David Brown Automotive

David Brown Automotive Limited
Limited Company
Industry Automotive
Founded 2013
Headquarters Silverstone, England
Products Limited Edition Automobiles
Owner David Brown
Website www.davidbrownautomotive.com/ Edit this on Wikidata
For the English industrialist and owner of Aston Martin, see David Brown (entrepreneur).

David Brown Automotive is a British manufacturer of limited edition automobiles in Silverstone, England, belonging to British businessman David Brown. The company began in Coventry in 2013 and moved to a new 18,000 sq ft dedicated build facility and headquarters in Silverstone in April 2017.

The company announced Speedback GT, its first model, in March 2014 in London.[1] The vehicle's public debut was at the Top Marques show in Monaco on 17 April 2014.[2][3] Despite sharing a similar background in engineering, and the same name as previous owner of Aston Martin, there is no family connection between the two companies.

Mini Remastered, a modern reinterpretation of a classic Mini, is the company's second model, launched in Shoreditch, London on 6th April 2017.[4]

The company showcased Speedback GT at the Geneva International Motor Show in 2017[5], and again in 2018 alongside two examples of Mini Remastered and the newly-launched Speedback Silverstone Edition.[6]

Speedback GT

Speedback GT at Goodwood Revival September 2014
David Brown Automotive Speedback Silverstone Edition, launched at the Geneva International Motor Show 2018

Speedback GT is the first model announced by David Brown Automotive. Launched at the Top Marques Show in Monaco in April 2014, it is a 1960's inspired Grand Tourer, coachbuilt using the highly renowned Jaguar XK all-aluminium platform.[7] The entire car is handcrafted using traditional coachbuilding techniques over a period of 8,000 hours, with the aluminium panels being individually hand-rolled on an English wheel. The price as of April 2018 is £520,000.00 GBP plus local taxes.[8] The company proudly sources its production to British-based suppliers and builds the cars at their new build facility in Silverstone, UK. The company has announced that they will never produce more than 100 Speedback GTs.

Speedback GT was designed by former Jaguar Land Rover designer Alan Mobberley.[9] The bespoke body of each Speedback GT is produced using traditional coach building methods; the aluminium body panels are hand beaten and then rolled over an english wheel. The bucks over which the panels are beaten have been milled out using a 5-axis CNC milling machine from CAD data, obtained from the full-size design clay model.

The powertrain is a 5.0-litre Jaguar AJ-V8 engine generating 510 bhp (380 kW; 517 PS) with a six-speed ZF automatic transmission. It can accelerate 0-to-60-mile-per-hour (0 to 97 km/h) in 4.6 seconds with further performance upgrades available.[10]

At the Geneva International Motor Show in 2017, Speedback GT was showcased in two specifications, one left-hand and one right-hand drive. These full-production specification examples encompassed over 230 engineering and design refinements from the original Speedback GT prototype, including soft-close technology, refined interior and exterior fit and finish and enhanced noise insulation.[11]

Mini Remastered

Mini Remastered at the Geneva International Motor Show 2018
Mini Remastered, Inspired by Monte Carlo at the Geneva International Motor Show 2018

Mini Remastered is the second model by David Brown Automotive, and is a remastering of the original Mini, built between 1958 and 2000. Mini Remastered was launched at a private event in Shoreditch, London in April 2017, and made its world motor show debut on April 20, 2017 at the Top Marques Show in Monaco. [12]

Launched in three specifications, Mini Remastered was showcased in standard form, alongside two limited-production special editions[13]: Mini Remastered, Inspired by Café Racers, taking inspiration from the classic 1950's motorbike movement, and Mini Remastered, Inspired by Monte Carlo, taking inspiration from the racing heritage of the classic Mini on which the cars are based. Both special editions are limited to just 25 examples globally. Mini Remastered, in standard form, is priced from £75,000.00 GBP plus local taxes.[14]

The 1,000 hour process of creating each Mini Remastered begins with an original classic Mini donor vehicle's 1275cc I4 (A-series) engine and gearbox, fully refurbished and enhanced to deliver up to 83 bhp (62 kW; 84 PS). An all-new steel body shell is bespoke-made by British Motor Heritage, which is then coachbuilt and refined by David Brown Automotive. The shell is de-seamed, every panel gap is profiled and panels are welded together for a uniform shape.[15] Every car goes through a rust-proofing electrophoretic deposition 'E-coat' process and a 4-week paint process. Customers are able to develop their own bespoke paint finish, or choose a paint finish developed exclusively for David Brown Automotive already. [16]

Interior technology and connectivity is added to Mini Remastered, including electric power-assisted steering, air conditioning, electric start/stop button, remote central locking, full LED lighting and a 7 inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple® CarPlay®, satellite navigation, 3G, 4G, Bluetooth® and DAB connectivity. [17]

Mini Remastered is available globally in both left-hand and right-hand drive.

Speedback Silverstone Edition

David Brown Automotive Speedback Silverstone Edition, launched at the Geneva International Motor Show 2018

Launched on March 6, 2018[18] at the Geneva International Motor Show, Speedback Silverstone Edition is the third new model from David Brown Automotive.

