We’ve not seen or heard anything of Triumph in a four-wheeled context for a very long time; BMW has the rights to the name, and is seemingly content for it lay dormant. Well, sort of. Because this is a new Triumph TR25 concept, built by British design house Makkina, and the name has been used with BMW’s blessing. More than that, in fact, it uses BMW power, with an i3S battery and motor employed. Quite some way to celebrate 100 years of the Triumph name.

Though unashamedly modern in its design, the TR25 aims to evoke classic Triumphs in the way it looks. Specifically, it pays homage to the MVC575, the legendary TR2 that now resides in the British motor museum. It’s also known as ‘Jabbeke’, as that was the location where the TR2 broke the land speed record for production cars under 2.0-litres back in 1953 – it reached 124.889mph.

For the TR25, reimagining that look means two distinctive headlights just like any good Triumph roadster, plus what Makkina are calling ‘sleek, aerodynamically-optimised exterior surfaces’. A single-seat sports car with a flip-out jump seat for anyone brave enough to go in alongside, an ‘uncompromising, driver-focused cabin’ is promised, one with minimal distraction and controls. As all the best lightweight British sports cars are.

Interestingly given the look, the TR25 is underpinned by BMW i3S architecture. Which has plenty of advantages beyond being readily available to work on. Despite a quarter century of design experience (hence the ‘25’ in the name), Makkina isn’t in the position to be creating its own EV platform, so why not make use of a very good – and carbon, don’t forget – existing one? It means a light, compact sports car, one with a low centre of gravity and something close to 50:50 weight distribution. Makkina reckons that the little BMW city car is the ‘perfect foundation to develop the next chapter in British sports car history.’

Which all sounds pretty encouraging, though it seems unlikely that the TR25 will make it any further than the concept stage for the moment. Maybe Makkina (and BMW) will see how the MG Cyberster is received before going any further. Director of Makkina, Michael Ani, said: “Triumph is an incredibly significant name in the motoring industry, and we knew we carried a strong responsibility for reawakening through the TR25…

“We’re proud of the way we have revitalised the Triumph [Motor Company] name and thank our friends BMW Group for allowing us the honour to badge a car that not only celebrates our company’s [Makkina’s] 25^th anniversary but also 70 years of the ‘Jabbeke’ TR2 record run and 100 years of this iconic marque [Triumph Motor Company].” The campaign for limited production starts here…