TVR Chimaera

Which TVR Chimaera version to buy (1992–2003): 4.0 MT vs 4.3 MT vs 4.6 MT vs two 5.0 MT engines

If you are choosing a TVR Chimaera, the catalogue is one generation (1992–2003), one body (Roadster), and five petrol V-shaped 8-cylinder, No-boost, Front, longitudinal, Manual 5, RWD versions. There is no second generation to “wait for,” so the decision is which engine in that one run. The names that must stay exact are 4.0 MT, 4.3 MT, 4.6 MT, 5.0 MT (326 hp), and 5.0 MT (340 hp).

Which TVR Chimaera version to buy (1992–2003): 4.0 MT vs 4.3 MT vs 4.6 MT vs two 5.0 MT engines

If you are choosing a TVR Chimaera, the catalogue is one generation (1992–2003), one body (Roadster), and five petrol V-shaped 8-cylinder, No-boost, Front, longitudinal, Manual 5, RWD versions. There is no second generation to “wait for,” so the decision is which engine in that one run. The names that must stay exact are 4.0 MT, 4.3 MT, 4.6 MT, 5.0 MT (326 hp), and 5.0 MT (340 hp). Two entries share the name 5.0 MT; they are not the same car on paper.

Specs that decide the buy

Every version uses Distributed injection (multi-point) and 2 valves per cylinder. Compression is 9.8 (4.0 MT), 8.9 (4.3 MT), 9.5 (4.6 MT), 10 (5.0 MT 326 hp), 9.5 (5.0 MT 340 hp). Bore × stroke is not measured on 4.0 MT; it is 94 × 71.1 on 4.3 MT, 94 × 82 on 4.6 MT, and 94 × 90 on both 5.0 MT engines.

Power per litre and kg per hp

Using displacement in litres from the cc figures:

• 4.0 MT: 240 hp / 3.950 L = 60.8 hp/L
• 4.3 MT: 280 / 4.275 = 65.5 hp/L
• 4.6 MT: 288 / 4.546 = 63.4 hp/L
• 5.0 MT (326 hp): 326 / 4.997 = 65.2 hp/L
• 5.0 MT (340 hp): 340 / 4.997 = 68.0 hp/L

Kerb weight is 1060 kg on 4.0 MT, 4.3 MT, 4.6 MT, and 5.0 MT (340 hp). It is not measured on 5.0 MT (326 hp), so that version cannot be ranked by kg/hp.

• 4.0 MT: 1060 / 240 = 4.42 kg/hp
• 4.3 MT: 1060 / 280 = 3.79 kg/hp
• 4.6 MT: 1060 / 288 = 3.68 kg/hp
• 5.0 MT (340 hp): 1060 / 340 = 3.12 kg/hp

The 340 hp 5.0 MT is the lightest per horsepower among versions with a kerb figure. The 4.3 MT is the most efficient of the smaller engines (highest hp/L among 4.0 / 4.3 / 4.6). The 4.6 MT adds 271 cc over the 4.3 MT but drops specific output (63.4 vs 65.5 hp/L) and only gains 8 hp.

Performance: what the extra displacement actually buys

City, highway, and combined consumption are not measured on all five versions. CO2 and eco class are not measured. 0–100 km/h and top speed are measured:

• 4.0 MT: 5.2 s, 240 km/h
• 4.3 MT: 4.4 s, 253 km/h
• 4.6 MT: 4.7 s, 257 km/h
• 5.0 MT (326 hp): 4.4 s, 269 km/h
• 5.0 MT (340 hp): 5.5 s, 271 km/h

4.0 MT → 4.3 MT: +40 hp, +24 Nm, +325 cc. 0–100 improves by 0.8 s (5.2 → 4.4). Top speed +13 km/h. This is the largest 0–100 gain in the catalogue.

4.3 MT → 4.6 MT: +8 hp, +9 Nm, +271 cc. 0–100 worsens by 0.3 s (4.4 → 4.7). Top speed only +4 km/h. Torque peak also moves later (4000 → 4500 rpm). On these numbers the 4.6 MT is not a faster car to 100 km/h than the 4.3 MT.

4.6 MT → 5.0 MT (326 hp): +38 hp, +68 Nm, +451 cc. 0–100 returns to 4.4 s (same as 4.3 MT). Top speed +12 km/h vs 4.6 MT and +16 km/h vs 4.3 MT. Peak torque 475 Nm is 77 Nm above 4.6 MT and 101 Nm above 4.0 MT.

5.0 MT (326 hp) vs 5.0 MT (340 hp): same 4997 cc, same 94 × 90 bore × stroke. The 340 hp tune adds 14 hp and 6 Nm, peaks 250 rpm earlier for power (5250 vs 5500) and 250 rpm earlier for torque (3750 vs 4000), but 0–100 is 1.1 s slower (5.5 vs 4.4). Top speed is only +2 km/h (271 vs 269). Peak power is higher; the sprint figure is not.

