David Brown Automotive (not to be confused with the other Aston-affiliated David Brown) took the wraps off the Speedback GT Silverstone Edition at the Geneva auto show this week. The Aston-styled Speedback debuted back in 2015, remixing classic British design themes into a relatively spacious two-door grand tourer and adding 5.0-liter supercharged V8 power coupled with a six-speed automatic, good for 503 hp and 461 lb-ft of torque.
We drove “the original” Speedback GT, as it were, back in 2015 when one of the Speedbacks was brought to California for Monterey Car Week, and found the 503-hp output to be plenty to get the car moving. In fact, being a handmade affair, with each car built to order, David Brown Automotive can play with the power output as desired by the buyer.
The Speedback GT Silverstone Edition revealed this week in Geneva definitely dials the power up: This version is tuned to 601 hp and 565 lb-ft of torque, good for 4.2-second sprints from 0-60 mph and an electronically limited top speed of 155 mph. A six-speed automatic transmission still does the shifting, sending all those horses to the rear wheels. The Silverstone Edition also features an upgraded suspension system aimed at improving handling and comfort, as well as an automated Dynamic Stability Control system.
The Silverstone Edition of the Speedback GT has been tuned to churn out 601 hp and 565 lb-ft of torque.
“Ever since David Brown Automotive relocated to Silverstone, we have wanted to mark the significance of the circuit’s aeronautical and motorsport heritage,” said David Brown, company founder and CEO. “Speedback Silverstone Edition addresses our ambition on every level, as a visually stunning Grand Tourer and the most performance-focused model we have ever made.”
The Silverstone Edition, which will be limited to just 10 cars, will also wear unique alloy wheels and a mesh grille with integrated lights. Inside, the seats will feature a stylized Silverstone Circuit outline embroidered into the leather.
“We have developed Speedback Silverstone Edition to appeal to a new customer; the driver who wants the very best in performance at all times, but still wants to retain usability and drivability in an exclusive model which still offers both comfort and luxury. The David Brown Automotive DNA is clear to see again, building on the success of Speedback GT and Mini Remastered models, while our inspiration from the heritage of the Silverstone Circuit shapes this new model as a classically-inspired performance Grand Tourer for the modern market.”
Given the fact that this is a special edition, the starting price will run a not-insignificant 100,000 British pounds north of the price of the regular Speedback GT, which starts at a breathtaking $722,000. In other words, the Silverstone Edition will start around $860,000, before any special equipment or options. Or taxes.
Needless to say, the Speedback GT and its economics live in their own category, a category occupied for years by the Bristol Blenheim. As we noted back in 2015 when we drove one of the first Speedbacks, the exterior, and really the whole concept of such an automobile, is a love-it-or-hate-it proposition. We just hope there will be some upside down the road, a decade or so out, because even those who love it today at some point will have to contend with the fact that it’s something very expensive, and also very “retro” in the same way a 2002 Ford Thunderbird or Chrysler PT Cruiser is retro, while trying to look like a classic Aston Martin.
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