Wednesday 20th March 2013

Lyonheart K: further plans revealed

Production's up from 50 to 250, and a convertible version will now be available too

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Jag’s 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 and 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?

[V8 FOU]

Rather delectable.... but let's see if it materialises.

Over to the usual PH'ers of not liking wheels / lights/ colour. Not at this price point... ad nauseam

[Boydie88]

That looks fantastic. Seriously hope not too much is changed for the production version.

[Mr. Magoo]

errr.....wire wheels? Non!

[Lordbenny]

If these actually make production I'd say they are possibly the most beautiful cars I have ever seen! Hard top for me please!

[Tomatogti]

They are gorgeous - the perfect modern day interpretation I'd say.

[Davey S2]

I'd far rather spend a bit more and have an Eagle

[AnotherClarkey]

A bit too much bling? Me no likey.

[405dogvan]

Something's now right about that - it's a bit too much like an E-Type and yet some bits are slightly contrived and too-modern at the same time - not keen.

Not a patch on the Eagle Speedster but then that does cost half-a-continent...

[jaik]

Excellent stuff. Far too many cars nowadays are made to look cool rather than beautiful.

[MX7]

Very nice.

[Mosdef]

405dogvan said:

Something's now right about that - it's a bit too much like an E-Type and yet some bits are slightly contrived and too-modern at the same time - not keen.

Not a patch on the Eagle Speedster but then that does cost half-a-continent...

This - just seems a bit too enhanced and too many random bits stitched together.

[Dagnut]

Look the business..not sure they need 575hp but...not sure I'd trust them with that kind of power, people are quite blasé about 500+hp but it takes talented engineers to make a chassis to cope

[The Vambo]

Very pretty but I get the impression that one designer did the silhouette, and another the details. The height to width ratio if the grill is awkward and the scallops on the door should be removed completely.

Still very pretty, hope they turn a profit.

(edit) Oh yeah, feckin love that interior.

Edited by The Vambo on Wednesday 20th March 12:21

Edited by The Vambo on Wednesday 20th March 12:23

[redroadster]

At last a car made to look beautifull rather than just agressive.

[Lowtimer]

Wire wheels of enormous dimensions transmitting 575 bhp? This does not sound like good engineering practice.

[MrGeoff]

If this does make production it will be visually beautiful. I think it's a brilliant interpretation of a classic. If I had that sort of money kicking about as spare change I'd buy one!

[300bhp/ton]

Wow 9 pictures and not a single photograph. Sorry as I've said before, photoshop hack ups don't make for production cars in my eyes. So this scores a big fat 0 from me until something actually exists outside of a computer monitor.

[Big Fat Fatty]

Mr. Magoo said:

errr.....wire wheels? Non!

20" wire wheels and they're dwarfed by its side profile. It looks good but it must be massive compared to an original E type.

[sgq89]

I don't really get this? If its an E-Type you want, then why not buy...an E-Type? At a third of the cost of this you could have a beautiful original E-Type and even have it modernised.

Pay £100,000 for a perfect original E-Type, or pay £300,000 for a chinsy copy?

Bizarre.

[TheLastPost]

Mosdef said:

405dogvan said:

Something's now right about that - it's a bit too much like an E-Type and yet some bits are slightly contrived and too-modern at the same time - not keen.

Not a patch on the Eagle Speedster but then that does cost half-a-continent...

This - just seems a bit too enhanced and too many random bits stitched together.

+1

Reminds me of a very expensive and badly blinged Carlton Carrera.