Australian veteran Nagari returned to the ring

Its manufacturer, Campbell Bolwell, founded his company in 1962 with his two brothers and an idea of what an Australian made and built sports car should be – still an Australian V8, rear wheel drive, but lighter than a ton. and designed to take turns. and also pull on straight lines. Possibly one of the most modern and timeless sports cars ever built in Oz.

Much like its progenitor, the new Nagari prototype - yes, it's still essentially a concept - is lightweight (about 900kg), powerful thanks to a supercharged V6, and retains exclusivity with a limited number of hand-built beauties. with a three-digit price tag.

Another tradition is the borrowing of body parts. Although Ford no longer supplies the engine, the company still had a hand in the car's parts - in the shape and cues of its late business partner Aston Martin. Part of the interior and instrumentation is pure DBS.

Instead of a V8 up front, the new Nagari features a Supra-style supercharged Toyota V6 engine located behind the seats for optimal weight distribution and handling. According to Toyota's manual, it should be similar in performance to the supercharged 3.5-liter engine in the TRD Aurion.

Bolwell is also investigating an electric propulsion system for the car. Its low curb weight and die-cast engine compartment make it a sure-fire choice for a fully electric battery pack.

The first of the long-awaited production models should appear in November. The numbers will be small to keep both the boutique manufacturer's moniker and to avoid lengthy and costly crash tests and ADR requirements.

The car will cost "anywhere from $200,000 to $300,000 depending on options," company director Vaughan Bolwell said.

They can build 25. They can build 25 a year. But whatever they do, it will be unusual and delicious in the Australian way.

You can see Nagari up close at the Supercar Central booth at the show.