Strictly limited to 10 examples globally, Speedback Silverstone Edition is a performance-focused version of the company's first model, Speedback GT, and celebrates the company's first anniversary of its move to the new Silverstone build facility and headquarters in April 2017.[19]

Taking design inspiration from classic 1960's racing grand tourers and British jet aircraft of the era, Speedback Silverstone Edition uses the same traditional coachbuilding techniques to craft its bespoke, streamlined hand-rolled aluminium bodywork as Speedback GT, with enhanced performance characteristics from the 5.0-litre Jaguar AJ-V8 engine, developing 601 bhp (448 kW; 609 PS) and 595lb-ft (766 Nm) of torque.[20] Updated rear suspension adds further dynamic handling to the model, over the existing set-up from Speedback GT.[21]

Each of the 10 Speedback Silverstone Edition examples will be built to the same specification, with just left-hand and right-hand drive and 2-seater or 2+2 configuration differences.[22]

A bespoke 'Fly by Night' paint finish, applied over 8 weeks is offered on Speedback Silverstone Edition, with a subtle, fading 'Black Night' painted stripe across the length of the body, while the interior cockpit is trimmed in an exclusive 'Antique' tan leather, with brogueing and fluting to the seats, evocative of the 1960's cars and aircraft that the car is inspired by.[23] Premium Kvadrat Remix fabrics and 'Scorched Ebony Macassar' wood veneers are also specified in the interior. [24]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Wolfcale, James (12 February 2014). "David Brown Automotive is building a new Jaguar-based sports car". Road & Track. Retrieved 12 February 2014.
  2. ↑ Zientek, Henryk (5 April 2014). "David Brown Automotive's Speedback recalls classic Aston Martin DB6". The Huddersfield Daily Examiner. Retrieved 7 April 2014.
  3. ↑ Gibbons, Duncan (17 April 2014). "Look: Gorgeous new supercar built in Coventry makes Monaco debut". Coventry Telegraph. Retrieved 17 April 2014.
  4. ↑ Baker, Erin (2017-04-08). "Mini Remastered: the Sixties icon reimagined by David Brown Automotive". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 2018-08-20.
  5. ↑ "David Brown Automotive Displays Two Speedback GT's at the Geneva Motor Show 2017". International Property & Travel. 2017-03-31. Retrieved 2018-08-20.
  6. ↑ "Speedback Silverstone Edition pays homage to mid-century Aston Martin DB5". Roadshow. 2018-03-06. Retrieved 2018-08-20.
  7. ↑ Rendell, Julian (27 March 2014). "David Brown Automotive Speedback GT sports classic looks, modern performance". Autoweek. Retrieved 27 March 2014.
  8. ↑ "600bhp David Brown Automotive Speedback Silverstone Edition previewed | Autocar". www.autocar.co.uk. Retrieved 2018-08-20.
  9. ↑ Graves, Stephen (11 April 2014). "David Brown Speedback GT is an Aston Martin DB5 for the 21st century". Stuff. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
  10. ↑ Garlitos, Kirby (10 February 2014). "2015 David Brown Automotive Project Judi". Top Speed. Retrieved 12 February 2014.
  11. ↑ Baker, Erin (2017-03-14). "Geneva Motor Show 2017: Aston Martin DB5 reborn as the Speedback GT (yours for £594,000)". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 2018-08-20.
  12. ↑ "Mini Remastered by David Brown to launch at London motor show | Autocar". www.autocar.co.uk. Retrieved 2018-08-20.
  13. ↑ "Mini Remastered by David Brown to launch at London motor show | Autocar". www.autocar.co.uk. Retrieved 2018-08-20.
  14. ↑ "Got £75k for a fresh tiny iconic car? You'll want the Mini Remastered". This is Money. Retrieved 2018-08-20.
  15. ↑ "Insight: the story behind the Mini Remastered | Autocar". www.autocar.co.uk. Retrieved 2018-08-20.
  16. ↑ "Mini Remastered by David Brown Automotive | PistonHeads". www.pistonheads.com. Retrieved 2018-08-20.
  17. ↑ "Insight: the story behind the Mini Remastered | Autocar". www.autocar.co.uk. Retrieved 2018-08-20.
  18. ↑ "Introducing the Speedback Silverstone Edition". 2018-04-08. Retrieved 2018-08-20.
  19. ↑ "David Brown Speedback Silverstone Edition revealed – 593bhp V8-powered GT car". Evo. Retrieved 2018-08-20.
  20. ↑ "David Brown Speedback Silverstone Edition unveiled with 600bhp | Autocar". www.autocar.co.uk. Retrieved 2018-08-20.
  21. ↑ "How to make a modern classic: the DBA Speedback Silverstone Edition". The National. Retrieved 2018-08-20.
  22. ↑ "How to make a modern classic: the DBA Speedback Silverstone Edition". The National. Retrieved 2018-08-20.
  23. ↑ "David Brown Speedback Silverstone Edition". Retrieved 2018-08-20.
  24. ↑ "David Brown Speedback Silverstone Edition". Retrieved 2018-08-20.
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