Michelotti was again approached for styling, and he came up with a car that used almost all body panels from the Herald, combined with a new front end with a slanted 4-headlamp design.

The gearbox was strengthened and upgraded to closer (more sporting) gear ratios, and also offered with optional Laycock De Normanville 'D-type' overdrive with a 20% higher ratio for the top gear (the equivalent change from 3rd to 4th in a standard transmission), giving for more relaxed and economical cruising.

The rear axle was changed to a slightly uprated differential, but retaining the same 4.11:1 ratio and flange sizes as the Herald.

Front disc brakes were standard as were larger rear brake drums, and the Herald fuel tank was enlarged, retaining the reserve feature (essentially a curved pickup pipe that could be rotated to dip into the last few centimeters of fuel) of the smaller Herald tank.

The dash and instrument panel of the earliest Vitesse was the same as the Herald, with a single speedometer dial featuring fuel and temperature gauge insets.

A handful of Vitesse estates also were assembled to special order at Standard-Triumph's Service Depot at Park Royal in West London.

The car received initial praise for its performance, fuel economy, interior and tight turning circle.

Due to its high retail price and competition from cars such as Ford's new Mustang, only 679 were sold before it was withdrawn from the market.

There was a satin silver anodized aluminium-alloy cowling above the new reversing light, and badges on the side of the bonnet and in the centre of the grille read 2 litre.

For the Mark 2, Triumph focused on improvements to the rear suspension by fitting new lower wishbones and Rotoflex half-shaft couplings.

The solid swing axles of the Herald and earlier Vitesses had camber changes of some 15 degrees from the limits of travel.

By adding the lower wishbone and the divided drive shaft whilst retaining the transverse leaf spring as the top link, this camber change was reduced to about 5 degrees.

The exterior featured a new grille with 3 sets of horizontal elements that were also used (in longer form) in the Herald 13/60, Rostyle wheel trims and silver painted steel rear panel (described by Triumph as "ceramic").

The interior was upgraded once more in order to share parts with the new Herald 13/60, though the Vitesse included a tachometer and larger ashtray.