2015 Vencer Sarthe - price and specification

Small-volume Dutch manufacturer finalises specification for its back-to-basics sports car, which features a revised engine and bodywork
Matt Burt
by Matt Burt
18 September 2014

The Vencer Sarthe is a back-to-basics sports car produced in the Netherlands. It costs £250,000, and goes on sale in early 2015.

The first customer cars are already being built at Vencer's actory at Vriezenveen in the east of the Netherlands, following a period of testing and validation with pre-production engineering prototypes.

The mid-engined, rear-drive, two-seater is inspired by Le Mans racing cars from the 1980s and is designed to be free of inhibiting driver aids apart from those required for safety reasons.

Vencer has made more than 100 changes and upgrades to the Sarthe since the pre-production car was revealed by Prince Albert II of Monaco at the Top Marques exhibition in Monaco in 2013.

The Sarthe's 6.3-litre V8 engine is new for the 2015 production car. Vencer has added a supercharger for increased power and torque, as well as immediate throttle response. This engine is now standard for the Vencer Sarthe, whereas the prototype-spec V8 has been discontinued.

Maximum power is now claimed to put at 622bhp at 6500rpm and maximum torque is 618lb ft at 4000rpm. The engine is mated to a six-speed manual gearbox with a limited-slip differential and twin-plate clutch.

A 0-62mph time of 3.6sec has been claimed by the manufacturer, which is 0.2sec quicker than the pre-production version, and the top speed is a claimed 210mph.

The basis of the Sarthe is what Vencer refers to as "a hybrid space frame chassis" made of high-grade tubular steel, with a safety structure and rear subframe made of chrome-molybdenum and an aluminium honeycomb floor structure. Body panels are carbonfibre, contributing to an impressively low weight of 1390kg, with weight distribution slightly biased to the rear at 45:55.

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The Sarthe is 4515mm long, 1984mm wide and 1190mm high, with a 2791mm wheelbase. The car uses double wishbone suspension front and rear.

Notable design features include a quarter-glass design, which is manufactured from clear-coat carbonfibre, and open C-pillars to increase the aerodynamic flow.

Together with the automatic rear spoiler – which rises when the car reaches 62mph – they provide additional down force on the rear axle. The engine cover design and larger side air inlets have been integrated to ensure a greater airflow and cooling to the engine.

The definitive interior adopts a lightweight, minimalist focus. All interior panels are produced in-house out of carbonfibre. A two-tone leather interior with Alcantara inserts comes as standard and is available in a wide range of colour combinations.

Vencer has developed its own digital display, which it calls Central Information System (CIS). Vencer currently has an additional showroom in China and is working to expand its European dealer network. The company can build one car per month.

The Sarthe was seen in pre-production form at Salon Prive in 2013, where its starting price was initially set at £225,000. At the time, company spokesman Lucas Oosterof said production would be limited to ensure collectability and rarity: "We will not be producing in large numbers," he said. Batches of no more than ten cars per year would be produced, said Oosterof, with no more than one batch being made available per year.

Oosterhof said the Sarthe isn't designed as the first car in an enthusiast's collection, but rather as an addition: "This is the third or fourth car for an enthusiast. Customers want something that is unique, and something that doesn't compromise modern comfort."

"The buyer for this car will be an enthusiast who appreciates pure driving pleasure. This isn't a car full of gadgets, we've tried to keep that to a minimum."

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takumiuk

18 September 2014
We'll she's a handsome beast and 200k puts her in some rarefied company. Still keep the numbers small-ish and you've got the exclusivity factor.

The lack of electronic toys means she's in the same market as the Noble which also preaches the F40-esc back to basic's driving experience.

Article doesn't say but who's is the 6.3 V8? I can think of only 2 - GM's LS3 or an AMG lump, both pretty bomb proof. What about the gearbox? Biggest thing with low volume - reliability especially when it's a supercar - all those horses and all that speed then the brakes fail....... ooops.

Norma Smellons

18 September 2014
Dated and anonymous, for a new supercar. Whatever happened to the Keating Bolt? At least that was funny.

Bullfinch

22 September 2014
.

jtwarwick

18 September 2014
How does 622bhp from a supercharged 6.3 litre V8, clear carbon fibre, £213000 etc etc in any sense equate to back to basics?

jt

275not599

18 September 2014
Well, JT, it has a manual, it doesn't have a satnav link that reads the road ahead of you like Denis Jenkinson, and it lacks a starlight roof. But you are right, it has plenty of excess. Wonder if this is my last post as a citizen of the UK? There were some damn fine Scottish drivers; any Scottish cars?

fadyady

18 September 2014
though I can't make any sense of the phrase "back-to-basics" in the context of a sports car that costs quarter of a million, has a 6.3L engine and flies to 62mph in just over 3 seconds. A back-to-basics sports car would be the humble Mazda MX-5.

michael knight

19 September 2014
that back-end is certainly very basic...

JOHN T SHEA

20 September 2014
Scottish cars? Only the Hillman Imp and its variants spring to mind.

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