Land Rover has given Bowler permission to produce vehicles using the classic Defender shape in the next phase of development for the UK-based manufacturer of all-terrain performance cars and rally raid vehicles.

The new agreement paves the way for Bowler to develop a new family of high-performance models, beginning with a project codenamed ‘CSP 575’ — a new road-going vehicle with Bowler’s own rally-proven CSP high-strength steel chassis, aluminium alloy Defender 110 Station Wagon body panels and Land Rover’s 575PS Supercharged V8.

Initial computer ‘renders’ of the planned 4x4 provide a glimpse of the rally-derived model, which will be the first new Bowler since 2016. Full details will be revealed early next year, but the competition-inspired off-roader promises to “combine potent performance and motor-sport levels of durability in a classic Defender 110 Station Wagon shape capable of accommodating four passengers”.

Founded in 1985, Bowler pioneered the production of dedicated off-road competition cars in the UK. Jaguar Land Rover acquired Bowler at the end of 2019 and its team has been developing a number of projects as part of Special Vehicle Operations.

Bowler customers are already benefitting from this relationship as Land Rover SV engineers are helping develop Bowler vehicles and using their engineering expertise to test Bowler products at SVO facilities.

Land Rover says its decision to issue Bowler with a licence agreement to build vehicles using the classic Defender shape is a natural progression of this relationship and the new station wagon project represents a unique undertaking — integrating the technology, components and engineering excellence underpinning Land Rover’s SV products with Bowler’s motor-sport expertise and experience.

The new CSP 575 model will be manufactured in very small quantities at Bowler’s headquarters in Derbyshire by the same engineers and technicians producing its competition 4x4s. Indicative pricing for the new model is around £200,000 in the UK.