F-Type
not going to be retro enough for you? Well, fear not, as the Lyonheart K’s apparently just around the corner.
Convertible version set to join coupe
The limited-run sportscar which apes the original Jaguar E-Type will finally enter production later this year, it’s been announced. Originally a concept known as
the ‘Growler’
... ahem... the idea’s gained sufficient interest and traction to become a production reality. More than that, though; while the Lyonheart’s creators, Bo Zolland and Robert Palm, originally intended to produce just 50 cars when plans were
initially announced
last year, they’ve now upped that to 250 as a result of demand. Fortunately, there’ll also be a corresponding drop in price, and the Lyonheart K is now confirmed to start from 360,000 euros – or just over £307,000. That’s not all, though – Lyonheart has also confirmed a hitherto-unplanned convertible version of the K, fitted with an electric fabric roof that’ll raise or lower completely in just 12 seconds, which will cost 15,000 euros (around £13,000) more.
Supercharged 5.0-litre V8 will power K. Mmmm.
Neither will be cheap, then, but then the K is set to be pretty special. Quite aside from the svelte aluminium bodywork – reason enough to want one – it’ll be powered by a 5.0-litre V8 engine that’ll be boosted by a supercharger and fettled by Cosworth. No official word on where that engine will come from just yet, but it’s likely that it’ll be based on that which powers the
F-Type V8 S
XKR-S
. That said, the Cosworth tweaks will enhance power to 575hp, and torque to 510lb ft, and running through a six-speed automatic transmission, the K will hit 62mph in 3.9 seconds and top out at an electronically-limited 186mph. Oh, and it’ll be fitted wire wheels, too - 20-inch ones, to be precise.
All of this sounds wonderfully promising, but before we get too excited it's worth pointing out that we've yet to see a physical concept car, Lyonheart having presented only renderings thus far. That's not to say it won't happen - and we really hope it does - but it's worth reserving a modicum of caution until things get a little further along the prototyping/production process. Fingers crossed, though, eh?