Jaguar's bespoke Project 7 concept - based on the acclaimed F-Type - will debut at the 2013 Goodwood Festival of Speed on Friday, the 12th of July, with a blue paintwork that is reminiscent of the victorious Jaguar D-types of 1956/1957. Project 7's name acknowledges Jaguar's winning of Le Mans seven times between 1951-1990 - a record for a British manufacturer.
The D-type inspired rear fairing section incorporates a rollover hoop and swoops down from behind the driver's head. The roof system has been completely removed.
Bespoke carbon fibre components like a new front splitter, side skirts and rear diffuser are featured while a new nose design incorporates revised air intakes and headlights with gloss black surrounds instead of chrome. The windshield is also lowered and the front bumpers have been restyled.
In the cockpit, the driver sits in a composite bucket seat, lowered by 30mm, and is gripped by a four-point racing harness. The passenger seat is replaced by a unique helmet holder, which carries a custom designed Project 7 helmet in matching blue paint and graphics, secured by its own harness.
The seat and the insides of the doors are finished in a quilted racing-style diamond pattern. There are carbon fibre inserts on the console and SportShift lever, the start-stop button is gloss black and the steering wheel is equipped with machined aluminium paddles.
Unlike most concepts, Project 7 is fully functional. The F-Type's rigid all-aluminium architecture is complemented by a 5.0-litre supercharged V8 engine rated at 542bhp and 680Nm of torque - an increase of 88bhp and 55Nm over the F-Type V8 S.
In addition to power increase, which is delivered to the rear wheels through Jaguar's eight-speed Quickshift transmission and electronic active differential, Project 7 also features a free-flow exhaust system with a ceramic finish, 10mm lower ride height and a unique spring/damper tune.
"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," said Mike Cross, Chief Engineer, Vehicle Integrity, Jaguar.
Under Director of Design, Ian Callum, Project 7 went from being an experimental sketch by Jaguar designer Cesar Pieri to the track in just four months.
"When I saw this sketch of a low-screen, single-seat F-Type, I felt enthused by it and wanted to take it further. I encouraged Cesar and Alister Whelan, Jaguar's Chief Designer, to take it to the next stage and develop a workable concept, and with the support of key departments across the business, Project 7 was born," commented Ian Callum.
Following digital modelling, a clay model of Project 7 was produced. With time before Goodwood short, Jaguar's engineering team worked closely with the design team to ensure that the build stayed true to the concept.
