The Trident Iceni - A 430hp British Sports Car that Runs on Linseed Oil

New boutique sports car makers spring up a few times a year and usually produce some kind of supercar built on the big engine, low weight philosophy. Trident, a British sports car maker, is flipping that idea on its head.

Trident'sTridentUnited Kingdom, 1966 > present4 models
13 photos
new car, the IceniTrident IceniUnited Kingdom, 2006 > present2 photos
, is a two-seat sports car with design that mixes a little TVRTVRUnited Kingdom, 1946 > 201223 models
33 photos
and a little E-TypeJaguar E-Type Gen.1United Kingdom, 1961 > 196715 versions
79 photos
1 video
. What is really different about the car is the engine. The Iceni uses a 6.6-liter diesel that will run on mineral diesel, bio diesel, palm oil and linseed oil. The engine produces 430hp and 950lb-ft. Trident will also offer an optional version of the engine with 660hp and 1050lb-ft of torque. The engine is branded IsuzuIsuzuJapan, 1916 > present17 models
79 photos
1 video
but built by GMGMUnited States of America, 1998 > present8 models
240 photos
in the US.

While the engine is quite large in displacement, Trident has tuned it to lope around to reduce fuel economy. At 70mph, the engine is turning at 980rpm and gets 68.9mpg imp (57mpg US).

The car will debut at the Salon Privé, which is a supercar show and concours d'elegance, at Syon Park in western London from September 5 to 7. 

“We are very pleased to be at Salon Privé which this year is a great celebration of all things British and home grown talent - something we feel very strongly about at Trident.  It is also a place where sports cars and super cars of this caliber are sold, and we look forward to taking new orders for the Iceni at Syon Park this September," said managing director Phillip Bevan.

Prices for the Iceni begin at £80,000 but can be as high as £100,000 with options. Trident will build both left hand and right hand drive versions.