TVR Griffith 5.0 V8 Cosworth

TVR Griffith 5.0 V8 Cosworth

The new TVR Griffith, announced in 2017 and finally delivered from 2024, represents the long-awaited rebirth of one of Britain's most characterful sports car manufacturers. After years of development delays, ownership changes, and financial challenges, TVR has returned with a car that aims to recapture the raw excitement of its predecessors while embracing modern engineering standards.

The new Griffith was developed with significant input from Gordon Murray Design — the team behind the McLaren F1 and the T.50 supercar. Murray's iStream manufacturing process was adapted for the Griffith, combining a bonded and riveted aluminium chassis with composite body panels to achieve a kerb weight of just 1,250 kg. This lightweight construction is central to the car's character and performance.

The engine is a naturally aspirated 5.0-litre V8, developed by Cosworth from the Ford Coyote V8 architecture. In the Griffith, it produces 500 bhp and 550 Nm of torque, with a flat torque curve and a willingness to rev to its 7,000 rpm redline. The choice of natural aspiration was deliberate: TVR wanted the immediate throttle response and linear power delivery that turbocharged engines cannot fully replicate.

Power is transmitted through a six-speed Tremec manual gearbox to the rear wheels — there is no automatic option, reinforcing the Griffith's driver-focused character. A limited-slip differential ensures the considerable power is deployed effectively, while the car's low weight means the power-to-weight ratio of 400 bhp per tonne places it in supercar territory.

The chassis, designed with Murray's expertise, uses double-wishbone suspension at all four corners with anti-roll bars and adjustable dampers. The aim was to create a car that communicates with the driver through the steering wheel, pedals, and seat, providing the kind of mechanical engagement that has become rare in an era of electronic assistance.

Styling is the work of TVR's design team and incorporates references to classic TVR shapes — particularly the original Griffith of the 1990s — while presenting a modern, muscular appearance. The long bonnet, short rear deck, and wide stance create an aggressive profile, while the interior offers a mixture of analogue instrumentation and essential modern connectivity.

The new Griffith is manufactured at TVR's factory in Ebbw Vale, South Wales, with a planned annual production of around 400 cars per year. The launch edition was limited to 500 units, all allocated to deposit holders who had waited patiently through the car's protracted development.

For TVR enthusiasts and British sports car lovers, the new Griffith represents the answer to a question many feared would never be resolved: whether TVR could return as a viable manufacturer of exciting, driver-focused sports cars. The answer, emphatically, is yes.