TVR Cerbera RR

Sporting an upgraded engine, new gearbox and revised suspension, the RR should be quicker than ever - and have better road manners, too. So we hit the tarmac to find out...

Externally, the Cerbera remains unchanged since its facelift two years ago, when it gained Tuscan-style headlights plus modified A-pillars and roofline. The revamp also brought new seats and composite panels for the flagship 4.5. But the Cerbera's development hasn't stood still in the meantime - it's simply that the firm tends to introduce modifications on the run, fitting any new parts to the next car down the line.

The latest tweaks are significant. All Cerberas now have gas-filled dampers. These deliver better ride and traction, as well as offering superior high-speed control, making the supercoupé feel less aggressive and more stable. And that's a good thing, considering how fast the RR is (the initials stand for Red Rose, as in the Red Rose of Lancashire, home of Blackpool-based TVR).

Costing ΂£2,350, the performance kit is available only on the 4.5, and it can be retro-fitted, too. It liberates an extra 20bhp and 13Nm of torque from the normally aspirated V8, and there's even a dash switch for adjusting fuelling and ignition on the move. Needless to say, this car is ridiculously fast. With 440bhp, it's more powerful than a 911 Turbo, and although it has nothing like the traction of Porsche's 4WD supercar, at 1,100kg it's nearly half a ton lighter.

Even in standard trim, TVR claims the 4.5 is capable of 190mph-plus and will cover 0-60mph in under four seconds. The Red Rose is quicker still, and it certainly feels it. In any gear, at any speed, simply brush the responsive throttle and the RR leaps forward.

The acceleration is magnified by the racing car engine note, but don't let that fool you into thinking this machine lacks refinement. Quite the opposite is true - the revised suspension and lighter 'spiders web'-style alloys make for a surprisingly compliant ride. The car proves comfortable on the motorway, too, despite the fact that the short-ratio five-speed gearbox keeps revs high. Don't be lulled into a false sense of security, though - as with all TVRs, the Cerbera RR is intimidating for the uninitiated. Driven hard, its steering and braking response can be challenging, and occasionally downright frightening. The steering is direct, the handling distinctly tail-happy, and there's no traction control to act as a safety net.

But the huge boot swallows a lot of luggage, and as long as you don't try to squeeze into the pathetic rear seats, there's more space there, too. Bar the additional dash switches, there's little to distinguish the RR's driver environment from those of lesser Cerberas. However, with features such as the dials under the steering wheel, it remains quirky and characterful.