Jalopnik: bolwell nagari

Aussie Super Car Goes On Sale, Electric Version Planned

Wes Siler — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 12:00:00 EST

Everyone’s favorite mid-engined Australian super car has entered the final stages of development with Bolwell finally beginning to take deposits on the $132,000 car. The Bolwell Nagari drops a 3.5-liter Toyota V6 into a composite chassis, mating the 295 HP engine to a 6-speed paddle-shifter. At just 2,020 Lbs, that should be more than enough to propel the Nagari to 60 in around four seconds, which we hear is fast enough to outrun saltwater crocodiles.

Bolwell is a tiny specialty carmaker based in Victoria. It got its start in the 1960s manufacturing kit cars, but moved on to its first production car, the original Nagari, in 1969. It first showed this new Nagari at the Melbourne Motor Show back in March, stating it wanted to sell the vehicle for $200,000 (AUD). The production model undercuts that by $2,000 (AUD), making it something of a bargain when you consider its carbon fiber tub, front and rear sub frames and a carbon composite body. Taillights come from the Acura RSX.

In addition to the standard model, Bolwell intends to offer an optional supercharger, a traditional manual gearbox and possibly even a Tesla Roadster-style electric powertrain at some point in the future. The first Nagari should be completed and delivered to its customer some time before Christmas. [Bolwell via GoAuto]

The Ten Ugliest Cars Sold Outside The United States

Matt Hardigree — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 12:00:00 EDT

We've already shown you our list of the ten ugliest cars currently sold in the United States. Although epic, it meant exclusion of some fantastically ugly cars sold only on the international marketplace. Until now. After scouring the globe from Australia to Russia, these are the ten top cars that make us want to run from the computer and hurl ourselves out the nearest open window. Vote for your favorite foreign fugly-mobile in the poll at the bottom or chime in via the comments if you think we've missed one.

10. Reva Electric Car (India)

Though we're supportive of the electric car idea, especially in India, it's hard to get excited about the Indian-built Reva Electric CitiCar from an aesthetic angle. The car voted "Worst Car Of The Year" by Top Gear is, also, one of the least appealing vehicles out on the road. It's like an unattractive car, cut in half, and then painted in a variety of unappealing ways.

9. Covini C6W (Italy)

The Covini C6W is advertised as the only six-wheeled supercar in the world and, after looking at it, you can probably understand why. Despite having the look of a modern Italian exotic from a few angles, take a step back and the abundance of wheels makes it look like something out of a photoshop contest.

8. Lada 111 Touring (Russia)

The wagon version of the Lada 1110, the Lada 111 Touring takes the otherwise boring Russian sedan to unattractive heights. The Lada brand was created because the old name, Zhiguli, sounded like "gigolo," which turned off foreign buyers. The car was originally designed in 1996, but since it's Russia they'll probably make it for another 30 years. Modern style, like modern democracy, hasn't fully blossomed in the former Soviet Union.

7. Renault Trafic Crew Van (French)

As much as we love quirky French cars, we've had a hard time getting on board with the Renault Trafic Van, especially in "Crew" trim, which adds an extra window. The bulging cockpit, asymmetrical hood feature, flared fenders and little mustache all combine to make one fugly van.

6. Geely Beauty Leopard (China)

The Geely Beauty Leopard, other than proving that you can't just name a car beauty and expect it to be beautiful, is famous for being the first production vehicle with an in-car karaoke machine. We were sort of fans of the previous Beauty Leopard, so we were sad to see it take such a bloated, cladded and altogether funky-in-a-bad-way look. [Photos: ChinaCarTimes]

5. Bolwell Nagari (Australia)

In case you didn't know there was an old Bolwell sports car, the Australian automaker did the exciting Australian auto show circuit with their brand new Nagari two-seater this year. Powered by a Toyota V6, the car is clearly set to put performance ahead of style. Though it has the classic sports car look from the front, a peak around the side reveals misshapen, almost reptilian, vents and proportions only a Fierrari owner could love.

4. SEAT Altea Freetrack (Spain)

No longer an ugly concept car, the SEAT Altea Freetrack is finally a horrible reality! Built by VW's Spanish subsidiary and designed by someone who cleans their glasses with oil rags, the Altea Freetrack is essentially a crossover: combining the utility of a car with the look of an object created as a warning to humanity.

