TVR plays phoenix and rises from the ashes with Sagaris 2

[exigeracer]

It lives, it lives! TVR to resume production, starting with revised Sagaris. This is kind of old news, so I was surprised that nobody caught it...

Announced this morning by TVR Managing Director, David Oxley, at an exclusive preview event held at the new TVR development works in Lancashire, England - TVR Production has resumed!

Upon the momentous occasion, which included invited members of the TVR Car Club, TVR staff presented the TVR Sagaris model year 2008. Exterior design has remained the same except for new 5 spoke wheels, while the interior receives a new center console with satellite navigation.

As promised back in 2006 by TVR owner, Nikolai Smolenski said "My intention is to expand the sales and distribution of TVR cars throughout Europe, the rest of the world and USA markets is a key part of the business strategy of the company." Built as a left hand drive model, the 2008 Sagaris confirms it will be exported internationally.

Preliminary pricing puts the 2008 TVR Sagaris just below 85.000 Euros.

Huzzah! Article doesn't mention revised suspension and ride characteristics, but this thing should be good! I really love these little hokey British car establishments, they build cars that have soul and real feel to them, and this seems like it's continuing the tradition.

http://www.worldcarfans.com/9080710.012/page1/tvr-production-restarts---2008-sagaris-presented

 

[YSSMAN]

Well, its not quite the spaceship inside like it used to be... But I still love it!

I'm very excited to see it coming to the North American market, and I eagerly wait to see how much it will end up being stickered for. Either way, its a very special car for people who are "in the know," and I'm under the impression that it will gain a cult-like following immediately.

 

[Dave A]

It's not that old news, it only came out last Thursday. It's a shame they replaced the side exit exhausts with more conventional ones, I loved thoes on the old car.

According to sources TVR are still going ahead with the proposed Typhoon model they showed around a year and a half ago.
http://www.evo.co.uk/news/evonews/204588/tvr_typhoon.html
One thing I hope Smolenski doesn't try, is to mainstream the bran in an effort to generate more sales. TVR is a special brand, it shouldn't be mainstream. It should remain low volume because they will sell, if it's low volume and you make a profit on the cars that covers the business running then you don't need a large target audience. You need people like me, but with a bit more spending power that they can devote to a car purchase than I have.

 

[Muzaffar]

Is it me or is does the handbrake look weird to me? I don't know, the fact that they haven't move the handbrake position from the RHD version...... 👎 (but then again, its just a prototype right?)

But to be honest, sounds like its too good to be true. Would be awesome if Americans could get to buy one of these, could very well go against those Astons. Then again, Dave A has a good point. Lets hope it won't be as mainstream as the Aston, and to try and keep its exclusivity...... 👍

 

[TheCracker]

Good to see 👍

What's with the ugly cheap looking steering wheel?

 

[Bram Turismo]

I've always been a fan of TVR's outrageously agressive looks on the Sagaris. Now, it only got better 👍

 

[Jim Prower]

Is it me or is does the handbrake look weird to me? I don't know, the fact that they haven't move the handbrake position from the RHD version...... 👎 (but then again, its just a prototype right?)

But to be honest, sounds like its too good to be true. Would be awesome if Americans could get to buy one of these, could very well go against those Astons. Then again, Dave A has a good point. Lets hope it won't be as mainstream as the Aston, and to try and keep its exclusivity...... 👍

Blargh, don't complain about the Handbrake position. It's a handbuilt British car. It needs those quirks.

 

[Dave A]

Is it me or is does the handbrake look weird to me? I don't know, the fact that they haven't move the handbrake position from the RHD version...... (but then again, its just a prototype right?)

The handbrake has been moved. It should be on the far side of the gear stick to the driver, not the near side. What are you using all the time while your driving a manual car, what do you not want to have obstructed by a handbrake. The gear stick .

And just for good measure, the devil on wheels.

 

[V1P3R]

I love everything about it!

Spoiler

Sadly and amazingly, I've never seen one period. So, I didn't know the hood actually opens like that. I thought it was sealed and the only access was via the openings which I scratched my head at. I also, never knew that's what the engine looked like. as well as I never new what the old interior looked like.

 

[ROAD_DOGG33J]

What are you using all the time while your driving a manual car, what do you not want to have obstructed by a handbrake.

The cupholder

Good to see 👍

What's with the ugly cheap looking steering wheel?

It's way better than the gauges. It looks like somebody just took some paper, cut them out and then penned in the numbers. Wait...don't tell me

 

[ExigeEvan]

What a wonderful time to release a sports car

Rising taxes on emissions and a slowing economy.

 

[Delphic Reason]

They fixed the stupid side pointing exhausts! About time. The interior seems to be a bit more understated this time around as well. Looking good. Looking very good. They fixed everything I didn't like, and kept the rest. TVR has been listening to it's fans. Interesting concept.

