Land Rover-based Bowler EXR-S looks, sounds insane!

Bowler has built a name for itself by constructing some very impressive rally bruisers built on Land Rover platforms. Now the company wants to take to the street with the new EXR-S. The road-legal version is currently undergoing testing, and Chris Harris managed to get his hands on the 550-horsepower creation for a little preview.

A supercharged V8 propels the 1,730-kg (3,814-lbs), full-time four-wheel-drive SUV with ease thanks to its 700 pound-feet of torque, and engineers have set up the suspension to handle more like a modern rally car than a planted high-performance bruiser like the BMW X6 M.

While the race version splits power 60/40 between the rear and front axles respectively, the EXR-S serves up a 50/50 split. Even so, Harris says the machine is happy to oversteer once the driver overcomes the considerable grip on hand. He has no problem getting the high-rider to do his bidding.

At the end of the day, Harris calls the EXR-S "the most niche vehicles of all niche vehicles," and we have to agree.

Hit the jump to see what he means.