TVR planning a comeback with U.S sourced V8 power

  • Thread starter Thread starter Pebb
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Hopefully it's the LS9, I like it better than the LS7.

Might turn out to be neither, could be the LS3 that's used in the Grand Sport.
 
I hope it's either the LS3 or LS7 as they are lighter than the LS9.
 
Maybe TVR will use on of GM's next gen small blocks? Smaller displacement + same or higher power.
 
I want to see a FORD engine in it. Even the 5.0 supercharged! Or a quad turbo setup! haha
 
Is anybody else worried by the whole automatic gearbox thing? Before long it'll have ABS and Traction Control and other crap. Then it'll weigh more and just be completely un-TVR like.
 
I for one hope it's the LS7, it's lighter than an LS9, and a lightweight TVR hardly needs much more power than 505 galloping, and extremely angry, horses. They may even re-tune the LS7 for more power in their application.
 
Duffers917K
Is anybody else worried by the whole automatic gearbox thing? Before long it'll have ABS and Traction Control and other crap. Then it'll weigh more and just be completely un-TVR like.
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If it's not made by a Fred Dibnah look-a-like in a shed in Blackpool it's only TVR by name IMO so auto box etc doesn't really make much difference in the grand scheme of things.
 
mafia_boy
Yeah, but which Corvette motor?? :trouble:

Please be ZR-1 motor, please be ZR-1 motor. :D
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Isn't the ZR-1 like 7 litres or something? In that case, not a chance. It'll probably be 4-5 litres at most.

I've read the article and I don't see any suggestion that this new model will be automatic, he said he always wanted to do an automatic model, which is a horrible thing to say about a TVR, but then he is trying to sell them in America. What I get from the context of his comment is that they're planning a hybrid car in the future and that would be automatic or automated manual but the new car they're doing now won't be.

It's all just wait any see at the moment, I'm still very dissapointed with Smolenskis handling of the company. He was too ambitious for them originally and I'm dissapointed that he's not brought back the Blackpool workforce and is instead having the built by a 3rd party in Germany. Hopefully this is just a one off for this car whle other things get moving, but with this guy I think the days of VR's eing built on British shores are gone. He's too much of an accountant tpye business man, cheaper labour and all that.
 
Dave A
Isn't the ZR-1 like 7 litres or something? In that case, not a chance. It'll probably be 4-5 litres at most.
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I think the smallest modern V8 engines GM produce is the 4.8 litre, which at approx 300bhp it isn't a performance unit and is designed to be used in trucks etc. If it's going to be small block, it will likely be a 6.0 litre LS2, which has upwards of 400bhp.
 
I'm getting the ZR-1 and Z06 engines mixed up anyway I think, the Z06 is 7 litre and the ZR-1 is 6.2. I think the regular Corvette coupe is 6 litre so I guess I was wrong about it being 4-5. I can't see it being the 7 litre engine though, possibly the ZR-1.
 
It's a Corvette motor, so unless he's waiting for the next gen direct injection, E85 capable Chev V8, it's either an atmo 6.2L, atmo 7.0L or supercharged 6.2L.
 
Dave A
I've read the article and I don't see any suggestion that this new model will be automatic, he said he always wanted to do an automatic model, which is a horrible thing to say about a TVR, but then he is trying to sell them in America. What I get from the context of his comment is that they're planning a hybrid car in the future and that would be automatic or automated manual but the new car they're doing now won't be.
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I'd like to see them offer a DCT or something in maybe one model. They are pretty much track cars so why not have one of the fastest transmissions available? I hear Lotus has one coming. I don't think it'd be too much of a heresy for TVR to buy an automated manual from a fellow British manufacturer.
 
Philly
I'd like to see them offer a DCT or something in maybe one model. They are pretty much track cars so why not have one of the fastest transmissions available? I hear Lotus has one coming. I don't think it'd be too much of a heresy for TVR to buy an automated manual from a fellow British manufacturer.
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For the same reason Porsche don't fit to their GT road cars. Outright speed doesn't necessarily make it a good fast car, if you get my meaning. It's about enjoyment.
 
