2004 TVR Typhon

TVRs have always been fast, as spectacular to drive as they are to look at. With the Typhon series of cars, those traditional strengths have been taken to an altogether higher level. Its stunning bodywork is all carbonfibre, its massively strong chassis uses aluminium honeycomb to greatly improve its stiffness, and its hugely powerful engine, which is now capable of putting out 580 bhp, is connected to TVR’s own six speed sequential gearbox. It is TVR’s technological tour de force, a spectacular showcase for TVR’s abilities.

When first announced, the Typhon was meant to have only 500 bhp but all the tests have shown that the supercharged engine is still well within its comfort zone pumping out a staggering 585 bhp at 7,000 rpm and 467 lb ft of torque at 5,000 rpm. It has twin intercoolers and the centrifugal supercharger is driven by a belt off the crankshaft. It also benefits from sequential injection.

With its carbonfibre bodywork, identical in weight to that of the Le Mans cars, its power to weight ratio is a quite extraordinary 530 bhp per tonne. 60 mph comes up in less than 4 seconds but it is from there to its top speed of over 215 mph that the Typhon really leaves the competition standing. To cope with all that power, the car has not just a new chassis, but a new type of chassis. Designed from the ground up with the aid of sophisticated CAD/CAM software, the rigidity of the steel chassis is added to significantly by the race-type rollcage and the use of aluminium honeycomb and carbonfibre for the floor. Also a first for a roadgoing TVR is to have adjustable dampers whereby customers will be able to fine-tune the suspension set up of their cars for road or circuit use.

You can count the number of road cars that have had all-carbonfibre bodywork on the fingers of one hand – Mclaren F1, Ferrari Enzo and now Typhon. More normally found in the aerospace or Motorsport industries, this material is expensive but is extraordinarily light and strong.

The interior reflects its race car underpinnings with a distinctly minimalist style pervading the interior. Unusually, the carbonfibre and aluminium structure of the car is highly polished and left on show, giving the cabin a utilitarian but extremely high quality feel. The seats are unique to the model and are manufactured from carbonfibre but trimmed from the highest quality Scottish hides. The Typhon is 84,995 GBP.

Story by TVR Cars Ltd