• F-TYPE Project 7 unveiled in Pretoria by John Edwards of Special Vehicle Operations
• Jaguar will produce the F-TYPE Project 7 in an exclusive run of up to 250 units, hand-built by Jaguar Land Rover’s Special Operations team
• Only five destined for Africa
• With 423kW and 680Nm from its 5.0-litre supercharged V8 petrol engine, F-TYPE Project 7 will reach 100 km/h in 3.9-sec
• Bespoke carbon-fibre aerodynamic aids and a unique suspension tune mean F-TYPE Project 7 delivers a truly focused driving experience
• CCM brakes, Torque Vectoring by Braking and race-inspired seats are all standard features
• F-TYPE Project 7 features a stowable roof and 196-litre luggage space

The most desirable Jaguar F-TYPE of all has landed in South Africa: the F-TYPE Project 7.

Handbuilt by Jaguar Land Rover’s Special Operations team, this exclusive, limited-edition model will see production run of only 250 units. And only five South Africans are set to be proud owners of this future classic.

“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, Jaguar Land Rover Special Operations. “F-TYPE Project 7 is a perfect example of one such product.”

The Project 7’s distinctive roadster body pays tribute to one of the most famous and iconic racing Jaguars: the three-time Le Mans-winning Jaguar D-Type, which reigned supreme at the famous French endurance race in 1965, 1966 and 1967. And this race-inspired F-TYPE’s name is a homage to Jaguar’s seven outright wins at the 24-hour race.

“We were able to secure five orders, giving a select number of customers an opportunity to own a piece of history, And Jaguar fans an opportunity to see this unique model in the flesh,” says Lisa Mallett. “Project 7 is significant for us not only because it embodies both our heritage and our future in a stunningly beautiful car, but also because bespoke, limited-run cars are a true rarity in this era of mass produced cars.”

With power provided by Jaguar’s 5.0-litre supercharged V8 engine, producing 423kW and 680Nm, the all-aluminium-bodied car – which weighs just 1585kg – is capable of accelerating from a standstill to 100km/h in only 3.9 seconds and onwards to an electronically-limited top speed of 300km/h.

Power is sent to the rear wheels through Jaguar’s eight-speed Quickshift transmission and second generation Electronic Active Differential (EAD). Carbon Ceramic Matrix (CCM) brakes, available as an option on the F-TYPE R Coupé, are fitted as standard on F-TYPE Project 7, offering powerful, consistent, fade-free braking. Another standard feature is Torque Vectoring by Braking (TVbB) which, working in conjunction with the EAD, enables extremely precise handling. Bespoke carbon-fibre aerodynamic aids and a unique suspension set-up enable F-TYPE Project 7 to deliver a truly engaging driving experience.

While F-TYPE Project 7 features performance-focused engineering by Special Vehicle Operations, its design has been kept true to the head-turning lines of the original Project 7 concept, which was unveiled in 2013.

Key design elements include the D-Type-inspired fairing behind the driver’s head, shorter windshield, new front bumper, and downforce-increasing aerodynamic modifications – including a carbon-fibre front splitter, side skirts, rear diffuser and adjustable rear spoiler. However, the single-seater concept has been transformed into a two-seater, with rollover hoops for both driver and passenger now integrated into the design – as well as a removable roof and 196 litres of stowage space.

JAGUAR F-TYPE PROJECT 7: IN DETAIL

Engineering

The Jaguar F-TYPE Project 7 is a product of pure passion – the rarest and most desirable model in the highly acclaimed F-TYPE range.

The Special Vehicle Operations-engineered F-TYPE Project 7 is powered by Jaguar’s 5.0-litre supercharged V8 engine, as seen in the F-TYPE R Coupé, but in an even further enhanced form: it produces 423kW (an increase of 19kW over the F-TYPE R Coupé) and 680Nm of torque. Power is delivered to the rear wheels through Jaguar’s eight-speed Quickshift transmission and second-generation Electronic Active Differential. Special Vehicle Operations engineers have developed a bespoke transmission calibration for the F-TYPE Project 7, with revised shift points and characteristics.

This enables the lightweight, all-aluminium-bodied roadster – which weighs 1585kg – to accelerate from 0-100 km/h in 3.9 seconds, and onwards to an electronically limited top speed of 300km/h. The increased performance, combined with the handling and aerodynamic enhancements make F-TYPE Project 7 the most unique and eyecatching production Jaguar available.

F-TYPE Project 7 features a switchable Active Sports Exhaust system with quad, matt-black ceramic coated, outboard-mounted tailpipes. The system uses electronically-controlled bypass valves in the rear section of the exhaust which are mapped to open according to a range of parameters, effectively altering the exhaust gas routing into a free-flowing straight-through arrangement to both reduce back pressure and enhance sound quality.

