The new kid on the block when it comes to track toys
is from The Netherlands and it’s called Silvermine. The 11 Sports Racer wants
to serve as a viable alternative to the more established names in this segment
such as Lotus, Caterham, Ariel, and KTM – just to name a few. It has been in
development for several years and it will be unveiled in final production guise
on June 29 at the Concours d'Élégance Apeldoorn.
Limited strictly to five cars, the 11 SR will be
built to order and is going to carry an exorbitant starting price of € 250,000,
which works out to US$ 287,953 at current exchange rates. To put that number into
perspective, a Lamborghini Huracan Performante kicks off from US$ 274,390.
The two-seater Silvermine 11 SR is built by
hand and uses components obtained from renowned suppliers from the exciting
world of motorsports. The bits and pieces have been specifically designed for
the track-focused machine and it will take between six to nine months to
assemble a car and have it delivered to its rightful owner.
At the core of the 11 SR are an aluminum / Nomex
honeycomb central frame and a six-cylinder 3.0-liter engine developing 325
horsepower. Silvermine is also selling a more road-oriented “Street” version
with 225 hp and a five-speed syncromesh transmission instead of the track car’s
sequential six-speed ‘box. But it’s the more focused version you’d rather have,
complete with a limited-slip differential, adjustable suspension, quick-release
steering wheel, and race-spec adjustable dampers.
The Sports Racer rides on 17-inch center-locking
wheels and uses motorsport-derived brakes, while the low curb weight is granted
by a carbon fiber body. Other goodies worth mentioning include the aerodynamic
package, a launch control function, and race seats with six-point safety
harness.
The more docile Street model sits 50 mm higher and uses a composite body, which according to
Silvermine can be personalized according to the owner’s tastes. It features
smaller 16-inch center-locking alloys and has softer springs to make it more
enjoyable on a normal road.
Time will tell whether the 11 SR with its retro
design will generate enough interest to make the project feasible in a niche
market in which customers already have quite a few options to pick from.
