2002 TVR Tamora 3.6L V6 5MT (350 HP)

Vehicle Overview

The British car manufacturer TVR wanted to enter competition against other lightweight European open-top sports cars and created the Tamora, a roadster with an inline-six heart.

In 2002, TVR was among the few automakers from England who were still under British ownership and did not belong to other international brands or investment groups. After the car manufacturer pulled the plug on the TVR Chimaera, it needed a new vehicle but with lower production costs. As a result, it created the Tamora, which it built on the same platform as the TVR Tuscan. Unlike its older brother, the Tamora featured a longer wheelbase and a shorter overall length. Furthermore, it was designed to be a better daily driver.

The Tamora had a distinct personality in the carmaker’s lineup thanks to its front fascia that sported two round headlights covered by flush-to-bodywork glass covers. On the bumper, the car manufacturer added a set of turn signals and two fog lamps that flanked the air intake placed lower in the apron. On the hood, the automaker added two arched exhaust vents that helped cool the engine and improve aerodynamics as well.

From its profile, the Tamora revealed another set of blinkers on the front fenders and an arched line in front of the doors. The raked windshield was mounted on black A-pillars, while the door mirrors that were close to it sported the car’s color. TVR made the back of the car in a unique way, with a large, wrap-around bodywork element that combined the quarter panels and the rear fascia in a seamless, rounded shape. From behind, the Tamora revealed its four small taillights, grouped by two on each side, underneath the ducktail-type lip spoiler that sat on the deck and incorporated the third braking lights. Below the bumper, in a black elliptic area, TVR placed the two chromed exhaust pipes flanking the license plate and additional lights. Finally, at the lower part of the vehicle, the Tamora featured a large, functional diffuser.

Inside, TVR made what it did best: combining leather with brushed aluminum all over the place. Each button was carefully manufactured. Fronting the driver was an oval-shaped instrument cluster that sported the large dials of the speedometer and tachometer. The driver and their side passengers sat low in the available sports bucket seats with contrasting stitching. On the tall center console that divided them, the car manufacturer installed the gear stick and the handbrake. The automaker even considered installing a sound system, but the AC was not standard.

Under the hood, TVR installed the same inline-six powerplant as the one from the Tuscan. It paired it with a five-speed manual gearbox and a limited-slip differential. Thanks to its lightweight construction and potent naturally-aspirated, the Tamora was a fierce competitor in the segment.