Tatra 700

Tatra 700
1998 Tatra 700
Overview
ManufacturerTATRA, a. s.
ProductionApril 1996–July 1999
DesignerGeoff Wardle
Body and chassis
ClassFull-size luxury car (F)
Body style
LayoutRR layout
Powertrain
Engine
  • 3.5 L V8 (petrol)
  • 4.3 L V8 (petrol)
  • 4.4 L V8 (petrol)
Transmission5-speed manual
Dimensions
Wheelbase3,130 mm (123.2 in)[1]
Length5,135 mm (202.2 in)[1]
Width1,800 mm (70.9 in)[1]
Height1,480 mm (58.3 in)[1]
Curb weight1,840 kg (4,057 lb)[1]
Chronology
PredecessorTatra 613
Tatra 700 rear

The Tatra 700 is a rear-engined luxury car released in 1996 by the Czech car maker Tatra. It was essentially a heavily restyled version of the Tatra 613 model it replaced. It is one of the last production cars with an air-cooled engine.[2]

The T700 was offered as a 4-door saloon with a 3.5-litre 90° air-cooled V8 petrol engine. A later 700-2 version, consisting of the last 14 cars built,[3] had a 4.3-litre engine, reaching 234 PS (172 kW), with a curb weight increased to 1,930 kg (4,255 lb).[4] A 400 PS (294 kW) version called T700 GT was also listed, although this may have remained a one-off. This model also had a 4.4-litre V8 but has a shorter height and length and is 360 kg (794 lb) lighter, with a top speed of 316 km/h (196 mph).[5][6]

The model was not successful, nor produced in large numbers, and production was halted in July 1999.[7] Only 75 of these cars were ever built.[8] The Tatra 700 was the last passenger car made by Tatra, after which it concentrated on trucks.

  1. ^ a b c d e tatra.demon.nl. "CARS & HISTORY: TATRA 700 (1996-1999)". Archived from the original on 2008-03-24. Retrieved 2008-03-13.
  2. ^ Bringatrailer.com. "Last of the Air-Cooled V8 Czechs: 1996 Tatra T700". Retrieved 2021-01-06.
  3. ^ "Tatra T-700 – 1996". Lane Motor Museum. Retrieved December 28, 2021.
  4. ^ John. "Tatra 700". Retrieved 2021-01-06.
  5. ^ car.info. "Tatra 700 4-door 1st Generation 4.4 V8 Manual, 5-speed 400ps, (1996-1999)". Retrieved 2021-01-06.
  6. ^ John. "Tatra 700 GT". Retrieved 2021-01-06.
  7. ^ Nowill, Julian: "4 Czechoslovakia," East European Cars, p 103. Gloucestershire, UK: Sutton Publishing Limited, 2000. ISBN 0-7509-2369-5.
  8. ^ "Američan otestoval vůbec poslední limuzínu české Tatry. Byl nadšen". Autoforum.cz.