Raise a glass for Toniq R

21st November 2006

The front-engined, rear-wheel drive Toniq R, has rival Caterham in its sights.

Two powerplants are available - a 900cc Honda Fireblade motorbike unit, which revs to 11,250rpm, and a 2.0-litre Ford Duratec. The sportster's shell is made from fibreglass, and while there isn't much in the way of driver comforts, the Toniq R does comes with projector-style headlights, race seats and a chrome transmission tunnel.

The R Fireblade will eat up the tarmac from 0-60mph in 3.9 seconds, going up to a top speed of 126mph. The Ford-powered version can manage the benchmark sprint in around four seconds and races on to 140mph.

"We offer more performance for less money than a Caterham," said Jim Cameron, development and marketing manager at Stanton, Suffolk-based Toniq R. "Every car we make is different, as we tailor them to customers' needs with individual road settings."

Prices start at £19,969 for a Toniq R-Fireblade, while the Ford version will set buyers back £23,494.

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