Monday 14th March 2011

Bowler Nemesis Joins Spyker At CPP

Plans confired for Nemesis EXR road car to be built in Coventry

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Fresh from its takeover of Dutch supercar company Spyker, CPP Global Holdings Ltd, the specialist coachbuilder based in Coventry, has snapped up Bowler Off Road Limited.

The Derbyshire-based manufacturer of the Nemesis high-performance cross country racer was acquired for an undisclosed price in January, we learn from a new press release. (So yes, we missed the 'scoop' when we chatted to CPP boss Brendan O'Toole about his Spyker plans in Geneva...)

The road-going Bowler Nemesis...

"This acquisition is extremely positive news for fans and customers of Bowler vehicles. I have followed the brand closely for several years and am delighted to have the opportunity to take the Bowler brand to new heights on the basis of very exciting plans," Brendan says in the press statement. "This development is another step in CPP's strategy to grow as a collection of complementary specialist automotive businesses."

Drew Bowler is managing director (and founder) of Bowler, and says this: "CPP will bring first-rate commercial and manufacturing expertise to our business, ensuring it meets the quality and integrity that our customers will expect. And there are dramatic plans for the business over the longer term."

...and the racer.

Bowler was founded in 1999 and produces the Nemesis high performance off-road racer, based on current Land Rover technology, to meet the FIA T1 specification for the World Cup Cross Country Championship. Development and engineering will remain at Bowler's current facilities in Belper, Derbyshire, but production, including of the Nemesis EXR road-going variant from early 2012, will be transferred to CPP in Coventry.

Further plans will be announced in due course, they say. Intriguing stuff, and certainly good news from the point of view of anyone interested in an EXR road car. CPP has a peerless reputation for build quality and bespoke craftsmanship - which is why it's contracted to make cars like the One-77 for Aston Martin. We look forward to seeing where that new expertise takes Bowler.

[Twincam16]

CPP's machinations are interesting.

I wonder if they eventually intend to set up shop as a stand-alone manufacturer? If they can make a success of Spyker and Bowler they could surely unite the ethos of the two and be the manufacturer of choice for a certain Russian perhaps looking to build certain British sports cars.

[Insight]

Having been around the previous Bowler factory in Derbyshire some five years ago this is great news for the return of the British Motor industry! Bring the Spyker and the Bowler under one roof, re-brand it a little and you have a lower volume, higher performance competitor to Porsche... something like Lamborghini before VW bought it.

[JHS]

OOHH THIS IS GREAT NEWS RETURN OF THE BRITISH MOTOR IDUSTRY SOMETHING TELLS ME CPP IS GONNA BE A MASSIVE COPORATION IN THE FUTURE.

[TVRWannabee]

Twincam16 said:

CPP's machinations are interesting.

I wonder if they eventually intend to set up shop as a stand-alone manufacturer? If they can make a success of Spyker and Bowler they could surely unite the ethos of the two and be the manufacturer of choice for a certain Russian perhaps looking to build certain British sports cars.

An interesting thought.

Very good luck to CPP, I really do hope this is the continued revival of British car manufacture.

[GingerWizard]

Well I feel like this is a very good thing. I was a bit concerned when reading about spyker/GM/saab but now its clearer where CPP are going with this. It feels exciting, promosing, developmental, cutting edge etcetra....

Good luck CPP, bring back the British automotive passion.

Edited by GingerWizard on Monday 14th March 12:24

[glazbagun]

Twincam16 said:

CPP's machinations are interesting.

I wonder if they eventually intend to set up shop as a stand-alone manufacturer? If they can make a success of Spyker and Bowler they could surely unite the ethos of the two and be the manufacturer of choice for a certain Russian perhaps looking to build certain British sports cars.

[LongLiveTazio]

Any chance of you doing a review of the road-going Nemesis? Still haven't seen anyone have a proper drive of the, erm, 'luxury' version!

[Digga]

Sounds like good news.

I can certainly see Spykers running Jaguar power plants...

[F.C.]

Cant wait to see a CPP Spyker in the flesh, I love the spyder version but have always had issues with the soft top roof fit and function. I hope CPP can improve the soft top final fit and finish of an otherwise outstanding car.

[johnpeat]

I thought 'Bowler' had sold the 'Nemesis' to another company who were marketting it under a different name??

Didn't Evo do a piece on the car under it's alternative guise??

[Chris-R]

LongLiveTazio said:

Any chance of you doing a review of the road-going Nemesis? Still haven't seen anyone have a proper drive of the, erm, 'luxury' version!

They know where to find us!

[HowMuchLonger]

johnpeat said:

I thought 'Bowler' had sold the 'Nemesis' to another company who were marketting it under a different name??

Didn't Evo do a piece on the car under it's alternative guise??

You are thinking of the previous iteration that was the Wildcat.

[camel_landy]

johnpeat said:

I thought 'Bowler' had sold the 'Nemesis' to another company who were marketting it under a different name??

Nah... That's the Wildcat, which got sold to QT Services.

That road going Nemesis is bonkers.

M

[Ian974]

I like the thought of this, they seem to be working towards being a properly independent (and british) car manufacturer making some very nice kit. Best of luck to them!

[k-ink]

Which screamer rated less than 10?

[RudeDog]

A road going off-roader... what will they think of next.

Seems like a pretty pointless acquisition to me.

[LongLiveTazio]

RudeDog said:

A road going off-roader... what will they think of next.

Seems like a pretty pointless acquisition to me.

Yeah, I mean, they should probably be ploughing their money into electric cars that look like invalid carriages or something instead of 500bhp Dakar 4x4s.

[Wammer]

LongLiveTazio said:

Any chance of you doing a review of the road-going Nemesis? Still haven't seen anyone have a proper drive of the, erm, 'luxury' version!

Top gear did a review of it in the DVD that came out at Christmas called Top Gear Appocolypse Here is the trailer of it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCjZ-gRczEo&fea...

[wackojacko]

Missing the sound of the Bowlers flying around the dirt track at Good Wood festival of speed

[marcosgt]

JHS said:

OOHH THIS IS GREAT NEWS RETURN OF THE BRITISH MOTOR IDUSTRY SOMETHING TELLS ME CPP IS GONNA BE A MASSIVE COPORATION IN THE FUTURE.

Don't wish them ill, but do you want a Tenner on that?

M