New TVR V8 sports car to use manual gearbox

Although still under wraps, we know the new car will be built very much in character with the traditional Blackpool TVRs, but it will be entirely new from the ground up. Designer Gordon Murray hosted customers who viewed the car at the headquarters near Guildford, Surrey.

An earlier preview picture shows one of the car's tailpipes, which are located behind the front wheels (as shown in the Autocar rendering in the gallery). The car being shown in September won't be in production specification, but will feature parts that will end up on the final car.

The display will remain static because Goodwood Revival rules dictate that only cars made before 1966 can run or do demonstrations on circuit.

Edgar said: “It’s the first time a global launch of a new car has occurred at this event and it seems an entirely appropriate place for us to do it, with the marque’s motorsport heritage and an enthusiastic audience of dedicated car fans – and in our 70th anniversary year.

"After a series of secret private viewings organised for the benefit of existing customers for the new car, we know that we have a sure-fire hit on our hands and very much look forward to seeing the public reaction in September."

A spokesman said that orders for the first 500 Launch Edition cars have almost sold out, meaning order books for this first run could close at Goodwood.

TVR sports car to use Gordon Murray iStream Carbon process

TVR has sworn customers who have seen the car to secrecy - to the extent of asking them to sign confidentiality agreements.

Edgar added that the brand was also keen "to stress [the car's] sophisticated underpinnings, which incorporate the very latest technology". He continued: "This project has required our engineers and designers to start from scratch - you can’t meet the latest legislation any other way - and we’re proud of what they’ve achieved."

The need for an entirely new design - and a desire among TVR’s backing consortium to refine the car’s all-important details - is the main reason for slippage in the original delivery schedule. “We’re determined to give this car the perfect chassis and to make sure that the looks match the engineering,” Edgar explained. “That has meant working through a number of styling iterations, which isn’t a quick process.”

Comment: The TVR is finally here (sort of)

Autocar broke the news of TVR's new car early last year and, shortly afterwards, almost 400 deposits were taken. A full-size clay model of the car was taken to the London motor show (shown in gallery), but it remained under cover.

The new TVR is made through Murray’s patented “iStream Carbon” production process, which uses a tubular structure to define the hardpoints of the car, with bonded-in carbonfibre panels greatly enhancing its strength. The rigidity, lightness and crashworthiness of iStream have already been proven in a number of applications, including Murray’s own micro-cars, two Japanese sports car projects and a flat-pack truck design for developing world applications, called the Ox.

At the Guildford meetings, customers have also seen a 3D portrayal of the TVR’s completed interior - in two different colour/trim combinations - plus a model of TVR’s in-house seat design. Proceedings concluded with a discussion of finance options, then a Q&A session. The whole event occupied a little less than two hours.