V8-Powered Jaguar XE And XF SVRs Could Still Happen

Fitting a V8 under the bonnet of the Jaguar XE SV Project 8 wasn’t exactly an easy job. Speaking at a preview event for the car, Jaguar Special Vehicle Operations vehicle engineering manager Stuard Adlard noted that while the height isn’t an issue (it’s an easier fit in that sense than the Ingenium inline-four diesels), “the problem comes with the extra set of cylinders at the back”.

He went on to explain that the bulkhead had to be moved back, the brakelines moved, and for packaging reasons related to the electric power steering system, it could only feasibly be left-hand drive. The XF’s engine bay is very similar, so with the larger saloon, it’d be much the same story. So does that rule out the XE and XF SVRs we so crave? Not necessarily.

The packaging issues that force the left-hand drive configuration are partly brought on by the Project 8’s considerably low ride height and fat 265-section front tyres. Take those factors away in a less extreme V8-powered XE or XF, and a right-hand drive car should be possible.

In addition, by figuring out how to fit the supercharged 5.0-litre lump in the Project 8, Adlard hints that “there are opportunities opened up”. Does that mean an XE and XF SVR? We certainly hope so - after all, it’d be curious move to throw all those resources at working out the engine fitment without using what’s been learned elsewhere.

What looked to be an XE SVR was spotted in testing earlier this year at the Nurburgring, but it’s unclear if that car had something to do with Project 8. But now that we know V8-powered XEs and XFs are technically possible as ‘regular’ production vehicles, it’s time to cross our fingers…