Autoblog

VIDEO: Devon GTX on Laguna Seca

Jonny Lieberman — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 15:22:00 EST

Devon GTX - click above to watch the video

Over the weekend, we caught a glimpse of the new Devon GTX supercar running around Laguna Seca, and by all accounts, it looked pretty good. Details are still a little bit sparse, but because of the GTX's debut this past weekend, we know a bit more about it. For instance, under the carbon fiber hood is most definitely an 8.4-liter Dodge Viper V10 kicking out 650 horsepower at 6,100 rpm. No word on torque, but we'll just go on and assume it's copious. All that twisting and all those horses get routed through a six-speed manual on their way to the mega-fat rear wheels (19"x13"). That's a pretty potent $500,000 cocktail.

As we reported, the Devon GTX put its attributes to good use and set a Laguna Seca lap time "record" of 1.35.075. Piloting a track-focused version of the next American supercar to this very quick time was Justin Bell, son of Le Mans legend Derek Bell and one helluva driver in his own right.

Well guess what? Devon went ahead and created a very fancy video of Justin's lap. For our tastes, it's a little bit short. We would have liked less time spent on Bell putting on his racing suit and more time focusing on the GTX accelerating into turns 9 and 10, the two biggies after the Corkscrew. Maybe this is just a preview? Regardless, the two-and-a-half minute clip is well worth your time. High-res gallery below, full video after the jump.

Gallery: Monterey 2009: 2010 Devon GTX

[Source: Devon via YouTube]

Continue reading VIDEO: Devon GTX on Laguna Seca

VIDEO: Devon GTX on Laguna Seca originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 17 Aug 2009 15:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Monterey 2009: Fisker Karma, Devon GTX lap Laguna Seca

Drew Phillips — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 11:31:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Hybrid, Performance, Fisker, Electric

Devon GTX and Fisker Karma take to the track at Laguna Seca - Click above for a high-res image gallery

In addition to the eight classes of vintage racecars that took to the track at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca on Saturday, spectators were also treated to a duo of special vehicles. The first was the 2010 Fisker Karma, which made its official driving debut (even though we saw it driving the day before at Concorso Italiano). We almost missed it since we couldn't hear it coming and it only did one lap, but fortunately we were able to grab a few photos. The next was the Devon GTX, which set a blistering lap time of 1:35.075 at MRLS just a few days earlier. After wowing the crowds, the GTX was loaded on a trailer and transported to Pebble Beach for its official debut. Our action photos of both cars can be found in the gallery below.

Gallery: Devon GTX and Fisker Karma on Track

Monterey 2009: Fisker Karma, Devon GTX lap Laguna Seca originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 16 Aug 2009 11:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Monterey 2009: 2010 Devon GTX

Damon Lavrinc — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 20:51:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Misc. Auto Shows, Specialty

2010 Devon GTX - Click above for a high-res image gallery

After speculation, spy shots and renderings, the 2010 Devon GTX finally made its debut on the 18th hole of Pebble Beach, with the hope of ushering in a new era of American supercar dominance.

The California-based design studio and upstart automaker created the GTX as an American answer to the ultra-exclusive sports cars hailing from Europe. Housed within the steel structure and carbon fiber body lies an 8.4-liter V10 putting 650 hp (at 6,100 rpm) to the rear wheels through a six-speed manual gearbox.

When the GTX goes on sale early next year, the coupe will be available in two flavors - a standard version and a more track-focused variant - each equipped with a fully independent suspension (a real-time damping and ride-height adjustment system will be available in late 2010), obscured by 18x10-inch (front) and 19x13-inch (rear) wheels (19s and 20s are an available upgrade), wrapped in Z-rated Michelin Pilot Sport 2 rubber. Six piston brakes clamp onto 380mm discs in front, while four piston calipers grapple with 355mm rotors in the rear.

