When little-known supercar->ke177 builder, Vencer->ke4404, started teasing its latest creation, we knew there was something special going on at the Dutch automaker’s offices. The Sarthe remained a well-kept secret from its initial teaser image all the way through its debut in Top Marques Monaco->ke1414, so much so that to date, Vencer hasn’t even released images of it .

Well, we managed to scour around the Interwebz and dig up some images from Top Marques Monaco’s Facebook page. We’re not too sure exactly what to think of what we saw at Top Marques, as the Sarthe->ke4405 is your typical supercar with no real surprises. This could be engineering genius or maybe a complete flop – that decision is ultimately up to those of you with the funds in the bank to buy one.

We already knew what kind of pop the Sarthe would have, as Vencer reveled all of that information pretty early on in the teasing process.

Click past the jump to see all of the images of the Vencer Sarthe.

UPDATE 4/23/2013: The Sarthe officially debuted at the 2013 Top Marques Monaco over the weekend. Some images of the production model made their way onto Facebook, and many of the official details have been revealed. See more after the jump

UPDATE 06/11/13: A new batch of photos of the Vencer Sarthe supercar have been released. Check them out by clicking the gallery!

2013 Vencer Sarthe

Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: 2013 Vencer Sarthe
  • Engine/Motor: V8
  • Horsepower: 510 @ 6000
  • Torque: 480 @ 4700
  • [do not use] Vehicle Model: Array
Pros
Cons

Exterior

To compare the exterior of the production Sarthe to the 2012 concept version is a laughable task. It’s like comparing a toddler’s doodling to a fine piece of artwork; it just isn’t the same. The concept looked cheap and pretty “blah,” for lack of a better term. The production version, on the other hand, remains simple but it is sexy at the same time.

Up front, the Sarthe features fully revised headlights that are slightly sunken with shapely cutouts made from contrasting carbon fiber. The nose features an air intake to help cool off the brakes a little, while whipping the Sarthe around the track, and the fenders are far less bulbous, giving it a cleaner look. The less prominent fenders allow the hood to look more in place than it did in concept form.

Down the sides, the Sarthe retains the basic form of the concept version, but the lower fenders give the side profile a more even look from front to back. From the side, you also get a good look at the standard 20-inch rims with slightly thicker spokes than the concept model. A few things that the Sarthe retained from the concept that we love are the two air intakes in front of the rear wheels and the bodyline that flows down the doors.

Around the backside, the production Sarthe features a set of one-piece taillights and massive oval exhaust exits. Unfortunately, we do not get a good look at the production rump, so we cannot go any deeper on what changed between the concept and production models.

Overall, the Sarthe is a very simple supercar in the traditional fashion, but some of its elements remind you that this is a brand new model. We think Sarthe put a winner on the table for us.

Dimensions

Measurements

Weight

1,390 kg (3,064 pounds)

Weight distribution

45 / 55

Wheelbase

2,791 mm (109.9 inches)

Length

4,515 mm (177.75 inches)

Width

1,984 mm (78.1 inches)

Height

1,190 mm (46.8 inches)

Fuel capacity

55 liters (14.5 gallons)


Interior

Not much in the way of details regarding the Sarthe's interior. The only thing Vencer is telling us is that the cabin will come with a modern, hand-stitched look that includes leather sports seats, an LCD screen located in the middle of the dashboard, and a plethora of standard features, like a climate-control system, in-car entertainment, electric windows, central locking and an alarm.

Performance

Power comes from a mid-mounted V-8 engine that produces 510 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 480 pound-feet of torque at 4,700 rpm of torque. This V-8 powerhouse mates to a six-speed manual transmission with a limited-slip differential. With this setup, the Sarthe can hit 100 km/h (62 mph) in 3.8 seconds with an impressive top speed of 202 mph.

Powertrain

Engine

V-8 mid-engine

Maximum Power

510 / 375 at 6,000 rpm

Maximum Torque

650 / 480 at 4,700 rpm

Gearbox

6-speed Manual gearbox with limited slip differential

Clutch

twin-plate 240 mm (9.44 inches)


Pricing

Pricing for the Sarthe supercar is available upon request but if we're to venture a guess, we're going to estimate that the car retail for about $350,000.

Competition

Audi R8 V10

A 500-horsepower niche exotic with a 0-to-100 km/h (62 mph) time of 3.8 seconds and a 202-mph top speed will stack up rather nicely with a more mainstream supercar, like the Audi R8 V10.

The R8 V10 packs a ton of horsepower, 525 ponies to be exact, and comes in slightly quicker than the Sarthe at 3.6 seconds to 100 km/h (62 mph). Though we don’t have an official price on the Sarthe, our guess of $350,000 puts us well over the R8 V10’s expected price of just shy of $200k. Even the super-fast R8 V10 Plus will likely be significantly cheaper.

Conclusion

The Sarthe looks the part of a supercar and talks the part of a supercar. Heck, it even walks the walk of a supercar. Unfortunately, its anticipated price may put it in a class that many just are not willing to go. With the R8, you get a big brand, available service and a nationwide warranty. The Sarthe cannot offer up any of that, thanks to its exclusivity. But, stay tuned for the official pricing, as that may change our minds.