Dave A
Isn't the ZR-1 like 7 litres or something? In that case, not a chance. It'll probably be 4-5 litres at most.
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A shorthand list of the current LS-series engines in terms of displacement:

* LS4: 5.3L, 304 BHP
* LS1: 5.7L, 300-350 BHP
* LS6: 5.7L, 405 BHP
* LS2: 6.0L, 400 BHP
* LS3: 6.2L, 430 BHP
* LSA: 6.2L Supercharged, 550 BHP
* LS9: 6.2L Supercharged, 638 BHP
* LS7: 7.0L, 505 BHP

We're still looking at a two year window, minimum, before the new generation of small blocks arrive from GM, likely fitting in the next Corvette, as well as an updated Camaro, before going in anything else. Knowing that the C6.R has dropped in displacement, and that GM has been talking about doing that for a little while, dipping down to somewhere in the neighborhood of 5.3L with the addition of direct-injection, variable valve timing and flex-fuel capability, it should be no less powerful than the current LS3. Or, at least the old LS2.
 
Corvette engine in a lightweight TVR? I like. :dopey:

So this is really going to be built in Germany?... you can't get more British than an American engined, Russian owned, German built sports car. I have to say this Smolensky bloke has single handedly ruined TVR...who thought giving an inexperienced kid a sports car company was a good idea? :grumpy:

Anyway, this TVR will go like a hare being poked with a hot stick. I hope it looks as good as the Sagaris... and it better have some lunacy, like AABS (Anti-Anti lock brake system) or sideways syndrome. 💡
 
It should have an anti-straight line system which prevents the car from driving in a straight line, so you've always sideways.

From that list YSSMAN posted it would seem a safe bet that it'll be the 6.2 LS3. Power wise, 430bhp would be in the average TVR's ball park and also there's nothing preventing the engines state of tune being tweaked should they want moer power. I really wouldn't have expected a 6+ litre engine though, it's bigger than any TVR engine before excluding the Speed 12.
 
Duffers917K
For the same reason Porsche don't fit to their GT road cars. Outright speed doesn't necessarily make it a good fast car, if you get my meaning. It's about enjoyment.
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I completely get what you're saying, but if they wanted to offer an automatic for the American market, a DCT would be pretty sweet.

Also, I'm sure if they did offer a DCT in a more track oriented car (where speed is more important relative to road driving), there would be a market for the transmission since I would help shave time off any lap time.
 
Dave A
I really wouldn't have expected a 6+ litre engine though, it's bigger than any TVR engine before excluding the Speed 12.
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Understandable, but if you're going with what is available and what is reliable, the Chevrolet is going to be tough to beat. They very easily could go for the 4.8L LY2 V8 that is good for 300 BHP or the 5.3L LY5 that does 325 BHP. But, big iron blocks and torque-biased tunes probably aren't preferred options to build a sportscar around.

It would be pretty interesting to see if GM could sell their E-Rod version of the LS3 directly to TVR for this project. Its not radically different than what you get in the Corvette or Camaro, but it still makes a hell of a lot of power out of the box for not much money.
 
Oh yeah, the Chevy engines certainly reliable, it's a very good engine but I just didn't expect it in the next TVR. I don't mind it in the next TVR, the bigger issues with the car are where it will be built and if they will keep the brands heritage and identity or if it will be watered down. I fear that it is the end of TVR as we knew, that doesn't mean it won't be a good or cool car though. They really should have re-hired the Blackpool workforce though, all for the sake of saving a few pennies. If Al Melling was given the government grant he applied for and should have been given, thoes people would all be building cars again now and TVR would be back in Blackpool. It's odd that the government instead thought it was better to let the operation be taken overseas and leave thoes people unemployed or takng jobs outside of their areas of expertise than to allow Melling the chance to buy the company when he had the chance but needed the extra funding instead of letting Smolenski buy it back after it all went into liquidation.
 

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