British company ramps up its Speedback GT
David Brown Automotive, known for creating small batches of exquisitely crafted cars, is adding another offering to its stunning portfolio, calling it the Speedback GT Silverstone Edition.
Based on the British company's gorgeous grand tourer, the Speedback GT, the Silverstone Edition ups the ante and looks to the skies and speedways for inspiration.
It all starts with the name, which comes from the Silverstone Circuit, a racetrack built on a former Royal Air Force bomber station in central England. It's now the site of David Brown's headquarters and factory where its cars are built.
This newly unveiled version gets a 5.0-liter, supercharged V-8 capable of 601 horsepower, 56 foot-pounds of torque and a top speed of 155 mph. It launches the vehicle from zero to 60 mph in 4.2 seconds. A six-speed automatic transmission is standard with no manual option. There's a Sport mode, which gives the car better on-demand performance and immediate throttle response.
The suspension has been track-tuned and offers an advanced “Dynamic” stability-control system, rear differential and performance brakes.
The Speedback's slippery, sexy aluminum body is enhanced with twin auxiliary lamps in the mesh grille - a nod to endurance GT race cars of days gone by. The body-colored side skirts have been extended. There's 20-inch “Afterburner” forged alloy wheels inspired by jet turbines. The quad exhaust tips are also inspired by vintage aviation.
The company says the Speedback Silverstone Edition's paint is applied over an eight-week process in an exclusive “Fly By Night” finish with a “Black Night” fading racing stripe running down the center of the vehicle. There's special badging, too, and all of the exterior brightware is finished in an aircraft-inspired brushed chrome.
Inside the first-class cabin, passengers (only two; there are no back seats) are treated to such niceties as a flat-bottomed Alcantara and leather-trimmed steering wheel, scorched Ebony Macassar wood veneers (which fade from light to dark and house special metal inlays) and embroidered leather floor mats.
The key is special, and just like dashboard controls, is milled from a solid billet of aluminum and chrome plated. The sport seats, covered in a natural grain “Antique leather,” are heated and feature an embroidered logo of the Silverstone track on the headrest.
At the vehicle's rear, the storage compartment can be made on request to house any particular leisure equipment - say, for example, high-end camera gear and lenses.
Just 10 examples will be built (all by hand), and customers can choose right- or left-side drive. Pricing starts at $861,000, plus additional options and taxes, and does include a full three-year manufacturer's warranty.
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