Jaguar F-TYPE PROJECT 7 wins the Le Mans Classic

F-TYPE Project 7 – the most powerful and fastest production Jaguar to date – was to make its debut for the Le Mans Classic race meeting over the weekend of 4-6 July. The F-TYPE had made its debut as the D-TYPE, which won Jaguar Le Mans back in the 1950s. Jaguar has won the Le Mans 24-hour race a total of seven times, a record for a British manufacturer: in 1951, 1953 (both with the C-Type), 1955, 1956, 1957 (all D-Type), 1988 (XJR-9) and 1990 (XJR-12)

To celebrate the Jaguar D-Type’s 60th anniversary – a car which won at Le Mans three times and even inspired Project 7’s genesis – F-TYPE Project 7 completed its demonstration laps throughout the weekend alongside the very first D-Type ever built and launched in 1954. F-TYPE Project 7 is the first Jaguar halo product from Special Operations and will be built at its new state-of-the-art Technical Centre in the West Midlands.

The F-TYPE Project 7 will be powered by a 5.0-litre supercharged V8 petrol engine with a peak torque of 680Nm and this engine will come mated to an eight-speed Quickshift transmission. With a weight of 1585 kilograms, the F-TYPE Project 7 is 80 kgs lighter than its conventional sibling. The F-TYPE Project 7 specifications for both exterior and interior will differ for North America and these details will be released in late 2014. F-TYPE Project 7 customer deliveries will begin from mid-2015. F-TYPE Project 7 will be available in EU markets, as well as South Africa, Australia, MENA, Russia, Brazil, Asia Pacific regions and North America – pricing available from markets.

Jaguar Land Rover Special Vehicle Operations has the responsibility within Special Operations to create a range of high performance production models for both Jaguar and Land Rover, vehicle personalisation products and low volume, high value Limited Edition models for both brands. F-TYPE Project 7 is a fully road-legal two-seater roadster, which will be built by Special Operations division. Of all aluminium construction and with bespoke carbon-fibre aerodynamic aids, a unique suspension tune, 80kg weight reduction and 568bhp power output, F-TYPE Project 7 will deliver a truly focused driving experience. Carbon Ceramic brakes, Torque Vectoring by Braking and race-inspired seats are all standard features.

On-track, numerous Jaguars were competing throughout the 24 hours of Le Mans Classic, but the highlight was the victory in Grid 3 (for cars from 1957-1961) by the Jaguar-entered D-type driven by Gary Pearson and journalist Chris Harris.