Jaguar F-Type Project 7: official

PH gets the inside line on Jag's (limited) production version of its Project 7 F-Type

It was when a Middle Eastern Sheik refused to leave a Jaguar motor show stand without an F-Type Project 7 (think blank cheque moment) that insiders realised they had to do something. The 2013 Goodwood Festival of Speed surprise concept was overwhelmingly a car people wanted to buy - in this case, at any price. Problem was, they couldn't, as it really was just a concept. But behind the scenes, Jaguar Land Rover was working on something that could just make it possible...

Build it and they will, er, come. Or at least buy.

Enter Special Operations, its new specialist division that's effectively a West Midlands equivalent of McLaren Special Operations. It's even run by an ex-Williams man (and former Lotus director of engineering), Paul Newsome (who only started in March - he had to complete the Formula E project first...). Suddenly Jaguar had a way to turn concept into production. And so up to 250 will now be hand-built, with deliveries beginning in 2015. And our Sheik best be fast. "If we get 500 orders," says JLR Special Operations MD John Edwards, "there'll be 250 disappointed people."

This is JLR SO's launch firework, a car that it hopes will tell us all we need to know about the new division. Because Jaguar could have simply given us an F-Type Convertible with a bodykit, and there would likely have been few grumbles. It's a car designed to celebrate seven Le Mans victories, doffing its cap to the D-Type, 60 years old this year. But it has to do more than look good. "Any SO car has to have integrity," says Edwards, who moved across from the top job at Land Rover to head up the new division.

Just in case you hadn't already guessed inspiration

For starters, Jaguar couldn't just put the concept into production. It's had to go back to the start and work out how to make the Project 7 feasible - that's why it's sprouted a huge carbon fibre front air dam, resculpted side sills and a revised rear wing. It also has a 34mm lower windscreen, and the engineering required for that alone was enormous. Worth it though. "It helps aero slightly," says Ian Callum. "More importantly, it looks great."

Speaking of aero, the results here are remarkable. At top speed, Project 7 generates 177 per cent more downforce than the F-Type Convertible. 177 per cent!

The launch car has gained a D-Type referencing shade of green, although a colour similar to the concept's blue will be offered, along with three others: red, black, white. The graphics are standard, including the roundels on the doors and fairing. On green, blue and red cars, the accents will be white, including the D-Type-inspired white nose; on black and white, the features are grey. And the bonnet stripes? A nod to Ecurie Ecosse. "Nothing to do with me," grins Callum.

Livery adds to the D-Type vibes

As for the fairing, "It's a D-Type cue - we make no apologies for that." It will sit behind the driver, with a complementary rollover hoop for the passenger - this was lacking on the concept car as, of course, that was a single-seater.

At 575hp the firm's never made a road car this powerful ("Yet..." adds Edwards), and 0-62mph takes 3.9 seconds, the first modern Jag to break the four-second mark. Top speed of the supercharged 5.0-litre V8 is 186mph, electronically limited. It weighs 1,585kg, 80kg less than the regular car thanks to nine new carbon fibre bits including rear deck, front splitter, seat shells and that fairing. The concept's nose panel is also carbon fibre; Newsome says if repairability costs are sensible, that'll make it 10 parts, and save an extra 2.5kg. We hope they decide customers won't care about repairability...

And underneath? "It's engineered for track first, then the road," says Newsome. There are revised suspension knuckles and top mounts (0.5 degrees more negative camber give better turn-in and grip), unique springs and dampers, track-focused suspension geometry, enhanced steering response and standard CCM brakes (with 398mm six-pot front discs!). The spring balance has shifted to the front (50 per cent stiffer front, 8 per cent rear) and the components themselves are a race-style twin spring system. Torque vectoring and a second-generation electronic active differential are standard too.

Two seats now means you can share the fun

"It has quite a different feel," says Newsome.

Go on then, you're thinking: how much. Because a car this special could quite easily cost a small fortune - after all, some are already willing to pay it. Not so: £135,000 is the mooted asking price, the same as the XKR-S GT.

Special Operations? Very, it seems. This is not only a concept car that's made production, it's one that has done so untainted, with the promise of a drive that more than matches how it looks. What a way to celebrate 60 years of the D-Type.

Jaguar launch video here

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