2017 TVR Griffith unveiled: V8 two-seater marks official return of UK icon
Italian marque Ferrari isn’t the only brand celebrating its 70th anniversary this year, with iconic British sports car maker TVR marking 70 years with the unveiling of its all-new 2017 TVR Griffith.
Make no mistake, revealed at the Goodwood Revival Earls Court motor show in Sussex in the UK, the much anticipated 2017 TVR Griffith is drop-dead gorgeous.
TVR says the new Griffith had to meet specific “essential criteria” including, being British in every way, teaming a front-mounted V8 engine with a manual transmission and rear-wheel drive, and be a breathtaking two-seater in terms of both appearance and performance.
And with stunning lines, a full ground-effect aerodynamic package including an adjustable rear wing, side exhausts, and 20-inch alloy wheels, the new TVR Griffith certainly looks the part.
Plus, with power coming from a dry-sumped Cosworth-enhanced 5.0-litre Ford V8 engine, it should have respectable pace.
Teaming a custom clutch, flywheel, and ECU with a six-speed Tremec manual transmission, TVR claims the carbon-fibre, steel, and aluminium sports car tips the scales at 1250kg, and is capable of 0-60mph (97km/h) in less than four seconds and a top speed of 200mph (322km/h).
More compact than fellow British sports car the Jaguar F-Type, the 2017 TVR Griffith will be light-years ahead of TVR models of old, featuring AP Racing brakes with ABS, electrically-assisted power steering, airbags, and electronic stability control.
It will also ride on bespoke Avon tyres, specifically commissioned by TVR for its brand-new model – continuing a relationship between the two brands that goes back to the late 1950s.
Further, with TVR working closely with Gordon Murray Design Limited, the whole car has been engineered by the man famously behind the all-conquering McLaren F1.
TVR says the first run of 2017 Griffiths will be limited to 500 ‘Launch Edition’ cars, with custom wheels, an all-leather interior, a model-specific infotainment system, and unique paint all included.
With pricing starting at around £90,000 ($146,000), the first of the South Wales-built sports cars are due to be delivered to owners from late 2018.
First established in 1947 by Trevor Wilkinson, TVR is an independent British sports car manufacturer responsible for such iconic models as the Chimaera, Cerbera, Tamora, Sagaris, and of course, the Griffith.
Speaking of which, the last time TVR used the Grifith name was between 1990 and 2001, with approximately 2600 cars produced before production ceased. It too was powered by a 5.0-litre V8.
Click on the Photos tab for more 2017 TVR Griffith images by Tom Shaxson, courtesy of Goodwood Road and Racing.
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