If any performance car is set to go down in history as the
benchmark for a new era in motoring technology, TVR's Speed 12 is odds on favourite.
The words "sleek", "sophisticated" and
"powerful" only go half way toward describing the Speed 12, the production of
which is being awaited with curious trepidation by the top luxury sports car manufacturers
in the world.
This Blackpool, England based rocketship has the power to weight ratio of
three times that of a Ferrari F355! Only one car, the McLaren F1 comes close at 550bhp per
tonne which is still somewhat 20% short of the mark of the TVR's 660 bhp.
Its revolutionary V12 motor of 7.7 litres is full of high tech
manufacturing, right from the and shaped block and crankcase to the banks which are
inclined to 90 degrees, (a practice usually reserved for special production Jaguars and
Ferraris).
The V12's true performance output is not confirmed, but at this point it
would see the TVR accelerate from 0 - 100 kph in 2.9 seconds and is capable of a top speed
of 325 kph.
To get there you have to shift 6 gears and hang on tight as the
triangulated tubular chassis and fully independent suspension do their job to keep the
Speed 12 rigid.
The minimally padded racing seats and five point harness holding you in
leave you in no doubt that this road car's origins come straight from the race track. One
journo from the English magazine "Autocar" wrote in December 1997 edition that
"Perhaps an aspiring Speed 12 owner should strap himself into a racing seat and
arrange to be ejected from the top of an erupting volcano".
Depending on demand TVR boss Peter Wheeler plans to build one road going
version per month and enthusiasts keen to get their hands on one will pay around $400,000
AU for the privilege.
The Speed 12 has already attracted the attention of some pretty high
profile "fast car junkies" in the form of Liam Howlett and Keith Flint from the
dance/grunge group The Prodigy, having placed thier orders one year ago.
The hands on approach by the TVR team in the development of the Speed 12
and the philosophy built into TVR's other sports cars of not having customers but having
fans will insure that the demand for the Speed 12 will certainly outstrip supply.
The prototype of the speed 12 will be on display at the Adelaide Motor
Show beginning 17th of March.
For further information please contact TVR on 1800 990 044 or via email at tvr.cars@bigpond.com
