Jaguar F-Type Project 7 concept set for Goodwood

Jaguar will reveal a new F-Type design study at this weekend’s Goodwood Festival of Speed in the UK. Christened ‘Project 7’, the concept features retro-themed race livery and several other performance enhancements over the recently launched F-Type convertible.

The most noticeable change is a pronounced driver’s headrest fairing, referencing the early aerodynamic element used by the D-Type racer of the 1950s.

A close look at the fairing line shows it appears to echo the profile of recently spied F-Type Coupe prototypes – likely an intentional nod to the upcoming hardtop. 

According to Jaguar design chief Ian Callum, the Project 7’s premise is more simple: "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."

Other Project 7 enhancements include a more aggressive front apron, plus carbon fibre sideskirts, rear diffuser rear-view mirrors, and a tall bootlid spoiler.

The front apron --with larger openings than the standard F-Type--appears quite production-ready and could find its way onto the upcoming F-Type R performance model. The remaining enhancements could find their way onto more extreme F-Type R-S, and F-Type R-S GT models further down the track.

The Project 7’s suspension has also been dropped 10mm, and black 20 inch Blade forged alloys wear tyres with Jaguar white lettering on their sidewalls. The F-Type’s windscreen has also been lowered for a more raked profile, and the folding roof mechanism has also been ditched to make way for the headrest fairing. 

The Project 7’s 5.0 litre supercharged V8 has been upgraded to match the 404kW/680Nm of the existing XFR-S and XKR-S models – up 42kW and 55Nm over the existing F-Type V8 S, and could also hint at the F-Type R's spec. Purists will be disappointed that the F-Type’s eight-speed auto transmission remains for the Project 7, suggesting that the F-Type R will also be a two-pedal affair. Nonetheless, Jaguar claims 0-96km/h acceleration in 4.1 seconds and a top speed of 300km/h – figures which would likely satisfy any potential F-Type R owner.

On the inside, the driver’s seat has been replaced by a composite bucket race seat, with the passenger seat replaced altogether by a harnessed helmet holder, and the whole lot trimmed in diamond-quilted leather. The Project 7’s name refers to Jaguar’s seven Le Mans 24 hour race wins between 1951-1990, and its blue paintwork is an homage to the 1956/57 Le Mans-winning D-Type racers. 

The Project 7 will make its first public outing along the Goodwood hillclimb route this weekend, at the hands of Jaguar’s chief chassis engineer Mike Cross.

This reporter is on Twitter: @Mal_Flynn