Smolenski outlines Veyron-beater
TVR owner retains ambitious plans
Could TVR rise again from the ashes?
TVR owner Nikolai Smolenski recently gave an interview to Swiss magazine Automobil Review last week in which he said that the buy-back of Blackpool Automotive after it has been placed into administration was a way of cutting his losses. In other words, he reacquired the company shorn of its debts.
He also said that he retains ownership but the contract with the two US businessmen, Adam Burdette and Jean Michel Santacreu, for which they paid £10 million, contains a management buy-out clause that includes a profit for him. Until cash starts to flow, he remains in charge and will concentrate on finance and contractual matters.
He said he could understand why people who worked there were angry with him but pointed out that he's lost the most money.
For the future, Smolenski opened up the possibility of production remaining in the UK. He said that Lotus had expressed interest but that Bertone was a possibility.
His plans for the cars remain unchanged. As well as retaining the Speed Six-powered Tuscan and Sagaris, a new supercharged Speed Twelve is due in 2009 - and is aimed at the Bugatti Veyron.
Ambitious plans indeed.
Step One: put the T350C nose on the Tamora and call them Tamora Coupe, Targa and Roadster.
Step Two: instal the Ford Quad Cam 3 litre V6 engine and box, as used in the Morgan. This, with a decent induction and exhaust system, will give 0-60 in 5 seconds and a top speed around 150mph plus cheap running costs, good reliability and fuel economy.
Step Three: sell it for between £32,000 and £42,000 depending on spec. OK, nine out of ten people will buy a Boxster / Cayman or Z4 for that sort of money but the other one out of ten will prefer the better performance per pound, greater thrills, lower running costs and better luggage capacity of the TVR - and one in ten sales in this market niche is enough to make TVR very profitable indeed!!
Now, where would you like me to send the consultancy invoice??!!
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