Nought to 60mph in 3.9 seconds? Check. One hundred and seventy miles per hour top speed? Check. Seventy miles per gallon? Check.

Eh? We're talking about a supercar, right?

Ah, but the Trident Iceni is not your average supercar.

The key to its huge performance and superb economy is the unusual powerplant: a 6.6-litre V8 turbodiesel more normally found in American GM pick-up trucks.

The weirdness continues with the Iceni's eight-speed automatic gearbox that copes with the 375bhp and 520lb ft of torque.

To prove the Iceni's economy credentials, the firm is filling up its demonstrator with 100 litres of bio-diesel fuel and driving it to Monaco (some 900 miles).

The idea is to get to Monaco on a single tank, with the filler officially sealed to prevent any sneaky fill-ups.

The car is due to leave Trident's Norfolk base on April 17 before it goes on display at the Top Marques International Motor Show from April 19-22 in Monaco.

Trident is now taking orders for the £60,000 Iceni.

- 200mph sports car reaps 70mpg
- Technology allows use of 100% biodiesel

Trident Performance Vehicles have designed and produced a two-seater sports car that can reach over 200mph, get from 0-60mph in under 4 seconds and deliver up to 100mpg*.

Whilst city cars (MEGA City, Ze-O, G-Wiz) work brilliantly for people who live and work in a city, Trident represent those that travel on the M1, the M4, the M6 to get to work, people who live in rural locations and those situations where electric cars are not (for the time being) viable due to their comparitively short range. In the meantime, the Trident Iceni offers current technology that is available now which reduces fuel consumption and therefore reduces emissions.

It's a diesel sports car and if you're able to obtain any kind of biodiesel, this can be used without any invalidation of warranty, adjustment to the engine or affect on performance.

Their fantastic fuel economy is achieved through technology called torque multiplication and it can be applied to all diesel cars (the popularity of which is growing year on year versus petrol cars), buses, lorries and trains. It's available now, requires no further research and development and can make an immediate difference to the amount of emissions diesel vehicles produce. In short, Trident have the solution to what we're told is a huge problem.

So serious is the concern about carbon reduction, the Government affiliates itself with a number of organisations that exist to provide grants to people and/or companies that can contribute to or offer a solution.

Carbon Trust, EEDA (East of England Development Agency), Carbon Connections, HGCA (Home Grown Cereals Association), EEMS (Energy Efficiency in Motor Sport), Energy Savings Trust, Renewables East to name a few. Trident have applied to all the above mentioned agencies for grants and have received nothing – not a penny. Not only have they received no money but have struggled to get reasons for why they have failed and have been unable to find out who has received grants.

The team at Trident have invested £2.3m in the project which has enabled the completion of all the development needed to get the Iceni into production. They're now seeking funds to make this happen and satisfy their growing bank of customers.

*68.9mph at a constant 70mph was the first recorded test at Millbrook Proving Ground. The figure naturally improve at lower speeds – at 30mph, Trident's initial tests returned 108mpg. This is yet to be confirmed but they don't believe in quoting a figure for 30mph as this is unrealistic – unless you drive exclusively in a city.

The Iceni is a traditional grand tourer. With a full tank of diesel, you can expect to travel around 2000 miles without needing to fill up.

The boot has space for luggage and golf clubs – enough for a two week holiday.

The chassis is made from stainless steel and is guaranteed against corrosion for 100 years and the body is made from composite and can therefore never rust or degrade.

Environmentally Responsible Motoring

Torque multiplication keeps a car's rev range low. It is this that decreases fuel consumption and reduces emissions. For example, at 70mph, the Iceni is running at 980 rpm whereas the average car runs at between 2500 and 3500 rpm at 70mph. This means a 6.6l V8 can be more economical than a 2.0l. Essentially, a big engine doing no work is more efficient than a smaller engine doing lots of work.

So we have achieved environmentally responsible motoring.

The longevity of the stainless steel chassis also raises a green thumbs up. Constructed from folded sheet and not box section, it forms a safety cell around the occupants so that driver and passenger are surrounded by a structure with exceptional torsional rigidity. The 'spine' is part of the chassis, forming a kind of north-south rollcage.

Because everything apart from the lights, number plates and roof pods is bolted to the chassis, the body is unstressed. Strong and light, made from composite, it has no straight edges and is finished in any colour. This gives you a lot of choice, perhaps too much, so we will also offer a selection of carefully chosen colours. No extra charge for pearl or metallic paint – there are no 'options' on the Iceni, we instead offer a high, standard specification.Then you can choose one or two colours of leather for the interior. There are thirty to choose from. Even the oculight roof pods and front headlight pods are available in four colour tints.

SatNav, MP3, DVB, electrically operated steering column and pedal box, electric windows, central locking, ABS, camera/monitor 'mirrors', 4 removable oculight roof pods which allow hard-top, targa-top or convertible for driver and passenger independently, two-tone leather, all standard.

There will be a two-year manufacturers warranty and service intervals are 1year/100,000 miles. No extra zeros there – if you complete 100,000 miles in a year, it's still just the same one service.

Trident, the British sports car brand, today announced the global availability of its flagship Iceni sports car, the world’s fastest & most fuel efficient diesel sports car.

With a top speed in excess of over 190mph and the ability to run for 2000 miles on a single tank of mineral or bio-diesel, the Iceni uses torque multiplication technology to achieve this unique combination of speed, power & fuel efficiency.
Two new models to the Iceni range are also unveiled today, the Iceni Magna (fastback) & Iceni Venturer (estate). All three models boast the same impressive spec, each with its own distinctive design. In addition, the cars can store a minimum of two suitcases, as well as two holdalls, making a 2000-mile road trip a reality.

Phil Bevan, designer & founder of Trident said, “The Trident cars deliver incredible speed & performance combined with outstanding fuel efficiency, achieved through our unique torque multiplication technology.”

It is widely believed that horsepower delivers power, speed & fuel efficiency, but it is in fact torque that matters. Using this technology in a road car increases fuel efficiency by up to 20%. Trident has patented a unique way of utilising torque multiplication to improve performance and efficiency, which has been incorporated into all their sports cars.

The British designed Trident sports cars boast a distinctive look, with clean curves and the unusual sculpted rear. The cars also incorporate over thirty-nine bespoke, designed & manufactured components, including independent control of each car seat and oculight roof. In addition, every Iceni can be built to specific customer spec, ensuring a truly unique driving experience.
Daniel Monaghan, co-founder of Trident said, “We have worked extremely hard to reach this point & the whole Trident team is thrilled to be bringing the world’s most fuel-efficient diesel sports cars to market.”

The three Iceni sports cars are available to buy globally with prices starting from £96,000. With limited availability and a pre-launch waiting list, the three models are already in high demand across the globe.