Tuesday 25th May 2004

Marcos TSO

New Chevy powered rumbler from Marcos

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Marcos signalled a strong new approach to car development today with the debut of the Marcos TSO. Styled by Damian McTaggart who designed the Cerbera and Tuscan, the new Marcos comes in two guises. The basic car uses a 350bhp Chevrolet V8 hooked up to a five speed gearbox. The TSO R/T uses a 400bhp version of the engine coupled to a six speed gearbox.

 

 

Part of Marcos's new approach has seen the introduction of Prodrive as chassis engineers on the project. Marcos have also taken up production space near Prodrive's Warwickshire headquarters allowing further development on Prodrive's dedicated test track.

Pricing is very much in Noble and TVR territory with the TSO priced at £39,950 and the R/T at £44,950.

Although overlapping with the current TS250 and TS500 the introduction of the new cars should begin a new era. The introduction of characters such as McTaggart and companies such as Prodrive is very significant. Funded and run by Tony Stelliga, the company now has the resources to transform itself into a credible manufacturer producing quality cars.

 

 

Links

• www.marcos-eng.com
• Watch the launch on PistonHeads.TV

[M-G]

I'm first!

Great looking car, want a closer look on Sunday.

Looks like a restyled Chimaera from the back so I could be tempted to change mine. After all it still has a V8.

>>> Edited by M-G on Tuesday 25th May 16:46

[PetrolTed]

P.S. It only weighs 1090kg

[Don]

So if you get the grunty one its 390bhp/tonne.



That's some monster of a car...

Looks OK too - although not quite my cup of tea...

[bertie]

I like it, in a conservative retro kind of way.

But what's going on with the colour scheme.

Not a radical design but could well pick up where TVR left off with the Griff / Chimaera and there are a lot of people with those who don't like the new TVR generation.

[Stig]

Not to mention good old reliable american V8 power!

[toppstuff]

The color scheme does it no favours, but that is still a very yummy vehicle.

With a big US V8 and 6 speed box - that is more desirable than the new Tuscan convertible by a long way !

Marcos build quality is very good too. So with a US V8 making all the right noises, this car should do very well.

[Tripps]

bertie said:

Not a radical design but could well pick up where TVR left off with the Griff / Chimaera and there are a lot of people with those who don't like the new TVR generation.

After the Cerbera most of them have left me pretty cold - but as soon as I saw the thumbnail I thought this was the way forward, as even if I had the money to hand right now I don't know if I would compromise the look I'd like enough to buy any of the new TVRs...

Now - will they supercharge it at all

[dans]

perhaps they'd sell you one without the interior which is a let down, the rest of it is stunning, although the colour scheme is not great...

[FourWheelDrift]

Very nice, agree with the Chimaera similarities but then again it was designed by the Cerbera designer. You could almost believe they have been monitoring PH and noting down the love of the old V8's over the new S6's and going " Aha! "

Lovely.

[h2dca]

Looks good but front reminds me of TVR and back Beamer Z4, not their normal radical stuff and definately aimed at TVR market.
The fence sitter !!!!!

[rthierry]

Hmm nice!

Although there are just a couple of things nmissing:
-> A TVR interior and ...
-> A TVR badge!

Roms

[rico]

I like that!

Not overly sure of the two tone colour scheme they've utilised but other than that it looks like a good car.

Whens the roadtest Ted???

[rico]

Looking at it more...

I LOVE THAT!!!

Can't wait till Thursday to get a proper look.

PROPER V8 power... its what TVR need to do! As good looks as the Tuscan as well... if not better.

[razzle99]

Do like that, especially the 'gills' on the side. Very handsome & proper V8 power too. Thumbs down to the Nissan Figaro colour scheme & the odd looking dash design though !

[blueyes]

Given that Noble and TVR don't have any dealers near me any more this looks like a viable option when I come to change.

[will_t]

:yawn:

Will

[Xm5eR]

Hmmm. Ribbed for extra sensation!

[sublimatica]

It's great to see both Marcos and Noble losing the instantly-recognisable parts-bin rear light clusters, which always made me think "kit car".

This is a stunning design. Bold and modern and yet somehow classic too. I *love* that design with the contrasting-colour gills, and even in those colours, which make it look firm, taught and as though it were made from a solid lump of metal.

Fantastic new releases from Marcos and Noble, then, and something of a disappointment from TVR.

(However, I don't like the interior on this Marcos. Boring and heavy-looking, by modern standards, IMHO.)

[blueyes]

will_t said:

:yawn: Will

Been driving your Porsche too much?

[Alex]

Not bad at all! And a Chevy small block! Peter Wheeler should be very afraid.

I think the side vents are a bit over-the-top though.