TVR Speed Eight engine
Encyclopedia
The TVR Speed Eight was the name of a normally aspirated V8 car engine designed and manufactured by TVR
. The engine was intended to power the TVR Griffith
and the TVR Chimaera
but delays in its production meant that it powered only the TVR Cerbera
and the TVR Tuscan Racer. The reason behind the engine's development and production was that in that particular time Rover was bought by BMW
and Peter Wheeler
the boss of TVR
in that time, feared that BMW
would drop the Rover V8 engine used in TVRs since the early 80's, so he contracted car engine designer Al Melling
to design a brand-new V8 engine to power the TVR Cerbera
as well as an engine that TVR could sell to other car manufacturers.
The engine itself was designed by engine guru Al Melling
along with John Ravenscroft and the then boss of TVR
Peter Wheeler
. Its production codename was "AJP8" (A=Al, J=John, P=Peter), which continued the naming convention started by the Speed Six
engine's "AJP6" codename. The Speed Eight featured many aspects found in a racing engine, such as a flat plane crankshaft, a 75-degree Vee angle, a SOHC arrangement operating two valves per cylinder and sequential fuel injection.
There were two versions of the Speed Eight engine, one displacing 4.2L and producing 360 bhp, and the other and displacing 4.5L and producing 420 bhp. Beyond that, a Red Rose conversion was made available that increased output to 440 bhp when using fuel with a minimum octane rating of 97 RON. The Red Rose upgrade included reshaped intake and exhaust ports, higher compression, and an ECU that can be switched between two sets of fueling and ignition maps (for 95 RON and 97 RON fuel, respectively.)
The Speed Eight engine has a high specific output for a normally aspirated engine with 83.3 bhp/L for the 4.2L, 93.3 bhp/L for the 4.5L, and 97.7 bhp/L for the Red Rose-specification 4.5L engine. Another notable aspect is the weight of the engine, which is 267 lb (121.1 kg) dry.
Even though the engine was a strong seller in the Speed Eight Cerbera
, TVR
dropped it when they stopped production of the Cerbera in 2003. (A special anniversary Cerbera made in 2006 to celebrate the car used the 4.5L version of the engine.) In recent news though, Al Melling
is planning to produce a new sports car called the Melling Wildcat
which will be powered by an improved 4.7 litre 460 bhp version of the AJP8.
TVR
thumb|right|240px|TVR No.2, the oldest surviving TVR, located at [[Lakeland Motor Museum, Newby Bridge, Cumbria]]TVR was an independent British manufacturer of sports cars. Until 2006 it was based in the English seaside town of Blackpool, Lancashire, but has since split up into several smaller...
. The engine was intended to power the TVR Griffith
TVR Griffith
The TVR Griffith, later models being referred to as the Griffith 500, was a sports car designed and built by TVR starting in 1991 and ending in 2002....
and the TVR Chimaera
TVR Chimaera
The TVR Chimaera is a two-seater convertible sports car manufactured by TVR between 1992 and 2003. The name was derived from Chimera, the monstrous creature of Greek mythology, which was made of the parts of multiple animals...
but delays in its production meant that it powered only the TVR Cerbera
TVR Cerbera
The TVR Cerbera is a sports car manufactured by TVR between 1996 and 2003. The name is derived from Cerberus the three-headed beast of Greek legend that guarded the entrance of Hades....
and the TVR Tuscan Racer. The reason behind the engine's development and production was that in that particular time Rover was bought by BMW
BMW
Bayerische Motoren Werke AG is a German automobile, motorcycle and engine manufacturing company founded in 1916. It also owns and produces the Mini marque, and is the parent company of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. BMW produces motorcycles under BMW Motorrad and Husqvarna brands...
and Peter Wheeler
Peter Wheeler (TVR)
Peter Robert Wheeler was a chemical engineer from Sheffield, Yorkshire, UK, who owned the Blackpool-based TVR sports car company for 23 years....
the boss of TVR
TVR
thumb|right|240px|TVR No.2, the oldest surviving TVR, located at [[Lakeland Motor Museum, Newby Bridge, Cumbria]]TVR was an independent British manufacturer of sports cars. Until 2006 it was based in the English seaside town of Blackpool, Lancashire, but has since split up into several smaller...
in that time, feared that BMW
BMW
Bayerische Motoren Werke AG is a German automobile, motorcycle and engine manufacturing company founded in 1916. It also owns and produces the Mini marque, and is the parent company of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. BMW produces motorcycles under BMW Motorrad and Husqvarna brands...
