2010 Devon GTX would have the same power-to-weight ratio as the Ferrari Enzo with 650 horsepower propelling its 3,000 pounds, but the actual benchmark, we would later learn, was the Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano.The 2010 Devon GTX emulates the coachwork you might see coming out of the great Italian design houses. That could be because Paulin is Swedish, and Scandinavians know a little something about curvy bodies. The shape is an odd blend of Euro panache with American muscle that somehow works really well in person.
2010 Devon GTX is more of a super GT than an all-out supercar. That it happens to offer performance on par with those track-oriented supercars is almost an afterthought. In that way, it’s a bit like the Bugatti Veyron – a visually polarizing bit of design that happens to be blindingly fast. The overall look is striking and sophisticated, with unique cues that help differentiate it from the pack. Although individual elements can be picked apart, the overall package is modern and tasteful and successfully translates Paulin’s personal dream car sketches into reality. These were sketches he did while working at Ford of Europe, doodles he did while designing the C-Max among other things.
The interior continues the theme with modern touches on a classic and tasteful design. It has a certain retro feel with simple aluminum surrounds breaking up the dark leather fields. The leather-swathed carbon-fiber seats are splendid and wouldn’t look out of place in a museum. The McIntosh stereo system is a great touch too, but we think the 200-pound(!) amp behind the seats should be jettisoned as part of the race package.
The steering wheel and LCD gauge cluster have garnered their fair share of criticism, but they are just for these pre-production prototypes, as the cars needed something to fulfill those duties during testing. While the final design of these features hasn’t been nailed down, the rest of the interior packaging suggests that the Devon team will choose wisely. Naturally, we took the opportunity to lobby for proper analog gauges and got sage nods in return. The iPhone-like black console is also slated for a makeover, but one thing that will definitely stay is that big, meaty shifter.
The McLaren F1 leaps to mind. And let’s be honest, it seems you need to have some kind of non-traditional doors these days if you want to get noticed in the crowded field of exotics. They go a long way toward separating this from off-the-rack sports cars like a Corvette or a Viper. They aren’t very practical, however.
2010 Devon GTX engine gets a bump from 600 hp to 650, and curb weight drops to around 3,000 pounds thanks in large part to the totally carbon fiber superstructure. About that – the quality of the carbon fiber work is amazing. That superstructure eliminates any of the squeaks and rattles that you’d find in a Viper and makes the car feel more like a Mercedes SLR McLaren than anything else. It might be too soon to suggest the SLR (or upcoming SLS) as a direct competitor, but that’s how good this car feels. The structure feels so stiff but the suspension keeps the ride from being too harsh. And this was in the car with the standard suspension, not the new one being developed with help from the military.
2010 Devon GTX is set to start in March of next year with an MSRP of $500,000. That’s a lot of coin for an unproven name, but we think they have a pretty good chance at success. The workmanship looks top notch, the performance should put the GTX in the same league as cars costing at least as much, and they only plan to move 36 cars a year. That’s fewer cars than Bugatti produces annually. The company has already had serious inquiries from a number of interested customers, including professional athletes and celebrities, and we suppose many more will join the list when the car gets fully sorted and returns to the track. Even though it doesn’t quite match the luxury and sophistication of the benchmark Ferrari 599 at this point, it does have a lot of unique features, including bold and elegant styling, world-class performance and the appeal of being All-American.
via Autoblog
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