Few cars look as dramatic as the new TVR Sagaris. While motorsport is never far from TVR's designers' and engineers' minds, the rigorous demands of the endurance racing arena were also a priority in the Sagaris concept. It has been designed to be the ultimate racing car for the road. Now it is possible to know what it feels like to drive a Le Mans car everyday. Every scoop, every vent might add to the most extraordinarily dramatic lines, but they are all there for a distinct purpose. Lightweight is much talked about by car manufacturers but is rarely achieved in combination with enormous power. Thanks to the rigid tubular steel chassis and extremely light composite bodywork, the Sagaris comes in at just over a tonne. With low drag and downforce producing aerodynamic features at both the front and rear of the car, the styling of the Sagaris works just as well as it looks.
The Sagaris is propelled by the same four-litre 380 bhp engine as the Tuscan S. It is docile in town where it can burble along at low speeds in high gears. But press your right foot into the carpet and you are pushed back into the seat, as the engine howls its way to a red line close to 8,000 rpm. Statistics can be dramatic. 0-60 in 3.7 seconds certainly is. Following extensive research and development in conjunction with fellow experts at Bilstein, the Sagaris' suspension and handling are profound, with unprecedented capabilities. Combined with its rigid tubular steel rollcage and wider track, the Sagaris manages to be an enthralling, hair-raising drive, but a safe one, too
Engine
Displacement: 3996 cc
All-aluminium TVR Speed Six straight six engine with 4 valves per cylinder and double overhead camshafts
Direct overhead cams actuating valves via finger followers
Forged aluminium pistons and forged steel con rods
Individual port throttles on tuned inlet tracts with multipoint fuel injection
Fully mapped ignition and injection system with adaptive Lambda control
Dry sump lubrication system with oil cooler.
Double close-coupled 3-way catalytic converters
Tuned length stainless steel exhaust system
Maximum power: 380 bhp @ 7,000–7,500rpm
Maximum torque: 349 ft lbs @ 5,000 rpm
Maximum rpm: 7,800 rpm
Driveline
Front-mid engine, rear wheel drive
Twin plate organic Ø 215mm AP Racing clutch
5-speed manual transmission
Limited slip differential
Suspension
Front: independent double wishbones with coils over gas hydraulic dampers assisted by anti-roll bar
Rear: independent double wishbones with coils over gas hydraulic dampers assisted by anti-roll bar
Steering
Electro hydraulic power assisted rack and pinion
2.0 turns lock to lock
Brakes
Power assisted
Front: 322 mm ventilated disc brakes with 4 piston alloy callipers
Rear: 298 mm ventilated disc brakes with single sliding piston callipers
Chassis
Powder-coated tubular EN36 steel backbone chassis with integral roll cage
Body
Two door fixed head coupe
Hand-laid composite GRP, hand-finished before painting
Integrated steel side impact bars in doors
Wheels and tyres
8.5J x 18 inch 7-spoke ‘spider’ aluminium alloy wheels
255/35 R18 tyres
Dimensions and weight
Length overall: 4,057 mm
Width overall (inc. mirrors): 1,850 mm
Height overall: 1,175 mm
Wheelbase: 2,361 mm
Track: 1,510 mm (front); 1,520 mm (rear)
Ground clearance: 85 mm
Weight: 1078 kg 560kg (front); 518kg (rear)
Fuel and oil
Fuel tank capacity: 57 litres
Fuel grade: 95–98 octane
Oil grade: 10W40
Performance data
0 to 60 mph: 3.7 seconds
0 to 100 mph: 8.1 seconds
Maximum speed: 160+ mph