TVR Griffith - front

by Jonathan Burn

The testing continues for TVR as the British brand prepares to launch its all-new, 500bhp Griffith late in 2018, and a new teaser video is our best look yet at the lightweight Aston Martin V8 Vantage rival in action, revealing the noise made by its 5.0-litre Cosworth developed V8.

Reviving the name first used by TVR back in 1964, the all-new model has been revealed at the Goodwood Revival. Production will begin late next year with Launch Editions of the car priced from £90,000.

TVR boss Les Edgar describes the model as a ‘British muscle car,’ and ‘offers a level of sophistication, comfort and practicality never seen by the brand before.’ Revealed in a race car livery at Goodwood, it confirms TVR’s intention to return to motorsport in the future.

The Griffith measures in at 4,314mm long, 1,850mm wide and 1,239mm tall, which makes it around the same size as an Aston Martin V8 Vantage, but more compact than a Porsche 911 and Jaguar F-Type. Unlike any of its rivals, however, the Griffith is based around a carbon composite structure and weighs less than 1,250kg.

It’s powered by a 5.0-litre naturally aspirated Cosworth V8 engine, which develops 500bhp – TVR is aiming for a power to weight ration of 400bhp/tonne. A top speed in excess of 200mph has been confirmed, as well as a sub four-second sprint from 0-60mph. Power is sent to the rear wheels via a six-speed manual gearbox.

As the engine is located behind the front axle TVR has been able to achieve a perfect 50:50 weight distribution. The Griffith also features double wishbone suspension with adjustable coil-over dampers front and rear.

Rather than fit the Griffith with wild aerodynamic add-ons, such as a rear wing and front splitter, TVR has instead employed the use of ground effect aerodynamics – it features a completely flat floor which helps generate downforce at speed.

To further boost agility larger and wider (20-inch) wheels have been fitted at the rear than those at the front (19-inch). TVR also claims that the Griffith uses ‘intelligent engineering over electronic driver aids,’ but does feature ABS and a configurable traction control.

Official specs have yet to be confirmed but TVR has said the initial batch of Launch Editions – of which 500 will be made and some are still available – will feature a full leather interior along with a portrait-style infotainment system.