With the permission in hand, Bowler intends to develop a new family of high-performance models, beginning with a project codenamed CSP 575. The road-going vehicle will ride on a proven chassis made of high-strength steel. It will feature aluminum alloy Defender 110 Station Wagon body panels, a roll cage, air conditioning, and Land Rover’s 567-horsepower, supercharged 5.0-liter V8 engine. Like the classic Defender, the new model will accommodate four passengers.
The model features the body of the vintage Defender.Photo courtesy of Land Rover
“The Bowler name has stood for innovation for 35 years. The licence agreement to produce vehicles with the classic Defender shape gives us a unique opportunity,” said Calum McKechnie, General Manager, Bowler Motors. “We’re excited to combine our motorsport experience with the expertise available from Special Vehicle Operations to produce a thrilling competition-inspired Defender 110 Station Wagon for the road.”
Bowler is promising it will be a “competition-inspired off-roader” that combines “potent performance and motorsport-honed durability”.
Land Rover sees the decision to issue a license to Bowler to build the vehicles as a “natural progression” of their relationship. “We’re excited to announce the first major project since our acquisition of Bowler,” said Michael van der Sande, Managing Director, Jaguar Land Rover Special Vehicle Operations. “The ‘CSP 575’ will combine Supercharged V8 performance and four-seat practicality with Bowler’s rally raid-proven CSP platform, broadening the appeal of the brand. This high-performance road-going model will sit alongside Bowler’s evolving range of rally raid models, which continue to enjoy success in the world’s toughest motorsport events.”
The Bowler vehicle will be a limited edition model.Photo courtesy of Land Rover
The vehicle will be the first new Bowler since 2016. It will be produced in small quantities at Bowler’s headquarters in Derbyshire, UK, by the same engineers and technicians producing its competition 4x4s. Pricing for the limited edition model is set to be around £200,000 in the UK.
