TVR dissects new sportscar

TVR is maintaining its drip-feed of teaser shots and technical information ahead of a full reveal of its eagerly anticipated new sportscar, with a first glimpse under the two-seater's skin confirming its iStream carbon-fibre construction.

The dissected area also offers a first look at its Cosworth-tuned V8 engine, which is looking increasingly likely to be based on the Ford Coyote eight-cylinder, typical TVR double wishbone suspension in all four corners and a beefy six-piston brake set up at the front.

Exactly how much of the new TVR's construction will rely on Gordon Murray's iStream composite manufacturing methods will have to wait for a full tech breakdown, but the central cell appears similar to the construction of the Yamaha Sports Ride concept, which also borrowed the architecture.

The British car-maker will be offering the first 500 examples of the new model in a special Launch Edition, which will be built using the full suite of carbon construction techniques but for the same price as the more conventionally made version.

What the other versions will be made from is not known, but an aluminium monocoque or spaceframe are likely solutions.

TVR is reporting that more than 400 of the first cars have already had cash deposits placed on them despite the car not yet being officially christened, but while the Griffith moniker is being bandied around, GoAuto is putting its money on the return of the Tuscan nameplate.

Customers who miss out on the remaining 100 cars will be able to join a “reserve” list.

The lucky 500 will be the first to see the new car ahead of the media and public during a special event that is being held later this year. Mere mortals will be shown the new model at its official launch in 2017.

With natural aspiration confirmed for the V8 powerplant and Cosworth's connection with the blue oval, the well-known Coyote donk is looking like the favourite donor engine for the enigmatic model at this stage.

While the company has developed its own engines in the past, it is unlikely TVR has the kind of capital necessary to design, develop and manufacture the new V8 unassisted.

A version of the engine will serve as a testing and development unit under the bonnet of a race-car mule which, during a recent test-rig shakedown, produced an unexpectedly high torque output causing Cosworth's dynamometer to shut down.

Power and torque output remains officially under wraps but some speculative reports rate the engine at about the 300kW mark, which matches existing engines in Ford's modular engine line-up including the 5.0-litre Mustang engine at 324kW, although Cosworth's efforts will almost certainly result in a unique tune.

Like so many of the car's details, pricing is also still under wraps, but the most affordable version is expected to kick off from about 65,000 ($A130,000), while the iStream Carbon construction version is expected to rise to about the 100,000 mark ($A200,000).