Mystery new luxury British sportscar planned

The name David Brown is famously associated with Aston Martin, as the company was once owned by a British entrepreneur who is now immortalised in a series of “DB” model lines, including James Bond’s favourite DB5 and the current DB9.

We digress. Now another David Brown is hoping to make his mark – or should that be marque – on the British luxury motoring scene by launching an all-new David Brown Automotive brand in April 2014. Which will then produce a modernised vision of a classic British sports car.

On Bing: see pictures of David Brown Automotive

Find out how much a used Aston Martin costs on Auto Trader

Details are scarce at this stage, but this David Brown is a “successful British businessman and car enthusiast”, and he’s employed a crack team – including Alan Mobberley, who was chief designer at Land Rover for 19 years.

The actual engineering is being undertaken by Envisage Group, a Coventry-based total solutions firm with experience in sectors ranging from automotive to marine, rail, aerospace and defence.

The idea is to “refresh the classic British sportscar for the 21st Century” – so we’re looking at more of a rival to Morgan or Eagle (builders of sublime modernised E-Types) than Bentley or Aston.

We’re also told in no uncertain terms that it will NOT be “an update of any existing model”.

Instead, “a completely original exterior and interior design” has been commissioned, and will be built using “bespoke British suppliers for interior trim and materials”.

The new car has also been “thoroughly engineered for low volume production, combining the latest manufacturing techniques with traditional craftsmanship.”

So, it certainly sounds very intriguing. Note that there is yet no mention of the engine or the chassis, so it could be a re-engineered version of an existing car – along the lines of the Lyonheart Jaguar Envisage has also been involved with.

Regardless, David Brown Automotive’s new car is codenamed “Project Judi” – as in Dench? we’re not sure – and all will be revealed in April.

David Brown:

“I wanted all the impact and style of a classic sportscar, but with modern capabilities and conveniences. This is what I want in a car, but it’s not something anyone really offers. So I’ve created it myself.

“I thought that if I’m looking for this, others might be too.”

On Bing: see pictures of Eagle E-types

On Bing: see pictures of the Lyonheart Jaguar

Read an Aston Martin review on MSN Cars

On Bing: see pictures of David Brown Automotive

Find out how much a used Aston Martin costs on Auto Trader

By motoringresearch.com