Bucket Seat: Ferrari F80

The global reveal of Ferrari's latest hypercar, the F80 took place yesterday and while it doesn't pack an Italian bred V12 like its predecessors, the performance figures are just staggering to see what this car does with a 3.0L V6-Hybrid. It's the most powerful road car to leave the gates at Maranello, pushing out 1200bhp and achieving a 0-200km/h time of just 5.75 seconds! This is all thanks to the 120 degree mounted V6 engine and MGU-K Electric Motor. This motor is the first unit developed, tested and manufactured entirely by Ferrari in Maranello. The car features a host of aerodynamic characteristics, most notably the S-Duct which is formed by the carbon fibre front bonnet consisting of a fixed element connecting the two front wings. Inside this feature are two flaps following the main profile to complete the triplane wing configuration with curvatures and blower slots clearly inspired by the 499P LeMans car. This along with the active aero wing takes the F80 to the perfect aerodynamic balance achieving 1050kg of downforce to keep the car firmly rooted to the ground. Base price on the F80 is set to be around $4 million and being in the hypercar category, there probably is an invite only list to buy this one. 

Bucket Seat: Alfa Romeo Stelvio Q4 Veloce

With anything Italian, there is always a lot of passion involved, from their food, to their music and obviously their cars. Having flirted with a few brands in the past, I finally got my chance to sample something from the much loved Alfa Romeo stable. The brand has always been spoken off with great enthusiasm by many, as it offered the performance side of Italian motoring at a price that was reachable to the general public, unlike the super car brands of Ferrari, Lamborghini and Maserati. The GTV6 still holds a cult status in this country with many who owned in the 70's having the pleasure of enjoying one of the best performance hatchbacks of its time. The company however took a dip in the 90's and early 2000's with dribs and drabs coming out from Cassino with only a few models to speak off that really inspired the purist. However in the past 5-6 years, Alfa has been revitalizing its stance in the market with some excited models like the Giulia sedan and the introduction of their SUV range starting with the Stelvio and most recently the Tonale. With the global shift to SUV's, the market is primed for these products from the Italian company as it offers the consumer something different to what is coming out of Germany, Korea and China. I spent a couple days with the Stelvio Q4 Veloce and even if I had it for a week, it wouldn't have had enough time with it as you will find out in my review of it below. 

DESIGN

The design of the Stelvio is eye catching to say the least, it follows the Alfa design language with the focal point being the triangular grille at the front with everything else sort of emanating from that. The bug eye styled headlights house the LED daytime running lights and main headlamps. The bottom part of the front bumper has dual air intakes with a honeycomb grille giving the front end a sporty look. The profile of the car is curvy with large wheel arches housing the wheels with a black trim around the edges. the roof line is coupe inspired but with a gradual gradient rather than a acute angle, the bulk curves from the wheel arches tie around to the rear of the car which has the rear lights housed in a triangle shape mold with LED outer lights. The large 20-inch alloy wheels design is synonymous with Alfa heritage as they have had similar designs on popular models in the past. The details in the design is subtle but add to the charm and charisma of the Stelvio. 

PERFORMANCE

The Stelvio is powered by a 2.0-liter Petrol Turbo engine forged in that aluminium block which is light weight, high performance and efficient. Power output on it is 206kW and 400Nm which is more than decent for a car this size. The motor is controlled via a ZF 8-speed automatic transmission which Alfa say "optimises their response in terms of fluidity, comfort, performance and efficiency", all I know it kicks ass. It also has large racing style padels behind the steering wheel to give you that sporty feel when driving. The driving feel of this car feels more of a performance hatch than a medium to large SUV. When people asked me to describe the on road driving dynamics of the Stelvio, it was difficult to put into words as it is a very emotional experience, I know this review is sounding weird but when you get behind the wheel of this car, you will understand what I am saying. The various driving modes on the dna settings dial gives off a cool animation on the infotainment screen when selected. All the emotions are good,  but more so the "a" which is the sport mode, this one awakens different senses and captivates you in every drive and makes you want to drive it more. While it was parked off, all I could think of was the next time I could drive it, I even took unnecessary longer routes home or to work just so I could drive the car more. 

