2019 Jaguar XE SV

When you set out to obliterate a record, the sky is the limit when it comes to cost, time, and engineering. The regular Jaguar XE is what we've reviewed as a disappointing, but still attractive, four-door sedan. Boasting the accolade of being the fastest four-door production car in the world, however, with a Nurburgring lap time of 7:21.23, the Jaguar XE SV Project 8 is a little less disappointing. The record has since been re-broken, with around three seconds shaved off that astonishing time. With a 5.0-liter supercharged V8 producing 592 hp and 516 lb-ft of torque, this all-wheel-drive rocket can accelerate from 0-60 mph in just 3.3 seconds. The eight-speed automatic gearbox that does duty in other XEs has been recalibrated to allow for even quicker shifts, allowing you to instill fear in each of your three travel companions (the Project 8 loses one seating position). However, with an eye-watering price that is nigh on $190,000, one has to really love the Jag to justify its purchase.

The 2019 XE SV Project 8 is only available in limited numbers, and as such, Jaguar felt that a high asking price was feasible. The base price is a whopping $187,500 before a $995 destination charge. Although purchasing one requires an application process to be fulfilled, we suspect that a fully loaded model would easily exceed $200,000.

With so much emphasis on performance, it would be almost acceptable for the Project 8 to be completely devoid of any inclination to good manners. However, Jaguar fitted it with adaptive dampers too, allowing it to maintain a semblance of usability on the road. Typically, switching to Track mode will firm these dampers up more than their default setting does, but this is literally far too firm for anything but a glasslike surface. Unfortunately, even in its most laidback mode, the Project 8 wants to corner flat and just turn as quickly as possible, meaning that comfort has indeed been pushed to the wayside. On the plus side, the steering is direct and full of feel, the front tires communicating clearly through the sueded steering wheel. Braking is taken care of with a set of carbon-ceramic rotors that measure 15.7 inches in front and a fractionally smaller 15.6 inches at the rear. Reversing the effects of that insane engine is easy when you have stopping power like this, with good pedal feel and incredible response bringing the sports sedan to a stop quicker than expected. It's not all perfect, though, as throwing the Project 8 into a corner without first figuring out where the balance should be and overdoing the throttle won't result in the kind of predictable all-wheel-drive oversteer that a BMW product will exhibit, so understeer can be a problem if you're not prepared for it.

The Jaguar XE SV Project 8 is going to take some time to explain when someone asks what you drive. Not only does it have a ludicrously long name, justifying a $187,000 British four-door that doesn't bear an Aston Martin badge is likely to be quite a difficult task. Let's start with the looks. Although this is subjective, you don't have to pay extra for a Touring package that tones down the boy-racer styling slightly. That aside, the interior is downright disappointing in almost every way. Yes, you get suede on the steering wheel and on the instrument cluster binnacle and door cards, but other than that, the Project 8 looks largely the same as a regular XE. The rear seats are almost useless unless your friends are all height-impaired, and the ride is firmer than the glass on the Tesla Cybertruck. The engine is phenomenal and the gearbox works brilliantly, and on a track, the mechanical grip is phenomenal, with lateral maneuvers dispatched with alarming efficiency. It's also a cool anecdote to be able to own a car of which only 300 examples are in existence; but for us, something a little less hardcore and a little more affordable seems the smarter choice.

Since numbers are limited and the price is lofty, prospective buyers will have to act fast if they want to get one of these special cars. If we had the funds and were so masochistic in our views of ride comfort that we were inclined to purchase one, we'd certainly opt for the Touring package if possible. The more restrained and slightly more subtle design would be welcome in conjunction with an iconic British Racing Green paint job. In addition, there are very few tracks where the top speed of 186 mph could be exploited, let alone the standard car's 200 mph. We'd also consider opting for the adaptive cruise control and forward-collision warning add-ons, as replacing this car in the event of a crash would be near impossible.

The BMW M3 is discontinued for 2019 until the new model arrives, so its coupe brother, the M4 CS, is another car you can consider. Starting at $103,100, this sports coupe is one of Germany's finest machines. Powered by a 3.0-liter straight-six engine with two turbochargers, the Bimmer produces 454 hp and 442 lb-ft of torque. A seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission handles gear changes, and all of the output goes to the rear wheels. Despite this, it's almost as quick as the Jag, dispatching the 0-60 mph sprint in 3.7 seconds. Top speed is limited to 174 mph, however, and the M4 CS has a Nurburgring lap time that lags behind that of the Project 8, managing it in seven minutes and 38 seconds. Nevertheless, this is the car we'd choose. It's far more comfortable, has a much more upscale interior, and it's a riot to drive - even when you're not at maximum attack.

Already one of the greats, the Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio has been lauded, not just for its gorgeous sheet metal, but for its astonishingly good performance. At a base price of $74,245, it's less than half the price of the Project 8. With a 2.9-liter twin-turbo V6, it's naturally less powerful too, producing 505 hp, but its eight-speed auto sends power to the rear wheels, making it far more entertaining and fun to drive. The interior is awash with carbon fiber, Alcantara, and leather, and although not all of the materials are up to the standard set by German rivals, it's far more justifiable here because of its price. Also, it's Italian, and you can't help but forgive those olive oil fanatics for being absent-minded when finishing the car. Based on its looks alone, we'd take the Alfa, but with a 0-60 time of 3.9 seconds and a frenetic top speed of 191 mph, the decision is even easier. The Jag may have all the boxes ticked, and it may be a faster machine, but it lacks soul.