Too bad this great Triumph TR25 isn’t announcing a return

Triumph… It’s a brand name for motorcycles and sewing machines, but not for cars since 1984. BMW apparently has the rights to it, so the design agency Makkina first had to go to Munich to get permission for this Triumph TR25.

Founded in 1885, the Triumph Motor Company is best known to the general public for its compact roadsters such as the TR4, Spitfire and TR6. The company built its last cars in 1981, when production of the TR7 and TR8 ended.

BMW got the rights to Triumph

Thereafter, British Leyland’s brand name was used for the Triumph Acclaim, which was nothing more than a Honda Ballade (a Civic with a butt). This model existed until 1981.

BMW acquired the rights to the Triumph name when the manufacturer took over the Rover Group in 1994. A few years later, the Germans sold Rovers again, but retained the rights to Triumph. Why is not known. Maybe one day BMW wanted to do something with it.

Triumph TR25 based on the BMW i3S

And indirectly, the brand has done just that. This Triumph TR25 Concept by design agency Mikkana sits on the BMW i3S chassis and features the same 184hp electric motor on the rear wheels. Unfortunately, he doesn’t announce the return of Triumph.

Mikkana’s design was inspired by 1953, when Triumph set a speed record for production cars with a petrol engine of less than 2.0 liters with a specially prepared TR2. The so-called Jabbeke TR2 reached a top speed of 201 km/h.

Carbon fiber body and top speed of 185 km/h

The Triumph TR25 Concept is 4 meters long and weighs just 1095 kilos. This is due to the use of carbon fiber for the body. According to the makers, it could sprint to 100 km/h in 5.2 seconds and reach a top speed of 185 km/h.

It has larger wheels than the i3S (21 inches) and more powerful brakes, but is otherwise technically almost the same. The TR25 therefore relies on a 42.2 kWh battery for its drive, which gives it a range of up to 306 kilometers.