Jaguar Project 7 concept is an F-Type in a D-Type mold [w/video]

Wed, 10 Jul 2013

In addition to the XJR, XFR-S and XKR-S GT models Jaguar is bringing to the Goodwood Festival of Speed this weekend, the manufacturer announced that the F-Type-based, D-Type-inspired Project 7 design study will make its "dynamic" debut at the festival, with driving duties assigned to Mike Cross, Jaguar's chief engineer of vehicle integrity. Here's the cool part: With Jaguar's Director of Design, Ian Callum, leading the team responsible for Project 7, it went from the drawing board to track testing in only four months, Jaguar states, with a claimed 0-60 time of 4.1 seconds and top speed of 186 miles per hour.

Project 7, which was named in honor of Jaguar's seven wins at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, will be making runs up the hill at Goodwood over all three days of the festival, which starts at the Goodwood House in West Sussex, England, this Friday.

Far from a fragile concept car, Jaguar says, the single-seat Project 7 is a fully functional sports car. It uses the all-aluminum chassis and body of the F-Type, retains that car's 550-horsepower, supercharged 5.0-liter V8 and eight-speed automatic transmission but features lots of bespoke carbon fiber aerodynamic bits, some of which were inspired by the Le Mans-winning D-Type of the 1950s. The most obvious nod to that classic is the rear fairing with integrated rollover hoop – the F-Type's convertible top is gone. The windshield was also lowered, giving the roadster a more rakish silhouette as it sits on 20-inch forged-alloy wheels with carbon fiber inserts.

The driver sits on a composite seat lowered by 1.2 inches compared to the production F-Type and is anchored to it by a four-point racing harness. The passenger seat was replaced with a helmet holder, which demonstrates that the car really does have the purity of purpose Jaguar claims it has and would give us an excuse not to bring any weight-adding passengers along for a ride – if we ever had the opportunity to drive it, that is. Scroll down below for the official press release and a video.

At-a-glance

- Project 7 was created by the team led by Jaguar Director of Design Ian Callum as a one-off design study based on the new 2014 Jaguar F-TYPE

- Jaguar Project 7 will make a dynamic debut at the 2013 Goodwood Festival of Speed

- Project 7 is an all-aluminum bodied roadster featuring a Jaguar D-Type inspired fairing, bespoke carbon-fiber aerodynamic components, and a single-seat cockpit

- Powered by a 5-liter supercharged Jaguar V8 engine with 550hp, Project 7 will reach 60mph in 4.1 seconds and attain a top speed of 186mph

- Project 7 will be driven at Goodwood by Mike Cross, Chief Engineer, Vehicle Integrity, Jaguar

(MAHWAH, N.J.) - July 9, 2013- The Jaguar Project 7 concept will make a dynamic debut at the 2013 Goodwood Festival of Speed on July 12. This concept vehicle is based on the 2014 Jaguar F-TYPE, an all-new, two-seat convertible sports car and winner of the 2013 'World Car Design of the Year' award.

"Project 7 is a single-seat sports car based on the F-TYPE, with the kind of racing-inspired form that designers dream about. It has one purpose: to be driven fast and enjoyed.Jaguar sports cars are known for exceptional performance and clean design. Project 7 captures that spirit in its purest form."

- Ian Callum, Director of Design, Jaguar

Project 7's name acknowledges Jaguar's winning of Le Mans seven times between 1951-1990, and its blue paintwork is reminiscent of the victorious Jaguar D-type cars of 1956/1957.

"The overriding dynamic aim when developing the F-TYPE was ensuring connected feel; it's a true, driver-focused sports car; agile, immediate, fast and, of course, fun. Having achieved that for the road, 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."

- Mike Cross, Chief Engineer, Vehicle Integrity, Jaguar

Project 7 is not a static concept, but a fully-functional, high-performance sports car. The F-TYPE's rigid all-aluminum architecture provides the perfect starting point, with power supplied by a 550hp supercharged 5-liter Jaguar V8 engine. This power is delivered to the rear wheels through an eight-speed ZF transmission with "Quickshift" technology, and an active electronically controlled limited slip differential. Project 7 also features a free-flow exhaust system with a ceramic finish, 10mm lower ride height and a custom-calibrated spring/damper tune.

