d56tuye

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BELOW New body panels are
3D CAD designed for precision
conveniences too, the wipers being auto activated,
while the rear-view mirror is auto dimming.
The inherent rightness that’s obvious inside is
carried over to the road. Turning the key to start
it has the 4.0-litre fire quickly, and it’s not quiet in
signalling its intent. There’s a switchable, completely
bespoke quad exhaust, it generating the right timbre
at idle and a cruise, and building to a rousing roar
when you start revelling in the upper limits of the
engine’s speed. For a flat-six with a specification
that reads like that of a race engine, it’s surprisingly
happy to hustle with the vagaries of modern traffic
– it’s driveable and tractable at low revs, there’s no
recalcitrance or flat spots, the response is immediate
and linear, and the performance is never anything
less than ample.
The lack of mass helps here: Hawley claims
they’ve dropped the best part of 400kg off the DIN
weight of a 964 Carrera, which is a huge number.
That puts it at just under a tonne, which makes
for a relatively easy power-to-weight calculation.
Not that you need to be doing mental arithmetic
to understand that the Theon is quick, the engine’s
keenness to rev, its immediacy of response and the
corresponding increase in pace that comes with it
being in the alarming, but hugely fun, category.
With this car’s eventual home being Germany,
Hawley says that the owner asked for a longer
ratio to be put in fifth, that enough to give this car
a theoretical 186mph (or a nice, round Germanic
300km/h) top speed, and there’s no reason to doubt
it. The engine might dominate, as you’d expect, but
it’s not so front of house as to completely obliterate
the rest of the driving experience. Indeed, far from
it, the chassis shining just as brightly, the suspension
managing a balance of fine, taut control, and with
enough compliance to keep it comfortable, even on
our less-than-perfect roads.
It’ll be even better in Germany, where the tarmac’s
a bit better looked after. Respectful that it’s still not
been delivered to its owner and the fact we’re on
public roads, there’s little opportunity to push it too
hard, but the balance and control at road speeds
underlines a nicely sorted chassis which, allied to the
abundant contact patch on offer from the 335 section
rear and 255 front Michelins, means it’s not short of
grip or traction. There’s delicacy there, the steering
light and loaded in detail, the brakes strong and
offering plenty of feel through the pedal. The clutch
is heavy in comparison and it lacks a rest, the owner
likely to simply put their foot on the painted section
to the left of it. Even though I’m assured there’s
paint protection film on it, I couldn’t bring myself
to do so. The gearshift the clutch allows is light and
positive, but if it were me, I’d want a shorter throw
for even more rapid-fire shifts to facilitate exploring
the engine’s keenness for its redline and the addictive
rush and sound that comes with it.
Standing looking at it while Cusick points his
camera at it once more, I’m struck again that it’s been
built by a firm that’s only been in existence for two
years. That’s genuinely incredible – the execution of
the finish, as well as the drive, is right up with and
indeed bettering some of its established competition.
There’s real substance to it, and the quality is obvious
throughout. This is a 911 that while fundamentally
identical in overall concept to many others, is built
with differing principles and techniques. The result is
tangibly, refreshingly and appealingly distinct which,
if you’re creating your own, bespoke car, is something
that’s certain to appeal, particularly at this rarefied
end of the marketplace.
Total 911 verdict
There’s no shortage of specialists out
there who’ll build you the 911 you want,
but Theon’s approach differs slightly from
the norm to create something that while
familiar, is also different. Convincingly so too,
the focus on design elevates this car into
a sphere that’s beyond many conventional
rivals, which is a sizeable element of its
appeal. That Theon has managed to build
this car, through a prototype car to this
production customer car in just two years, is
genuinely difficult to comprehend.
LIKES
• Incredible attention to detail and
faithful, considerate appreciation of
the base car but tastefully and cleverly
updated and improved.
DISLIKES
• That attention to detail isn’t cheap.
We’re not great fans of the exterior
mirrors, though appreciate these could
be changed. A lighter clutch and a
shorter shift (with a leather knob) would
improve the drive further too.