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DRAG RACE | Mercedes-AMG E63 S v Jaguar Project 8

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Jag vs Merc drag race. Image: Youtube
Jag vs Merc drag race. Image: Youtube

• V8-powered four-door performance car drag race. 

• The Mercedes-AMG E63 S takes on the limited-edition Jaguar XE SV Project 8. 

• The Jaguar was only configured in left-hand drive, and only 300 were built. 

Two V8-powered four-door performance cars do battle in Carwow's latest drag race. Germany is represented in the form of a Mercedes-AMG E63 S wagon while Jaguar flies the British (or is that Indian?) flag with its limited-edition XE SV Project 8. 

The Merc produces fractionally more power than the Jaguar, but the German loses out on the scale by weighing over 300 kilograms more than the XE SV. 

Before we get to the drag race, let's get under the skin and learn more about these cars.

Mercedes-AMG E63 S 

The Mercedes-AMG E63 S model, produces 450kW and 850Nm from a 4.0-litre biturbo motor. The top speed is 300km/h and it'll reach 100km/h from standstill in 3.4 seconds. 

It weighs close to two tons and tips the scale at 1940 kilograms. 

The E63's nine-speed automatic gearbox transfers the power to the 4Matic all-wheel drive system. For the recent update, the E63 uses 20-inch five-twin-spoke light-alloy wheels. 

And while the big Merc can hit over 300km/h, it still needs to be comfortable. The carmaker has updated the adaptive damping system with revisions to the special spring and damper setup to offer a more comfortable ride than its predecessor.  

The V8 AMG models sound incredible, in fact they made an even better noise before they became turbocharged. Nevertheless, if there is one car that can equal it in terms of theater, it's the Jag. 

Jaguar Project 8 

Unveiled in 2017, and making its world debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed that same year, the XE SV Project 8 is one of the most powerful Jaguar's ever built. 

Limited to 300 cars, all these cars were hand-assembled at SVO's Technical Centre in Coventry. The XE SV Project 8 is only available in left-hand drive and none are destined for sale in South Africa.

Powered by the most highly-tuned 441kW version of Jaguar's 5.0-litre Supercharged V8, the all-wheel-drive Project 8 is capable of 0-100km/h in 3.7 seconds and a top speed of 320km/h.

The Jag weighs 1670kg. 

Project 8 also features a fully-enclosed flat underbody for enhanced aerodynamics, which is key to its performance. In 2019 the XE SV Project 8  set the fastest Nürburgring Nordschleife lap time for a four-door production car: 7min 18.361sec, beating its own record set in 2017 by 2.9 seconds. 

Carwow says: "Mat's sat in the most expensive Jaguar around - the XE SV Project 8! Limited to only 300 models, this almighty Jag is powered by a 5.0-litre supercharged V8 that can produce a 441kW and 700Nm of torque! As for the E63? Well, it comes in almost 300kg heavier than the Jag, but thanks to the 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 under the bonnet, it can produce 450kW and 850Nm of torque!" 

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