would drop the Rover V8 engine used in TVRs since the early 80's, so he contracted car engine designer Al Melling
Al Melling
Al Melling is an automobile engineer.- Fashion Design :At the beginning of the eighties he became involved in the fashion industry. He owned a company in London throughout the eighties which designed ladies’ fashion garments. As owner he became interested in the whole lifecycle of garment...
to design a brand-new V8 engine to power the TVR Cerbera
TVR Cerbera
The TVR Cerbera is a sports car manufactured by TVR between 1996 and 2003. The name is derived from Cerberus the three-headed beast of Greek legend that guarded the entrance of Hades....
as well as an engine that TVR could sell to other car manufacturers.
The engine itself was designed by engine guru Al Melling
Al Melling
Al Melling is an automobile engineer.- Fashion Design :At the beginning of the eighties he became involved in the fashion industry. He owned a company in London throughout the eighties which designed ladies’ fashion garments. As owner he became interested in the whole lifecycle of garment...
along with John Ravenscroft and the then boss of TVR
TVR
thumb|right|240px|TVR No.2, the oldest surviving TVR, located at [[Lakeland Motor Museum, Newby Bridge, Cumbria]]TVR was an independent British manufacturer of sports cars. Until 2006 it was based in the English seaside town of Blackpool, Lancashire, but has since split up into several smaller...
Peter Wheeler
Peter Wheeler (TVR)
Peter Robert Wheeler was a chemical engineer from Sheffield, Yorkshire, UK, who owned the Blackpool-based TVR sports car company for 23 years....
. Its production codename was "AJP8" (A=Al, J=John, P=Peter), which continued the naming convention started by the Speed Six
TVR Speed Six engine
The TVR Speed Six was the name of a normally aspirated straight-6 engine manufactured by TVR, and used in several of their cars including the TVR Tuscan, TVR Cerbera, TVR Tamora, TVR T350 and TVR Sagaris....
engine's "AJP6" codename. The Speed Eight featured many aspects found in a racing engine, such as a flat plane crankshaft, a 75-degree Vee angle, a SOHC arrangement operating two valves per cylinder and sequential fuel injection.
There were two versions of the Speed Eight engine, one displacing 4.2L and producing 360 bhp, and the other and displacing 4.5L and producing 420 bhp. Beyond that, a Red Rose conversion was made available that increased output to 440 bhp when using fuel with a minimum octane rating of 97 RON. The Red Rose upgrade included reshaped intake and exhaust ports, higher compression, and an ECU that can be switched between two sets of fueling and ignition maps (for 95 RON and 97 RON fuel, respectively.)
The Speed Eight engine has a high specific output for a normally aspirated engine with 83.3 bhp/L for the 4.2L, 93.3 bhp/L for the 4.5L, and 97.7 bhp/L for the Red Rose-specification 4.5L engine. Another notable aspect is the weight of the engine, which is 267 lb (121.1 kg) dry.
Even though the engine was a strong seller in the Speed Eight Cerbera
TVR Cerbera
The TVR Cerbera is a sports car manufactured by TVR between 1996 and 2003. The name is derived from Cerberus the three-headed beast of Greek legend that guarded the entrance of Hades....
, TVR
TVR
thumb|right|240px|TVR No.2, the oldest surviving TVR, located at [[Lakeland Motor Museum, Newby Bridge, Cumbria]]TVR was an independent British manufacturer of sports cars. Until 2006 it was based in the English seaside town of Blackpool, Lancashire, but has since split up into several smaller...
dropped it when they stopped production of the Cerbera in 2003. (A special anniversary Cerbera made in 2006 to celebrate the car used the 4.5L version of the engine.) In recent news though, Al Melling
Al Melling
Al Melling is an automobile engineer.- Fashion Design :At the beginning of the eighties he became involved in the fashion industry. He owned a company in London throughout the eighties which designed ladies’ fashion garments. As owner he became interested in the whole lifecycle of garment...
is planning to produce a new sports car called the Melling Wildcat
Melling Wildcat
The Melling Wildcat is a V8 powered sports car produced by engine specialist Al Melling in Rochdale, UK.- History :The Wildcat was conceived by designer Al Melling to fill the gap left by defunct British marques such as TVR, Marcos and others...
which will be powered by an improved 4.7 litre 460 bhp version of the AJP8.