David Brown Speedback GT

While the thought of creating a new high-powered sports car from scratch initially intrigues us, we admit we’d probably tap out on the whole deal after the third day of meetings on what kind of intake manifold we’d be using.

That’s why David Brown Automotive, a brand new company, deserves an emphatic fist bump. They’ve created the Speedback GT, a 510-hp, 5.0 liter, V8-powered British sports car built on a Jaguar XKR platform that does 0-60 in a very respectable 4.8 seconds, all while looking quite royal. The hand-built aluminum body houses such interior treats as hand-finished British leather, wood and trim materials, and the split tailgate folds out into a picnic seat for those make out moments with your cougar du jour. A $400,000 price tag is attached to this enchanting newcomer to the sports car scene. [Purchase]