The announcement for the New Year that BMW is re-introducing
the Triumph name will delight many enthusiasts. At press
announcement last night under the Brandenburg Gate in
Berlin, Professor Joachim Milberg, BMW's Chairman said,
"These new Triumphs, herald an entirely new opportunity for
BMW. We have finally decided to abandon the MG name."
Three entirely new cars are planned and will be built at
what is presently a greenfield site in north east Iceland.
The new Triumph 'Hurricane' will be a two seater soft top.
The 'Mosquito' will be a four seater fastback. Both will
have strong late 60's overtones.Specifications are currently
subject to official confirmation but both cars will
certainly have 1600cc 4 cylinder 16 valve turbocharged
engines, six speed boxes and Kevlar brake pads. Suspension
will be Macpherson front strut with semi trailing arms at
the rear working on a transverse leaf spring.
The larger Triumph 'Meteor' will take on from where the TR6
left off. As Professor Milberg commented when someone pushed
another Stein into his hand, "it is clear that Leyland made
a pig's ear of the wedge and so we have taken the best of
both Michelotti's and Karmann's designs and combined them
into one. 'Meteor' will draw heavily on current technology
by using the Rover/Buick V8 power unit and this is aimed
principally at the North American market. Enthusiasts should
also be aware that plans are afoot for a modified version -
'Vampire' - which will share 'Meteor's' body and is aimed
esserntially at the European market. The powertrain however
will be different and to take account of excessive fuel
prices in Europe coupled to much improved fuel consumption,
'Vampire' will make use of the former Rover P6 engine in a 5
cylinder turbodiesel configuration. I am confident these
three new Triumphs bearing such an illustrious name will be
a landslide success in all markets where they will be
supplied through the existing BMW dealer network."
There doesn't that make you all feel better? Perhaps Moss,
VB, TRF and Rimmers might like to start their inventory
planning fairly soon?
Jonmac
John Macartney
Book site: http://www.toolbox.ndirect.co.uk/triumphbook
BMIHT: http://www.heritage.org.uk
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