British sports car manufacturer TVR has confirmed that, following a new partnership with leading lithium innovator Ensorcia, an all-electric version of its new Griffith sports car is in the works.
First unveiled in 2017, the Griffith was earmarked as TVR’s answer to the Porsche 991 and the Jaguar F-TYPE, measuring as it did 4,314 mm (14 ft) in length, 1,850 mm (6 ft) wide, and standing just 1,239 mm (4 ft) tall. At the base was a new carbon-composite chassis that helped keep weight down to less than 1,250 kg, while the planned 500 hp, 5.0-litre V8 – which effectively made the Griffith a “British muscle car” according to TVR chairman Les Edgar – was mounted behind the front axle to improve maneuverability. Another notable element of the Griffith was the ‘cleaner’ aerodynamics, penned by legendary F1 designer Gordon Murray, compared with previous TVRs and the focus on ground effects to generate downforce – hence the flat floor – thus negating the need for an enormous rear spoiler and/or a front splitter.
Heavy delays during production however – the most notable being Covid-19 and plans for a refurbishment of the company’s Ebbw Vale facility in Wales turning into a complete rebuild – meant the Griffith’s launch date was quickly pushed back to 2023.
With the signing of its new agreement with Ensorcia, TVR now looks set to introduce the naturally-aspirated Griffith in 2024, with “an electrified, limited edition variant” set to follow shortly afterwards. Significantly, the electrified Griffith will be “the brand’s first in a family of EV models” as TVR aims to transition towards a carbon-neutral future.
“We are delighted that we shall now shortly fulfill our promise of delivering the V8-powered Griffith Launch Edition to the hundreds of wonderful and incredibly patient depositors,” Edgar explains. “Furthermore, as part of our mission to rejuvenate and future-proof our iconic British brand, we can confirm that we shall develop an electrified variant of Griffith, due to market soon afterwards. This is a hugely important element in ensuring that TVR will become a sustainable, net-zero business.”
Save the necessary changes to the powertrain, it’s unclear at present how the electrified Griffth will differ from its ICE counterpart. However, TVR’s new partnership with Ensorcia – a specialist in green lithium mining and processing – appears to prioritize a lightweight build and as little environmental impact as possible to uphold TVR’s newly defined “green credentials.”
Indeed, the announcement of an EV Griffith is just the latest in a series of updates detailing the on-going electrification of TVR. Earlier this week, the all-electric Formula E single seater series announced a new sponsorship deal with the British sports car manufacturer, effective immediately at this weekend’s Monaco E-Prix and later this year the London E-Prix double-header on 30-31 July.
“Our collaboration with the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship and on-site activations at the Monaco and London E-Prix not only demonstrate our commitment to revolutionizing the TVR brand, but to EV, and becoming a sustainable, net-zero business,” Edgar continues. “Our plans to bring TVR EV’s to market are well underway, with the first of two models to be released shortly after the release of the newest Griffith and Limited-Edition Griffith EV models in 2024.”
