Triumph TR2 Revived As Crazy BMW i3-Based Single-Seat Speedster

London-based automotive design house Makkina has revealed a new concept called the Triumph TR25 - a modern interpretation of the old 'Jabbeke' Triumph TR2. The latter set a land speed record for production cars with an engine displacement under 2.0 liters in 1953, but the new one doesn't have any displacement at all because it's built on the underpinnings of aBMW i3s.

Using a BMW as the base is perhaps serendipitous, as BMW stills owns the rights to the Triumph name, the last remnants of the Rover Group that BMW took control of in 1994. While the Germans relaunched Mini and offloaded MG, Rover, and Land Rover, they kept the Triumph name but haven't yet used it for anything. Despite this, BMW gave Makkina its blessing to use the name on this TR25 concept.

Makkina chose this year, 100 years since Triumph's first production car and 70 years since the aforementioned record was set, to launch the car in London - not at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. And in case you were wondering, the 25 in its name refers to Makkina's 25th anniversary.

The single-seater speedster retains the classic proportions of the original TR2 - classic proportions of the era that also inspired modern sports cars like theMazda MX-5.

Using the i3s's electric motor, we know the Triumph TR25 concept produces 181 horsepower and 199 lb-ft of torque sent to the rear wheels. In the BMW, these outputs yield a 6.8-second 0-60 mph time and a top speed of only 99 mph, some way short of the 124.889 mph set by the 'Jabbeke' TR2 (known by its registration MVC575在比利时北部)Jabbeke速度试验in 1953. Thankfully, the TR25 has a quicker 5.2-second 0-60 mph time and a 115 mph top speed, plus a longer electric range of 190 miles owing to a curb weight that's 430 lbs lighter than the i3 on which it's based (2,414 lbs).