Trident diesel sports car not vaporware, still sounds too good to be true
Click above for more images of the Trident Iceni
If the name 'Trident' has visions of Maseratis and vintage Triumphs dancing through your head, you are in for a big surprise. When we first looked at the Trident Iceni, it was powered by a 375-hp GM turbo diesel V8 mounted up front and producing 520 lb-ft of torque. After a year or two of development, it's even better according to its makers, with the latest version of the venerable Duramax diesel tweaked to offer 550 horsepower at 3,800 rpm along with an arm-wrenching 950 lb-ft at just 1,800 rpm. Trident claims the Duramax can slingshot the Iceni to 60 mph in well under four seconds and on up to a top speed easily surpassing 200 miles per hour. According to the British company, its modified GM/Isuzu engine is capable of running on any blend of biodiesel without voiding the warranty and returns 68.9 miles per gallon (or 57 mpg in U.S. gallons) at a steady 70 miles per hour. Is this the guilt-free supercar for the eco-conscious speed freak?
With an elaborate chassis folded from stainless steel and a composite body, the Iceni will not rot away. The rear-mounted 8-speed automatic transmission also allows for wide gearing, which is fortunate since the diesel engine isn't going to be a revver. The company is currently looking for funding and hopes to offer the Iceni for about £75,000 out the door. So far, Trident has mentioned no plans to send its wares across the pond to the U.S. Pity us poor Americans.
Gallery: Trident Iceni
[Source: Trident Performance Vehicles]
Press Release:
Trident Iceni nears production
* 200mph sports car reaps 70mpg
* Technology allows use of 100% biodiesel
Trident Performance Vehicles have designed and produced a two-seater sports car that can reach over 200mph, get from 0-60mph in under 4 seconds and deliver up to 100mpg*.
Whilst city cars (MEGA City, Ze-O, G-Wiz) work brilliantly for people who live and work in a city, Trident represent those that travel on the M1, the M4, the M6 to get to work, people who live in rural locations and those situations where electric cars are not (for the time being) viable due to their comparitively short range. In the meantime, the Trident Iceni offers current technology that is available now which reduces fuel consumption and therefore reduces emissions.
It's a diesel sports car and if you're able to obtain any kind of biodiesel, this can be used without any invalidation of warranty, adjustment to the engine or affect on performance.
Their fantastic fuel economy is achieved through technology called torque multiplication and it can be applied to all diesel cars (the popularity of which is growing year on year versus petrol cars), buses, lorries and trains. It's available now, requires no further research and development and can make an immediate difference to the amount of emissions diesel vehicles produce. In short, Trident have the solution to what we're told is a huge problem.
So serious is the concern about carbon reduction, the Government affiliates itself with a number of organisations that exist to provide grants to people and/or companies that can contribute to or offer a solution.
Carbon Trust, EEDA (East of England Development Agency), Carbon Connections, HGCA (Home Grown Cereals Association), EEMS (Energy Efficiency in Motor Sport), Energy Savings Trust, Renewables East to name a few. Trident have applied to all the above mentioned agencies for grants and have received nothing – not a penny. Not only have they received no money but have struggled to get reasons for why they have failed and have been unable to find out who has received grants.
The team at Trident have invested £2.3m in the project which has enabled the completion of all the development needed to get the Iceni into production. They're now seeking funds to make this happen and satisfy their growing bank of customers.
*68.9mph at a constant 70mph was the first recorded test at Millbrook Proving Ground. The figure naturally improve at lower speeds – at 30mph, Trident's initial tests returned 108mpg. This is yet to be confirmed but they don't believe in quoting a figure for 30mph as this is unrealistic – unless you drive exclusively in a city.
The Iceni is a traditional grand tourer. With a full tank of diesel, you can expect to travel around 2000 miles without needing to fill up.
The boot has space for luggage and golf clubs – enough for a two week holiday.
The chassis is made from stainless steel and is guaranteed against corrosion for 100 years and the body is made from composite and can therefore never rust or degrade.
Trident Iceni – specification
On the road price
£75,000.00
Insurance group (est)
18
0-60mph
3.7 seconds
Top speed
200mph+
At constant 70mph
68.9mpg+
Wheelbase (mm)
2650
Front track (mm)
1650
Rear track (mm)
1690
Overall length (mm)
4200
Overall width (mm)
1950
Overall height (mm)
1220
Kerb weight (kgs)
1480
Engine
6.6 TD V8
Max power
550bhp@3800rpm
Max torque
950lb/ft@1800rpm
Specific output
83bhp per litre
Power to weight ratio
402bhp per tonne
Installation
Longitudinal, front, rear-wheel-drive, rear gearbox
Construction
Alloy heads and iron block
Valve gear
4 per cylinder
Ignition and fuel
Bosch sequential injection, fly-by-wire throttle
Gearbox type
8-speed automatic
Final drive
2.56
Suspension
Front & rear double wishbones, coil springs, anti- roll bar
Steering
Rack & pinion, power assisted, 2.7 turns lock to lock to lock
Brakes front dia (mm)
365
Brakes rear dia (mm)
320
Wheels front
20" x 9.5"
Wheels rear
20" x 11"
Tyres front
255 x 35 x 20
Tyres rear
335 x 30 x 20 .
