TVR Speed 16 design stuns
Gobsmacking design study with two engines
    TVR Speed 16 by T. Jon Meyer |
PHer Los Angeles has unearthed these drawings by a Californian car designer of a theoretical TVR Speed 16.
LA writes:
"It's an extreme exercise in design given by tutor to student. The brief was, "Design a sports car for a movie with no restrictions on imagination or practicality." The result you see here in rendered form -- a superb clay model exists too -- is a dream version of a TVR Speed 16. The designer, T. Jon Mayer, chose TVR because he venerates the company and would love to work on its new models.
"For those who bemoan the lack of a modern V8 TVR, the Speed 16 has two, one in the nose, one in the rear, thus the ventilation grid in place of a rear window. Doors open suicide fashion. All else is there for good aerodynamic reasons. It's a courageous design, outrageous even. Nor is he afraid of using camouflage colours, adding, "Some flip colours work, some don't."
"Of course, it could never be put into production as conceived. Much would have to be altered, but as an exercise in harnessing the essence of TVR, it's a great success, and was duly lauded at his graduation show. It captures TVR's design language exactly.
"His starting point was the Tuscan. Like other students of his generation, he thinks TVR under Peter Wheeler's guidance, inspirational, exciting, rebellious, and futuristic. "Though the Tuscan has a dropped waist that weakens the design, and a fat rear, the car is still jaw dropping. I love the clam shell bonnet." The new Tuscan, he opines, is a diluted version of the original, but it doesn't dampen his enthusiasm for TVR. "They are such a great company."
"Jon is a Fine Arts graduate in Industrial Design who has studied car design at the famous Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, Los Angeles. (It is alma mater to Chris Bangle and J. Mays, among other luminaries.) As it's name suggests, the Transport Department studies new ways of getting us from A to B, in addition to encouraging talented students from around the world in taking a radical look at car shapes, inside and out.
"Many of the design projects are sponsored by car companies, though none yet by TVR. As they enter a new phase of their history perhaps they ought to take note of Jon. After all, if a retro company like Morgan can invite a 21 year old to make real his ideas for an Aero 8 Coupe, what's to stop TVR going one better?"
Bit concerned about the enclosed front wheels however. In the UK we have things called "corners" (like "curves" only sharper) which necessitate turning the front wheels. Either this has some fancy new form of spinner caps, or its potentially the fastest dumper in history!
I always have a little chuckle when I see a designer getting adulation from fellow designers. It usually means the product is a total mess. Reminds me of the turner prize.
I personally think that TVR need a few less designers and few more engineers.
I have found in practice that the more well engineered it is the prettier it starts to look. Beauty is functionality in a car, not the other way round.
John Nowak said:
Bit concerned about the enclosed front wheels however. In the UK we have things called "corners" (like "curves" only sharper) which necessitate turning the front wheels.
It looks as if they're designed to rotate with the wheels, oh wise European sage.
That's not to disguise that it's a three-wheeler is it?
chris.mapey said:Given the MTM bimoto (two engines) was built in Germany, one of the worse places for legislation, I don't think that's strictly the case...
Twin engines have their legal challenges too!
How? is this something I've missed. I always thought there was nothing to stop you haveing as many engines as you want...
Chris
www.mtm-online.de/html/bimoto/frameset.htm
J
And it is too smooth over all.
Could be more extreme, especially for a moviecar.
And twin engines... Come on! There once was a Citroën 2CV with two engines (the Sahara). IMHO that was a more extreme car than this one.
Not a lot of really new design ideas too, however I realize that that is almost impossible without getting ridiculous.
Edited to say: Feel like I'm getting old, and probably this guy IS a genius!
>> Edited by klassiekerrally on Monday 16th May 21:57
Gutted im not going in the smart this year... well, no, chuffed to be going in the Cerb, but I cant drive that on road. Just want to re-live the memory 
thanks in advance,
Ben CA
TVR Smart GT LM.
Gassing Station | General TVR Stuff & Gossip | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff