2007 Marcos TSO GTC

[YSSMAN]

We've all seen it on Top Gear, now there is a new ad to the lineup...

The Marcos TSO GTC made its public debut today at the exclusive Salon Prive private Luxury and Supercar Show in Britain. The TSO GTC is a race-inspired two-seat sports coupe that comes with racing suspension, racing brakes and a rear diffuser. The car comes standard with a 420 horsepower Aluminium V8 Engine and a 6-speed manual gearbox. A 462 horsepower Performance Pack is also available.

The regular GTC is priced at £49,950. Meanwhile, the £53,950 TSO R/T delivers an open top driving experience with dual removable roof panels. While there has been no word on U.S. availability, pricing is equivalent to somewhere between $80,000 and $90,000.

The TSO's lightweight composite body, space frame chassis and V8 engine provide an impressive power-to-weight ratio. With the Performance Pack the TSO accelerates to 60 mph in 4.1 seconds and to 100 mph in 8.5 seconds. Huge 340mm AP Racing brakes deliver a 0-100-0 time of 12.9 seconds. Overtaking is effortless with a 50 to 70 mph time of just 2.1 seconds. Top speed is over 185 mph.

"The TSO's combination of tuned V8 power and lightweight design delivers both stunning performance and breathtaking sound in a reliable, precision Engineered and affordable British Supercar," said Tony Stelliga, Marcos Engineering's Managing Director.

Composites and components are CAD designed and fabricated in England. The Chassis is Engineered and manufactured by Prodrive - a leading developer of motorsport chassis and race cars that have earned five British Touring Car Championships and six World Rally titles. Designed to be lightweight and responsive, the TSO inspires confidence and is communicative up to and beyond the limit.

MORE PHOTOS HERE

Wow, what a great car. Although I think the performance numbers are a bit conservative (barely better than a "regular" Z51 Corvette), it is just a wonderful car to look at. Its a pitty that they aren't sold in North America (given that Macos' owner is Canadian), but that could change, and they certainly would be able to sell the cars if they could get some press here in the US.

 

[Jim Prower]

Hey, i'll take a Mini TVR.

 

[Dave A]

It's priced a bit high, great car. But I tink your paying for exclusivity a bit more than performance, you can get a Sagaris for £50k, but this certainly is a striking car to look at, and it is by no means slow. That said, the TSO also has a fantastic interior, a nicer one than any Vette or TVR has.

 

[Jay]

Nice, I saw a very similar one on the road about a year ago, looked great.

Its was an Australian only model though.

http://www.marcos-eng.com/s3/tso-gt.html


There was also talks with our Government about opening a factory here in Adelaide Australia. (close to Holden factory where they can get a good supply of LS1's and T56's)

 

[YSSMAN]

Is the car still running the LS1? I would have figured they would have switched to the LS2 by now...

 

[Tornado]

I've always loved the TSO. It's like what Chevrolet should have done with the C6, instead of making it ugly. And the interior = wow. I must ask, though, what is so new about this car? Or, more importantly, what is this article about? The GTC or R/T? If it's about the GTC, than so what? It's just a slower GT2. If it's about the R/T, than cool, a targa-like roof.

Is the car still running the LS1? I would have figured they would have switched to the LS2 by now...

That engine is overrated. The 5.7 tuned to 475 BHP is good enough for me. The Z06 engine would be mighty fine as well, though. Tuned to 600 BHP, of course.

 

[Encyclopedia]

I like it.

 

[harrytuttle]

Nice. Take one part Bristol Fighter, one part TVR Sagaris, add some GM V8 spicing, mix thoroughly, bake for 18 months, and pass it off as your own design.

 

[red70mach1]

Sweeet!!!!!

 

[niky]

It's kinda small, don't you think? I like that.

And isn't the model always supposed to be standing half-naked in front of the car, distracting you and obscuring the bodywork? Thank God she isn't. For the decency to hide behind the car, that girl deserves an award of some kind.

 

[Dave A]

They're not that small, similar in size to a T350C.

 

[YSSMAN]

So that would make them about the size of a M-Coupe? Or is the T350C closer to the Corvette?

 

[CDailey]

That chick looks like a giant next to that car.

 

[Poverty]

lol tvrs are tiny, in the fact that theyre real low down, but quite wide and long.

 

[Danny]

I'd tap that, but there's only ever been one Marcos for me.

