Autoblog

Ben "The Stig" Collins names the five worst cars he's ever driven

Noah Joseph — Mon, 02 May 2011 14:31:00 EST

Filed under: Etc.

The five worst cars Ben Collins has ever driven - Click above for high-res image gallery

Over the course of his years donning the white suit and helmet for Top Gear, pro driver Ben Collins has had the chance to drive an enviably wide array of cars. Their track times all went up on the power lap board, but there are better ways of evaluating how a car handles under pressure - like asking the guy who drove them. That's what Australian car site Drive did, and got the former Stig to jot down some notes. They weren't in Morse Code, but while his list of the worst five cars he'd ever driven includes some obvious choices, a couple may surprise.

First up on Ben's hit list: the Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione. When we drove it, we found its dynamics were lightyears behind its looks, and His (deposed) Stiginess apparently agrees. At the end of Collins' list is another supercar - the TVR Sagaris - which he feels was horribly emblematic of the company that produced it, while pointing to the fact that Jeremy Clarkson loved it as evidence enough of its dubious distinction.

In between these two European supercars on Collins' list comes the Fiat Multipla, whose horrid styling was surpassed only by its dismal performance, and the Cadillac Escalade, which the Englishman found to be all show and no go - particularly off road. Finally, the previous-generation Dodge Charger drew the Stig's ire for its gross weight and lamentable slushbox. If for America's sake alone, we can only hope that, heavier still though it is, Collins might take a crack at the new model.

Gallery: Ben Collin's Five Worst Cars

Ben "The Stig" Collins names the five worst cars he's ever driven originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 02 May 2011 14:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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TVR 'remanufacturer' facing legal opposition?

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 17:58:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Etc., MISC

TVR Sagaris - Click above for high-res image gallery

We don't hear all that much about classic British muscle/sportscar maker TVR, so here's a quick refresher on what's been going on over the last few weeks: Russian owner Nikolai Smolenski has signaled his intent to bring the overpowered brand back to the market using a classic American V8 engine of unknown origin, and we'll know more about that later this year at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.

Shortly after that revelation, we found out that remanufactured versions of the Tuscan, Sagaris and T350 were already available through Carmel Motorsports in Indianapolis, sans powertrain. As we told you at the time, these cars were being supplied by a company called Total Vehicle Remanufacturing... which, though that does indeed have the correct initials, is not the real TVR.

Not surprisingly, then, the "real" TVR doesn't sound all that pleased with its newly found competition. Says TVR Motors co-director James Oxley, "We'd like to make clear that this has nothing whatever to do with us, and it appears to conflict strongly with what TVR is trying to achieve in future." According to PistonHeads, "TVR intends to closely scrutinize the operation to ensure its own interests are appropriately protected." Ought to be interesting to see how this one plays out, no?

Gallery: TVR rolling chassis from Carmel Motorsports

[Source: PistonHeads]

TVR 'remanufacturer' facing legal opposition? originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 08 Mar 2010 17:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Why wait for the new TVR? Get one now... but not from TVR

Jonathon Ramsey — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 15:01:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Coupe, Performance, Etc.

Just a week ago, the rumor was spread that new TVRs will be coming to the U.S. and that they'll cook their tires with U.S. engines - but you'll probably have to wait until this year's Goodwood Festival of Speed to get the details. Now we've been told that you can buy remanufactured versions of the Tuscan, Sagaris, and T350, and you don't have to wait at all!

These old-as-new TVRs are being sold as rolling chassis, the same way you would buy a Superformance or Rossion, and have otherwise been made to comply with U.S. DOT laws. They're available through Carmel Motorsports in Indianapolis, and all you'll need to do after a phone call and a cash transfer is show up with an engine or a trailer.

We don't know where the supply of cars is coming from, however. The "official" TVR isn't building cars; these are coming from a company called Total Vehicle Remanufacturing. TVR, get it? We don't know anything about them, but hey, one call to Carmel can answer all your questions if you decide you're ready for the raw rear-wheel-drive power of what used to be Blackpool's finest. Hat tip to Alexis!

Gallery: TVR rolling chassis from Carmel Motorsports

Why wait for the new TVR? Get one now... but not from TVR originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 28 Feb 2010 15:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Huzzah! TVR lives... again.

Dan Roth — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 16:57:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Europe, Supercars, UK, Specialty

TVR has proven its place as a member of the automotive nosferatu, rising once again and relaunching a revised Sagaris that's being readied for production. Currently a prototype, the Sagaris has received updates to the exterior in the form of a new hood and splitter, as well as 19 inch wheels bolted to a re-tuned suspension. One thing that stays the same is the four-liter straight-six under that new hood. Inside, the TVR interior acid trip has been dialed back with the redesigned instrument panel and center stack atop a new HVAC rig. New seats have been tossed in for good measure, and the build quality is reportedly stepped up. TVR owner Nikolai Smolenski has admitted his intent to distribute the brand worldwide, and the Sagaris has the steering wheel on the left for export purposes. There's no word on when we'll be able to drool all over one of these on North American soil, but when it does come our way, it will likely cost more than the €85,000 it's going for in Jolly Old.

[Source: World Car Fans]

Huzzah! TVR lives... again. originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 10 Jul 2008 16:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It's lights out for TVR

Stuart Waterman — Mon, 24 Apr 2006 14:28:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, Plants/Manufacturing

Well, it looks like Friday's "temporary layoffs" at TVR's Blackpool plant are going to be permanent. Labor union representatives said Monday that they have been told by TVR management that the factory will be shut down in six months, with a permanent loss of 260 jobs.

The British manufacturer of quirky, handbuilt, high performance sports cars will be closing its factory just shy of the 60th anniversary of its founding in 1947. In what may prove to be the marque's swan song, its top of the line Sagaris coupe (pictured above) is currently starring in Pirelli Film's new internet movie "The Call."

For most of its history, TVR built its cars around powerplants sourced from mainstream manufacturers, but in later years it began to manufacture its own engines, beginning with a V8 (now discontinued), and all of its current models are powered by the company's Speed Six, an inline, normally-aspirated six capable of 380 hp in the 4-liter version.

No word yet from TVR on the company's future plans, or the role of its young Russian CEO, Nikolai Smolensky.

[Source: Reuters]

It's lights out for TVR originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 24 Apr 2006 14:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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