Jag and driver await next lap at Monticello Every once in a while, auto makers like to toy with the idea of creating vehicles that become instant collectibles before they hit the showroom floor. From the last decade, the Ford GT, Ford Thunderbird, Chevrolet SSR and Plymouth Prowler come to mind. The current Mustang Shelby GT500s and the recent Boss 302s are certainly contenders. Now, Jaguar has jumped in full-bore with the F-type Project 7, a 21st century edition of the innovative and legendary D-Type that lit up the LeMans racing circuit in the mid-1950s.
Only 250 cars are being built and just one-fifth of those are being sold in the U.S. The F-Type was first unveiled at Britain's 2014 Goodwood Festival of Speed to mark the 60th anniversary of the first D-Type. Here are some of the stats on this new version:
“Special Operations exists to develop a suite of products and services that enable our most discerning and enthusiastic customers to indulge their passion for our cars," says John Edwards, Managing Director for this Jaguar Land Rover unit. "F-Type Project 7 is a perfect example of one such product."
We recently rode shotgun with a Jaguar race driver in a pre-production version of one of these beasts during a wild, screaming (the tires, not us) and smoky lap around the Monticello Motor Club track in upstate New York. The car is everything Jaguar says it is -- and more. Power is abundant and braking is sure. The driver pushed hard into turns where most others would brake. Yes, it's road-legal, but this ride should end up at its rightful place: the track. Unfortunately, many will probably reside in private garages as their owners watch values escalate.
All 50 U.S-bound units are spoken for, says a Jaguar rep. Good luck finding one at the base MSRP of $165,000. In the meantime, you can check out the full media kit here and watch the Project 7 video here. (Photos below are courtesy of Jaguar Land Rover.)
Only 250 cars are being built and just one-fifth of those are being sold in the U.S. The F-Type was first unveiled at Britain's 2014 Goodwood Festival of Speed to mark the 60th anniversary of the first D-Type. Here are some of the stats on this new version:
- With 575 horsepower and 502 lb. ft. of torque from a supercharged V-8, the Project 7 is the most powerful and fastest Jaguar production model to date. 0-60 is reached in just 3.8 seconds.
- The car is being hand-built by Jaguar Land Rover's Special Operations team.
- It's a fully street-legal roadster (there's even a stowable roof and some luggage space) with a body design that features the D-Type's signature fairing behind the driver.
- Suspension tuning and carbon-fiber aerodynamics are unique to this car, along with race-inspired seats, ceramic brakes and torque vectoring.
- The roadster comes in five colors, but who would want anything other than British Racing Green?
- Customer deliveries are underway this year.
“Special Operations exists to develop a suite of products and services that enable our most discerning and enthusiastic customers to indulge their passion for our cars," says John Edwards, Managing Director for this Jaguar Land Rover unit. "F-Type Project 7 is a perfect example of one such product."
We recently rode shotgun with a Jaguar race driver in a pre-production version of one of these beasts during a wild, screaming (the tires, not us) and smoky lap around the Monticello Motor Club track in upstate New York. The car is everything Jaguar says it is -- and more. Power is abundant and braking is sure. The driver pushed hard into turns where most others would brake. Yes, it's road-legal, but this ride should end up at its rightful place: the track. Unfortunately, many will probably reside in private garages as their owners watch values escalate.
All 50 U.S-bound units are spoken for, says a Jaguar rep. Good luck finding one at the base MSRP of $165,000. In the meantime, you can check out the full media kit here and watch the Project 7 video here. (Photos below are courtesy of Jaguar Land Rover.)
RSS Feed
