The Jaguar XE SV Project 8 has dominated the speed record for production sedans at Laguna Seca by almost a second with Randy Pobst pushing it around the track in just 1:37:54. That beats out the Cadillac CTS-V by almost a second, the Alfa Romeo Quadrifoglio by nearly two seconds, the BMW M5 by 2.4 seconds, and the Mercedes-AMG C63S by nearly three seconds. All of this is actually pretty impressive with the exception of one thing – the Project 8 might be a production car, but it’s hardly that. Its production run is limited to just 300 units, and it’s so heavily modified that it’s really not fair to compare it to the mass-produced models that it just beat.

Lets lake the CTS-V, for example. Sure, it’s a modified version of the CTS, but it’s not modified to the extent that it is that different. The same thing goes for the Alfa Romeo Quadrifoglio, the M5, and the C63 S. They are all badass sedans, sure, but the Project 8 has a special distinction – only the front doors and roof panel are original. Everything else from the XE it’s based on has been replaced or manipulated in one way or another. That’s not the case with any of the cars that now, sadly, sit below the Project 8 at Laguna Seca. The Project 8 pumps out 592 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque from a 5.0-liter V-8. Do you think you can even get a V-8 in the XE, even in its highest trim? Sorry, not gonna happen. Oh, and the Project 8 cost more than three times that of the range-topping XE S AWD trim level. So, Jaguar wants a pat on the back for breaking the “production sedan” record at Laguna Seca, but the fact of the matter is that it had to use a limited-run car that’s heavily modified to do it. We’re not impressed one bit. This is hardly a production sedan. When Jaguar can beat out the competition with a mass-produced car, then maybe we’ll talk.

But, I digress. Even if this record-breaking run is a ferociously obnoxious pile of PR crap stinking up our office, Randy Pobst was behind the wheel, and it’s always a blast to watch this man drive. So, we’ve posted the video here for you to watch and enjoy.

Jaguar SE SV Project 8 Laguna Seca Record-Breaking Run

Further reading

Read our full review on the 2018 Jaguar XE SV Project 8.

Read more Jaguar news.