TVR Tasmin 280i

Infobox Automobile


name = TVR Tasmin
manufacturer = TVR
aka = Tasmin, 280i, 200i
production = 1981 - 1988
predecessor = TVR M series
class = Sports Car
body_style = 2-door coupe, 2-door convertible
layout = FR
engine = Ford Cologne V6, Ford Pinto Straight 4
transmission = 4 spd manual, 5 spd manual, 3spd automatic automatic
designer = Oliver Winterbottom

The TVR Tasmin or TVR 280i was a sports car designed and built by TVR from 1981 to 1988. It was available as a fixed head coupe or a drop head convertible. As with all TVR's, the running gear was located in a tubular spaceframe steel chassis which was longer and sturdier than that of the 'M' series. Much of the running gear is sourced from Ford's of the period. The suspension and steering was sourced from Ford Cortinas, with a TVR engineered rear wishbones. Gearboxes were from Cortinas and Sierras. Brakes were discs all round, wtih the front ones from the Ford Granada. The engine was the Ford 2.8 Cologne V6 with Bosch fuel injection producing about 150-160 bhp. An automatic gearbox was also an option, making it the first and last TVR to come with a automatic gearbox as an option. The styling of the car is credited to Oliver Winterbottom who had previously styled the Lotus Elite S2. Beside the V6 Cologne engine the Tasmin was also available with a 2.0 litre Ford Pinto engine. This car called the Tasmin 200i was made in an attempt to make a car cheaper than the standard Tasmin 280i, priced at under 10000 pounds. The car wasn't a big success mainly because of the engine which wasn't exactly powerful with about 100 bhp. In total only 16 Tasmin 200i coupes and 45 convertibles were made in total. In 1981 a series 2 car appeared, which was vastly improved over the series one car and in 1983 as the 350i was about to be launched the Tasmin name was dropped and the cars were called only 280i's.Also the Tasmin was the last TVR to be exported to the USA. TVR's inconsistent badging policy resulted in the cars appearing as Tasmins, Tasmin 280i's or 280i's (The Tasmin name was dropped in the UK). The last car was exported in 1987, this being a series II 280i. A number of reasons are cited for TVR's withdrawal from the US. These allegedly include a deteriorating relationship with the import agents and the distribution network, warranty problems and liability insurance premiums rising from $160K to over $1M.

Specifications

Tasmin 280i

Engine: Ford Cologne V6
Engine Capacity: 2792 c.c (2,8 Litres)
Power Output: 160 bhp (Series 1),150bhp (Series 2)
Torque Output: 162lbs/ft

Tasmin 200i

Engine: Ford Pinto straight 4
Engine Capacity: 1993c.c (2,0 Litres)
Power Output: 101 bhp
Torque Output: 112lbs/ft

Transmission

Tasmin 200i,280i

Transmission: 4 speed Ford manual manual gearbox, 5 spd Ford manual gearbox, 3 spd Ford automatic gearbox

Suspension

Front: Double Wishbones
Rear: Semi trailing arms

Brakes

Front: Disc brakes
Rear: Disc brakes

Chassis/Body

Chassis: Tubular spaceframe steel chassis
Body: Fibreglass body panels

Performance

Tasmin 280i

Acceleration 0-60mph/0-100 kmh: 8.0 seconds , 8.2 seconds (automatic gearbox)
Top Speed: 130mph/210kmh (Series 1), 121mph/195kmh

Weight

Weight: 1074 kgs

Tasmin 200i

Acceleration 0-60mph/0-100kmh: 9.0 seconds
Top Speed: 110 mph/178kmh

Weight

Weight: 971 kgs

External Links

[http://www.tvrwedgepages.co.uk/index.html] - TVR Wedgepages