News
Thornley Kelham reveal Jaguar XK European
Thursday, 14 April 2022 at 10:00:00 UTC
By
Al Suttie
First of Thornley Kelham’s European programme unveiled
A Jaguar XK coupe is the first of the European programme cars from Thornley Kelham. The car has been reinterpreted by former McLaren designer Paul Howse and comes with a lightweight alloy body and 340bhp 3.8-litre engine.
The bespoke European project by Thornley Kelham sets out to update and improve European sports cars on a similar theme and then build the car to a concours level.
The XK has been given more curvature to the sides of its body, wider wheelarches, and a lower roofline, echoing the company’s Lancia Outlaw builds.
Inside, the XK European mixes classic with modern design, and the cabin now features electric windows, air conditioning, power steering, Bluetooth connectivity, and a roll cage.
Each European project takes Thornley Kelham 5000 hours to complete. Simon Thornley, co-founder of Thornley Kelham, said: ‘With our concours-winning restoration heritage and our years of experience in perfecting our bespoke Lancia Aurelia ‘Outlaw’ project, we have developed a team perfectly placed to design and engineer a car that reimagines automotive icons authentically, in intricate detail and with a fastidious attention to quality.
‘The Jaguar XK European is, to our eyes, the most beautiful car yet in the restomod sector, backed up with expertise and experience in developing cars that aren’t just perfect in their finish, but thrilling to own and drive.’