Off-road specialist Bowler has revealed its first project since its acquisition by Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) late in 2019,. It’s a new addition - the first to the Bowler line-up since 2016 - that will see the old Defender shape continue in an official capacity.
The model being developed by Bowler goes by the codename CSP 575, and is a high-performance take on the classic Defender 110 that will be produced in limited numbers from 2021. It will be built at Bowler’s Belper headquarters in Derbyshire, and not at an existing JLR site.
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Prices are set to start from around the £200,000 mark and though it will still be a highly-specialist off-road performance vehicle, Bowler says that the new Defender 110 Station Wagon ‘road-going’ model that will broaden the appeal of the brand beyond motorsport. To that end, alongside the full roll-cage, the CSP 575 will feature seating for four, and even creature comforts like air conditioning.
According to these first official renderings (the car won’t be revealed fully until 2021), The CSP 575 combines the Defender 110’s original silhouette with a Bowler developed high-strength steel chassis. The widened tracks are highlighted by massively flared wheel arches, while power is provided by JLR’s 5.0-litre supercharged V8, here producing 567bhp.
Beyond the engine, the CSP 575 will integrate further components developed by JLR’s Special Vehicle Operations division - the long-standing relationship between Bowler and JLR prior to official tie up last year means that Bowler’s chassis is already compatible with a lot of the Land Rover parts catalogue.
“There’s always been a demand from our customer base for something that takes a lot of our knowledge and experience out of the rally environment and out of the desert,” said Bowler General Manager Calum McKechnie. “This is an ideal opportunity to take on that demand in something that looks like an iconic Defender Station Wagon.”
“Bowler is still an independent entity with its own offices, its own staff, its own rules, its own balance sheet and we very much intend to run it that way,” said JLR Special Vehicles Operations boss Michael van der Sande.
“Callum’s brief is very much to run Bowler as an independent business but with the support of Land Rover when that’s appropriate. And that’s what we are exercising here.”
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