COMFORT

The Stelvio could have the most bland interior in the world and it wouldn't make a difference to me because that is how much I enjoyed the drive of it but these are Italians we talking about, obviously the interior is going to be "Gucci". The full black cabin had a good mixture of leather and high quality plastic, the styling was that of a sports car rather than a family SUV with the sporty style 3-spoke steering wheel with ignition button located on it, very Ferrari-esque. Another sporty design detail is the huge aluminium paddle shifts behind the steering wheel, really gives you a racing type of feel when driving and using them in manual mode. The rest of the dash looks pretty ordinary in comparison to how the car looks from the outside, I really feel that Alfa could have done a whole lot more with the interior design and especially the design of dash. While the materials used are of good quality and has a nice touch to feel, it just lacks that Italian flair you'd expect, it just seems plain especially the area beneath the aircon controls, just seems meh. Maybe its just me, but anyway moving onto the seats, beautiful leather with neat stitching and the Alfa logo embossed in the headrests for the driver and front passenger. The sporty styled seats continue in the back with perforations for detail and extra comfort. While the roof line is slanted, it still is quite roomy in the back and you can get in and out without having to worry about hitting your head. With the climate control the whole cabin is kept at an appropriate temp, mobile apps are accessed via a USB cable which plugs into the front, the gear selector was nice, and the added detail of the Italian flag behind it was cool. Luggage capacity is surprisingly a lot, I don't know the exact number as its not listen anywhere but with the ol golf bag measurement, it could fit 2 with ease. 

VERDICT

While it's difficult not to speak bad about this car, the only critisim I have about it is that I didn't have it for long enough! It really is a dream to drive and while it may not be every ones first choice, after driving one, and you see others on the road, you just know exactly how much they are enjoying being behind the wheel of theirs. Alfa have a stunning product on offer, it's exactly for the type of consumer that wants a practical family SUV but not only wants to stand out from the crowd but enjoy every minute of driving it. The car is well balanced, has plenty of power and looks fantastic. It comes with most of the safety tricks that other competitors come with while you might think the price may be a bit out of touch with the rest of the segment, it really does warrant it with what you are getting in terms of performance, build quality and choice of materials used. Overall, my first Alfa experience was and exceptional one, can't wait to get behind the wheel of another!

SPECIFICATIONS

Engine	2L 4-cylinder turbo petrol
Gear Box	ZF 8-speed automatic
Torque	400Nm
Power	206kW
0-100km	5.7 seconds
Price	R1,205,500

 

Bucket Seat: FIAT 500 Sport

The FIAT 500 is an iconic car, not just for the brand but for vehicles in general. The shape is famous world wide and its easily identifiable, what is truly great about the FIAT 500 unlike some of the other small icons of the past is that the size has stayed generally the same. The cute stocky nature of the car is still the essence behind the brand and while the car has grown slightly over the years, it hasn't transformed into a completely different car, unlike some of the iconic cars of yester-year like Mini and the VW Beetle for example. The model I had on test was the Sport version and while it looked pretty much like your standard 500, it did have some sporty elements to help distinguish it as a sports model, I'll go into detail of that in a bit. Now, many who know me and my size were probably sniggering to themselves when they saw I was driving this car, as I am not the smallest guy around and driving a tiny car like this might not have been the best fit for me but truth be told, I didn't really mind it as I will explain now in the review of this FIAT 500 Sport. 

DESIGN

As far as the term icons go, the FIAT 500 is definitely one that many motoring enthusiast would agree is one. The Italian car maker first launched the model in 1957 and was initially known as "The Cinquencento", it was marketed as a cheap, functional and economical town car and to much extents it still is that but evolved along the years to bring in all the new technology and safety features required in our modern era of motoring, the dinky size of the car and shape still remains the same making it the perfect little run around for town driving. The styling has evolved as well, giving the car a modern interpretation of the classic design, keeping those iconic lines and Italian flare. The unit I had, came in Passion Red and being the Sport, changes are made to bumpers, side skirts giving it a more dynamic look and attitude, along with a rear spoiler to complete the sporty look. In the front the grill is more pronounced and there is front fog lights with chrome detailing. The FIAT 500 Sport receives 16" Alloy Wheels which come in black with brush aluminum outlines. Just incase all this sportiness isn't enough, they slapped a "Sport" badge on the side above the front wheel arch and the side mirros are finished off in black too. Another addition is the panoramic sunroof which really makes the car look great with the black roof contrasting well with that Passion Red paintwork. 

