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NEW, yes new, Triumph car rumor

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t8nwa

t8nwa

Jedi Hopeful
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This could get real interesting, call it a TR9 for now:

A BMW Triumph possibly built in Spartanburg!

Article here
 
Bring in on. Not that I could probably afford it anyways. With 2 teenagers 1 in college and the other a senior starting college next year. It took me long enough to save up for my 73TR6, but I guess it would be nice to see the Triumph name on the road again.
 
If they do indeed bring back some sort of Triumph Sports Car it might give the value of our older Triumph's a shot in the arm.
 
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The question is which Triumph would it look like? TR2/3? TR4/5/6? Or, god forbid, TR7/8? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/devilgrin.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Hey, HEY!!!

Mickey
 
It's not going to look like any of them - it'll be a developed Z4 with a Triumph badge. The Z4 is a natural for badge engineering here - 3.0L RWD US approved. What will happen is that they will lose the flame surfaces (and call it retro) and try to knock it out for under 35k.

MNSHO of course. If that turns out to be the case then I'd go for an Elise for 8-10k more.

Now if it helps the value of my car I'm all for it, but don't expect it to reinvent the 2 seater. Mazda did that one already.
 
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MNSHO of course

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OK, I'll bite - what's that one mean?

Mickey
 
Ah! Thanks - I'm still learning this new language!

Mickey
 
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It's not going to look like any of them - it'll be a developed Z4 with a Triumph badge....

[/ QUOTE ]And that's exactly what I fear, is that BMW will do with Triumph what they did with the Mini, at least here in the US. It will share a name, but it will end up so far upmarket from the original, and there will be no option for a more basic car closer to the original in spirit. Too bad, 'cause there are several more "basic" models of the Mini available in most of Europe. I'm not sure I see Triumph being "up there" with BMW in terms of price structure, and I know I'd prefer NOT to see it up there. I think of Triumph more of a "middle class" line (but then I'm mostly a Herald guy, so I suppose you could ignore me /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif).

And why couldn't there be a new "Spitfire" under consideration? Why only a possible TR? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif
 
Again MNSHO, but the reason it isn't going to happen is to get safety approval.

Look at the S1 Elise vs the Federalised one. Or the old Mini vs the new one. The new Mini weighs about 2600lbs. My TR6 is 2250. Do you really think a new Triumph is going to weigh less than a Mini?

So to get decent performance out of the thing you'll need a big motor. Which means a higher price. Which reduces the potential pool of buyers.

Ditto the styling. I had a Herald, a Spit, and I now have a TR6. Do you think something as basic in styling as any of those will ever get through. It's going to be a 3500lb monster. Airbags up the wahoo, a rollcage and crumple zones.

Don't get me wrong, I'd really love to see a light, fast chuckable toy car, but I fear it isn't going to happen. If it does I'll buy one, but I think I'm in the minority here. I just don't see it. To get past the lawyers, I think we'll see a Z4 with a bodykit.
 
Hate to rain on anyone's parade, but this rumor is totally untrue.

Here's the skinny: BMW had floated reviving one of its old British marque names, then let it die...then revisited it to help bolster sales in Mini dealerships, which are having trouble making ends meet. (Mini dealerships must be independent of BMW dealerships!)

But the Triumph name has NEVER been seriously considered.

If any car is to be revived, it would most likely be the Austin Healey nameplate, because it carries more name recognition and better brand identity (simply because the marque died before the horrible problems of the 1970s.)

In addition, the Healey was always positioned above Triumph and below Jaguar, which translates well to being below a Z4, but above Miata, Pontiac Soltice, Pontiac Sky.

The original plan was for a return of the Bug Eyed Sprite, and there were even design sketches. The Sprite would fit very well with the Mini brand. It is also possible to get a Healey 3000, since BMW uses a 3.0L inline six, but I haven't heard of anything from any sources that indicates they have chosen this route. (Just my personal speculation.)

BUT don't hold your breath, as any possible return won't happen before 2010.
 
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To get past the lawyers, I think we'll see a Z4 with a bodykit.

[/ QUOTE ]

/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/iagree.gif
 
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The question is which Triumph would it look like? TR2/3? TR4/5/6? Or, god forbid, TR7/8? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/devilgrin.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Hey!!! I resemble that remark!!!
 
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Hey, HEY!!!

Mickey

[/ QUOTE ]

WHAaaat, surely you've seen this before:

theshape.gif


/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/jester.gif

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And here I thought you were a nice guy! C'mon, Rich - let's get 'im! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/hammer.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/hammer.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/hammer.gif

Mickey
 
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