COVENTRY MESSAGE BOARD

Another new supercar is to be built in Coventry – bringing further jobs and investment to the city.


Bowler managing director Steve Haywood

Just days after city-based car firm CPP announced plans to make a new version of the Jensen Interceptor, bosses have now revealed plans to build the first Bowler on-road vehicle at one of the firm’s Coventry bases.

The company plans to create between 200 and 250 cars a year, going into production in July 2012.

With top speeds of around 150 mph, the new road model will be engineered alongside its all-terrain rally-raid model.

This new supercar is said to represent a significant chapter in Bowler’s long history after the company – famous for manufacturing the Nemesis high-performance cross country racer – was sold to CPP Global Holdings earlier this year.

The plans will not only benefit the city and Whitley-based CPP, it will also provide a much-needed boost to the local supply chain, creating a number of highly-skilled jobs across the region.

The firm’s new business plan is being overseen by Bowler’s new managing director and Coventry Kid Steve Haywood, the former chief engineer at Land Rover.

He said: “We already have a team of 13 working on this project, but you cannot develop a vehicle with 13 people so we will need to recruit more staff.

"I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to lead Bowler just as it is embarking on a new and exciting chapter.

“The prospect of leading the business into new territory, harnessing Bowler’s motorsport pedigree to bring to market our first road car, and to use that development as a catalyst to grow the business, was simply too enticing to resist.

“My role is all the more appealing because of CPP’s investment and commitment to growing the Bowler business in Coventry, a city where I was born, went to university, served my engineering apprenticeship and spent much of my career.

“I’m relishing the prospect of leading a business that can bring jobs, expertise and investment to the city and helping CPP to achieve its ambition of re-establishing the city as a UK automotive sector centre of excellence.”

Today’s announcement comes after a year of continued success for CPP, which is still in talks to buy Dutch sports car firm Spyker, after moving full production of the C8 Aileron from Holland to Coventry.

In July, the company revealed it is in advanced stages of buying Milan’s automotive design firm Zagato and this month bosses announced they have an agreement to buy 23 acres at Browns Lane from regional development agency Advantages West Midlands.