PERFORMANCE       

With the FIAT 500 being so tiny, you don't need a mammoth engine to power it, neither can a mammoth engine fit in it as well but under the hood you'll find a 0.9L front wheel drive motor that delivers 62.5kW of power and 145Nm of torque, its basically a go-kart, you're driving a go-kart but with a shell of a well equipped car, now while many might be thinking, what can that little motor do? Well a lot in a car like this! Remember the car is tiny, weighing in at 930kg's, this car is actually quite punchy when you driving it. That 5-speed gearbox is a charm to use and with the small steering wheel it gives off that perfect go-kart like experience. With the short wheel base and great turning circle radius, the maneuverability of the 500 Sport is exceptional, apart from driving around town, in and out of parking lots hasn't been as fun for me until I got this car! Front wheel suspension is independent-wheel, MacPherson type with lower transversal wishbone secured to an auxiliary crossmember, anti-roll bar connected to the shock absorber while the rear is inter-connected wheel through torsion beam and anti-roll bar. Fuel economy on the 500 Sport comes in the same as the others with a claimed 4.7L per 100km, with my rather rash driving style I was getting little over 5.6L per 100km which still isn't too bad, maximum speed on the car is maxed at 173km/h. 

COMFORT

Now with a tiny car like this, there surely can't be a lot of room in the interior and yes, you are correct, it is a bit cramped for large guys like me but was I uncomfortable? The answer is no, the seats are well designed  and have great leather finish with the 500 sign stitched in, making it not only look great but super comfy as well. There was more than adequate room for me to sit, which obviously compromised the leg room for the rear passenger but the way the cabin is designed, it makes everything more functional for anyone to drive the car. For example the height of the gear selector is higher than what you'd expect it to be, sitting just below the climate control panel on the dash, making it easy to reach and change gear. The car has a nice large 7-inch touch screen infotainment screen which has an easier to use UIF but also has pre-loaded mobile apps for Android and Apple phones. The instrument cluster is fully digital as well and has incorporated everything quite neatly in its single circle design. The quality of materials used in the cabin is amazing, I honestly thought I'd be in for a lot of cheap plastics but truth be told, I couldn't find any, even the leather steering wheel is wrapped in feels so luxurious. One thing that took some getting used to was where the window buttons were, but that wasn't really an issue but just something one would have to adjust to when having this car. The cabin features lots of chrome detailing and 500 badges on the dash and front seats. The rear seats are also finished off in that great leather but with the tight space, rear passengers will definitely feel cramped and might suffer from motion sickness if traveling at high speeds. The boot is indicative of the size of the car but not bad in terms of practicality, you can drop both seats to increase capacity as I even managed to get my golf clubs in there!

VERDICT

When people look at cars in a practical sense, I don't think the FIAT 500 will come to mind quite often, its size is one of the main reasons for this but when you have to think about who the buyer of this car would be and what reason they are buying it for, it starts to make a whole lot more sense. It's the perfect town car or for running around in our modern terms. Its small, light on fuel, great on short distance driving. Has more than enough room for your shopping trips, commute to and front work. While you may think this would be more aimed for students or females, I actually loved my time with it, it made for a fun commute to work in the morning. The boot had enough space for my laptop bag, lunch bag and gym bag, with space for some shopping. Lunch time trips in the car was fun, as everyone wanted to go with me even with the coupe doors and tiny rear passenger space. While some will say the novelty of this car will ware off, I beg to differ, the driving experience alone will make you feel like a kid with a new toy every time you get behind the wheel of it. The brand still remains true to what the essence of the car is, an affordable city car, so it stays on brand and does so brilliantly.

