Friday 14th July 2023

Triumph name returns with stunning TR25 concept

Built by Makkina and powered by BMW i3 bits, the TR25 celebrates a record-breaking TR2

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We’ve not seen or heard anything of Triumph in a four-wheeled context for a very long time; BMW has the rights to the name, and is seemingly content for it lay dormant. Well, sort of. Because this is a new Triumph TR25 concept, built by British design house Makkina, and the name has been used with BMW’s blessing. More than that, in fact, it uses BMW power, with an i3S battery and motor employed. Quite some way to celebrate 100 years of the Triumph name.

Though unashamedly modern in its design, the TR25 aims to evoke classic Triumphs in the way it looks. Specifically, it pays homage to the MVC575, the legendary TR2 that now resides in the British motor museum. It’s also known as ‘Jabbeke’, as that was the location where the TR2 broke the land speed record for production cars under 2.0-litres back in 1953 - it reached 124.889mph.

For the TR25, reimagining that look means two distinctive headlights just like any good Triumph roadster, plus what Makkina are calling ‘sleek, aerodynamically-optimised exterior surfaces’. A single-seat sports car with a flip-out jump seat for anyone brave enough to go in alongside, an ‘uncompromising, driver-focused cabin’ is promised, one with minimal distraction and controls. As all the best lightweight British sports cars are.

Interestingly given the look, the TR25 is underpinned by BMW i3S architecture. Which has plenty of advantages beyond being readily available to work on. Despite a quarter century of design experience (hence the ‘25’ in the name), Makkina isn’t in the position to be creating its own EV platform, so why not make use of a very good - and carbon, don’t forget - existing one? It means a light, compact sports car, one with a low centre of gravity and something close to 50:50 weight distribution. Makkina reckons that the little BMW city car is the ‘perfect foundation to develop the next chapter in British sports car history.’

Which all sounds pretty encouraging, though it seems unlikely that the TR25 will make it any further than the concept stage for the moment. Maybe Makkina (and BMW) will see how the MG Cyberster is received before going any further. Director of Makkina, Michael Ani, said: “Triumph is an incredibly significant name in the motoring industry, and we knew we carried a strong responsibility for reawakening through the TR25…

“We’re proud of the way we have revitalised the Triumph [Motor Company] name and thank our friends BMW Group for allowing us the honour to badge a car that not only celebrates our company’s [Makkina’s] 25^th anniversary but also 70 years of the ‘Jabbeke’ TR2 record run and 100 years of this iconic marque [Triumph Motor Company].” The campaign for limited production starts here…

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[Water Fairy]

Some nice design cues but I really don't understand the thought process with designers when it come to wheels on this kind of thing.

[Turn7]

I remember when cars used to look amazing.....was this designed on an Etcha-sketch ?

Edited by Turn7 on Thursday 13th July 18:30

[anonymous-user]

I personally think that looks cool AF.

[BananaFama]

No ,looks like a brick on wheels .

[clarkmagpie]

I like it.
Shame we will never see it being made.

[tr3a]

As both an EV and Triumph aficionado: meh.

[Straight6s]

Would be amazing to see Triumph back on the road and given the mini treatment by BMW in Oxford.
This is a good start, apart from the wheels, lets hope a GT6 or TR6 is next and allowed to give MG and the Chinese a run for there money. Come on BMW! So much potential, I'd be in

[paradigital]

Modeled on a bar of soap?

[Got4wheels]

Striking but the front end and silly wheels lets this down for me. I'm more interested in the fact that the Triumph name has slightly thawed from it's deep freeze. The design is obviously conceptual but under the skin it's all very real world. I wonder whether BMW are tentatively sounding out a rebirth...

Michael

[Alex Z]

The only nod to Triumph I can see is the placing of the headlights. Other than that, meh…

I’d love to see a modern TR sharing a platform with the Z4, but can’t see it happening.

[LuS1fer]

Difficult to get an idea of scale and size so hard to judge it

I like the idea and design cues from the Frogeye (same old retro, nothing like the TR6 or 7).

Wheels are way too big and horrific beyond measure.

[robemcdonald]

I really like it

[MarJay]

Err... did the Triumph name go away for that long? Also is this a Triumph or a Makkina?

I'm guessing they didn't need to consult Triumph motorcycles for this... Not that it matters as it'll never see the light of day as an actual vehicle.

[BlackandWhite]

Yep, now we’re talking. Love it.

[Demonix]

Is that the finished design or is Makkina's automotive design student intern still working on it? Single seater frogeye ev idea is cool but this is a chunky render with gopping wheels and not a great rebirth of an Iconic brand.

[McRors]

And in other news, Caterham have launched their EV sports car. I know which I’d rather have.

[Gecko1978]

There have been some amazing concept cars over the years. Ford Indigo and GT 90, Jaguar XK180, TVR 7/12 (before it became a cerbera). This....is not one of them. It reminds me of the manda speedster thing last year

[StuMiller]

Curious internal door control buttons; up, down, forwards, backwards and stop!

[anonymous-user]

That looks absolutely Bob on. Fantastic

[anonymous-user]

LuS1fer said:

Difficult to get an idea of scale and size so hard to judge it

I like the idea and design cues from the Frogeye (same old retro, nothing like the TR6 or 7).

Wheels are way too big and horrific beyond measure.

Cues from TR2 and 3 surely, not frogeye.