Wiesmann is back, and this is the new Project Thunderball

Wiesmann is back! Again! News has reached TG that the German carmaker – famous for spinning off delightful riffs from BMW M – is planning a return with a brand new car.

That car is codenamed Project Thunderball, pictured above testing on some ice; a new drop-top sportscar that promises big performance. It’ll be “carefully crafted by many of the team which helped grow this iconic German brand”, we’re told.

No word on powertrain, but the last Wiesmann we heard about was called Project Gecko; that car used BMW’s 4.4-litre turbo V8 as fitted to the current M5. An engine we know is very solid at the weight, as they say (600bhp).

Wiesmann hasn’t yet divulged what engine Thunderball will carry, but considering its back catalogue, and indeed Gecko’s powertrain, an M-derived engine is a good guess. Whatever it packs, it’ll be good to drive, according to boss Roheen Berry.

“Thunderball will continue Wiesmann’s reputation for setting the standard for performance, craftsmanship and sheer enjoyment,” Berry said. “This is the Wiesmann fit for the 21st century, and this is just the beginning.”

We’ll report back with more news on both Projects Gecko and Thunderball as soon as we hear more…