Monday 22nd February 2010

TVR To Return With US V8s; £70K Price Tag

PH Exclusive: TVR plans to wow the crowds at the Goodwood FoS with an all-new 500hp supercar

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The website at www.tvr.co.uk

TVR is on the brink of an exciting relaunch with a brand new model boasting US-sourced V8 power and costing upwards of £70,000 when it finally hits the showrooms.

We're still trying to pin down all the facts, but what we've gleaned from various sources is that TVR - under its Russian owner Nikolai Smolenski - is currently planning to reveal the all-new machine 'within months', possibly at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in July although it could be even sooner.

We're not sure which engine will be nestled under the Goodwood car's bonnet, but we do expect the car to appear with a US sourced V8 'crate engine', so it's possible it could be from either Ford or Chevy. Either way, we hear the new car will maintain all the 'traditional TVR values', so expect something in the ballpark of 500bhp in a front engined, rear-drive, two-seater package with extrovert styling that's sure to be a major crowd-puller at Goodwood if the plan goes ahead.

TVR engines to be swapped for US V8s

While TVR models all latterly used bespoke engines, it is believed that Mr Smolenski's plan is to sell the new TVR in global markets including the US, hence the decision to opt for a 'crate' engine package developed by one of the US majors. As well as benefitting from tried and tested technology, the move will save TVR millions in development and homologation costs.

Although none of the news above has been officially confirmed, recent activity on the www.tvr.co.uk website and rumours on our very own TVR forums add weight to what we have learned.

According to a new TVR Motors Company Ltd statement on the tvr.co.uk homepage, a brand-new website is 'coming soon'. The current holding page has an e-mail address and telephone number for sales enquiries.

Meanwhile reports on our forum suggest a job load of TVR parts have been sent by Multipart to Germany, where Mr Smolenski has long been rumoured to be planning to restart production.

Forum reports also suggest several TVR parts suppliers have been served with 'cease and desist' notices by TVR Motors Company, which claims rights to be the UK's sole official parts supplier. Such a move which would seem to be a natural precursor to the brand's official relaunch, although we believe similar letters have been sent before.

Either way, we're all extremely fired up by the prospect of a TVR comeback here at PH towers. If you can add anything to this intriguing story drop us a line at [e-mail] - in confidence of course!

[Garlick]

Goodwood eh?

[Barry Ashcroft]

I'll believe it when I see it.

[TheRoadWarrior]

Hang on, what happened to TVR the last time? I dont really recall, they just seemed to disapear off the radar- I hadnt even realised the Russian guy was still at the helm..

Shirly they'll have to be wildly remodelled if they're to be sold in the US and rest of the world?

[Roo]

Three threads in two minutes.

Belive it when I see it.

[WCZ]

good luck!

[Roo]

Make that six threads.

[ncs]

Deleted mine, the software around here is about as reliable as a TVR press release

Nick

[RacingPete]

Roo said:

Make that six threads.

Or one combined

[Garlick]

Everyone opened the story and posted at the same time

All sorted now, thanks to Pete

[Mars]

Can you really stop people from producing parts for a car? Surely as long as they're not marketted as TVR-made parts, there's nothing to stop people from producing them.

... or am I being niaieiaiuove (can't spell that, so gave up entirely)?

[Great Pretender]

Barry Ashcroft said:

I'll believe it when I see it.

+1

Haven't we been here before?

[Fire99]

Ding ding ding. Seconds away, round................i've lost count!

[Don]

£70K pricetag for a TVR.

Hmmm.

I hope this works. I really do. But that's quite a price. Will they build a car that is competetive in that price range? The fans will look to buy them - but are there enough fans.

[hiltonig]

well at least its getting a V8 soundtrack, good move using a crated engine.... bye bye speed six

[MarJay]

Mars said:

Can you really stop people from producing parts for a car? Surely as long as they're not marketted as TVR-made parts, there's nothing to stop people from producing them.

... or am I being niaieiaiuove (can't spell that, so gave up entirely)?

Naive.

Actually that is the most worrying aspect of it all, that TVR (who, lets face it are likely to fall over again at any moment) is demanding the stop of production of TVR parts... when they aren't exactly going to tool up and start making Chimaera body panels or something. Plus Smolensky has moved the production to Germany...

The question is, Is a TVR still a TVR if its not built in Blackpool??

[Roo]

That kept you lot busy for a minute.

Personally, whilst appreciating what everyone says about the development done on the Speed Six engine, it would solve a lot of issues regarding emissions for other markets.

[jr6yam]

Mars said:

Can you really stop people from producing parts for a car? Surely as long as they're not marketted as TVR-made parts, there's nothing to stop people from producing them.

... or am I being niaieiaiuove (can't spell that, so gave up entirely)?

Naive

[E4UAN]

Does building cars in Germany not go against "traditional TVR values"?
Good luck to them though, I'd love to see TVR back up and running.

[Springbok]

I've owned many many TVR's but would I buy a product off these people for £70k or find myself a nearly new Aston V8 for the same money - and with full dealer back-up.

As the Meekhat says - "simples" - the Aston.

[Mr Will]

MarJay said:

Actually that is the most worrying aspect of it all, that TVR (who, lets face it are likely to fall over again at any moment) is demanding the stop of production of TVR parts... when they aren't exactly going to tool up and start making Chimaera body panels or something. ?

I don't think they are telling people to stop producing them, just to stop calling them "Official" or "Genuine".