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NEW, yes new, Triumph car rumor

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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.

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If Mazda can do it with their new MX-5 (Miata), why can't anyone else?? The new Miata weighs in at about 2450lbs. depending on how it's optioned. Even though alot of safety and chassis strength stuff was added, they only added 10kg to the weight of the older Miata. Here's an article on how they did it. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cheers.gif
 
If they were to bring back the Triumph name, why would it, or should it resemble an older model? In 1951 when the TRX concept lead to the TR1 and finally into the production TR2 the company was pushing a new design. The 3's thru 6's evolved from there but would also carry their own distinct identity (except maybe the 250/5, which wasn't as distinct as the others, as its own model).

In 1971, when development of the wedges began, again the company was pushing the boundaries of design and resulted in more TR7's sold than any other TR. It's cheap to blame the demise of Triumph on the wedges when the labor parties, management and the exchange rate played a larger role.

Triumph models were different than other manufacturers. Even the sedans and "lesser" (no slight inteneded to Herald based cars) Triumphs. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif

So in my thinking, if there were to be a new Triumph, it should bear no resemblence to models of the past. Because that would not be very Triumph like. It should instead set the stage for another distinct model in the roadster community.

I also see no reason, other than it would allow most of us to buy one if we wanted were so inclined, to market the Triumph or Austin-Healey (as it were) names be used as lower market cars unless they are planning on building them in numbers to match MX-5 production numbers. Small production runs of low cost cars don't make a lot of sense.

A very modern interpretation of the venerable Austin-Healey roadster is the Weismann Roadster. Which BTW uses BMW M3 drive train and is allowed to retain the "M" badging by BMW.
https://www.jalopnik.com/cars/images/weismann_roadster.jpg


Just some scattered thoughts from my brain today. And yes, I realize that I am only referring to post war Triumphs and not the original Triumph company.

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One big question in my mind... Why would BMW create a car to compete with its Z4? If they do build it in SC, it will almost assuredly be built on the Z4 platform. You could, I suppose build it with the Mini platform, but who wants a front wheel drive roadster? Either way both of the above cars mentioned cars are what I'd call "premium" vehicles and don't come cheap (for what you get).

My vote is that this is a big fat rumor, nothing more.
 
I heard it will look like the Herald, but will run either a Yugo or Russian Lada drive train. That's a match made in heaven!
 
I vaguely remeber seeing a sketch of a "concept" Austin Healy (300+ HP, and looking like a Z4, but with 2=tone paint and the distinctive AH grill) as well as a MG concept car from the new Chinese owners of the Rover group left-overs. I cannot remember where (sorry - not much help am I), but it struck me at the time that thse are two marques more likely for reserection than our beloved Triumph.
 
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WHAaaat, surely you've seen this before:

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Ouch! That was cold! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/lol.gif
 
Just as an aside, I do so love that each article has used a Michelotti Triumph for the article photo. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbsup.gif
 
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If any car is to be revived, it would most likely be the Austin Healey nameplate,

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I was under the impression that the now Chinese-owned MG-Rover group retained the "Austin" name and that the Healey trademark remains with the Healey name. I recall articles in the 2001 timeframe when the now-defund MG-Rover group asserted that it owned Austin while BMW had made two public statements -- one by a senior BMW guy in the UK who said they owned the "Austin Healey" name and then a senior official in Germany who agreed with the MG-Rover group's assessment. In the end, it all depends on what the underlying deal docs said. In any event, I hope a future Triumph, if any, is not a badge-engineered Z4, and I certainly hope it isn't made here.
 
Bill,
You're right, there has been confusion about the name, but I would be very, very surprised if BMW hadn't kept the Austin name, seeing as they still produce the Mini....


BUT in all liklihood, the car would be a "Healey Sprite" or "Healey 3000."

This would also fall into line with branding the "Mini" instead of "Austin Mini"
 
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One big question in my mind... Why would BMW create a car to compete with its Z4?

[/ QUOTE ]Why not? After all, the original Mini, at one point, came in at least five "badge-engineered" versions: Austin, Morris, Riley, Wolseley, Vanden Plas. That car's bigger brother, the 1100/1300 series, came in those same flavors plus an MG version.

IF this were to happen, I doubt BMW would a: do anything from "scratch" and b: do anything to compete directly with one of their own cars. Presumably, a Z4-based Triumph would be somewhat down the scale?
 
Part of the allure of Triumphs is the fact that they're no longer manufactured! Whatever they decide to make, and however they decide to make it (and *if* they decide to make it), it won’t be a Triumph. Anyone who wants a new “Triumph” should simply buy a Miata and slap a couple of Triumph badges on it.

I personally hope they *don’t* start manufacturing a new Triumph… because then I might be tempted to actually buy one!!! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif
 
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however they decide to make it (and *if* they decide to make it), it won’t be a Triumph.

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That's what all the Triumph Gloria and Dolomite owners said about the TR2s! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif "It's not a Triumph, it's a Standard with a Triumph badge on it."

Okay, I'm just joking.

But I personally would love to see another Triumph. It would send the value of our cars up. Plus, the Z4 has an extremely good platform -- plus you can make very different cars based on one platform. (Mazda3, Mazda5, Ford Focus, Volvo S40 and Volvo V50 Wagons all use the same platform!) The Z4 might be ugly, but it's a heck of a car.

It would be nice to see any British name come back. Instead of "retro," a good muscular TR or Healey with a modern interpretation of a British(styled by Italian) look would really make heads turn, and bring buyers into Mini dealers.
 
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