Jaguar XFR Project Sabre

This is where the next chapter begins.

Our Jaguar XFR is already a long way removed from the car that originally left the factory. Over time, it has been developed into a seriously powerful performance Jaguar, with engine, supercharger, exhaust, cooling and calibration work pushing the car far beyond its standard specification.

The current performance build produces 720 bhp and 980 Nm, making this already one very quick XFR.

But outright power was never going to be the end of the story.

Now we’re taking the XFR in a completely different direction.

The Challenge

The brief is simple enough to say, although considerably harder to execute:

Turn our Jaguar XFR into a proper track car.

That means looking beyond horsepower and concentrating on everything that allows a car to actually use its performance.

Weight, chassis control, suspension, braking, seating position, grip and reliability all start to matter much more when a car moves away from fast road use and towards repeated hard driving on circuit.

The XFR gives us an interesting starting point too. It is a large, powerful Jaguar sports saloon, not an obvious lightweight track car. That’s exactly why we want to do it.

The Transformation Begins

The teaser gives the first glimpse at what’s coming.

Alongside the XFR sits a collection of parts that will help change its character completely, including race-focused seating, upgraded chassis components, Powerflex bushes and performance exhaust hardware.

This stage of the build will start moving the car away from its road-going roots and towards something much more purposeful.

The areas being developed include:

• Race-focused interior and seating
• Suspension and chassis upgrades
• Uprated bushes and mounting components
• Braking improvements
• Exhaust and performance hardware
• Wheels, tyres and track setup
• Weight reduction
• Alignment and geometry
• Further development as testing begins

The important part is how those changes work together. Making one part more capable often exposes the next limitation, which is why this project will be developed as a complete car.

Power Is Only Part of the Story

The XFR already has the power.

The next job is making sure the rest of the car can make proper use of it.

A track car needs to respond consistently under braking, direction changes and repeated hard acceleration. Suspension setup becomes critical. Tyre behaviour matters. Driver position matters. Cooling matters. Even small changes can alter how confident the car feels when it’s being pushed.

That makes this phase much more than simply fitting a collection of performance parts.

We’ll be building, setting up and testing the XFR, then using what we learn to keep improving it.

From Road Car to Track Weapon

This project isn’t being built simply to look like a race car.

We want to use it.

The teaser gives a nod to VIEZU’s previous motorsport history before posing the much more interesting question: what happens when we take everything we’ve learned about Jaguar performance and apply it to this car?

That’s what we’re about to find out.

As the transformation progresses, we’ll be documenting the installation, setup, testing and development of the XFR right here.

And You May Get to Drive It

There is another part of this project we’re particularly excited about.

The finished XFR isn’t intended to spend its life parked in the workshop. The plan is to get the car on track and give people the opportunity to experience what we’ve created from behind the wheel.

More on that as the build develops.

For now, the road-going XFR you see here is about to change considerably.

The power build is done. Now we’re building the track car.

The Jaguar XFR Gets Its Roll Cage

720 bhp. 980 Nm. And now a serious step towards becoming a track car.

Our Jaguar XFR Project Sabre has reached another milestone, with a visit to motorsport roll cage specialists Custom Cages for the installation of its new roll cage.

With the XFR already producing some impressive power, this latest stage of the build is all about preparing the car for what comes next: the track.

Stripping Back the Luxury

Turning a Jaguar XFR into a track-focused machine means making some pretty big changes.

The luxurious interior that once made this car such a comfortable performance saloon is being stripped back, removing unnecessary weight and making room for the equipment needed for its new role.

And the biggest visual change so far? That unmistakable blue roll cage!

A Visit to Custom Cages

We headed over to Custom Cages to have the roll cage fitted, and the results speak for themselves.

The bright blue cage now sits within the stripped interior, complete with rear cross-bracing and substantial structural tubing.

It’s a dramatic transformation, and one that really shows how far we’re taking this project.

The roll cage is an important part of the car’s motorsport preparation, providing the foundation for the next stages of the interior build, including race-focused seating and driver safety equipment.

What’s Next for Project Sabre?

With the cage installed, attention can turn to the next stages of the XFR’s transformation.

There’s still plenty to tackle, including suspension, braking, weight reduction, race-focused interior equipment and the all-important track setup.

The ambition remains the same: to take a 720 bhp Jaguar performance saloon and develop it into a capable, exciting track car.

We’ll be documenting the build as it progresses, so keep checking back to see what happens next!

Improving Airflow with Bonnet Box Louvres

More power means more heat, and keeping temperatures under control is an important part of preparing Project Sabre for the track.

The next stage of our Jaguar XFR race car transformation sees a new addition to the bonnet, with a set of box louvres being fitted to help improve airflow and heat management.

With Project Sabre producing an impressive 720 bhp and 980 Nm, managing the heat generated by its supercharged V8 is particularly important, especially when the car is being pushed hard on track.

Keeping Things Cool Under Pressure

The new bonnet louvres are designed to provide an additional exit path for hot air from the engine bay, helping to improve ventilation and potentially reduce heat build-up during demanding driving conditions.

It’s another carefully considered modification as we continue developing the XFR for its new life on the circuit.

And let’s be fair, they give the Jaguar a much more purposeful motorsport appearance too!

Another Step Towards the Track

Following the installation of the roll cage at Custom Cages, the bonnet modifications mark another stage in Project Sabre’s transformation from luxury performance saloon to track-focused machine.

There’s still plenty of work ahead, and we’re looking forward to sharing the next stages of the build.

Keep following Project Sabre as our 720 bhp Jaguar XFR takes shape!