TRIDENT ICENI
Latest news update from Trident as production edges closer
| (19th November 2001) Latest updates from Trident:
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When the Trident
made its public debut at the 1998 NEC Motor Show it generated a lot of interest
thanks to its curvaceous body and stainless steel chassis but mainly thanks to
its unique central 'flying buttress'. One person who took a keener interest than
most was former Lola boss Eric Broadley who liked it so much he ended up doing a
Victor Kiam and bought the whole project.
The Trident as exhibited at the NEC might have looked finished and the car featured here might superficially appear the same, but in fact a multitude of changes have been made as the car is readied for production. For example, the body and chassis have been modified from the original design to reduce body-fitting time from a commercially prohibitive two man-weeks down to just eight man-hours.
Running Gear
There have also been various changes to the running gear, quite a few of which have been made recently, which is largely the reason it's taken so long to bring you a report on it, with several cancelled test dates due to the release and installation of the latest 3.2 litre version of General Motors V6.
However, this delay has turned out to be no bad thing as it's resulted in us being able to bring you a report on a car that's much nearer to the production model than the early prototype reported on elsewhere.
Engine
The
new engine is an impressive state of the art unit with coil over plug ignition
and 'fly by wire' throttle (though wiring problems meant reverting to old
fashioned 'pull by cable' for this prototype) and considering that most will be
fitted to Cadillacs it may come as a surprise to learn that it's made in
Ellesmere Port!
It may not be a V8, but it still produces a competitive 245bhp. It's a smooth and flexible motor that pulls strongly from low revs right round to the limiter cutting in at 7200rpm. Being a mass produced unit has obvious advantages with thousands of hours of testing already completed by GM and parts and expertise available at every Vauxhall dealer. Trident don't have any performance figures for the new engine, but with the earlier 3-litre version the Iceni clocked 0-60 in 5.4 seconds, so low fives seem probable for production cars, with top speed likely to be limited to 150mph - unless customers dictate otherwise...
Performance may not be as extreme as a Tuscan, but out on the road it gets you past the other traffic with a healthy rush, whilst a flat out standing start acceleration run produced an impressive shove in the back. Fact is, its plenty fast for real world road driving.
Noise
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Earlier prototypes used 'Supertrapp' silencers, which made the car sound fantastic but gave you a headache after an hour, so the switch has been made to conventional silencers which keep the noise to comfortable levels but still produce suitably meaty sounds at low revs. Fitting these has meant ditching the rear 'diffusers' and production cars will also lose the low central hump between the exhausts that houses the low level light. Production cars will also gain a hinged bonnet and larger boot lid. |
Along with the engine, GM also supplies the 5-speed gearbox. This is a joy to use, with a slick precise change that's both lighter and less notchy than a T5, which combined with the equally light clutch means that driving the Iceni in stop start traffic isn't hard work, though an automatic option will be available for idle types.
On the Road
With a useful 26mpg reported in town driving it bodes well for the car owner commuting to work. Of interest to us of course is how it handles on the twisty bits at weekends. Eric Broadley built his reputation on making cars that go round corners quickly, and this final prototype with its revised double wishbone front/multi-link rear suspension (both with anti-roll bars) is the first Iceni to run the full 'Broadley spec' set up.
Most cars are set up to understeer because that's easier for most drivers to cope with, but Eric's set the Iceni up to oversteer, the logic being that the type of driver who's going to buy an Iceni is probably going to be no stranger to opposite lock, tail out moments and in fact will probably be looking for them!
That's not to say the Iceni is tail happy though. In fact when executing a power turn after an acceleration run on an old runway, even with the rear wheels spinning on the loose surface there was no problem in balancing the car with the steering and throttle to bring the back end round just enough to get the car pointing in the right direction.
What this set up does result in, is a car with phenomenal turn-in. The speed and ease with which the Iceni changes direction when pushed hard through tight bends is incredible, the suspension being aided in this by the tenacious 225/45 x 17 Goodyear F1s and the super quick (2.2 turns lock to lock) steering. This is power assisted though still confers plenty of feel.
Suspension
Suspension settings for any sports car are inevitably going to be a compromise between handling and comfort, but Trident seem to have got the balance near spot on, the Iceni's suspension soaking up most bumps effectively while only occasionally feeling a little too soft through fast smooth bends. Adjustable Bilsteins will enable owners to stiffen things up to suit personal taste or for track use as no doubt many cars will seeing circuits as their owners double up with road and track fun.
Of course good handling is also dependent on a stiff chassis and again the Iceni scores highly with no perceptible scuttle shake or rattles thanks to the strength provided by the high chassis sides and that central 'flying buttress'.
Visibility
That 'flying buttress' does make the chassis stiffer but it does create a small rearward visibility problem! Whilst I didn't have cause to try it I imaging it'll make reversing into kerbside parking spaces a bit tricky because it obstructs your over shoulder view.
It
also means that a conventional rear-view mirror would be completely useless - a
problem Trident have solved by adopting the high-tech solution of using a camera
mounted in the high level brake light hooked up to a small TV screen. This also
shows tyre pressures and works with the satellite navigation system.
On the test car this screen was mounted in the conventional mirror position, but this has proved to be too intrusive when driving (though you can retract it and just rely on the door mirrors as I did for most of the time) so it's being relocated to a revised central dash console. This console (like the instrument panel) is also due a change of finish, Trident wisely deciding that the prototype's 'carbon look' is too downmarket for a car like the Iceni.
Interior
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Apart from that, the Iceni's leather trimmed interior is a nice place to be, the new Trident made seats being very supportive and comfortable while the driving position is good with nicely positioned pedals. The prototype's glove box had been ditched in favour of handy electronics access, but on production cars this, along with the door pockets, should provide reasonable interior stowage space. |
Main stowage space is of course the boot, which is more capacious than its small lid would suggest, running the full width of the car, and it's big enough to take both the roof panels and either some luggage or the ubiquitous golf clubs.
To make removing and stowing the roof panels (which Trident call 'oculight tops') easier, production versions will be fixed by quick release catches as opposed to the prototype's fiddly screw fastenings and made in once piece rather than two, with edges that fit flush with the body.
Roof Off
I don't know how good those roof panels are at keeping water out but they're
certainly good at letting light in, leading to a greenhouse effect on sunny days
that'll make you glad of the air conditioning. Alternatively you can always do
the proper sports car thing and expose your dandruff to the breeze.
Driven open topped with the side windows up the Iceni remains very comfortable with very little buffeting even when cruising at the ton, and I'm sure this is a car you could drive long distances without finding it tiring.
In fact my overall impression of the Iceni is of a car that offers all the comfort and refinement you want for commuting to work during the week - and combines it with the performance and handling you want for amusing yourself at weekends and track days.
The Order Book
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With prices starting at £36,000 and servicing available from Vauxhall
dealers it's little wonder Trident already have orders for over six
months worth of production, many from TVR and Lotus owners.
Trident have big plans, and while Eric Broadley's involvement gives them a head start, ultimately their success will depend on getting their cars right. And on the strength of the car tested here it looks like they will, with the last few niggling shortcomings shown up by this final prototype set to be eradicated on production models. |
Certainly both the performance and build quality look as though they should be well up to the mark, while the favourable reaction of the crowd that gathered wherever we parked left no doubt that when it comes to looks the Iceni is already a proven winner.
Link: www.tridentcar.com
Copyright (c) Graham Bell 2001