Bowler Wildcat
| Wildcat | |
|---|---|
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| Manufacturer | Bowler |
| Class | Rally Vehicle |
| Layout | All Wheel Drive |
The Bowler Wildcat is an off-road vehicle made by Bowler Offroad Ltd of Belper, Derbyshire, based on the Land Rover Defender. The vehicle has direct official support from Land Rover, and has been entered in various rallies including the Dakar Rally.
The Wildcat is available in four trims according to the Bowler website. All of which are said to be fully race-ready from purchase.
Wildcat 200
Described as the entry level Wildcat the Wildcat 200 is fitted with either a 4.0 or 4.6 litre V-8, or 2.5 litre 5-cylinder turbo diesel motor. The 4.6, being the best power-deliverer in this trim, produces 215 bhp and 295 lbf-ft of torque at 2600 rpm. The 4.0 litre gives a little less, producing 182 bhp and 251 Nm at the same crank speed. The diesel gives 208 brake horsepower, and an amazing 255 lbf-ft of torque due to having a turbocharger. This amount still propels you from 0 to 60 mph in 6.5 seconds.
Wildcat Rally Raid
The Rally Raid is one step closer to a racing Bowler and similar when fitted with entry-level trim style. The Rally Raid comes with a commercial air filter, capable of cleaning the air better than the entry level's filters. The filter is also capable of absorbing and ridding any water the Bowler may breathe in.
Wildcat European Baja
The Euro-Baja is a much lower-powered, yet more engineered version of the Wildcat than the entry level. The engines available in this trim are a 3 litre V-6, 4.0 litre and 4.6 litre V-8, and a 2.5 litre turbo diesel. The machine is fitted fire sensors and extinguishers built into the dash and below near the kick panels. The Euro-Baja is also equipped with a Terra Trip 303 PLUS - an advanced on-board computer with visual readout.
Wildcat Dakar
The Dakar is a built-to-race speedster, made in very low numbers. The Dakar trim of the Bowler Wildcat includes rally adaptations such as a fuel tank with capacity exceeding 98 gallons, a 5.0 litre V-8 producing 290 bhp and 251 lbf-ft , a Terra Trip 303 PLUS computer including 2 probes, the air filter from the Rally Raid, twin fuel pumps, an onboard tool kit, an in-cab water tank (for drivers), an emergency vehicle repair kit, spare wheel and tire, Hella 3000 headlights with sport mounts, and a light telling the driver when to shift up or down.
The vehicle will accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in under 5 seconds (faster than an Aston Martin DB7). Because of the closely-geared race transmission, the top speed is 115 mph. This SUV (literally) is road-legal and costs about $70,000+ / 55,000euros.
Top Gear test
Richard Hammond of the British automotive program Top Gear tested the Bowler, and exclaimed "I am a driving GOD!", due to the Bowler's speed and handling on the rough terrain. The show's racing driver, The Stig, took the Bowler to a time of 1:39.4 on the test track, making it the fourth slowest car tested, but still a remarkable time given its off-road tyres and tall stance. It appeared again in the fifth series where it raced 16 year old Tom Kirkman on a Mountainboard (ATB) at the Greenman Mountainboard centre in Wales. The teenager had beaten a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VII Group N rally car but the Bowler's offroad tyres and strong build allowed it to tackle the obstacles and eventually defeat the teenager.
External References
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