No, we’re not in some kind of time warp, it is September 2022, and we are talking about a diesel-powered supercar. Of sorts. This is the Trident Iceni, the fastest diesel-powered supercar in the world. Not that too many are chasing that title. If you think you’ve heard of Trident before, you have. It made its first car, the Clipper convertible, in 1966. But the company was gone just 12 years later.

What diesel engine is in the Iceni supercar?

Now, Trident says it is “on the cusp of the much-anticipated re-emergence of Trident Sports Cars, with the imminent launch of two brand new and entirely unique British-built GT Sports cars.” Two vehicles are planned, the Iceni and Iceni Magna. 

The Iceni uses torque multiplication technology to help it achieve its zero-to-60 mph time of 3.7 seconds. To get there, a 6.6-liter V8 powers it. You know it as the Duramax diesel for Chevy Silverado trucks. The Duramax delivers 430 hp and 700 lb-ft of torque. Hooked to a six-speed automatic transmission, it has a top speed of 190 mph. 

Has the Iceni Duramax-sourced diesel engine been tweaked?

But Trident has performed some tweaks to the Duramax. Now, it has 651 hp and 1,049 lb-ft of torque. And it can handle day-to-day travel of 58 mpg, using diesel, kerosene, paraffin, or biodiesel. And plant biomass, vegetable oil, or treated industrial waste, is what most biodiesel is. 

Before the Iceni, three German marques held the coveted (?) fastest diesel record. On top was the Porsche Panamera 4S. It attained a zero-to-60 mph time of 4.3 seconds. Next came the Audi S4 at 4.6 seconds, and then the BMW M35d xDrive at 4.7 seconds. 

When did the Iceni supercar make its debut?

The Iceni was first announced back in 2008. Yes, almost 15 years ago. MotorBiscuit covered it in 2014. it seems that both the idea of a diesel-powered track car and the design of the Incini itself harkens back at least that far. Since then, technology and design have marched right past the Iceni. Still, there are loyal followers of anything diesel. 

Trident head Phil Bevan told HotCars that the old bugaboo of lack of funding is the reason for the long gestation period. So now it has a concept that few people are seeking speed records for. And a design that is screaming for updates. 

Can customers customize the Iceni supercar?

Of course, should it go into production, Trident will offer a wide array of choices for customers. From the paint color to the cabin design, buyers can be as involved as possible. Just some of the options include sports seats, customer-determined steering wheel, and door panel upholstery. This spills over to the matching dashboard, center console, and instrument gauges. 

So the Iceni holds the record for diesel-powered speed and the most fuel-efficient supercar, yet time is passing it by. As a novelty, or for hardcore diesel fans, this could be the most impressive diesel-powered vehicle anywhere. So we have to think that interest, and eager buyers, are waiting in the wings. We think.