outside there are lots of carbon fibre embellishments, many apparently influenced by the C-X16 concept from which the F-Type was originally developed. Credit due to the design team too, there being no claim that the fixed rear wing, side skirts and reprofiled front bumper are about anything other than aesthetics.

Mainly it just looks like riotous fun and with chief 'Vehicle Integrity' engineer Mike Cross at the wheel promises to fill the air with tyre smoke and noise when it makes its runs up the hill. Cross may be quietly spoken in person but his ability to get Jaguars to apparently unseemly angles and nonchalantly hold them there while the tyres incinerate themselves is well proven. Whether he can generate enough smoke to temporarily obscure Porsche's 35-metre high sculpture on Lord March's lawn remains to be seen but you can be sure he'll be giving it a good go, if only to maintain honour and match Andy Wallace's prize for most spectacular departure from the line earned at the preview event in the XFR-S prototype earlier this year.

Since we posted this story Jaguar has added a video. See here!

 

 

 

 

 

 

[anonymous-user]

[redacted]

[vtgts300kw]

It's the wing ruining it I think. If you look at the profile shot and imagine the wing isn't there, it's much prettier.

[Debaser]

article said:

if only to maintain honour and match Andy Wallace's prize for most spectacular departure from the line earned at the preview event in the XFR-S prototype earlier this year.

Is there a video of this?

[anonymous-user]

Agree about the wing, think it looks awesome apart from that.

[Daniel1]

Get rid of the wing and this is quite a pretty profile imo

[TheBigUnit]

Wing or not, I think it looks fabulous, and I imagine it will sound even better.

[22rgt B Squadron]

Huge lump of a car. Looks all out of proportion, that halfords wing does it no favours either..

[Kentish]

Having seen the F Type up close & personal, I think it's a fantastic looking car but is very colour dependent as it looked a bit bland in black. It looks spot on in red.

I agree with the comments about the rear wing on this one.

[Shurv]

Its a big lump of a car and as the previous poster says, very colour dependant. I'd like to see it go up the hill though, it'd sound fantastic.

[Wills2]

Oh dear not good.

[rtz62]

Lose the wing, paint it BRG or red and voila!

[toppstuff]

I like that. Its fun. A good effort.

I like the way Jaguar is reinventing its image and moving beyond the pipe and slippers, retired Brigadier market.

Good work Jaguar.

[notax]

I actually prefer the front bumper treatment to the standard one with the vertical slats which always look wrong to me. I agree about the rear wing - but it seems Jaguar are going to use this style on the faster F Types from the images I've seen. I think the car would look far better with a rear lip spoiler - ideally moulded into the bootlid (can anyone prove this using photoshop?) In any case I'm test driving an F Type at the weekend - if I like it it may replace my Aston Vantage S Roadster...

[JCB123]

I think that looks INCREDIBLE!!!!!

Certainly gone up the wish list for me........

[Dusty964]

Bloody awful.

[Cotic]

This is going to be brilliant. Not so much the car (although the 8-year old in me loves it) but the fact that Jaguar are properly squaring up to Porsche with this one. The debate on whether the 911 or the Boxster is the true rival to the F-Type will run and run, but the fact is that Jaguar are now a rival to Porsche. I'm not sure we could have admitted that a few years ago.

I have a building sense of anticipation with what may come next.

[Boydie88]

That looks fantastic. Not quite sure why spoilers cause people on PH to get their knickers in a twist.

[V8 FOU]

Fabulous car. Well done Jaguar!
The rear wing? Well, it gives PH'ers something to whinge about, eh?

No one going to mention "un resolved styling" yet?

Looks brilliant in that colour too.

[Vocal Minority]

Looks a lot like Shelsley Walsh to me...

[British Beef]

Very nice indeed, good effort Jaguar!

With no roof gubins and other weight reductions I wonder what they get kerb weight down to, could be a very handy track toy!!!