TVR Tuscan Speed Six. (Source: Auto Express)

The sheep are running scared on the Yorkshire Dales. A chillingly savage growl sends the usually laid-back animals scattering for cover. But today's predator isn't on the hunt for them. Its sights are set on a pair of four-wheeled creatures better known as BMW and Porsche, the premier-league sports car manufacturers with renowned, global reputations. Suddenly, their stranglehold on the top-end roadster market isn't quite as strong. The TVR Tuscan is on their tail and, for the first time ever, the German duo really should be worried. This British newcomer seems to have what it takes to win.

There are two models available: the regular Tuscan and the Red Rose version. The latter is better suited to those who crave the ultimate in performance and handling - people who spend their weekends giving their new pride and joy a sound thrashing around some of the country's top race circuits. What you see dazzling our pages here, though, is the £39,750 regular model with optional 18-inch alloy wheels plus cross-drilled and ventilated disc brakes from the Red Rose.

Add the other extras, which include air-conditioning, gold badging, a nifty paint job and full leather interior, though, and the damage will rise quickly to £45,050. Along with the alloys and brake upgrades, the full Red Rose conversion, which is £4,200 extra, offers uprated suspension and modifications to the engine, such as a replacement camshaft. As if this car needed more power, the tweaks raise TVR's own-design straight-six from 360bhp to 380bhp. It leaves the BMW M Roadster and Porsche Boxster S trailing in its wake...

The alloy four-litre four-valves- per-cylinder unit may not be as efficient as the 100bhp-per-litre figure of the 3.2 BMW unit, but it's up there with the Porsche. The TVR's peak punch arrives at 7,000rpm, while the 420Nm of torque is delivered at 5,250rpm. But the peak torque figure feels as if it's delivered a lot lower than that. Even within the first few miles, the engine is very strong and free breathing, and can easily be left in fifth gear from 1,000rpm.

There's an even and linear surge of thrust from this point, which means overtaking is a doddle - and safe with it. Main-road exploits need not call for constant downshifts, either. Just leave it in fifth and the Tuscan hauls itself along with ease. But it's on the test track that this car really proves its mettle. Make the most of all the gears and the long-travel throttle, take off from a standing start and you enter a different realm of ballistic performance.

The Tuscan would obliterate any direct rival you care to mention, and the sheer rate of speed it gathers so rapidly is such that it must be a match for Ferrari's 360 Modena or Porsche's 911, to name but two. TVR's claimed performance figures certainly back that up: 0-60mph arrives in 6.2 seconds and 0-100mph in 9.6 seconds with at least another 80mph remaining until it runs out of steam. But it's not just the breathtaking urgency of the performance nor the thrilling, high-pitched shriek of the engine which overwhelms your senses. Rather, it's the way in which the rear-wheel-drive chassis maximises all this.

It adds to the adrenaline rush with fluid handling which tends to reward a forward-thinking driving style, rather than clumsy treatment of the controls. But it'll prove too extreme for many potential customers. Such is the set-up of the chassis that even on dry roads there's no such thing as understeer on this machine. The tail constantly wants to step out of line, while the over-light steering is almost too sharp for its own good. If you enjoy giving maximum commitment to your motoring, however, the Tuscan has your name on it.

All along the way, the rest of the package blends in harmoniously to make this by far and away the most usable and accessible TVR to date. The clutch is light and progressive while the mechanical-feel gearshift is easy going and the suspension's supple damping is wonderful at any speed. Add excellent high-speed body control and extremely effective brakes - although there's no anti-lock technical trickery - and the package is a whole lot of fun.

And just look at the wonders of the sumptuous cabin. The wacky Cerbera coupe's cockpit has already shown just how far TVR is prepared to push the boat out, but this takes things to another level altogether. Much more sophisticated and thoughtful than anything yet to have wheeled off the production line, it is an elegant masterpiece. All the dials and switches are clearly visible and sensibly sited, while the tactile quality is beyond any other car you care to mention. Aluminium, brass and leather are combined to wonderful effect, creating a comforting, luxurious feel which leaves immediate mainstream rivals looking as bland as they are unadventurous. If the finger of fault is to be pointed at anything, though, it's largely the driving position.

While the orange shade of our test car's interior may have been a little overpowering, we were more affected by the driver's seat, which felt out of line. Pedals offset to the right and an intrusive door casing conspired to set the body aching - especially the right knee. Those factors, along with a lack of sun visors and the fiddly, step-by-step window switches, are the few blemishes on an otherwise impeccable effort.

Even the roof mechanism works perfectly first time. Open the boot, release the two locking pins via levers, then lift out the targa panel and it locks into place on top of the ample luggage space, which is a smart touch. The glass rear screen can also be lifted out and, once wrapped in its protective bag, it sits on top of the targa. It's when you're totally topless that the car really comes alive, proving its integrity at the same time. Thanks to some clever chassis and gearbox engineering, the structure is supremely stiff, letting you enjoy the melodious burble of the rorty carbon fibre exhaust rather than worry about any flex and wobble from the body.

At the 1998 British Motor Show, the Tuscan Speed Six stunned onlookers and ever since that opening morning, the deposits have been rolling in. Over 1,600 orders have been taken, with many more sure to join the queue after the first wave of press reports break. But add your name to the list, and you're looking at an 18-month wait...

1ST OPINION

The new TVR Tuscan is the perfect antidote to the hordes of mainstream fashion accessories which don't go far enough to quench the enthusiast's thirst for pure driving drama. It is TVR's best effort yet, without a doubt, and is sure to deliver an unassailable amount of ownership pride and pleasure. It's also one of the most carefully thought-out cars to emerge from the Blackpool base, and brings a more polished, all-round performance to the line-up.

At a glance