TVR Sagaris (2006)

TVR Sagaris

Conceived as a new hero car for TVR’s range, which included tamer Tamora and T350 models, the Sagaris was designed with the track in mind, skirting as close to the ethos of a ‘racing car for the road’ as permitted.

Shown to the world for the first time in 2003 at the MPH03 Autoshow at Earl’s Court, with a further prototype revealed at the 2004 British Motor Show at the Birmingham NEC, the production car that followed in 2005 took in several refinements and redesigns to walk it back slightly from the extreme concept originally conceived.

But, it still landed on sale as arguably the wildest and most analogue performance car of its era. Most notably, the cuts above the front wheel arches were filled in and relegated to pure form over function, but touches such as the curved Perspex rear wing, the purposeful front splitter and of course, the mad and unmissable side-exiting rear exhausts made it onto each of the circa 200 examples produced.

Power is provided by TVR’s famed Speed Six naturally aspirated straight-six engine, developing over 400bhp in this application and sent to the rear axle via a five-speed manual gearbox. Using TVR’s traditional spaceframe chassis modified to accommodate slightly wider front and rear tracks, the bodywork of fibreglass and the stripped out, bare-knuckle approach to driver aids and safety equipment results in a kerb weight of only 1,078kg.

Inside, a roll-cage snakes around the windscreen, the edges of the roof and settles behind the large bucket seats of the driver and passenger. As per TVRs of the era, a large central tunnel dominates the space inside, placing the fit-for-purpose metal-ball shifter of the transmission at a convenient height.

Specifications

Powerplant

• Engine type: Sagaris TVR Speed Six engine
• Displacement: 3,996 cc (4.0 L; 243.9 cu in)
• Power output: 406 bhp (303 kW; 412 PS) at 7000 rpm
• Torque output: 349 lb?ft (473 N?m) at 5000 rpm
• Bore x stroke: 96 mm × 92 mm (3.78 in × 3.62 in)
• Compression ratio: 12.2:1
• Valvetrain setup: DOHC 4 valves per cylinder
• Camshaft duration: inlet 264, exhaust 264 standard

Gearbox

• Transmission: 5-speed manual

Suspension

• Front: Independent, double wishbones, coil-over gas dampers, sway bars
• Rear: Independent, double wishbones, coil-over gas dampers, sway bars

Brakes

• Front: 322 mm (12.7 in) ventilated disc brakes
• Rear: 298 mm (11.7 in) ventilated disc brakes

Wheels and tires

• Wheels: 18 x 8.5 in aluminium alloy Spider wheels
• Tires: 255/35

Chassis/body

• Body panels: Glass Reinforced Plastic
• Weight: 2,371 lb (1,075 kg)
• Length: 4,057 mm (159.7 in)
• Width: 1,770 mm (69.7 in)
• Height: 1,175 mm (46.3 in)

Performance

• Top speed: 185 mph (298 km/h)
• 0 to 60 mph (97 km/h): 3.7 seconds
• 60 to 0 mph: 2.9 seconds