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Farris 4:05PM (8/20/2008)
1. I love diesels. They are simply amazing (IMHO, of course)
2. I like this car. The fact that they are quoting over 200 MPH for a diesel is sweet.
3. I don't believe the 57 mpg (US) figure. At all. I get AT BEST 50 mpg from my completely stock 1.9L TDI. I know people can get better, but those are not the same people pushing 550 HP and twice as many cylinders.
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James 4:11PM (8/20/2008)
yes, but does your Jetta have an 8-speed auto? The gearing very well allow this beast to nearly idle at 70MPH - not far fetched considering it probably makes more than enough power at low RPMs to keep it from bogging down.
Derek 6:41PM (8/20/2008)
More important than the 8 speed (I doubt it makes much improvement over a 6 speed) is the fact that this car has much less aero drag than your Jetta. Less drag = less power needed = higher mpg. It's the same way that Corvette owners routinely report mpg over 30 on highway trips.
Additionally, the 57mpg is quoted at a steady 70mph, presumably on level ground. That doesn't include any acceleration, traffic, etc. If your Jetta *averages* 50mpg, you are certainly doing far better than 50 in steady highway cruising.
Bungle 12:41AM (8/21/2008)
@James:
No kidding, this thing can probably idle its way to 60mph in the quoted sub-4.0 seconds!
950lb/ft@1800rpm is completely ridiculous. I've never heard of that much torque on a street car so low down in the rev range. 57mpg sounds far-fetched, but considering that this thing probably puts down more lb/ft at 1000rpm than most sports cars' maximum torque, I suppose they could in fact gear it use gas frugally. If you get closer to 4,000rpm, though, watch that gas needle plunge!
Peter 4:08PM (8/20/2008)
I have now seen this car and the BMW diesel car that was redone by an outside company that say they can push out somewhere in the range of 50mpg fuel efficiency. If this is true and the technology to produce engines with high MPG is there then why isnt it being utilized more? For BMW why isn't all their cars getting diesels with high MPG's? In Europe they all have small cars that get very good MPG but here in the US we don't recieve those cars. They also look better too. But now considering this car seems pretty large and the other BMW was a decent size and still getting high MPG it seems they should be mass producing these cars over in the EU which has higher gas prices then the US and over here in the US where we have lower prices but are used to driving farther.
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Peter 4:19PM (8/20/2008)
http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/05/alpina-reveals-new-d3-bi-turbo-coupe/
Thats the BMW I mentioned above.
Rainy99 4:12PM (8/20/2008)
Can I have my 88 Camaro automatic shift knob back please?
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LMBVette 4:21PM (8/20/2008)
I was thinking the exact same thing!
MONTE 5:23PM (8/20/2008)
Now that's f-ing funny. I was looking at it trying to figure it out then you said it. Looks like something from my cousin's Berlinetta.
That One Person 10:29PM (8/20/2008)
Hey! My 94 Regal has the same one!
SteveT 4:13PM (8/20/2008)
A car inspired by Whoville?
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geo.stewart 4:15PM (8/20/2008)
who needs this when I can get a Wombat?!
:-)
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SPG 4:19PM (8/20/2008)
Incredible, awesome. Looks a bit like a TVR, let's see how that does for sales.
I'm honestly thinking that one of the biggest issues with this car is that it's probably louder then a Semi going up a hill.
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Jruhi4 4:46PM (8/20/2008)
Agreed. There's a LOT of TVR influence in both the exterior and interior styling
XGM 7:35PM (8/20/2008)
And what's wrong with the styling of a TVR ? Other then not being sold here in Canada/US, thats a good thing.
Josh S 4:24PM (8/20/2008)
I'm not liking the creepy face on the dashboard
:-O
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Farris 4:32PM (8/20/2008)
James - small correction: I have a Beetle.
Anyways. I have a 5 speed manual in my Bug. And if that car is basically idling in top gear at 70 mph, the gearing would have to be crazy tall to get it up over 200 mph in 2800 rpm (assuming idle of 1000 rpm and redline of 3800 rpm - where they list the peak horsepower is.)
130 mph in 2800 rpm...
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G.D. 5:30PM (8/20/2008)
The best car to compare this to is the Viper. At 60 mph its at about 1400 rpms in 6th gear. This car has 70% more torque and 2 extra gears-I think it could get close to idle in 8th gear at 70mph.
BTW- I'm pretty sure most vipers don't reach top speed in 6th due to gearing, so it wouldn't surprise me if top speed in this car was reached in 6th or 7th gear.
enac 4:36PM (8/20/2008)
Meet the world's smallest car - The Peel P50
http://www.automotoportal.com/article/the-worlds-smallest-car-the-peel-p50
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BigMcLargeHuge 4:45PM (8/20/2008)
GM should at least look into what Trident has to offer as far as packages for the Duramax.
If they could run ultra-lean burn diesels in 4- 6- and 8-cylinder configs in a variety of vehicles, would be very interesting to see how much mileage improves over conventional engines.
Also, I'd like to see Top Gear test the car. That would bring about an extra sense of reality to this car's story.
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