The F-TYPE Project 7, the latest model in the acclaimed Jaguar F-TYPE sports car range, made its debut at the 2014 Goodwood Festival of Speed on June 26.
The F-TYPE Project 7 is the first Jaguar performance vehicle from Jaguar Land Rover’s Special Operations team, and will be produced in an exclusive, limited-edition run of up to 250 units globally. Its distinctive roadster body, introduced in concept form last summer, pays tribute to one of the most famous and iconic racing Jaguar cars: the three-time Le Mans winning D-type, which in 2014 is celebrating its 60th anniversary year. The naming of the F-TYPE Project 7 pays homage to seven outright Jaguar Le Mans wins.
“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. F-TYPE Project 7 is a perfect example of one such product. It’s the most powerful production Jaguar vehicle ever built, and pays homage to seven outright Jaguar Le Mans victories with distinctive design cues inspired by the Jaguar D-type which celebrates its 60th anniversary this year,” says John Edwards, Managing Director, Jaguar Land Rover Special Operations.
Engineering
The Special Vehicle Operations-engineered F-TYPE Project 7 is powered by a 5.0-liter supercharged V8 engine producing 575 hp (an increase of 25 hp over the F-TYPE R Coupé). 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 shift characteristics.
This enables the lightweight, all-aluminum bodied roadster – which, at 3,495 lbs, weighs 176 lbs less than the F-TYPE V8 S Convertible – to accelerate from 0-60mph in just 3.8 seconds, with an electronically-limited top speed of 186mph.
F-TYPE Project 7 features a switchable Active Sport 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. Carbon Ceramic Matrix (CCM) brakes – with 15.7″ front and 15.0″ rear discs allied to six- and four-piston monobloc calipers respectively.
Made from a matrix of carbon-fiber 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 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 give increased negative camber, 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 is designed to actively control 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 optimize 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 via the central 8-inch touchscreen, allowing the driver to select and save settings according to their preference.
Torque Vectoring by Braking (TVbB), designed to intelligently and rapidly apply 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 optimize traction, cornering ability and, most importantly, to maximize 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. The result is a driving experience that’s pure and involving in every sense,” says Mike Cross, Chief Engineer – Vehicle Integrity, Jaguar.
Design
The Jaguar F-TYPE Project 7 retains the distinctive, minimalist design of the original 2013 concept. The concept car blended a Jaguar rich racing heritage with a new groundbreaking sports car line, the F-TYPE. Under Jaguar Director of Design, Ian Callum, the sketch of a single-seater sports car went from paper to reality in the space of just a few months, and will 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. 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,” says Ian Callum, Director of Design, Jaguar.
The key ‘heartlines’ of the F-TYPE Project 7 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 a front splitter with a lower section made of polymer and an upper section in carbon-fiber. Side skirts, rear diffuser and an adjustable rear spoiler are all made of carbon-fiber. These components together mean the F-TYPE Project 7 generates 177% more downforce than F-TYPE Convertible at its top speed of 186mph.
The rear deck, hood vents, side vent louvers and mirror caps are also all made of carbon-fiber. 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 trunk.
The interior features carbon-fiber inserts on the console, machined aluminum gearshift paddles and bespoke treadplates with the Project 7 logo.
Each F-TYPE Project 7 will be hand-built to exacting standards by Special Operations, and offered in an exclusive, limited-edition production capped at 250 units globally. These cars will sport a commemorative plaque, located between the two seats, featuring Ian Callum’s signature.
F-TYPE Project 7, whose name acknowledges Jaguar’s seven historic Le Mans race wins, will be offered in five metallic colors: Ultra Blue, Caldera Red, British Racing Green (all with white graphics options), Ultimate Black and Glacier White (both with grey graphics options).
