Triumph TR25 electric concept unveiled – is the iconic British brand returning?

It’s been almost 40 years since the last Triumph was built but the iconic British sports car name could be set to make a shock return with the unveiling of a reborn roadster featuring an all-electric heartbeat.

The marque famed for bringing us legendary models like the Stag, Spitfire and Dolomite has been revived this week in the shape of a reborn TR2 penned by London-based design house, Makkina.

Showcased at an event hosted on the Thames, the little-known company presented its TR25 concept – an open-top electric vehicle that’s a modern twist on Triumph’s fifties two-seater sports car. 

And not only is it adorned with the illustrious British marque’s badge it has been so with the express permission of BMW, which own the rights to the name today.

Triumph’s return: This is the all-new TR25 concept, an electric roadster created and showcased this week by a London-based design studio

BMW, which owns the rights to the Triumph Motor Company name, has given Makkina permission to create an EV concept based on the iconic fifties TR2 sports car (pictured) that was produced between 1953 and 1955

As well as giving the green light to the London company to produce the one-off vehicle, the German car giant has even provided the donor platform on which the concept has been built.

Underneath the TR25’s jaw-dropping body is a BMW i3 S – its now-discontinued compact electric supermini.

This was identified an ideal starting point for Makkina to replicate some of the diminutive proportions of the TR2 that was produced by Triumph between 1953 and 1955, while also keeping BMW top bods happy.

The reborn Triumph comes some 100 years after it produced its first car and almost 40 years from the last to emerge from British Leyland’s assembly line

The single-seat roadster is powered by a rear-mounted 184bhp electric motor sending drive to the rear wheels only. It is claimed to be able to hit 62mph from a standstill in just 5.2-seconds

It may be hard to believe but underneath the TR25’s jaw-dropping body is an i3 S – BMW’s now-discontinued compact electric supermini. It shares the same chassis and powertrain as the small German EV

It shares the i3’s battery-assisted powertrain, which includes a rear-mounted 184bhp electric motor that is claimed to deliver 0-to-62mph in 5.2-seconds.

This rapid acceleration is achieved thanks to its lightweight construction, with the TR25 tipping the scale at a reported 1,095k – almost 200kg less than the i3 on which it is based.

This helps to improve battery range too, which is estimated at 190 miles between charges.

The TR25 concept was unveiled at an event hosted on the Thames in the capital on Thursday evening by the little-known design house

New features include a buttress behind the driver’s head to provide roll-over protection. There is a passenger seat hidden beneath the cockpit cover to the left

The London design studio has scrapped the TR2’s wing mirrors in favour of a discreet rear-view camera so that it can retain clean bodywork lines

Makkina – which is a non-public facing design consultancy that has some of the world’s biggest car companies on its confidential client list – says its creation pays homage to arguably the most famous TR2 of all

The modern shape and single-seat arrangement replicates that of the ‘Jabbeke’ TR2 (pictured) which broke the land speed record for production cars with engine capacities under two litres in May 1953

Makkina – which is a non-public facing design consultancy that has some of the world’s biggest car companies on its confidential client list – says its creation pays homage to arguably the most famous TR2 of all.

The modern shape and single-seat configuration replicates that of the ‘Jabbeke’ TR2 which broke the land speed record for production cars with engine capacities under two litres in May 1953.

That historic vehicle now resides in the British Motor Museum at Gaydon, having been bought in 2020 using a £250,000 National Heritage Memorial Fund grant.

‘Today, 70 years after its record was secured and 100 years since the Triumph name first appeared on a production car, it returns to the headlines under a different name and sporting a new, modern design direction as the Triumph TR25 by Makkina,’ the company said. 

‘With a deep-rooted commitment to craftsmanship and innovation, UK-based design house Makkina has created the TR25 to embody the record-breaking car’s attributes in a contemporary way with realistic proportions that remain true to the Triumph brand.’

Its ultra-modern shape still incorporates many of the main ingredients of the fifties sports car on which it harks back to

The simple and clean lines can be seen throughout the design. At the rear, the brake lights are made up of LED panels that begin at the top of the rear deck and appear hidden in the bumper before breaking out at the rear to create a diffuser-like look 

The original TR2 record-breaker resides today in the British Motor Museum at Gaydon, having been bought in 2020 using a £250,000 National Heritage Memorial Fund grant

Even the 1950s Triumph badge has been given a 2023 upgrade by the British design studio. The TR25 remains a single-vehicle concept… for now

Its ultra-modern shape still manages to incorporate many of the main ingredients of the fifties sports car. 

