Few cars look as dramatic as the new TVR Sagaris. While motorsport is never far from TVR's designers' and engineers' minds, the rigorous demands of the endurance racing arena were also a priority in the Sagaris concept.

It has been designed to be the ultimate racing car for the road. Now it is possible to know what it feels like to drive a Le Mans car everyday. Every scoop, every vent might add to the most extraordinarily dramatic lines, but they are all there for a distinct purpose.

Lightweight is much talked about by car manufacturers but is rarely achieved in combination with enormous power. Thanks to the rigid tubular steel chassis and extremely light composite bodywork, the Sagaris comes in at just over a tonne. With low drag and downforce producing aerodynamic features at both the front and rear of the car, the styling of the Sagaris works just as well as it looks.

The Sagaris is propelled by the same four-litre 380 bhp engine as the Tuscan S. It is docile in town where it can burble along at low speeds in high gears. But press your right foot into the carpet and you are pushed back into the seat, as the engine howls its way to a red line close to 8,000 rpm. Statistics can be dramatic. 0-60 in 3.7 seconds certainly is.

Following extensive research and development in conjunction with fellow experts at Bilstein, the Sagaris' suspension and handling are profound, with unprecedented capabilities. Combined with its rigid tubular steel rollcage and wider track, the Sagaris manages to be an enthralling, hair-raising drive, but a safe one, too.

Engine
• Displacement: 3996cc
• All-aluminium TVR Speed Six straight six engine with 4 valves per cylinder and double overhead camshafts
• Direct overhead cams actuating valves via finger followers
• Forged aluminium pistons and forged steel con rods
• Individual port throttles on tuned inlet tracts with multipoint fuel injection
• Fully mapped ignition and injection system with adaptive Lambda control
• Dry sump lubrication system with oil cooler.
• Double close-coupled 3-way catalytic converters
• Tuned length stainless steel exhaust system
• Max power: 380 bhp @ 7,000–7,500rpm
• Max torque: 349ft.lbs @ 5,000 rpm
• Max rpm: 7,800rpm

Driveline
• Front-mid engine, rear wheel drive
• Twin plate organic Ř 215mm AP Racing clutch
• 5-speed manual transmission
• Limited slip differential

Suspension
• Front: independent double wishbones with coils over gas hydraulic dampers assisted by anti-roll bar
• Rear: independent double wishbones with coils over gas hydraulic dampers assisted by anti-roll bar

Steering
• Electro hydraulic power assisted rack and pinion
• 2.0 turns lock to lock

Brakes
• Power assisted
• Front: 322mm ventilated disc brakes with 4 piston alloy callipers
• Rear: 298mm ventilated disc brakes with single sliding piston callipers

Chassis Powder-coated tubular EN36 steel backbone chassis with integral roll cage

Body
• Two door fixed head coupe
• Hand-laid composite GRP, hand-finished before painting
• Integrated steel side impact bars in doors

Wheels and tyres
• 8.5J x 18" 7-spoke ‘spider’ aluminium alloy wheels
• 255/35 R18 tyres

Dimensions and weight
• Length overall: 4057 mm
• Width overall (inc. mirrors): 1850 mm
• Height overall: 1175 mm
• Wheelbase: 2361 mm
• Track: 1510 mm (front); 1520 mm (rear)
• Ground clearance: 85 mm
• Weight: 1078 kg 560kg (front); 518kg (rear)

Fuel and oil
• Fuel tank capacity: 57 litres
• Fuel grade: 95–98 octane
• Oil grade: 10W40

Performance data
• Top speed: +160 mph
• 0 to 60 mph: 3.7 secs
• 0 to 100 mph: 8.1 secs