TVR is legendary in the sports car space. The British sports car company has crafted some of the most thrilling two-seater cars that pack a punch of high performance into sleek, stunning packages. One of these cars is the TVR Cerbera.

The TVR Cerbera is a truly unique car that saw production from 1996 to 2006. In just one short decade, TVR shows just how impressive sports car heritage can be with the Cerbera. In the late 1990s, TVR used creatures from Greek mythology to bestow intrigue into its cars, with models known as the Griffith, Chimaera, and of course, the Cerbera.

Looks and power also add to the Cerbera's intrigue, with more than meets the eye. TVR is especially talented in imparting bespoke and artisan details into their vehicles, making them worth their weight in gold (and worth their price tags, ranging anywhere between $25,000 to over $100,000).

One of the unique touches that TVR gave the Cerbera comes in the form of a V8 engine that is unlike any other. The TVR Speed Eight engine, also known as the AJP8 or AJP V8, was entirely built and designed by TVR in-house. Notably, the TVR Cerbera can reach speeds of over 160 miles per hour, thanks in part to the truly different 75-degree engine underneath the hood.

Here is what makes TVR's V8 engine unique, and why it makes such a difference powering this beastly sports car that takes its name from the hound of Hades.

RELATED: 10 Craziest TVRs Ever Made

Learning About British Sports Car Manufacturer TVR

Black TVR Cerbera front bumper
via: Collecting Cars

Engines with power that achieves god-like status, lightweight bodies that have dressed-to-impress agility? That's British carmakers TVR for you.

The TVR company has changed hands a few times throughout the years, yet with a steadfast motto: making "Britain's Most Exciting Sports Cars". Unfortunately, TVR has experienced its share of trials and tribulations since the company's founding in 1946. Highs for TVR include being the third-largest specialized car manufacturer in the world at one time: lows include multiple bankruptcy. Still, many gearheads desire owning a TVR sports car. Let's dive into part of what makes this company so special - the Cerbera and its engine.

The TVR Cerbera Is A Sports Car That Deserves Attention

TVR Cerbera
Via Classic Car Auctions

The TVR Cerbera is a British grand touring sports car that saw production from 1996 to 2006, with it being the third car manufactured by TVR.

TVR seems to be very fond of names of Greek origin with two prior models named the Griffith and Chimaera. The Cerbera, however, is a reference to Cerberus, also known as the hound of Hades, and was the guard to the underworld in Greek mythology.

The engine on the TVR Cerbera is a part of what makes this sporty little number stand out, but that's not all. The Cerbera's looks are both aggressive and refined, and special details throughout the car's interior include bespoke dials and accents of chrome. The Cerbera, like most of TVR's offerings, brought character to car owners who were looking for something a bit different.

The TVR Cerbera was the first 2 + 2 configuration sports car from the company, the first hardtop, and the first model to gain its power from TVR’s own engine... which is where things got interesting.

What Makes The TVR Cerbera's V8 Engine So Special

TVR Cerbera V8 engine
via TVR Club

Before the TVR Cerbera, TVR relied on Rover for its supply of V8 engines. In 1994, BMW purchased Rover, and TVR did not want to risk a supply chain issue if BMW decided to stop producing the engines that they were using. In a bold move, TVR brought on car engineer Al Melling to design a V8 for in-house production. The benefit of this for TVR would be the option to produce enough engines to sell to other car manufacturers.

What TVR ended up creating is now known as the Speed Eight, also known by its official name of the AJP8, with AJP being an acronym for the first letter of the names of the three creators: Al Melling, John Ravenscroft, and Peter Wheeler. The original Speed Eight was a 4.2-liter V8 engine with 360 horsepower. In the TVR Cerbera, the Speed Eight could hit 0 to 60 mph in 4.2 seconds, with a sprightly top speed of 185 miles per hour. TVR later created a 4.5-liter version of the V8 that boosted the horsepower to 420. In an interview with Top Gear, Peter Wheeler explained that the engine is a 75 degree flat-plane crank V8, an engine design that would mirror the ones used in Formula One race cars.

The AJP8, or Speed Eight if you prefer, is a naturally aspirated V8 with one of the highest outputs in the world at 83.3 horsepower per liter for the 4.2-liter version, and 93.3 horsepower per liter on the 4.5-liter version.

A 4.0-liter version called the Speed Six followed the Speed Eight, which was also a naturally aspirated engine - but in design, was a straight six. The 4.0-liter was not as successful as the V8, and suffered from a lack of lubrication leading to valve-train durability issues.

Production of the Speed Eight ended alongside the discontinuation of the TVR Cerbera.

RELATED: Ranking The Best V8 Engines Ever

TVR Earns Icon Status With Their Approach To Sports CarsTVR Cerbera

TVR may be a lesser known sports car brand, but don't knock it till you try it. Many TVR owners are diehard ambassadors of the brand.

TVR continued to experiment with its unique engine models. The Cerbera Speed Twelve took things a step further, with a Frankenstein engine crafted from two Speed Sixes. There were three Speed Twelves produced, but even ambitious TVR knew that this car was just a bit too powerful and not practical enough for the road.

While the Cerbera in any form is now discontinued, its legacy lives on in the form of TVR's potent engines that give even the most well-known supercars a run for their money.

Sources: TVR, Auto Snout