This includes its potential for a two-seat layout – with an optional flip-out jump seat for the passenger – and the 21st century twist on the TR2’s frog-eye headlamps. 

The LEDs display a ’25’ signature in a nod to Makkina’s quarter-century anniversary this year.

And while the fifties original has conventional – if not very tiny – doors, Makkina’s design team has replicated the deep-cut shape into a pair that open upward rather than out. 

New style features include a buttress behind the driver’s head to provide roll-over protection in case of a crash and the London studio has also scrapped the TR2’s wing mirrors in favour of a discreet rear-view camera so that it can retain the unfussy coachwork lines.

Even the 1950s Triumph badge has been given a 2023 upgrade. 

the 21st century LED-inspired twist on the TR2’s frog-eye headlamps that display a ’25’ signature in a nod to Makkina’s quarter-century anniversary this year

While shown as a single seat, it also has the potential for a two-seat layout with an optional flip-out jump seat for the passenger

Inside, the cabin is as minimalist as the exterior body. 

Makkina says the cockpit ‘aims to place the driver in a setting where there are no unnecessary distractions’ to ‘allow for the enjoyment of a pure driving experience’. 

The seat is trimmed in blue leather to match that of the 1953 Jabbeke and there is very little in terms of controls and instruments.

The driver’s display binnacle shows only speed, charge levels, and battery range while the rest of the vital information is displayed on the self-centering dial in the steering wheel where the occupant can access the different driving modes, data and navigation system.

Inside, the cabin is as minimalist as the exterior body. Makkina says the cockpit ‘aims to place the driver in a setting where there are no unnecessary distractions’ to ‘allow for the enjoyment of a pure driving experience’

There is very little in terms of controls and instruments – in fact, the driver’s display binnacle shows only speed, charge levels, and battery range

Makkina says all remaining vital information – like driving modes and navigation – is controlled and displayed in the panel in the self-centering dial in the steering wheel

The seats have been trimmed in blue leather to match that of the TR2 Jabbeke that set a new landspeed record for sub-2.0-litre production vehicles in 1953

Director at Makkina, Michael Ani, said: ‘Our aim was to update the true character of the original record-breaking ‘Jabbeke’ TR2 with our design, through both interior and exterior design. 

‘Using the BMW i3S platform allows us to create a blend of old and new with the TR2-inspired body shape and the versatile and adaptable powertrain, creating a seamless, fully electric experience. 

‘The i3S platform proves that driving an electric car can be fun! The combination of instant torque, acceleration, agility and silence are as compelling now as ever.’

For now, the TR25 is purely a concept vehicle and there is no confirmation regarding whether the iconic British marque is to make a full comeback.

The last production-run car to sport a Triumph Motor Company badge emerged in 1984 when the final Triumph Acclaim rolled off the British Leyland assembly line in 1984

Commenting on the concept, Michael Ani, director at Makkina, said: ‘Triumph is an incredibly significant name in the motoring industry, and we knew we carried a strong responsibility for its reawakening through the TR25’

What do you think of the the TR25 concept and the potential for the Triumph brand to make a return to our roads this decade? Let us know in the comments below

The concept also comes as Triumph Motor Company celebrates 100 years since producing its first vehicle. 

The last production-run car to sport a Triumph Motor Company badge emerged in 1984 when the final Triumph Acclaim rolled off the British Leyland assembly line in 1984.

‘With the blessing of BMW Group, who own the rights to the Triumph name, Makkina is proud to bring its TR25 to life,’ the London company said.

‘Triumph is an incredibly significant name in the motoring industry, and we knew we carried a strong responsibility for its reawakening through the TR25’, Ani added. 

‘Whether through its much-loved TR sports car series or its highly-respected line of sedans, Triumph remains a cherished nameplate, holding a very special place in our hearts at Makkina.

‘We’re proud of the way we have revitalised the Triumph [Motor Company] name and thank our friends BMW Group for allowing us the honour to badge a car that not only celebrates our company’s [Makkina’s] 25th anniversary but also 70 years of the ‘Jabbeke’ TR2 record run and 100 years of this iconic marque [Triumph Motor Company].’