HistorySpeed Six refers to the TVR designed and manufactured straight six engine fitted to the final TVR model range right up up to the closure of the TVR factory. The Speed Six Engine was announced for the Griffith Speed Six at the 1996 Motor Show. The engine was then shown in a Cerbera in 1997 as an alternative to the AJP V8 but was the only engine used in the Tuscan, then the Tamora, the T350, Sagaris, T400, T440 and Typhon.
1998 - TVR got rather fond of the Tuscan name, first used in the 1960's for a V8 and V6 car. It was later used for the Challenge Race Series cars with both Rover and AJP V8 power. Various road Tuscans were announced but the near final form was shown at the 1998 Motor Show. There were ultimately five versions of the Speed Six engine made available over the years; the initial 3.6 litre and four versions of the 4.0 litre.
2000 - The first deliveries began to customers in early 2000. However TVR haven't finished with the name with Red Rose versions and Tuscan S derivatives. 2002 - A new, larger 2+2 car was labelled Tuscan R in 2002, but later changed name to T400, T440 and Typhon, depending on power output. A race version, the T400R went on to race at Le Mans in 2003 and 2004. 2004 - To add to the mix at the 2004 Motorshow TVR introduced a Tuscan Convertible and restyled Tuscan Mk II and Tuscan MkII S. The changes were mostly cosmetic such as the front and rear lights, dashboard and the distinctive S model spoilers . As was common throughout production at TVR there were no driver aids such as traction control, airbags or ABS as they believed their cars were safer without them. 2006 - The last production Tuscans were produced under the ownership of Nikolai Smolenski, arguably the best quality cars TVR ever produced prior to the closure of the factory in 2006. 2013 - A few years later a Chevrolet LS3 engined Tuscan was produced by Smolenski's team, but it would have cost over £100,000 so the project was shelved. However this car was rebuilt by TVR specialist Str8six and name the Tuscan Vulcan. They had already produced a few 'new' Tuscans using the last few body shells sold off by the factory. Colours...One of the stand out features of the Tuscan range was TVRs first regular use of Spectraflair, Reflex, Pearl and Chromaflair paints, you may also hear these called 'flips', 'tricolour' or 'chameleon' paints. They can make blue cars turn green when viewed from different angles, or copper turned to purple. See more about TVR paint and colours here.
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Technical SpecificationsTuscan Mk1 - 3.6
Engine: TVR Speed 6 straight six Capacity (cc): 3605cc Power: 350bhp @ 7200rpm Torque: 290lbft @ 5500rpm Performance: 0 - 62mph 4.4 secs 0-100mph 9.5 secs Tuscan Mk1 - 4.0
Engine: TVR Speed 6 straight six Capacity (cc): 3996cc Power: 360bhp Torque: 310lbft Tuscan Mk1 - 4.0 Red Rose
Engine: TVR Speed 6 straight six Capacity (cc): 3996cc Power: 380bhp Torque: 310lbft Tuscan Mk1 - 4.0 S
Engine: TVR Speed 6 straight six Capacity (cc): 3996cc Power: 390bhp (2003+ 400bhp) Torque: 310lbft (2003+ 315lbft) Tuscan Mk2 - 3.6
Engine: TVR Speed 6 straight six Capacity (cc): 3605cc Power: 350bhp @ 7200rpm Torque: 290lbft @ 5500rpm Performance: 0 - 62mph 4.4 secs 0-100mph 9.5 secs Tuscan Mk2 - 4.0
Engine: TVR Speed 6 straight six Capacity (cc): 3996cc Power: 380bhp Torque: 310lbft Tuscan Mk2 - 4.0 S
Engine: TVR Speed 6 straight six Capacity (cc): 3996cc Power: 400bhp Torque: 315lbft Performance: 0-60mph 3.7 secs 0-100mph 8.1 secs Tuscan Mk2 - 4.0 Convertible
Engine: TVR Speed 6 straight six Capacity (cc): 3996cc Power: 360bhp Torque: 310lbft Tuscan Mk2 - 4.0 Convertible Red Rose
Engine: TVR Speed 6 straight six Capacity (cc): 3996cc Power: 380bhp Torque: 310lbft Dimensions:
Wheelbase: 2,336 mm Length: 4,235 mm Width: 1,810 mm Height: 1,200 mm Weight: 1,100 kg |
TVR Factory Press Photos 2006 - Tuscan and Tuscan Convertible
ARCHIVES
Find out more in the TVR Tuscan Archives (Members Only) |
TECHNICAL
Find out more on the TVR Tuscan Technical Page (Members Only) |
Reviews from the period
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