Ciprian Florea wrote:Founded in 2010, Vencer announced plans to build its own supercar in 2012. Shown as a concept car the same year, the Vencer Sarthe made its public debut, in a more refined form, at the 2013 Top Marques Monaco. Powered by a naturally aspirated engine rated at 510 horsepower and 480 pound-feet of torque, the Sarthe made quite an impression, and many experts view it as potential threat to the more popular supercars coming from the likes of Ferrari and Lamborghini . However, the Sarthe has yet to hit the streets as a production car as the Dutch took their time to further tweak things. The supercar, which is named after Le Mans’ iconic Circuit de la Sarthe track, appears to be ready to hit the streets for the 2015 model year. Enhanced by numerous updates, including a new engine and an overhauled interior, the production-ready Sarthe is here to give new meaning to the supercar segment.
And by "new meaning" we mean a road-and-track sports car unaltered by driving aids, with a true analogue and mechanical feel very few expensive supercars can deliver nowadays. But is Vencer, basically a brand-new company, capable of sustaining a war against the greatest of the industry? Should Ferrari or Lamborghini fear the electronics-free Sarthe? Read on to find out.
The 2015 Sarthe is largely unchanged when compared to the final prototype showcased in Monaco in 2013, but some new design features have been added for crisper look. The most notable addition is the new quarter glass, which is now finished in clearcoated carbon-fiber and includes an open C-pillar for increased aerodynamic flow.
A slightly revised engine cover replaces the previous piece, with larger side air inlets providing greater airflow and cooling to the new V-8 powerplant. The front apron appears to have been reshaped as well, especially in the splitter area. Other than that, the Sarthe carries over unchanged with its simple and traditional, yet enticing styling.
While the exterior brings only a handful of changes, the Sarthe’s interior is brand new for the 2015. Unfortunately, the Dutch automaker has yet to release photos as of 09/22/2014, so we’re going to have to trust their claims until further notice. The only details we know thus far is that all the interior panels are made out of carbon-fiber and that the standard cabin is wrapped in two-tone leather with Alcantara inserts. Like most bespoke automakers, Vencer offers "virtually unlimited" color combinations for the hide covering everything from the seats to the door panes and dashboard.
On the tech side, the 2015 Sarthe comes with its own infotainment system. The new system, called Vencer CIS, is described as a "concise multitasking digital display" that provides all the important information drivers may need. Judging by the no-nonsense character of this supercar, we figure the CIS doesn’t provide more than essential performance data such as speed, acceleration or fuel consumption.
Vencer developed a brand-new engine for the 2015 model year. Whereas the model introduced as the 2013 Top Marques Monaco has 510 horsepower and 480 pound-feet of torque coming from a V-8 engine, the 2015 Sarthe benefits from a whopping 622 ponies and 6,500 rpm and 618 pound-feet at 4,000 rpm.
The added output comes by means of a supercharger, which does not only help the 6.3-liter V-8 deliver 480 pound-feet of twist from only 1,500 rpm, but also increases the driveability of the supercar. Although the automaker makes no mention of the vehicle’s transmission but it’s safe to assume the engine mates to a slightly tweaked version of the company’s six-speed manual with limited-slip differential.
The combo enables the Sarthe to hit 60 mph from a standing start in about 3.6 seconds,while reaching a top speed of 210 mph. Not exactly amazing when compared to the McLaren P1, but good enough for Vencer’s first venture into the market.
Other changes from the initial, prototype-like Sarthe include an engine mounted deeper into the chassis. The feat ensures the supercar has a lower center of gravity and high lateral acceleration.
The 2015 Sarthe’s full carbon-fiber body rides on a lightweight, chrome-molybdenum chassis with honeycomb structure. Albeit modern, the underpinnings do not include computerized driving aids, mirroring Vencer’s quest to deliver a mechanical feel inspired by 1980s race cars. Details are limited as of this writing, but Vencer says it has optimized the suspension for road use, making the Sarthe "surprisingly usable in everyday road situations." Customers looking for an even more comfortable ride have the option to equip their supercars with a four-wheel hydraulic lift system.
The hand-built 2015 Sarthe retails from €270,882 ($347,826 as of 09/22/2014) excluding taxes. For now, the supercar is only available in Europe and China, where Vencer has recently opened a showroom, but we expect the expansion to include the United States too at some point.
http://www.topspeed.com/cars/vencer/201 ... 65415.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