SPECIFICATIONS

Engine	0.9L
Gear Box	5-Speed Manual
Torque	145Nm
Power	63.5kW
Top Speed	173km
Price	R281,900

 

Bucket Seat: Ferrari 812 Competizione and Competizione A

6.5-litre naturally aspirated V12, the most powerful ever made by Ferrari, that alone should send shivers down your spine as a motoring purist. It is the heart of the beast behind the new twin flame models launched today by the Maranello based motor manufacturer, dubbed the 812 Competizione and Competizione A which I'm guessing stands for Aperta seeing that its missing a roof. Revving to 9,500rpm, so a high revving engine of note and I can only sit back and wonder how ungodly it must sound, it probably will awaken the underworld with its growl on start up. 

Seeing that this is a spawn of the 812 Superfast, which lived up to its name being Superfast, one can only imagine the raw power that is waiting to be unearth in this machine. Ferrari has redesigned the pistons, fitted titanium con-rods that are 40 percent lighter), layered a diamond like carbon coating on the piston pins and rebalanced the crank which is a whopping three percent lighter than before. There are new cylinder heads, F1-tech for the cams which are also coated in that diamond like carbon and redesigned the intake system across the the manifold and plenim as well as variable geometry inlet tracts. All of this translates to a motor that produces 819bhp, a 0-100km/h time of just 2.85 seconds and a top speed of over 340km/h. 

The car looks phenomenal, with Ferrari going all out on a superb aero kit that not only is functional in maximizing downforce and generating speed but looks the part too. It is almost like a samurai suit that is fitted over the standard 812 guise, my favourite part being the rear engine cover with the gills of sort to allow for engine cooling. The Aperta version is a lot less intimidating, if I could use that analogy but it would probably be the more terrifying and enjoyable one to be in. Bit strange that Ferrari opted to launch both the coupe and drop top model at the same time as they normally do stagger their releases, unless they will run some double special for selected customers. No word on pricing or number of units to be produced but you can bet its going to be ultra limited like most of their special models. 

 

Bucket Seat: Ferrari Roma

 

La Nouva Dolce Vita, is the caption used by Ferrari for their latest model, the Roma, the caption is a play on the famous Italian phrase "La Dolce Vita" and translates to "The New Sweet Life", quite appropriate if you ask me. Why? The Roma is an all new V8 model from the Italian manufacturer but unlike the previous models which were designed around performance thanks to their award winning turbo-charged V8 engine, the Roma's design is one that that incorporates fluent lines and show stopping beauty. It's been a long time since we've seen such a design from Maranello, the flair and elegance that flows from the front to the back will leave you in awe at how gorgeous this new model is, Ferrari's Styling Center say the design centers around clean design and absolute symbiosis between its various elements with harmonious proportions and pure, elegant volumes. Minimalism in its grandiose scale if you ask me . With it being a GT, there is a lot of luxury aspects to the Roma, something we've only seen in the California and lately the Portofino with V8 powertrains. While the exterior styling is completely different from the norm, the interior is as well, a it's the first Ferrari to feature a large touchscreen infotainment in the center console which controls everything from the audio, climate as well as many other things in the cabin . The sleek styling combined with the exotic and rich materials used in the cabin provide the perfect balance for a sporty yet very luxurious feel.  Obviously with Ferrari, the options to specify your car is endless, as you can choose what colour and texture trims you want on the dash right down to what colour stitching you want on the steering wheel. 

Lets talk about performance now, the Roma features a new turbo-charge 4 litre V8 which produces 456kW at 5750 - 7500rpm, torque max is 760Nm which equates to a 0-100km/h acceleration time of just 3.4 seconds. Max speed on the Roma is said to be over 320km/h so while it might be a baby GT its still no slouch. Maybe it's just me but I feel the Roma is the type of car that you want to majorly use for cruising around town, letting it bask in its own beauty while others get to admire it too. Yes on the weekend you can take it on the open road to let some fresh air breathe into that monstrous V8 as well as have fun on some twisty roads, whether it be on the coast on in the countryside. Ferrari also offer bespoke luggage made for the Roma so customers can have suitcases to fit for their car. Pricing for the Roma, it starts of at R4,972,000 with a list of options to chose from.