Devon plans to produce 36 cars each year, carrying a price tag of $500,000, with a racing package commanding another $25,000. Get all the details in the press release below the fold, and check out both galleries of the GTX below.

Gallery: Monterey 2009: 2010 Devon GTX

Gallery: 2010 Devon GTX

Continue reading Monterey 2009: 2010 Devon GTX

Monterey 2009: 2010 Devon GTX originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 15 Aug 2009 20:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spy Shots: Devon GTX chasing the production car 'Ring record

Jonny Lieberman — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 15:58:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Coupe, Performance

Why it was just last week that we talked about the Devon GTX "setting" the one lap "record" at Laguna Seca. We actually got on the horn and called Devon, ~~begging~~ asking for a detail or two about the GTX's upcoming reveal at Pebble Beach in just four short days (August 15). All we could get out of 'em is that yes, the GTX has a V10 under its hood -- and that was all they'd say. "Everything will be revealed" come Pebble Beach. Oh yeah?

Spy photographers working for Autocar caught some nice shots of the GTX at -- you guessed it -- the Nurburgring. According to the Brit pub, Devon is going after the production Nurburgring time (6:55) currently held by the Radical SR8 (which hardly qualifies as a "production car," but whatevs). Our British friends also speculate that the GTX has an all carbon fiber body to keep its weight low, low, low. Also: Justin Bell, son of five-time Le Mans winner Derek Bell, was at the wheel for the 'Ring attempt. We believe that last part 100% as Devon told us Justin was the driver for the Laguna Seca "record."

Obvioulsy, it's not August 15 yet but it's safe to assume a big part of the GTX's launch is going to be how it did on the Nurburgring. As Tom Leykis says, "Do you care?" Either way, that's marketing for you.

One more little point: As we learned last week, the GTX's one lap Laguna Seca time was one tenth of a second faster than the Dodge Viper ACR. Laguna Seca is two miles long, the Nordschleife section of the Nurburgring is fourteen miles long. Taking all the other variables off the table and the GTX could run the 'Ring about half a second quicker than the Viper ACR. To refresh your memory banks, the Viper ACR did the deed in 7:22, and the GTX is chasing 6:55.

[Source: Autocar]

Spy Shots: Devon GTX chasing the production car 'Ring record originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 11 Aug 2009 15:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Devon GTX sets one-lap "record" at Laguna Seca

Jonny Lieberman — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 10:28:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Etc., Misc. Auto Shows

Devon GTX - Click above for high-res image gallery

The last time I brought up the fallacy of purchasing a car (or even being a fan one one) based off a "lap record," I was called a pimp and much worse. Luckily, my skin is rhino-thick - so here's me doing it again. But first, let's talk about the car claiming to be the new King of the Corkscrew, the Devon GTX. Well, we know very little. It's been speculated that the GTX is powered by Viper, meaning there's an 8.4-liter V10 beating under its presumably carbon fiber skin. Word overheard on the street is that the serpent heart has been reworked to spit out 650 horsepower, 50 more venomous ponies than stock. And that's all anyone knows. Maybe.

What we do know is that Southern California-based industrial design haus Devon Motorworks is claiming that its new car - the "next American Supercar" - just set a "production car" one-lap record around the fabled Lagauna Seca race track. Time? 1:35.075. Having driven Laguna Seca once or twice my own self - came very close to setting the all time slowest lap, thank you - that's quite a fast time. But... to quote (once more) Jack Baruth, "Lap times set on different days, under different conditions, simply aren't comparable. It's that simple. Some days are hot, some days are cool, some days there's rubber on the track, some days there's oil. The same competent driver, in the same car, might have a fifteen-second variation from one 'Ring session to the next."

