John,
I know it's not April yet, so it can't be an April Fool's Joke. Could
it be that Prof. Milberg had too much New Year's refreshment when he
made the announcement??? :)
Joe
John Macartney wrote:
>
> 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
--
"If you can't excel with talent, triumph with effort."
-- Dave Weinbaum in National Enquirer
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