Skip to main content

Jaguar’s SVO could make a stand-alone performance car, says division chief

2016 Jaguar F-TYPE AWD S Coupe
As much as we get excited about all cars big and small, we’re particularly giddy when an automaker rolls out a vehicle from its performance division. That car will be the one built to its fullest performance potential, straight from the source. The only thing more thrilling, though, is when they’re allowed to cut loose and build their own stand-alone vehicle from the ground up, and it’s something Jaguar is considering for its Special Vehicle Operations unit.

In a conversation with Bloomberg, John Edwards, head of the performance unit that they’re “certainly looking in to that.”

Recommended Videos

It would be a step in line with Mercedes-Benz’s production of cars like the AMG GT and the SLS before it.

“We’ve got the capability to do that,” He continues. “Is there an opportunity for us to do a completely stand-alone car? Maybe.”

The Jaguar C-X75
The Jaguar C-X75

It’s a coy answer to something that could have a lot of potential. While it wouldn’t be a huge boost in sales, it would be an opportunity to “stretch the Jaguar Land Rover brand” with a halo car not derived from an existing vehicle.

A vision of this would be the cancelled C-X75 concept vehicle, a high powered hybrid that would’ve rivaled the likes of the Porsche 918. There’s been a recent resurgence of the car’s profile as it is a featured vehicle in the upcoming new installment of the James Bond film series, SPECTRE.

Perhaps this is what spurred Jaguar to consider its own standalone car. Maybe seeing its former owner Ford unify all its performance cars under one brand and produce the new GT played a part in the decision. There’s no way to know for sure, but we’d love to see what a bad kitty Jaguar’s SVO could put together if given the chance.

Alexander Kalogianni
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Alex K is an automotive writer based in New York. When not at his keyboard or behind the wheel of a car, Alex spends a lot of…
These new NASA EVs will drive astronauts part way to the moon (sort of)
NASA's new crew transportation electric vehicles.

Three specially designed, fully electric, environmentally friendly crew transportation vehicles for Artemis missions arrived at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida this week. The zero-emission vehicles, which will carry astronauts to Launch Complex 39B for Artemis missions, were delivered by Canoo Technologies of Torrance, California. NASA/Isaac Watson

NASA has shown off a trio of new all-electric vehicles that will shuttle the next generation of lunar astronauts to the launchpad at the Kennedy Space Center.

Read more
5 upcoming EVs I’m excited for, from luxury SUVs to budget champions
Lotus Eletre

Almost every major automaker has released an EV by now -- or plans to soon -- and makers like Ford and Kia already have a variety to choose from. But if you haven't found one that's right for you yet, hang tight. There are dozens of announced electric car models that have yet to come out, and it's clear that the future of EVs is bright.

From longer range to lower prices, the next batch of EVs gives us plenty to get excited about. Here are five upcoming EVs that we can't wait to drive.
Volvo EX30

Read more
Tesla shows off first Cybertruck after two years of delays
The first Cybertruck built at Tesla's Giga Texas facility.

The first Cybertruck built at Tesla's Giga Texas facility. Tesla

Tesla has shown off the first Cybertruck to roll off the production line at its new Gigafactory plant in Austin, Texas.

Read more