The 500hp Mantis that spawned the LM600

Find me a better proportioned car, and I'll show you a green dog.

 

[Dave A]

So that would make them about the size of a M-Coupe? Or is the T350C closer to the Corvette?

Closer to the M coupe than than the C6 Vette, but the C6 Vette is big, the T350C is about the average size for a 2 seater coupe.

 

[Layla's Keeper]

Now, you know it's not a proper Marcos unless it's got the marine plywood floor.

But seriously, what's not to like about the Marcos TSO? It's very striking design that keeps the traditional Marcos coupe lines, while still introducing modern trends to the shape. The chassis - built by Prodrive no less - is undoubtedly a well sorted piece, and the Chevy lump is light, potent, and hard as hell to kill.

Not to mention, if by some idiocy, you do manage to break Senor Ellis Juan, parts for the engine are common as crabgrass. Almost as cheap, too.

 

[Dave A]

Yeah, it's a great car, it's not as hardcore as a TVR and not as fast on the track as one or as cheap for something of relative performance. But it's certainly no slouch, and it does look great. But the real plus of this car imo is the interior, it's fantastic. It goes faster than you need, it looks great and it's got a beautiful interior, you can't want much more than that.

 

[amp88]

0-100mph in 8.5 seconds is impressively quick. Same as a RUF R Turbo and half a second quicker than the Lambo Murcielago or Gallardo. Almost 1.5 seconds quicker than a TVR T350 T.

All figures from Autocar's 0-100mph-0 test, April 2004.

 

[Dave A]

The base TSO doesn't hit 100mph in 8.5, this one does. Both the T350C and Marco TSO (base model) have recorded 0-100mph in 9 seconds. The base TSO is in the same power and price range as the TVR T350C (the TSO has 360bhp the T350C has 350bhp, both cost just shy of 40K), so they are relative in test. This one isn't relative to the T350C, it has a little more power than the TVR Sagaris, but it costs the same (this has 420bhp to the Sagaris' 405 and both cost just shy of 50k).

For refference the base model TSO got beat by the T350C by 0.7 seconds on theTopGear track (both in the dry) and it got beat by the Sagaris by 3.6 seconds. The TSO GTC gets beat to 100mph by the sagaris by almost half a second but hasn't lapped the TopGear track yet. So maybe I wasn't doing the TSO justice, I think I was comparing the base model to the Sagaris rather than this one by mistake, so far they arn't as fast on a track, but the difference isn't huge, a better driver in the TSO could make that up.

 

[amp88]

Yeah in a straight line it's really quick, I'm talking track tests, it's never been as quick on the track as a relevent TVR, which really the T350C isn't the TSO's competitor in terms or price and power, the Sagaris is even though it's less powerfull, and we know who wins that one.

For refference the TSO got beat by the T350C by 0.7 seconds on theTopGear track (both in the dry) and it got beat by the Sagaris by 3.6 seconds and it gets beat to 100mph by the sagaris by almost half a second.

I wasn't aiming my post at your reply, sorry. I was just generally very impressed by those numbers. I'm not at all surprised it got beaten by a 'lesser' TVR round a track.

 

[Dave A]

It's not that far behind, I've just edited my post to make it more accurate because I wasn't doing the TSO justice. The one that lapped the TopGear track was the base TSO, not the GTC, the base TSO is comparable to the T350C, so it's not that far behind really, this one is comparable to the Sagaris and while I don't think it will be as fast, it's not going to be 3.6 seconds slower.

 

[YSSMAN]

It will be interesting to see what the GTC can do on the Top Gear track down the road, as I assume they will be testing one soon given the show returns this Sunday.

 

[Jay]

and the Chevy lump is light, potent, and hard as hell to kill.

The engine got a bad rep in Australia for being too easy to kill, Holden tryied to do quick fixes but oil and piston slapping problems keep returning so private engine builders near the dealers are quite busy.

Lucky so far their has been no reports of this problem with the L76 that replaced the LS1.

 

[YSSMAN]

^ Which is strange because the LS1 had quite the reputation as a reliable powerplant that could take quite a beating and still make it home.

I'm happy to hear, however, that the L76 is doing great. Right now we only recieve the engines inside the trucks (Avalanche and Suburban), but I presume it will make it's way into the Zeta cars in the US just as I presume it will in Australia...

 

[GT Pro]

Damn, that TSO is beautiful as well as quick.