Devon GTX grabs the limelight at Pebble Beach

Okay, it's not the world's sexiest name (luncheon meat comes to mind), but we have to admit the Devon GTX -- a low-volume supercar revealed at this week's Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance in Monterey California -- is a pretty intriguing prospect.

Ambitiously billed by its creators as the "next great American supercar", the GTX is the handiwork of Los Angeles-based industrial design house Devon Motorworks.

Underpinned by modified Dodge Viper mechanicals, the shovel-nosed coupe will go on sale in the US in the first quarter of 2010.

Devon Motorworks plans to produce 36 cars per year at its manufacturing facility in southern California and it'll be priced at... wait for it... $US500,000.

Exactly how the company can justify the exorbitant pricetag (remember, the donor Dodge Viper can be had for just $86K) is open to debate, but there's no doubting it's an eye-catching bit of gear.

The vehicle's bespoke carbonfibre bodyshell is said to be of "aircraft-quality", while the interior features carbonfibre-reinforced racing seats, dual-grained leather surfacing and "tasteful chrome appointments".

Propulsion comes from an upgraded version of the Viper's 8.4-litre V10, with peak power ramped-up to 485kW at 6100rpm. Drive is relayed to the rear tyres (which probably need replacing every few weeks) by a six-speed manual transmission.

While the Devon GTX has yet to hit American public roads, it has reportedly made its mark on two of America's most demanding road courses.

In validation testing earlier this year, the vehicle is claimed to have set production car lap records at both Willow Springs Raceway and Mazda Raceway at Laguna Seca.

"It was not a specific goal to set track records at that stage of validation, but the car outperformed even our aggressive goals," said Devon Motorworks validation and testing leader Justin Bell, a former 24 Hours of Le Mans champion.

"We are looking forward to additional testing, where I'm certain the GTX will eclipse any time we've set to date."

Unique design elements of the car include "up and forward" articulating doors, distinctive body two-tone wheel surrounds and dual centre-rear-exit chrome exhaust ports.

"We set out to design a vehicle that was quintessentially American, both in its shape and in its performance," gushed company CEO Scott Devon. "Standing still, the Devon GTX tells a story of power, handling and beauty."

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