GTP Cool Wall: 1996-2003 TVR Cerbera

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1996-2003 TVR Cerbera


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What @Custom878 said. Plus great power for its time, but with that comes the British reliability. Cool.
 
The Cerbera... Now this is what I call the British muscle car; loud, brutal and barely refined. And none of this makes it bad, really. It's a car that loves being pushed hard, because that's what it was made for. You want elegance? You're better off with a Jaaaag. TVR's were created to smack drivers right in the face with all sorts of adrenaline rushes. And thank god for that.

Sub-zero? Sadly not; the design is a hit and miss sort of case and the reliability of TVR's does not have the best of reputations. But let's face it, even if you had a Cerbera, you'd probably care very little about it breaking down ("What's this? My car's broke? Oh well, better get it fixed, because I want more of that danger and adrenaline pumping through my veins). And despite being named after a dog from Hell, if you drive a Cerbera the wrong way you'll end up going to the Pearly Gates instead. But despite all this, this Blackpool brawler is a great sports car. It's cool, very cool...
 
It's mad how much of a punch the Speed Eight packed. Even before we get on to the 'Red Rose' spec upgrade. I just wish that level of performance could be complimented by the Speed Six's soundtrack instead.

High Cool.
 
It's mad how much of a punch the Speed Eight packed. Even before we get on to the 'Red Rose' spec upgrade. I just wish that level of performance could be complimented by the Speed Six's soundtrack instead.

High Cool.

Now what would this "Red Rose" package be? It has a rather strangely elegant ring to it, for a Cerbera upgrade, that is.
 
Now what would this "Red Rose" package be? It has a rather strangely elegant ring to it, for a Cerbera upgrade, that is.

On the later 4.5 models, you could get a 20bhp increase by changing the fuel map via a dashboard switch. As well as upgraded brakes and readjusted suspension.
 
Basically you could get a 20 bhp increase on later 4.5 models by changing the fuel map via a dashboard switch. As well as upgraded brakes and readjusted suspension.

Well damm, and here I was thinking you couldn't extract more power out of a V8 Cerbera, guess I was wrong. In essence, it is the "I need more danger, please" button. Pretty interesting.
 
I think they recommended using only super-unleaded with the remap activated in order to achieve optimal performance.
 
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It really is amazing how powerful this car was for the time. It's still potent today, but 420 bhp in 1997 (when the 4.5 came out) was immense compared to other performance cars of the period:
BMW M3: 320 bhp
Aston Martin DB7: 335 bhp
Corvette C5: 345 bhp
Ferrari 355: 375 bhp
TVR Cerbera: 420 bhp
Ferrari 456: 435 bhp (but it's also 700 kg heavier than the TVR)

And now for some Top Gear maths. Based on the power increases of the modern versions of those cars, the Cerbera today would have 620 bhp.
 
Cool, near sub zero. But only misses SZ because of the bugeye headlights. I personally don't like bugeyes.
 
I used one in a GT6 challenge with my friends and it was amazing to drive, and wiped the floor with them, so it's ok in my book. :sly:
 
A proper sports car. Cool
 
Unique styling, powerful engine fitted into a super lightweight body, and it's a British sports car. Sub-zero.
 
SZ.

1. Part of the original GT car roster.
2. 420hp plus lighter than a Ferrari.
3. Wearing a UK batch.
 
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