In November 1994 TVR added a third car to its then current range, marking the start of a whole new TVR era with the introduction of the TVR Cerbera, a car that was powered by TVR's own AJP V8 4.2-litre 360bhp engine.
In July 1997 the car also became available a 4.5-litre 420bhp variant of the V8, and a 4-litre straight-six cylinder unit coming along in April 1998, this car being dubbed as the Cerbera Speed-Six.
The Cerbera signalled Peter Wheeler's intention that all future TVR’s would be powered by TVR designed and built engines, and as was the normal practise in engine development, the AJP units were first tested on the track.
Race prepared AJP V8 powered cars soon established their superiority over the Rover V8 versions in the TVR Tuscan Challenge series, and TVR set up a works team to compete in the National GT series with a Cerbera GT. The new car showed promise and speed, but suffered somewhat from lack of development and therefore reliability.
TVR's commitment to racing was reinforced when they once again caused a Motor Show sensation with an awesome looking prototype, a car code-named 12/7. This was a beast of a car that promised 660bhp from a new 7.7 litre TVR V12 power unit, that was actually made up from two of the recently launched AJP Speed- Six engines put together in a V configuration. There was talk at the time of a 200mph+ top speed and a Le Mans entry. Although Le Mans never happened for this car it did hit the racetracks during the 1998 British GT Championship, by which time it had been named the Speed-Twelve.
By the time production of the TVR Tuscan Speed-Six had got underway, this being in the year 2000, the Speed-12 prototype had been mothballed and the power unit dropped into a newer chassis with wild styling based on the TVR Cerbera. There was even an outrageous road going version of the car boasting a claimed 800+bhp!
On the track, the new works GT2 Cerbera Speed-Twelve was joined by a GTO class Cerbera Speed-Six, entered by Rollcentre Racing. Both cars were right on the pace in their respective classes with the Rollcentre entry enjoying great success both in British competition and abroad, including completing the 24-hour endurance race at Spa.
The TVR Cerbera was not only th elongest running production car ever made by TVR, but it was also the only TVR to be produced to date that was a 2+2, with the model being discontinued in 2005. The Cerbera marked the beginning of the production of TVR sports cars powered by an engine designed and built by TVR themselves, putting an end to TVR's using power units from third-party suppliers.
There were various versions of the Cerbera produced puting its life span, the most notible being the Red Rose Cerbera, this being a light-weight car with increased power output.
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Technical Specification 4.0-litre
Straight 6 Alloy Engine, 4-valves per cylinder
Capacity 3966cc
Bore/Stroke 96 x 92mm
Compression ratio 10.5:1
Max power 350bhp @ 6800rpm
Max torque 330ft lbs @ 5000rpm
0 to 60mph 4.4 secs
0 to 100mph 10.2 secs
Maximum speed In exceess 100mph
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Technical Specification 4.5 litre
75 degree alloy V8
Capacity 4475cc
Bore/Stroke 91 x 86mm
Compression ratio 10.75:1
Max power 420 bhp @ 6750rpm
Max torque 380ft lbs @ 5500rpm
0 to 60mph 3.9 secs
0 to 100mph 8.3 secs
0 to 150mph 17.9 secs
Maximum speed in excess of 160mph |
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