Vizualtech
Growler E
Vizualtech
has released an outta-nowhere 50th-anniversary homage to the iconic Jaguar
E-type, called the Growler E 2011 concept.
The
Growler E was commissioned by the archetypical “anonymous Swiss businessman,”
and for now is touted as a real, road-capable sports car. Vizualtech explains
that the Growler E is based on today’s Jaguar XKR, but has been completely
reskinned in retro garb similar in concept to what Chris Hrabalek did with the
the new old Lancia Stratos.
The
Growler E is almost all genuine-article Jaguar, borrowing heavily from the
current XKR coupe. Unlike that car, however, the concept features a central
carbon-fiber tub and a tubular frame structure. The remainder of the
components, including suspension bits and the interior, are taken directly from
the Jag’s parts bin. Vizualtech claims its creation is 440 pounds lighter than
an XKR, clocking in at only 3417 pounds.
The
Growler E’s supercharged 5.0-liter V-8 is also borrowed from Jaguar’s, with engine remapping credited with boosting output
from 510 hp to an even 600. That’s enough to surpass the 550 hp of Jaguar’s
latest XKR-S, though for once we’d rather trust Jaguar’s engineering and
reliability. In theory, this dollop of
horsepower will propel the Growler E to 60 mph in under four seconds, a
believable claim.
