TVR Typhon
TVRs have always been fast and as spectacular to drive as they are to look at. With the T440R, 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 is connected to TVR's own six speed sequential gearbox. It is TVR's technological tour de force, a 215 mph showcase for TVR's abilities.
You can count the number of road cars that have had all-carbonfibre bodywork on the fingers of one hand; Mclaren F1, Ferrari F40 and now TVR T440R. More usually found in the aerospace or motorsport industries, this material is expensive but is extraordinarily light and strong.
Aerodynamics have played an increasingly significant role in the design of TVRs over the last few years and the T400R and T440R take this to the logical next level. A lot of attention has been paid to drag and lift with the result that its coupe shape owes most of its form to the demands of the aerodynamicists. A phenomenally low drag co-efficient of 0.32 is the result of all this attention to detail and its virtually flat floor, front splitter and rear diffuser work together to give it unparalleled high-speed stability.
Three versions of the car
are available – the T400R which has a 400 bhp 4 litre
engine, the T440R with 440bhp and the ultimate, Typhon. The
engine of the Typhon is a derivative of TVR's own Speed Six
engine but has been extensively developed in order to produce
a huge 550 bhp. It is bigger than any other TVR six cylinder
engine at 4.2 litres and has a raft of high tech motorsport
componentry. 0-60 mph is attained in under 4 seconds but it
is from there to its top speed of 215 mph that the T440R 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 road going TVR is to have adjustable dampers whereby
customers will be able to fine-tune the suspension set up
of their T440Rs / Typhon’s for road or circuit use.
Brakes are powerful ventilated discs all round with four piston
calipers at the front with a high performance option of even
bigger discs and six piston calipers for even better stopping
ability.
Performance Stats
Specification
Engine 6-cylinder inline alloy engine with 4 valves per cylinder
and dry sump lubrication
T400R Capacity: 3996cc
Max Power 400bhp @
7000 rpm
Max Torque 320 ft.lbs
@ 6000rpm
T400R Capacity: 4196cc
Max Power 440bhp @
7600 rpm
Max Torque 350 ft.lbs
@ 6000rpm
T400R Capacity: 4196 cc Supercharged
Max Power 550 + bhp
Max Torque TBA
