Project 8, the most powerful Jaguar production car ever, will make its North American debut at Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion, The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering and Exotics on Cannery Row.
We here at Jaguarforums recently got a special private look at the 2018 Jaguar XE SV Project 8. Of course, we made sure to share it with all of you out there, but we know there’s nothing like seeing it in the metal yourself. Fortunately, all of you out on the West Coast will get a chance to do just that during Monterey Car Week.
Jaguar will bring two examples of the 592-horsepower, limited-production super sedan: a U.S.-spec model with Velocity Blue paint on the outside and four seats on the inside, and a Valencia Orange model with the optional, not-for-the-U.S.-market two-seat Track Pack which includes carbon fiber front seats with four-point harnesses connected to a harness retention hoop that takes the place of the rear seats.
They’ll be on display during the welcome reception for the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca (the reunion itself runs Thursday, August 17 through Sunday, August 20). John Edwards, Managing Director of Jaguar Land Rover Special Operations, said, “No more than 300 of these special performance cars will be produced for sale worldwide. What better way to debut Project 8 – our most track-focused production car ever, than on America’s most iconic road course?”
At “the House of SVO” exhibit in Jaguar Land Rover’s pit lane garages, attendees will see Project 8 as well as the Range Rover Sport SVR and F-TYPE SVR Coupe. They’ll also be able to take part in a virtual reality experience and pilot a Panasonic Jaguar Racing Formula E race car. Land Rover fans will get the opportunity to check out the all-new Velar and drive the fifth-generation Discovery off road.
On Friday, August 18, Project 8 will be lined up alongside more than 200 other rare cars and motorcycles at the Quail Lodge and Golf Club during The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering. Later that day, it’ll appear at Exotics on Cannery Row, one of the few events during Monterey Car Week that doesn’t require a ticket to be able to enjoy. It’s free and open to the public. Maybe we’ll see you out there!
Derek Shiekhi's father raised him on cars. As a boy, Derek accompanied his dad as he bought classics such as post-WWII GM trucks and early Ford Mustang convertibles.
After loving cars for years and getting a bachelor's degree in Business Management, Derek decided to get an associate degree in journalism. His networking put him in contact with the editor of the Austin-American Statesman newspaper, who hired him to write freelance about automotive culture and events in Austin, Texas in 2013. One particular story led to him getting a certificate for learning the foundations of road racing.
While watching TV with his parents one fateful evening, he saw a commercial that changed his life. In it, Jeep touted the Wrangler as the Texas Auto Writers Association's "SUV of Texas." Derek knew he had to join the organization if he was going to advance as an automotive writer. He joined the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) in 2014 and was fortunate to meet several nice people who connected him to the representatives of several automakers and the people who could give him access to press vehicles (the first one he ever got the keys to was a Lexus LX 570). He's now a regular at TAWA's two main events: the Texas Auto Roundup in the spring and the Texas Truck Rodeo in the fall.
Over the past several years, Derek has learned how to drive off-road in various four-wheel-drive SUVs (he even camped out for two nights in a Land Rover), and driven around various tracks in hot hatches, muscle cars, and exotics. Several of his pieces, including his article about the 2015 Ford F-150 being crowned TAWA's 2014 "Truck of Texas" and his review of the Alfa Romeo 4C Spider, have won awards in TAWA's annual Excellence in Craft Competition. Last year, his JK Forum profile of Wagonmaster, a business that restores Jeep Wagoneers, won prizes in TAWA’s signature writing contest and its pickup- and SUV-focused Texas Truck Invitational.
