The XE SV Mission eight just isn’t Jaguar’s reply to the BMW M3 or Mercedes-AMG C63 S. It is a ballistic, one-off, limited-production super-sedan, and the one factor louder than its exhaust word is its look.

The Mission eight is a Automobile that is exhausting to like at first. Asking it to play good in visitors is like asking Gallagher to easily cube a watermelon — this automobile is consistently goading you to provide it hell and unleash its V8 energy. It is an absolute menace, and at its finest when pushed like one.

Solely 300 of those XE SV Mission eight sedans will likely be offered globally, every one a hand-built creation that showcases the most effective of what Jaguar can engineer into its efficiency automobiles. The large, great physique panels are all distinctive to the Mission eight; solely the door innards and roof are shared with the usual XE. The honeycomb air intakes are punched proper into the physique panels, and a overwhelming majority of the outside bits are produced from carbon fiber. The lengthy entrance splitter may have you crawling when exiting each driveway, and the flat, rear diffuser extensions gather the pebbles these meaty rear tires kick up. That vast, rear wing may appear like it has been ripped off a Subaru WRX STI Sort RA, but it surely’s adjustable, and offers elevated downforce to maintain the XE’s rump the place it belongs at greater speeds.

Energy comes from one among my favourite engines: Jaguar’s supercharged, 5.Zero-liter V8, with the wick turned as much as ship 592 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque. Jaguar claims the XE Mission eight will speed up to 60 mph in three.three seconds and crest 200 mph on the highest finish. An eight-speed automated transmission fires off fast, crisp shifts if you’re in full-on assault, but easily and imperceptibly fades into the background if you’re simply cruising on the freeway.

However once more, day by day driving just isn’t what this automobile does finest. Even with Consolation mode engaged, you continue to really feel each bump and pavement imperfection. Toggle the drive setting to Sport and the powertrain livens up properly, however the suspension will get even stiffer. Monitor mode, in the meantime, is so extremely harsh that Jaguar’s PR workforce emailed me earlier than my mortgage of this automobile and strongly beneficial I not apply it to the road. Only for kicks, I did, and may verify that their logic is sound.

Thank goodness, then, for the graceful, canyon roads simply north of Los Angeles. Out right here, the Mission eight is a goddamn dream. It assaults each nook with unbelievable poise and tenacity, the Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires providing seemingly countless grip as I push tougher and tougher by way of turns. The chassis that was at first too taut for commuting is now completely honed to maintain the Jag flat and balanced by way of corners, with tons of suggestions making its approach up by way of the suede-rimmed steering wheel.

These cat graphics… yeesh.

Steven Ewing/Roadshow

The Mission eight combines all the facility supply traits of a balls-out muscle automobile with the kind of tactility you’d count on from a track-ready performer. You’ll be able to really feel the sedan’s weight switch by way of the steering wheel. The all-wheel drive system is not so overprotective that it will not let the rear finish step out when provoked. The large, 15.7-inch entrance and 15.6-inch rear carbon-ceramic brakes supply unrelenting stopping pressure with no overly grabby tendencies. And in the event you do not drive this factor with the game exhaust activated, you are a idiot.

It is exhausting to seek out actual fault with the Mission eight from a efficiency standpoint. It’s a great canyon-carver; a ferocious beast that by no means permits you to down when pushed exhausting. I really like nearly every thing in regards to the Mission eight therapy, proper right down to its carbon fiber extensions. I will admit the leaping-cat graphic therapy just isn’t precisely my type — OK, I hate it — however I additionally form of applaud Jaguar for doing one thing so visually uncivilized.

My issues with this automobile aren’t consultant of the Mission eight therapy, however fairly, the XE itself. Do not forget, this automobile relies on the pre-refresh 2019 mannequin, so it would not profit from numerous the 2020 mannequin 12 months updates that make the XE a a lot better total bundle.

The Mission eight would not have the 2020 XE’s up to date inside.

Steven Ewing/Roadshow

Wild and loopy as the outside styling is, I want Jaguar would have completed extra to the XE’s cabin for Mission eight obligation. It largely carries over unchanged from the usual XE, except for the addition of light-weight, supportive entrance bucket seats and a few extra soft-touch supplies. A two-place inside structure with a roll cage, carbon-fiber seats and racing harness is accessible for Mission eight sedans in different international locations, however cannot be ordered within the US.

Meaning you are left with the identical lackluster cabin as every other XE, with not-so-great plastics and people three-tier entrance door panels that solely serve to make the inside really feel extra cramped than it already is. With the entrance seats adjusted to accommodate average-sized adults, the rear compartment lacks legroom, and the small again doorways make the automobile exhausting to get out and in of.

In-car know-how is dealt with by Jaguar’s InControl Contact Professional system, housed on a 10-inch display screen within the middle stack. This method is as hit-or-miss right here as it’s in every other Jaguar — it is colourful and vibrant, positive, however is usually laggy and unresponsive to instructions. A digital instrument cluster can be commonplace, with reconfigurable shows, but it surely, too, lacks the modernity of comparable tech from Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz and others.

That vast, carbon fiber wing is adjustable.

Steven Ewing/Roadshow

In fact, nobody’s shopping for the XE SV Mission eight for its consolation and comfort options. And nobody’s shopping for it as a result of it is a discount, both. You may wish to sit down for this half: The 2019 Jaguar XE SV Mission eight prices $187,500, not together with $995 for vacation spot. Meaning it is $112,900 costlier than the aforementioned Mercedes C63 S. It prices as a lot as a Porsche 911 GT3 RS.

There’s completely no rational cause to purchase the Jaguar XE SV Mission eight. However then once more, there was no rational cause for Jaguar to construct it within the first place. I can not fault any well-heeled purchaser for plunking down on the prospect to personal one thing so loony and lovable. I may not perceive why somebody would pay this a lot for one now, however in 30 years after I’m drooling over a well-kept Mission eight at some automobile present, I will be glad they did.