Currently reading: David Brown Speedback Silverstone Edition unveiled with 600bhp

£744k Silverstone Edition follows 2014’s Speedback GT

David Brown Automotive is using the Geneva show to unveil a new, more powerful edition of its exclusive Speedback GT dubbed the Silverstone Edition and aimed at younger buyers than the traditionally styled original launched in 2014.

The new car, which again incorporates British-sourced, handcrafted materials and trim parts, costs £744,000 in the UK, about £120,000 more than the original Speedback’s starting price. It will be made in an exclusive batch of 10 cars, the same number of original-edition GTs the company has so far delivered.

The power output of the Speedback’s Jaguar-derived 5.0-litre supercharged V8 engine rises from 510bhp to 601bhp, with a similar boost to its peak torque. The car has a sportier suspension tune to boost its credentials as a driver’s car, and it runs on uniquely designed 20in alloys with 255/35 tyres up front and 285/30s at the rear.

The Silverstone Edition is so named both to mark the company’s move a year ago to new premises opposite the main entrance of the Formula 1 circuit, and to recall the famous racing venue’s original role as an RAF base: its unique enamel badge shows both the circuit shape and the runway layout of the original airfield. Like its predecessor, the Silverstone Edition comprises a hand-formed all-aluminium bodyshell and a hand-sewn interior.

Db 1905

It continues to utilise the running gear and aluminium chassis of Jaguar’s defunct XKR sports coupeÃ. Although the Silverstone Edition’s body panels are largely altered, its lack of bumpers, enhanced front spoiler, bigger rear diffuser, extended rocker panels and modernised treatments for the headlights and tail-lights all make the car look quite different, and considerably more modern, than its stablemate.

“We’re aiming the Speedback Silverstone Edition at a new customer,” said company founder David Brown. “Our original car has an easy, timeless form but this one is more performance-oriented and is aimed at a younger audience. But we’ve been careful to maintain its long legs and use-every-day quality. It’s not meant to be a track car.” 

Advertisement

Read our review

Car review

The David Brown Speedback GT, a coachbuilt coupé costing almost £600k, blends modern underpinnings with classic looks

Back to top

Db 1888

COMMENT: Sign of a serious car maker:

David Brown’s ‘cool’ version of his classical Speedback GT shows he’s deadly serious about building a fully fledged car company. The debut of the Silverstone Edition – an even more convincing and professional product than the bold original – shows that his eye is fixed on the future.

A canny deal-maker, Brown knows he’s building cars for people as worldly wise as himself, who require to be convinced that David Brown Automotive is a car-maker with a long-term future. This new model, even more than the Mini Remastered project (which also proceeds apace at the impressive new Silverstone HQ), is just as much a promise of corporate longevity as it is a desirable new supercar. 

Read more 

Aston Martin DB9 review 

Jaguar XK review 

David Brown Speedback GT review 

Steve Cropley

Steve Cropley Autocar
Title: Editor-in-chief

Steve Cropley is the oldest of Autocar’s editorial team, or the most experienced if you want to be polite about it. He joined over 30 years ago, and has driven many cars and interviewed many people in half a century in the business. 

Cropley, who regards himself as the magazine’s “long stop”, has seen many changes since Autocar was a print-only affair, but claims that in such a fast moving environment he has little appetite for looking back. 

He has been surprised and delighted by the generous reception afforded the My Week In Cars podcast he makes with long suffering colleague Matt Prior, and calls it the most enjoyable part of his working week.

Join the debate

Comments
5
Add a comment…
Marc 27 March 2018

...but this is no different

...but this is no different to what a lot of the Italian design houses and coach builders do and they have no issue achieving similar prices.

martin_66 6 March 2018

Ha ha ha ha ha

£744,000 for a copy of an Aston Martin!!!  About £600,000 LESS will buy you the real thing, and a house with a garage to keep it in.

 

80sXS 6 March 2018

aimed at younger buyers

A £744,000 car? Just who are these younger buyers?

Gargae Man 14 March 2018

Broadspeed

Recently in Australia the adult children of Gina Rhienhart(Mining and pastoral Billionaire) all became $1.7billion richer when a family trust was divided up.That's the younger buyer,billionaires in their late 20's and up to late 40's who say "I can buy it no problems" and do.