Out Of The Wilderness?

TEN YEARS HAVE PASSED SINCE PRODUCTION of the last TVR ended, but the company’s influence on the sports car market is still clear to see. The current crop of loud, brawny sports cars such as the Aston Martin Vantage and Jaguar F-type would arguably never have existed had the Griffith and Cerbera not set the mould. The established manufacturers offer no gratitude, however, as it’s their cars that are going to give the new TVR the hardest time.

- Will Beaumont

TEN YEARS HAVE PASSED SINCE PRODUCTION of the last TVR ended, but the company’s influence on the sports car market is still clear to see. The current crop of loud, brawny sports cars such as the Aston Martin Vantage and Jaguar F-type would arguably never have existed had the Griffith and Cerbera not set the mould. The established manufacturers offer no gratitude, however, as it’s their cars that are going to give the new TVR the hardest time.

Without big money TVR will be, as it always has been, the underdog, but its outsider position and individual take on what a sports car should be is what made TVRs so loveable and helped us overlook their foibles. If the reborn company can channel some of this character into the new cars they will be distinctive enough to make new TVR a success.

To see if this non-conformist attitude still exists, we’ve spoken to Gordon Murray, who’s heavily involved in the design and production process, inspected Black Hound, the Cerbera tasked with testing the Cosworth-fettled Ford V8 engine that will power the car, and heard ex-TVR marketing man Ben Samuelson’s opinion on whether the fi rm has a chance in the current market. Excited about the new TVR? So are we. Read on…