3. Ssangyong Rodius (Korea)

Once referred to as the R-Class with Down's Syndrome, the Korean-made Ssangyong Rodius is an exercise in just how strong a force thrift can be in allowing someone to rationalize a purchase. With it's dopey eyes and two-tiered rear, the Rodius is the trick this designer played on the world. Voted Britain's ugliest car, we had to work hard to find something more grotesque than this huge monstrosity.

2. Mitsuoka Orochi (Japan)

The Mitsuoaka Orochi is named for a Japanese mythical dragon that, apparently, destroyed others by looking at them. Part supercar, part dragon, part collection of random creases, the Orochi is phenomenally unattractive. Though relatively unique (they're going to make 400 of them), the Orochi is what happens when you take the classic design of a mid-engined supercar and combine it with a nightmare. The Orochi will haunt your dreams.

1. Weber Sportscar Faster One (Switzerland)

What can you say about the Weber Faster One that hasn't already been explained to a court-appointed psychiatrist at the war crimes trail for the designers behind the Swiss monstrosity? Though fast, wicked fast, the Faster One looks like an angry Frenchman whose head has been bashed in and has taken revenge on the world that has made him an outcast. Hide the children when this car is around.

Bolwell Nagari Image Released, Looks Like Every Other Lightweight Sports Car

Matt Hardigree — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 10:30:00 EST

Despite its Japanese-sounding name, the Nagari is the work of the Australian Bolwell Car Company. The company has a history of building small quantities of sports cars going back to the 1970's and is hoping to recreate the magic with this new Bolwell Nagari. In addition to the borrows-from-here, borrows-from-there looks, the mid-engined sports car should be powered by a supercharged version of Toyota's 2GR-FE 3.5-litre V6. More details and early pics below the jump.

New Negari Image Released

Bolwell Car Company has revealed the fully finished beauty of its new Nagari sports car.

A single frontal image reveals sleek, low-slung lines with generous glass areas and classic mid-engined sports car styling.

The faired-in, four-headlight front end echoes the legendary McLaren F1, while other elements capture the spirit of the best Italian mid-engined exotics.

As intended by its creator Campbell Bolwell, the styling also pays homage to the original Nagari of the 1970s, particularly in the rising, curvaceous hip line and the tunnel-back rear window.

Bolwell will give the public its first look at the complete car when the Motor Show opens its doors next week at 5pm on Friday 29 February.

Melbourne International Motor Show is organised and promoted by the Victorian Automobile Chamber of Commerce through its dealer division the Australian Automobile Dealers Association (Vic).

[Bolwell via JPCN]

Aussie Builders Back With New Nagari

Matt Hardigree — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 12:15:00 EST

One of the lesser-known Australian brands is Bolwell, which got its start in the 1960's building kit cars and later moved on to build a small number of production models called the Nagari (full history from the Bolwell Car Club). Powered by various Holden and Ford engines, the vehicles tended to take the prevailing design trends of the day and reproduce them &mdash with mixed results. It's been almost 30 years since their last full model, but they plan to return with a new Nagari powered by a supercharged 3.5-liter Toyota V6 good for 0-62 mph in four seconds. The new model is set to debut at the Melbourne Motor Show next year. Press release below the jump:

Bolwell Nagari launch for Melbourne

One of Australia 's sports car legends will be re-born in February when the all-new Bolwell Nagari is revealed at the Melbourne International Motor Show.

The new Nagari is the dream car of Campbell Bolwell, who built the original Nagari in the 1970s in collaboration with his brother Graeme.

Like its namesake, the new Nagari embodies the latest and best of high-performance sports car technology, which has moved on immensely in three decades.

The new Nagari is a mid-engined carbon fibre composite monocoque coupe powered by a quad-cam, supercharged, 3 litre V6, whereas the original Nagari carried its 5 litre V8 up front in a steel backbone chassis clad in fibreglass.

Fifty years ago Campbell Bolwell began designing and building sports cars, and today he has created a true successor to his original Nagari, with unique styling, low volume exclusivity and high quality workmanship.

Performance targets include a 0-100 km/h time of 4 seconds, achieved through a classic combination of light weight - under 900 kg - and the power of a supercharged Toyota V6, generally similar to that developed by Toyota for the TRD Aurion.

All-wishbone suspension also draws on classic concepts of ultra-soft springing with lots of control for large suspension movement and fine handling.

The interior is roomy and sensible with good access and comfortable performance seating for a driver and passenger up to at least 195 cm (6'5") tall.

Melbourne International Motor Show is organised and promoted by the Victorian Automobile Chamber of Commerce through its dealer division the Australian Automobile Dealers Association (Vic). [Bolwell via World Car Fans]