Smolenski outlines Veyron beater

[Pebb]

Source: Piston Heads

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.

 

[Metar]

Hmm... So they're bringing back the Speed Twelve? Wonder if it'll work out...

And perhaps companies could stop using the Veyron as a benchmark for any fast car? Every average Joe's kitcar-company announces a "Veyron Beater". Next, we'll be seeing:
"Bored High-school student plans on building a Veyron-beating hypercar during history-lessons".
Though, the Speed Twelve might just about be the thing to do it. And as usual, the tyre-question comes up - How the heck are they going to steer 800-900HP through the rears (assuming it stays similar to the old Speed Twelve), on tyres that both provide grip and don't burst when "Beating the Veyron"?

 

[Dave A]

It's been no secret that TVR have been working on a new supercar in the vein of the Speed 12. This is the first confirmation of when it's due and that it's going to be called a Speed Twelve.

 

[Jim Prower]

Another one?

But it's a TVR...I'm sure the scrappy little company will figure SOMETHING out...

 

[the Interceptor]

I think a supercharged Speed Twelve can well do it, I don't think it will be as sophisticated though. As far as I remember, the Speed 12 was never street legal, because it was considered to be to dangerous. If that is true, how will an even more powerful one make it to the open road?

 

[Dave A]

The Speed 12 was completely street legal, it wasn't the laws that deemed it too dangerous it was Peter Wheeler himself. The one Speed 12 that did get sold (and was later re-purchased by TVR) was road registered and MoT'd. Then it was cannibalised for spare parts for the racing cars, the re-built and re-sold again as a road car, and once more it's road registered and MoT'd and it's owner not too long ago sold it on (he had adverts in several places including autotrader and e-bay). I do agree though that it will not be as complex or sophistacated as the Veyron by a long shot. The new Speed 12 will (like most TVR's) take the race car for the road approach and be a lightweight beast.

 

[TheCracker]

They did produce one road legal model that Peter Wheeler used a couple of times to commute in. He didn't think it was suitable as it was for a road car. A newer version will probably have a more technical traction control system than a right foot.

 

[Dave A]

As nice as the idea of a new Speed 12 sounds though, it doesn't change the fact that Smolenski is still in charge and if he isn't in the near future, it will be these two American business men.

If only Wheeler had sold TVR to Melling in the first place. Or if only Melling had managed to buy TVR earlier this year instead of Smolenski buying them again. If Smolenski thinks people are going to jump head over heels to buy a new Speed 12 he's heavilly mistaken, he's not in a favourable light among the TVR car club members, and in general most people into nich sportscars probably would stay away from TVR with their current instability at the moment. What Smolenski really needs to do (besides sell TVR back to a Brit who will re-hire the Blackppool workforce) is create a new entry model around the £35k mark. Make it the best TVR yet in terms of reliability and bang for buck and get them back on the map that way. Setting his sights so high runs the risk of them falling even more if it doesn't work. Also alot of people see Smolenski crying wolf as well, he hasn't delivered on anything yet. This isn't the first he's said of a new TVR supercar, I think he does plan on it, but he planned on other things as well and thoes plans failed. Needless to say, my faith in Smolenski is (like many TVR fans) lacking.

 

[harrytuttle]

If Smolenski thinks people are going to jump head over heels to buy a new Speed 12 he's heavilly mistaken, he's not in a favourable light among the TVR car club members, and in general most people into nich sportscars probably would stay away from TVR with their current instability at the moment. What Smolenski really needs to do (besides sell TVR back to a Brit who will re-hire the Blackppool workforce) is create a new entry model around the £35k mark. Make it the best TVR yet in terms of reliability and bang for buck and get them back on the map that way. Setting his sights so high runs the risk of them falling even more if it doesn't work. Also alot of people see Smolenski crying wolf as well, he hasn't delivered on anything yet. This isn't the first he's said of a new TVR supercar, I think he does plan on it, but he planned on other things as well and thoes plans failed. Needless to say, my faith in Smolenski is (like many TVR fans) lacking.

Smolenski could outline his face on a brick wall, for all I care. The guy has no clue how to run a car company, totally screwed over both the town and the workers, and has been spouting hype since day one. I'll believe nothing from him until I see actual purchases.

 

[ND4SPD]

Holy crap, I can't wait already!

 

[Joey D]

It's no secret that I hate the Veyron in every sense of the word, there are cheaper cars that will do just about the same speed. The Hennessy Viper is one car that comes to mind, I could probably buy 10 of them for a Veyron's price. But that aside go get em TVR.

And admittedly I have no idea what on earth the Speed 12 is, but hell it can't be all that bad now can it?

 

[Leonidae]

they wish. and hennessey viper is mere tunercar, not production vehicle.

 

[Joey D]

Who cares what it is, it's just as fast for a 1/10th of the price. I bet the Speed 12 will be cheaper, although I'm not sure what the price was on them originally.

 

[skip0110]

It's no secret that I hate the Veyron in every sense of the word, there are cheaper cars that will do just about the same speed. The Hennessy Viper is one car that comes to mind, I could probably buy 10 of them for a Veyron's price. But that aside go get em TVR.

