Limited Run For 21st Century E-Type

Swedish re-imagining of classic coupe set for production

By Riggers / Monday, 7 March 2011 / Loading comments

Anniversaries can throw up all sorts of bizarreness and the 50th birthday year of the Jaguar E-Type is proving no exception, as Swedish firm Visualtech has announced bold plans to build its 21st century take on the E-Type.

It's called the 'Growler' (stop sniggering at the back there), and Visualtech wants to have its first one ready for delivery by summer next year.

The Growler is based on the current Jaguar XKR's running gear, but will use a remapped version of the Jag's 5.0-litre supercharged V8, tweaked to produce 600bhp. That should be enough, predicts Visualtech, to do the 0-60mph sprint in less than 4.0secs.

The chassis will be made from carbon fibre, with metal spaceframes at either end, and a composite body to top the whole thing off.

Getting a Growler in your garage won't be a cheap experience, mind. Depending on how many people want one, the price of the car could range between £420k and an eye-watering £850k.

Currently Visualtech can build up to four cars at any one time, with each car expected to take around six months to complete. If demand is sufficiently brisk, however, the firm could look to outsource production to professional third-party coachbuilders.