If “which version to buy” means shortest 0–100, 4.3 MT and 5.0 MT (326 hp) tie at 4.4 s. If it means highest listed top speed, 5.0 MT (340 hp) at 271 km/h, then 5.0 MT (326 hp) at 269. If it means most torque, 5.0 MT (340 hp) at 481 Nm, 6 Nm above the other 5.0 MT.

Dimensions, weight, tank, wheels

Tank is 57 L on every version.

Kerb / gross:

• 4.0 MT: 1060 / 1280 kg (payload 220 kg)
• 4.3 MT: 1060 / 1300 kg (payload 240 kg)
• 4.6 MT: 1060 / 1280 kg (payload 220 kg)
• 5.0 MT (326 hp): kerb not measured, gross not measured
• 5.0 MT (340 hp): 1060 / 1280 kg (payload 220 kg)

Ground clearance is not measured on 4.0 MT and 125 mm on the other four. Wheel sizes are listed only for 4.3 MT: 205/55 R16 and 225/50 R16; all other versions not measured. Front suspension is Independent, spring on all five. Rear suspension is not measured on 4.0 MT and Independent, spring on the rest. Front brakes Ventilated disc, rear Disc, all versions.

The 4.3 MT is the only version with a published tyre pair and the only one with a 20 kg higher gross (1300 vs 1280). The 4.0 MT is the only one without a rear-suspension label and without clearance.

Generations: what does not change

There is 1 generation (1992-01-01 to 2003-12-31), Roadster, 5 versions. All five share the same start and stop dates in the data. There is no later generation with a different gearbox, drive, or body. You cannot “buy the facelift generation” as a separate generation: restyling is not listed as its own generation. Choosing is engine and tune inside one production window.

Which version to choose

Buy 4.0 MT if you want the smallest engine (3950 cc) and the lowest peak power (240 hp). It is the only version with fuel grade not measured. It is also the slowest to 100 km/h (5.2 s) except the 340 hp 5.0 MT, and the lowest top speed (240 km/h). Specific output is the weakest (60.8 hp/L) and kg/hp the highest (4.42). Rear suspension, clearance, wheels, and fuel are incomplete compared with 4.3 MT.

Buy 4.3 MT if 0–100 is the priority among the sub-5.0 engines. It matches the 326 hp 5.0 MT at 4.4 s, uses 722 cc less than that 5.0, and is the only version with listed wheels. Versus 4.0 MT you gain 40 hp and 0.8 s. Versus 4.6 MT you give up 8 hp and 4 km/h top speed but you are 0.3 s quicker to 100 km/h and 65.5 vs 63.4 hp/L. Fuel is 95. Clearance 125 mm.

Buy 4.6 MT if you want displacement between 4.3 and 5.0 (4546 cc) and a 257 km/h top speed without a 4997 cc engine. The numbers do not support buying it for a faster sprint than 4.3 MT. Torque arrives 500 rpm later than on 4.3 MT. Compression 9.5 sits between 4.3 MT (8.9) and 5.0 MT 326 hp (10).

Buy 5.0 MT (326 hp) if you want the same 4.4 s as 4.3 MT plus the highest compression (10) and 475 Nm. Top speed 269 km/h is 16 km/h above 4.3 MT. Kerb and gross are not measured, so you cannot check kg/hp or payload on this line. Treat that gap as a documentation hole, not as “lighter.”

Buy 5.0 MT (340 hp) if peak hp, peak Nm, and listed top speed matter more than 0–100. It is 340 hp / 481 Nm / 271 km/h and 3.12 kg/hp at 1060 kg. It is also the slowest 0–100 in the table (5.5 s) — 0.3 s slower than 4.0 MT and 1.1 s slower than the other 5.0 MT. Same 4997 cc and 94 × 90 as the 326 hp 5.0 MT; the extra 14 hp does not buy a quicker sprint on these figures.

Short ranking from the arithmetic only

• Fastest 0–100: 4.3 MT and 5.0 MT (326 hp) (4.4 s)
• Highest top speed: 5.0 MT (340 hp) (271), then 5.0 MT (326 hp) (269)
• Most torque: 5.0 MT (340 hp) (481 Nm), then 5.0 MT (326 hp) (475 Nm)
• Best hp/L: 5.0 MT (340 hp) (68.0), then 4.3 MT (65.5)
• Best kg/hp (where kerb is measured): 5.0 MT (340 hp) (3.12), then 4.6 MT (3.68), then 4.3 MT (3.79)
• Smallest step that actually shortens 0–100: 4.0 MT → 4.3 MT (−0.8 s)
• Step that does not shorten 0–100: 4.3 MT → 4.6 MT (+0.3 s); 5.0 MT 326 → 5.0 MT 340 (+1.1 s)

Prices are not in the data, so “what the extra money buys” here means what the extra cubic centimetres and horsepower buy on the measured sheet: the 4.3 MT is the clearest upgrade from 4.0 MT; the 4.6 MT is a displacement/top-speed step, not a sprint step; the two 5.0 MT cars split peak output versus 0–100, and must not be treated as one version.