Jaguar F-Type Project 7

The Jaguar F-Type Project 7 is set to take the Goodwood Festival of Speed by storm. It’s a modern-day interpretation of its highly successful D-Type race car and will make its dynamic debut on the hill.

Based on the F-Type Roadster, the Jaguar Project 7 (the name refers to Jaguar’s seven Le Mans triumphs) is strictly a one-off design study designed to wow the crowds at the Festival of Speed.

The clearest nod towards the distinctive D-Type is the prominent fin behind the driver’s head, although Jaguar’s design team - who brought this car from first sketch to reality in just four months - didn’t stop there.

A new carbon-fibre front-splitter, side skirts and rear diffuser have all been added along with a chopped-down windscreen, a fixed spoiler and a deeper front bumper design. Carbon-fibre is also used to trim the bonnet vents, wing mirrors and even as inserts on the 20-inch alloy wheels.

In keeping with the racing theme, there’s only space for the driver on the inside. Where the passenger would normally sit is a helmet holder, which carries a Blue Project 7 helmet to match the exterior paintwork. The driver sits 30mm lower than in the standard F-Type, in a composite bucket seat, and is gripped by a four-point harness.

Under the bonnet is the same 5.0-litre supercharged V8 as the F-Type V8 S but with an extra 54bhp, taking the total output to 545bhp. Torque also increases from 625Nm to 680Nm.

The power figures are identical to the XFR-S and XKR-S, and hints that a slightly more powerful F-Type isn’t far away. The 0-62mph sprint takes 4.1 seconds – 0.2 seconds quicker than the V8 S – while top speed is an identical 186mph.

In addition to the extra power Project 7 also gets a freer-flowing exhaust system, a 10mm lower ride height and a unique tuning for the springs and dampers.

Mike Cross, Jaguar’s chief engineer of vehicle integrity will have the job of driving Project 7 up the hill over the Goodwood weekend.

He said: “Project 7 has given us a unique opportunity to go that little bit further. It’s visceral in every sense – its response, its sound and its sheer performance. I’m very much looking forward to driving it at Goodwood.”

In addition to the Project 7, Jaguar will also give UK debuts to its new XFR-S, XJR and XKR-S GT models at the show.