Obviously, the Nurburgring is much longer than Laguna Seca - 14 miles versus two. Even still, if you divide Jack's fifteen-second variation by seven you get a bit more than two seconds, i.e. a lifetime on a racetrack. Cut that time differential in half and you're still talking over a second per lap, just based on environmental factors. For comparison's sake, a 2008 Dodge Viper SRT10 ACR lapped Laguna in 1.35.117. Is the more powerful Devon GTX only one tenth of a second quicker than the big Dodge around a two-mile track? Couldn't the wind account for that much time? Or a few birds flapping their wings? A larger point (also brought up by Jack) is that this particular lap attempt was closed to the public and (presumably) conducted by Devon. Without calling the results meaningless, we would like to point out that the brand new Autoblog Track-a-Tack-a-Kuh GTR3X just lapped Laguna in 1:35:065. What, you won't take our word for it?

Regardless of your feelings (or ours) regarding the Devon GTX, it will be making its debut next weekend at Pebble Beach. Cars should be available for public consumption come quarter one of 2010. Full press release after the jump.

Gallery: Devon Motor Works GTX renderings

[Source: Devon Motorworks]

Continue reading Devon GTX sets one-lap "record" at Laguna Seca

Devon GTX sets one-lap "record" at Laguna Seca originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 07 Aug 2009 10:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spy Shots: First-ever in-the-fiber shots of Devon GTX supercar emerge

Chris Paukert — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 13:40:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Coupe, Videos, Supercars, Misc. Auto Shows

Brenda Priddy's long-lens outfit has captured the first shots off the Devon Motor Works GTX supercar during aerodynamics testing.

The butterfly-doored coupe looks very promising in bare carbon fiber, as is word that the prototype was spotted at Willow Springs raceway with British Le Mans champion Justin Bell behind the wheel for testing duties.

This GTX mule certainly has some interesting details to it, including the aforementioned up-and-forward doors, as well as a U-shaped vented hood, center-exit exhaust, a big (and likely temporary) adjustable wing, and funky contrasting fender treatments which may or may not see production.

It isn't altogether clear what engine will be powering this beastie, but Priddy's people reportedly overheard the engineers talking of extracting 650 horsepower out of the drivetrain. California-based Devon, you may recall, was the sole bidder Chrysler reported for its Viper franchise, and it's certainly conceivable that despite the failed bid attempt, the car seen here would still feature a certain 8.4-liter V10 underhood. Indeed, given that Devon continues to tout its creation as "America's next great supercar," that scenario seems rather likely.

The GTX is slated to make its first appearance at next month's Pebble Beach Concours D'Elegance (we'll be sure to grab some live photos), and the coupe is tipped to go on sale in the U.S. first in 2010, with other markets to follow. Check out the gallery of renderings below as well as a video of the teasers after the jump.

Gallery: Devon Motor Works GTX renderings

[Source: The Detroit Bureau]

Continue reading Spy Shots: First-ever in-the-fiber shots of Devon GTX supercar emerge

Spy Shots: First-ever in-the-fiber shots of Devon GTX supercar emerge originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 04 Jul 2009 13:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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John Herlitz, designer of '70 Barracuda, '71 GTX, dead at 65

Chris Tutor — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 10:32:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Dodge

John Herlitz packed a lot of memorable MOPAR into his 35 years with Chrysler. He graduated from college and started with the company as a designer in 1965. In just three years, Herlitz became manager of the Plymouth Intermediate Car Studio and didn't waste much time making his mark on the lineup.

Best known for his redesign of the 1970 Barracuda and 1971 GTX, Herlitz went on to work on several well-known concept cars, including the '97 Copperhead (above right).

Upon the announcement of Herlitz's retirement in 2001, Tom Gale, then executive vice president of Chrysler Product Development, said, "John Herlitz has made a tremendous contribution to DaimlerChrysler, and we will miss him personally and professionally. John's design signature has been seen on Chrysler branded vehicles from 1968. He has a true passion for cars and vehicle design that is unparalleled in the industry."

Herlitz died Wednesday at 65.

[Source: Automotive News (subscription required)]

John Herlitz, designer of '70 Barracuda, '71 GTX, dead at 65 originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 30 Mar 2008 10:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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