"Jaguar's sporting bloodline and innovative ambition are perfectly embodied by Project 7, both through its sensual design, and its shattering performance. Project 7's Goodwood debut will provide a great stage to showcase the creativity of our design and engineering teams."

- Adrian Hallmark, Global Brand Director, Jaguar

Project 7: A story of passion

Under Director of Design, Ian Callum, who constantly challenges his team to push the boundaries of design, Project 7 went from being an experimental sketch by Jaguar designer Cesar Pieri to the track in just four months.

Bringing to bear his love for cars and motorsport, his passion for Jaguar's heritage, and his familiarity with the F-TYPE, Pieri drew a single-seat sports car with a swooping profile, cut-down windscreen and race-inspired livery.

"When I saw this sketch of a low-screen, single-seat F-TYPE, I felt enthused by it and wanted to take it further. As designers, our very purpose is to disrupt - to turn the norm on its head and see if it still works - and here at Jaguar, we love to push the boundaries. As a team our challenge was to take this gem of an idea, work within the limitations of production feasibility, and create something worthwhile. So I encouraged Cesar and Alister Whelan, Chief Designer, Jaguar, 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."

- Ian Callum, Director of Design, Jaguar

Following digital modeling, a clay model of Project 7 was produced. With that signed off, the Jaguar engineering team worked closely with the design team to ensure that the build stayed true to the concept.

The F-TYPE's two key design 'heartlines' remain. The most prominent change is the new D-T ype-inspired rear fairing section that incorporates a rollover hoop and swoops down from behind the driver. The convertible top system has been deleted.

Aerodynamic modifications include a carbon-fiber front air splitter, side skirts, large rear diffuser and a fixed rear spoiler with a 14-degree angle of attack, giving Project 7 a low muscular stance. The side louvers and bonnet vents are also carbon-fiber, while the carbon-fiber and aluminum mirrors draw inspiration from those on Jaguar's C-X16 sports car concept, which inspired the F-TYPE.

The windshield has been lowered, while a new front fascia design incorporates revised air intakes and headlights with gloss black surrounds. The car sits on 20-inch forged-alloy wheels with carbon-fiber inserts.

The cockpit of Project 7 is no less impressive than its exterior. The driver sits in a composite bucket seat, which is 1.2 inches lower than the stock seat, and is gripped by a four-point racing harness. The passenger seat is replaced by a custom fabricated 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-fiber inserts on the console and shift lever, and the steering wheel is equipped with machined aluminum paddles.

"When you look at this car, it has got an enormous amount of appeal. It's just full of desire - you can see that its sole purpose is to be enjoyed. Project 7 is a very special car - not just because it's a one-off, but because of its purity of purpose. It's pure Jaguar."

- Ian Callum, Director of Design, Jaguar

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JAGUAR PROJECT 7: TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS*

ENGINE & TRANSMISSION

Engine Capacity (cc): 5000
Cylinders: 8
Valves per cylinder: 4
Compression ratio: 9.5:1
Bore/stroke (mm): 92.5/93.0
Bore/stroke (inches): 3.64/3.66
Transmission: Eight-speed ZF transmission with 'Quickshift' technology

PERFORMANCE

0-60mph (sec): 4.1
50-75mph (sec): 2.4
Top speed: 186 MPH (electronically limited)
Power (HP@rpm): 550 @ 6500
Torque (lb ft@rpm): 502 @ 2500-5500
Wheels: 20-inch "Blade" forged-alloy
Tires: Pirelli P Zero 255/30/20 (front) / 295/30/20 (rear)

*ALL FIGURES ARE MANUFACTURER'S ESTIMATES

- Project 7 will be in action on the hill over all three days of the Goodwood Festival of Speed: Friday, July 12, 2013 through Sunday July 14, 2013

- Other Jaguar models in action on the hill include: XJR, XFR-S and XKR-S GT

- Jaguar has won Le Mans seven times:

1951: C-Type: Peter Walker, Peter Whitehead
1953: C-Type: Tony Rolt, Duncan Hamilton
1955: D-Type: Mike Hawthorn, Ivor Bueb
1956: D-Type: Ron Flockhart, Ninian Sanderson
1957: D-Type: Ron Flockhart, Ivor Bueb
1988: XJR-9LM: Jan Lammers, Johnny Dumfries, Andy Wallace
1990: XJR-12: John Nielsen, Price Cobb, Martin Brundle

By Damon Lowney