F-TYPE Project 7 rides on 20-inch Storm alloy wheels in gloss black, which customers can opt to have fitted with high-performance Continental ForceContact tyres. Carbon Ceramic Matrix (CCM) brakes – with 398mm front and 380mm rear discs allied to six- and four-piston monobloc calipers respectively – are fitted as standard.

Made from a matrix of carbon-fibre and ceramic, which is extremely hard and highly resistant to wear, the CCM system offers consistent performance and excellent fade resistance even during sustained extreme driving conditions. Jaguar’s CCM brakes feature a pre-fill system function that applies a low brake pressure to all four calipers when the throttle is released – and before the brake pedal is pressed again – to ensure consistent brake pedal feel.

F-TYPE Project 7 benefits from bespoke, Special Vehicle Operations-engineered front suspension knuckles, which allow for increased negative camber, as well as revised top mounts and new front/rear anti-roll bars. The front and rear spring and damper units are height adjustable, and both spring rates and damper internals have been tailored specifically to F-TYPE Project 7.

Jaguar’s Adaptive Dynamics system actively controls vertical body movement, roll and pitch rates by continuously monitoring driver inputs and the attitude of the car on the road, adjusting damper rates accordingly up to 500 times a second to optimise stability. The Adaptive Dynamics controlling software has been precisely re-calibrated to suit F-TYPE Project 7, the Dynamic Stability Control system also having a unique state of tune.

Engaging Dynamic Mode delivers enhanced body control through firmer damping rates, increased steering weighting, faster gear changes and sharper throttle response. Dynamic Mode is configurable as standard via the central 8-inch touchscreen, allowing the driver to select and save settings according to their preference.

Torque Vectoring by Braking (TVbB), which intelligently and rapidly applies precise amounts of braking force to individual wheels to accurately sharpen the car’s line through a corner, is standard. TVbB works in conjunction with the Electronic Active Differential (which can go from open to full locking torque in 200 milliseconds) and the car’s Dynamic Stability Control system to optimise traction, cornering ability and, most importantly, to maximise steering feel and agility.

“Above all – F-TYPE Project 7 is fast… It uses all the key technologies we’ve proven on F-TYPE R Coupe to deliver absolute immediacy of response to all driver inputs, yet its focused nature has given us the opportunity to go further still,” says Mike Cross, Chief Engineer – Vehicle Integrity, Jaguar. “The result is a driving experience that’s pure and involving in every sense.”

Design

The Jaguar F-TYPE Project 7 retains the distinctive, minimalist design of the original 2013 concept. That design study was penned as a spare-time experiment that blended Jaguar’s rich racing heritage with its then-new, groundbreaking sports car line, the F-TYPE. Under Jaguar Director of Design, Ian Callum, the sketch – of a single-seater sports car with a swooping profile, muscular stance and cut-down windscreen – went from paper to digital model to the Goodwood hillclimb in the space of just a few months, and has now become a production car.

“F-TYPE Project 7 is the perfect example of how, as a design team, we can move quickly with our engineering colleagues to go from concept vehicle to production reality – we’ve pushed the boundaries of what’s possible without losing any purity of form,” says Ian Callum, Director of Design, Jaguar. “Modern, purposeful and with a stance that screams intent, F-TYPE Project 7 is the perfect contemporary embodiment of the D-type that inspired it.”

F-TYPE Project 7’s key ‘heartlines’ remain those of the World Car Design Award-winning F-TYPE sports car. They effortlessly blend with the D-type-inspired rear fairing section that incorporates a rollover hoop and swoops rearwards and down from behind the driver’s head. Being a two-seater, F-TYPE Project 7 features a second rollover hoop, behind the passenger seat.

Extensive aerodynamic modifications on F-TYPE Project 7 include an all-new front splitter, which has an upper section in carbon-fibre. Additionally, the side skirts, rear diffuser and adjustable rear spoiler are all made of carbon-fibre. These components together mean F-TYPE Project 7 generates 177% more downforce than F-TYPE Convertible at its top speed of 300km/h.

The rear deck, bonnet vents, side vent louvres and mirror caps are also all made of carbon-fibre. The windscreen length is reduced by 114mm, reducing overall height by 30.5mm, with new side windows to match the profile. A Bimini roof has been specially designed for F-TYPE Project 7. It clips on to the convertible header rail, and can be conveniently folded and, when not in use, stowed in the boot area – which offers 196 litres of load space.

The driver and passenger of F-TYPE Project 7 sit in lightweight race-inspired bucket seats, which are finished in a quilted racing-style diamond pattern. Four-point racing harnesses are available as an accessory. The interior features carbon-fibre veneer inserts on the console, an Alcantara steering wheel (with leather option), machined aluminium gearshift paddles and bespoke treadplates with the Project 7 logo.

Enhancing its unique appeal, the F-TYPE Project 7 will be hand-built to exacting standards by Special Operations, and offered in an exclusive, limited-edition production run of up to 250 units globally. Each car will sport a specially numbered plaque, located between the two seats, signed by Ian Callum.