Automotive

Rally manufacturer Bowler introduces its first road model, partners with Land Rover

Rally manufacturer Bowler introduces its first road model, partners with Land Rover
The EXR rally car pulls key components out of Land Rover's garage
The EXR rally car pulls key components out of Land Rover's garage
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The EXR rally car pulls key components out of Land Rover's garage
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The EXR rally car pulls key components out of Land Rover's garage
Land Rover and Bowler formalize more than two decades worth of collaboration
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Land Rover and Bowler formalize more than two decades worth of collaboration
Bowler will get access to Land Rover parts and engineers under the new agreeement
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Bowler will get access to Land Rover parts and engineers under the new agreeement
The Bowler EXR is "Powered by Land Rover"
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The Bowler EXR is "Powered by Land Rover"
The EXR was developed for events like the Dakar Rally and Silk Way Rally
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The EXR was developed for events like the Dakar Rally and Silk Way Rally
The EXR uses a 300-bhp, naturally aspirated Range Rover Sport 5.0-liter V-8
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The EXR uses a 300-bhp, naturally aspirated Range Rover Sport 5.0-liter V-8
The EXR has a six-speed manual transmission and Ricardo front, center and rear differentials
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The EXR has a six-speed manual transmission and Ricardo front, center and rear differentials
The EXR costs 145,000 pounds before local taxes
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The EXR costs 145,000 pounds before local taxes
The EXR, along with other Bowler vehicles, will compete in the Rally Reykjavik in Iceland this September
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The EXR, along with other Bowler vehicles, will compete in the Rally Reykjavik in Iceland this September
Consumer demand for a road version of the EXR spawned the EXR S
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Consumer demand for a road version of the EXR spawned the EXR S
The EXR has three-way Donerre dampers and Brembo brake calipers
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The EXR has three-way Donerre dampers and Brembo brake calipers
The EXR, along with other Bowler vehicles, will compete in the Rally Reykjavik in Iceland this September
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The EXR, along with other Bowler vehicles, will compete in the Rally Reykjavik in Iceland this September
The EXR is the fourth generation Bowler rally car
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The EXR is the fourth generation Bowler rally car
The EXR uses a 300-bhp, naturally aspirated Range Rover Sport 5.0-liter V-8
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The EXR uses a 300-bhp, naturally aspirated Range Rover Sport 5.0-liter V-8
The EXR, along with other Bowler vehicles, will compete in the Rally Reykjavik in Iceland this September
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The EXR, along with other Bowler vehicles, will compete in the Rally Reykjavik in Iceland this September
The EXR S is Bowler's first road-ready model
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The EXR S is Bowler's first road-ready model
The EXR S shares much of its equipment and design with the EXR, but gets a 550-bhp supercharged V-8 and consumer-level interior
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The EXR S shares much of its equipment and design with the EXR, but gets a 550-bhp supercharged V-8 and consumer-level interior
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Bowler, a British manufacturer of rally raid cars, is well known for its performance off-roaders. What it's not known for is street-legal cars. That all changes with the new EXR S, a road-engineered version of its EXR rally car. The car is the first fruits of a new partnership agreement with Land Rover.

The new agreement puts some official ink on a working relationship that's been in effect for more than 20 years. Bowler will get access to Land Rover components and technical support. In turn, it will recognize the help by designating its vehicles "Powered by Land Rover." Besides the advertising, the partnership will allow Land Rover engineers to hone their skills and expertise on Bowler's extreme off-roaders, bringing back insights to the Land Rover brand. The announcement mentions that Bowler will borrow powertrain and chassis components, specifically.

"Bowler vehicles demonstrate the kind of performance, ride, handling and chassis dynamics that a vehicle powered by Land Rover is capable of when taken to the extreme and liberated of most practical constraints," Land Rover brand experience director Mark Cameron explains in a statement. "For over twenty years, Land Rover's technology has powered Bowlers on some of the toughest and most grueling off-road sporting events in the world."

Mentioned in conjunction with the partnership, the EXR S debuts as Bowler's first road-going model. Bowler says that it developed the model in response to consumer demand for a road version of the EXR rally car and claims that it offers the same handling, strength and weight distribution of the EXR. It's built atop the same hydro-formed base chassis as the EXR and includes an MSA-approved tubular roll cage. It also shares its composite body panels, body layout and some components with its burly older brother.

The EXR S is Bowler's first road-ready model
The EXR S is Bowler's first road-ready model

Thanks to the lack of FIA T1 regulations, the EXR S is considerably more powerful than the EXR. The supercharged Range Rover 5.0-liter V-8 engine spits out 550 bhp and 705 Nm (520 lb ft) of torque in EXR S tune. That engine is mated to the same six-speed ZF automatic transmission with E differential as is used in the Range Rover Sport 5.0-liter V-8 Supercharged. It can hit 60 mph (96.5 km/h) in 4.2 seconds and keep accelerating up to 155 mph (249.5 km/h).

As a road car, the EXR S gets a more civilized interior with leather seats, climate control and an entertainment system. Bowler is careful to point out, however, that the focus is on driving and performance, not luxury.

Bowler will debut the EXR S at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, which gets underway on June 28. The gentrified rally rat will cost £155,000 (US$242,000 at publishing).

Gizmag will be making the rounds at Goodwood to deliver all the highlights.

Source: Land Rover

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1 comment
1 comment
Joseph Boe
Top Gear raced this - in 2010. Was street legal then. They have also raced the street legal Bowler Tomcat.