 

[McLaren]

What's with the ugly cheap looking steering wheel?

Doesn't look that cheap to me. Besides, it must be of pretty good quality if Pagani's sporting a very similar wheel.

 

[superberkut]

If the wheel looks cheap, so does the slick vinyl-like surface on the seat backs and the petal design.

I can imagine that things would get pretty exciting if the handbrake was tapped rowing into 5th!

 

[Dave A]

It'd be hard to accidentally press the release button and pull the handbrake up shifting into 5th, but should it happen I guess you'd end up dead. Unless the engine wasn't running . Joking aside, I've been in a Sagaris or two, the handbrake isn't in the way unless you have golf ball knuckles and hold the gear stick like a stick and not like you should with your palm down.

 

[superberkut]

Eh, my imagination's just running wild. Good to know, nonetheless.

Anyways, I like the transition from the original Sagaris to the current car in terms of styling.

 

[-Fred-]

Those wheels have to go...

 

[V1P3R]

That's all you can complain about? wow... I'll ignore this.

They fixed the stupid side pointing exhausts!

Aww man... I liked those too.

 

[Muzaffar]

The handbrake has been moved. It should be on the far side of the gear stick to the driver, not the near side. What are you using all the time while your driving a manual car, what do you not want to have obstructed by a handbrake. The gear stick .

Well, didn't know much about that anyhow..... But it just seems odd ya know. Maybe its probably because I watched one too many videos of people drifting and pulling the handbrake at the side of their seats......

 

[Delphic Reason]

Aww man... I liked those too.

They were different and thus interesting, so I can understand why people liked them. However, with pure functionality in mind, they had to go. It always seemed strange to ruin the exhaust flow by having so many bends. Similar to those rejects that run around with dual exhausts on their I-4 cylinder Hondas (no point, other than aesthetics). Furthermore, They never looked quite right to me. The car looked the business, and then had silly side pointing exhausts, like it was a ninja wearing clown shoes.

I'm lovin' the new Sagaris, although I'm not terribly keen on the new wheels. Too TSW'ish, in my opinion.

 

[V1P3R]

Yeah, I'll admit they weren't functional at all.

 

[-Fred-]

That's all you can complain about? wow... I'll ignore this.

Too big, and they look cheap. Like they belong on a bodykitted Corsa or 106...

 

[TheCracker]

Doesn't look that cheap to me. Besides, it must be of pretty good quality if Pagani's sporting a very similar wheel.

Doesn't look like any Zonda wheel that i've seen a picture of. I'm sure you can buy the same wheel in Halfords

The wheels look a little oversized too.

 

[harrytuttle]

All 5 wheels need to go: the alloys and the steering thingy. The previous road wheels looked great and fit the car much better. The smoothed edges worked with the severe curves of the car; these look like someone chose the wheels from another manufacturer in GT4. And yes, they are oversized. Most likely to the detriment of ride and control.

The steering wheel? Simply not TVR, at least not Peter Wheeler-era TVR. I've seen '32 deuce coupe hot rods with more expensive-looking wheels.

 

[McLaren]

Doesn't look like any Zonda wheel that i've seen a picture of. I'm sure you can buy the same wheel in Halfords

The wheels look a little oversized too.

You're kidding right?

The design is extremely similar.

 

[TheCracker]

You're kidding right?

The design is extremely similar.

It has 3 spokes a flat bottom and ergonomic hand holds yes. But similar, no.

Every crappy show car with ugly airbrushed fibreglass interior mouldings and dozens of LCD screens has a wheel like the one in the Sagaris. The Zonda wheel is a lovingly handcrafted piece of work, the other wheel is mass produced and available in every two-bit highstreet car mod shop, sold alongside stick-on racer-style fuel filler flaps and those A-pillar mounted extra gauges.

 

[ExigeEvan]

You're kidding right?
*snip*
The design is extremely similar.

I'm with The Cracker.

The TVR wheel is made from far, far cheaper materials that require much less labour work and there's those really cheap looking bolts/rivets at the bottom of the central spoke. Not exactly integrated well are they?

 

[TheCracker]

It's a E-Tech Daytona - all £47 worth of quality workmanship, coming to a Corsa near you soon!

 

[Dave A]

Even without that last post, I would have agreed with TheCracker that the steering wheel isn't very good. But as long as it's comfortably to hold which it probably is then it's not a big deal imo.

 

[Noremac55]

i like the TVR brand and have always loved their raw character... but never really liked that glue smell that they used to have, and still do.....errrrrr.... give me the smell of leather any day........

when looking at the interior of the new TVR Sagaris, first thing that comes to mind is, "where did u get that steering wheel from, some after market shop?????"

I mean, when it costs as much as it does, you would kind of want some reassurance that someone in a tuned nova next to you wont have those same parts on there car......... but other than that...... should be a good car I imagine, nice raw power!👍