Yep I'd love to see yet another little company upstage a billion something dollars and 6 years of VW development 👍

 

[Dave A]

Who cares what it is, it's just as fast for a 1/10th of the price. I bet the Speed 12 will be cheaper, although I'm not sure what the price was on them originally.

The original Speed 12 was originally set to go on sale for £188,000 (at the time that would probably have been around or under $300,000 USD, currently it's around $360,000). That's very cheap for a 240mph hypercar. However, it was not an ideal road car, it was a GT1 race car for the road, only more powerful. Much more powerful.

 

[Philly]

I am not too familiar with TVR, but from the sounds of it the Speed 12 could be a pretty cool car. Some of the other Smolenski points look promising, but I'm not sure how much they have beneath them to float on.

Veyron beater? yeah sure whatever. We had this debate in the SSC thread, and I see no real need to go back there, seeing as how a S12-Veyron arguement would be nearly identical.

 

[Pebb]

The original Speed 12 was originally set to go on sale for £188,000 (at the time that would probably have been around or under $300,000 USD, currently it's around $360,000). That's very cheap for a 240mph hypercar. However, it was not an ideal road car, it was a GT1 race car for the road, only more powerful. Much more powerful.

Don't forget the Cerbera Speed 12 was built for the road and the Speed 12 was built for racing.

 

[YSSMAN]

Veyron beater? yeah sure whatever. We had this debate in the SSC thread, and I see no real need to go back there, seeing as how a S12-Veyron arguement would be nearly identical.

I completely agree. No matter where your aliegences may lie, we're not going to accomplish anything by screaming at each other over what the Veyron is and is not, and what the competition may or may not bring to the table...

...Until another company can build a car that can go faster than 253.3 MPH, be as comfortable and easy to drive as a Jetta, be as luxurious and extravagant as the most outstanding Rolls-Royces and Bentleys, and yet presumably out-run some of the greatest supercars around a racetrack, well, nothing will ever beat the Veyron...

Simply put, the Veyron is not a supercar. It is a HYPER-car. It does everything with such wretched success in every conceivable measurement (well, not fuel mileage), I really can't see anything matching or beating it for some time. Sure, the worlds-greatest automakers (Ferrari, Porsche, Lamborghini, Mercedes-Benz, etc) may stand a chance, but we're looking at something in the neighborhood of five or more years before anything comes close in every category as the Bugatti...

...Specialty one-off supercars that are meant to only go fast are great, and chances are there may be one that will outrun the Veyron very soon, but the problem is that these cars aren't official production models in most cases. These cars aren't easy to drive for the regular person, and they certainly won't be as civilized as the Veyron in any way, shape or form... Certainly, that is what makes them cool, but it doesn't automatically make them the world's greatest cars...

Some of you may be thinking I like the Veyron, and my answer to that is a simple 'no.' As a matter of fact, it has pretty much destroyed so much in the way of supercardom that it just leaves me and that industry in shock, and to cope, I've had to create a separate category. That said, I will defend the car, as it is an incredible piece of machinery. The innovation, craftsmanship, and just the dream itself is just so out there that you've just got to respect the car, no matter how much you may not like it.

 

[Metar]

^ Which pretty much sums up my feelings about the Veyron...

Though, being TVR, they might get a close shot at the Veyron... Perhaps not build-quality or reliability, but they might come up with something pretty civilized. This isn't a Viper, after all...

 

[Dave A]

Don't forget the Cerbera Speed 12 was built for the road and the Speed 12 was built for racing.

The Cerbera Speed 12 and the Speed 12 were practically the same car, just different bodywork. They were both based on the same chassis, same engine, same running gear, same everything except the bodywork. The original idea of the TVR Speed 12 roa cars was to beat the McLaren F1 in performance, and to holomogate the race cars. That did not change with the Cerbera Speed 12 which was as civilised as an Atom Bomb. I love the Cerbera Speed 12, but I would never consider it a car for anything more than a special occasion, that occasion probably being driving to your nearest race track or to a car show.

 

[Famine]

I love the Cerbera Speed 12, but I would never consider it a car for anything more than a special occasion, that occasion probably being driving to your nearest race track or to a car show.

Or, more likely, to your death.

 

[Dave A]

Quite possibly.

^ Which pretty much sums up my feelings about the Veyron...

Though, being TVR, they might get a close shot at the Veyron... Perhaps not build-quality or reliability, but they might come up with something pretty civilized. This isn't a Viper, after all...

TVR, civilised , oh you wern't joking. that last scentence should read "A viper isn't a TVR, after all." TVR's are absolutely mental, a civilised TVR isn't a TVR.

 

[Metar]

Quite possibly.
TVR, civilised , oh you wern't joking. that last scentence should read "A viper isn't a TVR, after all." TVR's are absolutely mental, a civilised TVR isn't a TVR.

Well, I reckon I got things mixed up here. I meant, civilized compared to the Speed 12, but then again, that doesn't say anything.