RE: TVR will change hands again
Thursday 1st March 2007
TVR Sagaris: to be built in ItalyTVR owner Nikolai Smolenski is selling the company.
TVR will change hands again
US buyers to build cars anywhere but here
TVR Sagaris: to be built in Italy
He's sold it to a pair of US-based business partners, Adam Burdette and Jean Michel Santacreu. The pair first dealt with TVR when they approached Smolenski with a view to importing the cars into the USA.
Now, as the new management, they'll be running the company from their base in Orlando, Florida, and said that they envisage 5,000 cars a year flooding from TVR's plant. They said they have 2,000 firm orders in the USA -- but that only about 250 to 500 will go to UK buyers. None will be built in the UK either.
Burdette and Santacreu said that they will re-activate the links Smolenski built with Bertone, which will build the new TVRs, and with Ricardo Engineering, which will be responsible for the engines.
We can expect to see updated Tuscans and Sagarises -- although they might get new names and even new shapes, even though the underpinnings are likely to remain the same.
TVR managing director David Oxley is to stay on for the transitional period.
Phew. The TVR saga gets more tortuous by the day...
Discussion
So hang on - will they be built to higher standards for longevity, or do the two firms mentioned have little documented achievements in that area?
A car is a car to me. Sorry guys, but if they built a new Sagaris that was beautiful to look at, went like stink AND had the alloy covers on the stalks instead of Ford ones....AND was good for 100,000 miles without any major expenditure, I would not care if it were built on the moon.
P~
A car is a car to me. Sorry guys, but if they built a new Sagaris that was beautiful to look at, went like stink AND had the alloy covers on the stalks instead of Ford ones....AND was good for 100,000 miles without any major expenditure, I would not care if it were built on the moon.
P~
Johan G said:
What a mess!! *sigh*
Someone on here suspected that NS was just repackaging the business for a re-sale.
Looks like it has been in the pipeline for along time.
I must confess that I never had an issue with the company moving to EU but when I first read this my heart sank a little bit as an initial reaction. I instantly imagined a total loss of taste.
Anyway, the proposed plans confirm many of the rumours for the last 6 months and it all sounds good.
No idea who these chappies are and a brief Google expedition doesn't do them any favours. But, I don't think now is the time to pass any form of judgement. What has happened has happened and I think it important we sit tight and await the first results.
Airbags does sound a bit funny, but sadly, if you have any ambition to sell in volume then in the modern world they are essential. The great thing about airbags though, is that if you really do feel strongly about them you can turn them off. It's your choice as to how mangled you and your passenger get when you are T-boned at a junction.
I do agree with the principle that a house engine elevates TVR into a superior catagory. The risk here is that they don't have deep enough pockets to get it right but I honestly think that Ricardo are unlikely to let anything bad out of their doors, so I really like that aspect.
For me the Recardo aspect is extremely interesting as it opend the door to replace my engine should I wish.
I think that we should all support them 100% until they give us a 100% reason not to. It is the only option. And it would be very wrong to not do so while we await the new product.
Once the Septic Tanks get there greasy hands on TVR that will be it,
They'll change the suspension and put leaf springs on, they will stick ridiculously large V8 engines in them and get about 20BHP from it, and 10 Gallons to the mile.
I would expect the handling of the new cars will be wallowy bags of Shite like most other YankMobils.
And the interiors made from cheap recycled plastics which look utter bollox.
And basically have no soul, style or carrisma at all.
Why oh why do they have to sell off, all of our manufacturing to sodding foreigners, IT SHOULD NOT BE ALOUD.
They'll change the suspension and put leaf springs on, they will stick ridiculously large V8 engines in them and get about 20BHP from it, and 10 Gallons to the mile.
I would expect the handling of the new cars will be wallowy bags of Shite like most other YankMobils.
And the interiors made from cheap recycled plastics which look utter bollox.
And basically have no soul, style or carrisma at all.
Why oh why do they have to sell off, all of our manufacturing to sodding foreigners, IT SHOULD NOT BE ALOUD.
As far as I am concerned the TVR we know and love is dead. I shall hold onto my Tuscan as the last of a fine breed.
Personally I dont think we will see TVR in the UK again for a long time (if at all).
makes you wonder if Smellyendski had this planned all along.
Shame his business morals did not extend to treating the workers with respect. At least the good thing he is well and truly out of it.
Maybe we can all now get on with enjoying our cars and put this sorry episode behind us?
Personally I dont think we will see TVR in the UK again for a long time (if at all).
makes you wonder if Smellyendski had this planned all along.
Shame his business morals did not extend to treating the workers with respect. At least the good thing he is well and truly out of it.
Maybe we can all now get on with enjoying our cars and put this sorry episode behind us?
bunglist said:
Once the Septic Tanks get there greasy hands on TVR that will be it,
They'll change the suspension and put leaf springs on, they will stick ridiculously large V8 engines in them and get about 20BHP from it, and 10 Gallons to the mile.
I would expect the handling of the new cars will be wallowy bags of Shite like most other YankMobils.
And the interiors made from cheap recycled plastics which look utter bollox.
And basically have no soul, style or carrisma at all.
Why oh why do they have to sell off, all of our manufacturing to sodding foreigners, IT SHOULD NOT BE ALOUD.
They'll change the suspension and put leaf springs on, they will stick ridiculously large V8 engines in them and get about 20BHP from it, and 10 Gallons to the mile.
I would expect the handling of the new cars will be wallowy bags of Shite like most other YankMobils.
And the interiors made from cheap recycled plastics which look utter bollox.
And basically have no soul, style or carrisma at all.
Why oh why do they have to sell off, all of our manufacturing to sodding foreigners, IT SHOULD NOT BE ALOUD.
Like they've done with Aston, Land Rover and Jag?
Horse_Apple said:
...
I do agree with the principle that a house engine elevates TVR into a superior catagory. The risk here is that they don't have deep enough pockets to get it right but I honestly think that Ricardo are unlikely to let anything bad out of their doors, so I really like that aspect.
For me the Recardo aspect is extremely interesting as it opend the door to replace my engine should I wish.
...
What has Ricardo "manufactured" previously? I thought they were an engineering consultancy? Maybe they will badge an engine tweaked by themselves but made elsewhere as they have connections with China I do agree with the principle that a house engine elevates TVR into a superior catagory. The risk here is that they don't have deep enough pockets to get it right but I honestly think that Ricardo are unlikely to let anything bad out of their doors, so I really like that aspect.
For me the Recardo aspect is extremely interesting as it opend the door to replace my engine should I wish.
...
www.ricardo.com/media/pressreleases/pressrelease.aspx?page=45
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