TWR, the brainchild of British racing driver Tom Walkinshaw, makes a return in the automotive landscape as an engineering firm that will also produce its own models. A single teaser of its first “bespoke high-performance automobile” signals the start of a new era for TWR which is now headed by the founder’s son, Fergus Walkinshaw.
The cryptic teaser shows a portion of the
vehicle’s profile revealing the sculpted rear fender, sloping roofline, and
short rear overhang. We can’t see the ground clearance but judging from TWR’s
past, its first independent model will likely be a sportscar. The company
didn’t give away any other information about the model but promised to unveil
more details soon. Interestingly, the name of the teaser image’s file was TWR JAG
T6, which could reference its longtime partner Jaguar.
TWR aims to become a constructor of
“bespoke high-performance automobiles” while also working with other brands to
“maximize the potential of their own products”. The press release mentions that
“TWR seeks to preserve and perfect the analogue driving experience”, meaning
that its offerings will be aimed at driving enthusiasts. Without unveiling the
powertrain type of its future models, the firm said that it will blend “modern
materials and innovative design concepts with traditional engineering”,
promising that its products will strike a balance between “performance, style,
functionality and quality”.
The Oxfordshire-based TWR was founded in
1975 by Tom Walkinshaw and enjoyed great success in motorsport activities
within the next decades. TWR-engineered racecars include the Rover Vitesse,
Holden Commodore, Mazda RX-7, and Volvo 850 Estate which took part in touring
championships, as well as the Le-Mans-winning Jaguar XJR Group C racer. The
firm is also responsible for engineering production models such as the Jaguar
Sport XJR-15, the Jaguar XJ220, the Aston Martin DB7, and the Renault Clio V6.
