Vizualtech Growler E headed for production - report

 Vizualtech Growler E headed for production - report
Vizualtech Growler E - 7.3.2011

Launch planned for the summer of 2012

Commissioned by an anonymous Swiss businessman, Swedish design firm Vizualtech will build the Growler E.

Not satisfied with the current Jaguar design direction, the nostalgic owner desired a new vehicle with the original style, but up to date with the latest technology.

The Growler is based on the Jaguar XKR and features a lightweight composite body with retro styling.

Under the hood, power will be provided by a supercharged 5.0-liter V8 engine with approximately 600 hp (447 kW / 608 PS). It should enable the 1,550 kg (3,415 lb) coupe to accelerate from 0-100 km/h in less than four seconds.

If everything goes according to plan, Vizualtech will begin construction in the summer of 2012. Also, additional units could be produced if demand is sufficient. The company estimates pricing could range from £420,000 ($682,670 / €488,225) to upwards of £850,000 ($1,381,760 / €988,205).

Source: Vizualtech

Growler E 2011 - Rebirth of a legend

In 2011, the legendary Jaguar E-Type will celebrate its 50th anniversary, as it was first presented at the Geneva Motor Show in 1961.

On the occasion of this anniversary and upon the request of a Swiss businessman who wishes to stay anonymous, the designers Bo Zolland from Vizualtech and Robert Palm have developed an exceptional sports car inspired by the legend.

Based on the Jaguar XKR with a supercharged 5.0 Liter V8, the Growler E 2011 Concept produces 600 hp instead of the 510 hp of the XKR, thanks to engine remapping. The composite body is glued on a chassis made of a central carbon fibre core, on which two tubular frames are bolted at the front and rear, supporting engine, steering, transmission and suspensions. The majority of the components and the interior gear are taken from the Jaguar XKR. Thanks to a lighter chassis, the weight is only 1550 kg, about 200 kg less than the Jaguar XKR, which serves as technical basis.

The expected performance should therefore be sensibly better than on the Jaguar XKR, which is already extremely fast. 0-100 km/h should stay under 4 seconds.

Everyone doesn't like the direction taken lately by Jaguar design, initiated by the Jaguar XF and confirmed by the new XJ. There are still many friends of the noble English brand who are nostalgic of the sensual shapes of the XK 120, Mark II, XJ6 and, last but not least, the fantastic Jaguar E-Type. This project was born in the mind of one of these nostalgic fans, who wanted to see the original style again, but up to date and with the latest technology.

The Growler E 2011 Concept is destined to remain unique. However, if there is some demand, a small series could be built by hand, for an unknown price.

Vizualtech is a Swedish design studio, founded by Bo Zolland in 1999.

Robert Palm is an independent designer based in Switzerland.

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Comments (21)

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 zyzyphe zyzyphe
nice looks but the price:/
March 7, 2011 2:10 pm
 Captain Scarlett Captain Scarlett
Agreed!
March 8, 2011 8:40 am
 tomuss94 tomuss94
The modern day e-type, very very nice!
March 7, 2011 2:30 pm
 catchmyshadow catchmyshadow
make it 70k instead of 700 and i ould consider one
March 7, 2011 2:40 pm
 eddie eddie
The chinese, Russian, Indian and soon Mexican economies are doing well
March 7, 2011 2:43 pm
 ROAD MASTER ROAD MASTER
this car is a real work of art i love it
March 7, 2011 2:55 pm
 abramo abramo
No doubt, a very elegant creation. However, the success of the original Jaguar E Type was also due to the fact that it was accessible (price-wise) to the appreciative middle classes, and enjoyed by a broad spectrum of people, even second-hand, students included. Regrettably, this beauty of a car will be eventually relegated to the status of a few eccentrics' fad, to obscurity and oblivion. A waste of precious resources, to entertain a few wealthy patrons. Sad & a shame. We should stop admiring, condoning and implicitly encouraging such wasteful ventures, mere toys for the eccentric rich, and means for their flashing their bling.
March 7, 2011 3:24 pm
 useurbrain4once useurbrain4once
How is a nostalgic commissioning of a recreation of the E Type unappreciative? Jaguar, to this point, has refused to provide it so the poor guy did it himself. Is he to blame that he can afford such an endeavour? Don't hate! Oh! And you don't have to admire it and neither does anyone..... won't change a darn thing. No one tells yo how to spend your money and you, likewise, can't tell anyone how to spend theirs. And for the sake of argument, how exactly can you not condone the spending of the "eccentric rich"? What makes you think you are even condoning it? You give yourself way too much credit.
March 7, 2011 5:09 pm
 abramo abramo
@useurbrain4once : pity you have totally missed the message, while shooting the messenger does not really add to the discussion.
March 8, 2011 4:17 pm
 v6s_stink v6s_stink
I like this car a lot. I'm sort of surprised that I do. I have gone from liking retro-ish cars to mostly being tired of them. This one is both retro and modern. I love that it has a functional greenhouse. I absolutely dislike driving vehicles where your chin barely clears the door sills but your eyes are looking through the windshield header. Note to designers: cars with fender lines, door sills and trunk lids approaching SUV height are not sporty. Rims need to shrink back to something less than Conestoga diameter.
March 7, 2011 9:37 pm
 Hellbound Hellbound
Looks like a heavy, big fat piece of sh*t. Actually the rump is nice...need to lose a couple of headlights though...single ones in photoshopped pics I've seen look much nicer. Also change those awful wheels. The next E-Type from Jaguar should be a sub ?40k lithe two seater sports car.
March 7, 2011 9:54 pm
 MTC MTC
Stunning, Absolute beauty, built it, but cheaper please... and after going to other car websites, surprise how bad people can be in WCF... how are wire wheels awful?
March 7, 2011 10:22 pm
 997-GT500-STI 997-GT500-STI
Wooow, this ride is so sexy, but the price kills it all and makes you limp......lol
March 7, 2011 11:15 pm
 buruchaga buruchaga
The price is what matters at this point. A lot like this car but few could afford and this is not a very good precedence for this brand of a car.
March 8, 2011 1:53 am
 wcfuser14369 wcfuser14369
It's this expensive because they only plan to produce a very small number for collectors no doubt. Making it 70K and producing 1000 isn't what this company can do. And they HAVE to change that name! A Growler is slang in the UK, Jaguar's home, for a particularly badly kept lady garden!
March 8, 2011 3:14 am
 zeiar zeiar
Magnificent! Almost perfect blend of modern and retro design. Those wheels do justice for it's curves! Overpriced though...
March 8, 2011 4:07 am
 charlemagne charlemagne
it looks great. I can't understand the double front lights but hey, that's the designer's "personal touch". everything is fine about it except for the price that is absolutely out of this world. it's not a veyron so why that kind of money?! afterall it's nothing more than a body on some XKR organs.
March 8, 2011 4:16 am
 schizo schizo
Well if you admire this car and you're on a budget then get the kit car based on the previous generation MX-5. It was pretty nice and cheap too...
March 8, 2011 8:28 am
 dmanero dmanero
Love the look, has a bit of the old and new all in one package. nice job
March 8, 2011 8:28 am
 LeroisF40 LeroisF40
I love this thing, I would have one in a heart beat. Would probably want the front cleaned up a bit but love the back, especially how the exhaust runs out the center and up like that.
March 8, 2011 12:29 pm
 GTurbo GTurbo
If you need to moan about the price, the Growler E isn't for you then. It is meant for people who not only have the financial means, but also a taste for pure exotics with contemporary technologies. A marriage made in auto heaven. Jaguar must be seriously flattered and Mr Tata immensely proud!
March 8, 2011 7:58 pm