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A piece of painting, an automobile or anything that has an interesting story and history to it always becomes a priced possession and dominates in the auction world. To add to it, if the bidding item is completed with great craftsmanship, it is always bought for millions.
Passionate CLINCH
Woman sculptor inspired by ancient poem
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-70712 size-full" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Claudel1_p-e1680746759358.jpg" alt="great craftsmanship" width="500" height="603">
Camille Claudel’s L’Abandon sold for £831,600 (about US$1.01 million) at a Christie’s sale of Impressionist and Modern Art in London, beating out two sculptures by Auguste Rodin, briefly her collaborator and lover, for the auction top spot. Cast in bronze by Eugène Blot in 1905, the work is hailed as the French figurative sculptor’s breakthrough. Born in Fère-en-Tardenois, a rural village between Paris and Reims, Claudel’s mother told her any desires to become an artist were ‘unladylike’. Her father, however, presented some of her early work to a neighbour: the sculptor Alfred Boucher. Impressed, he became the girl’s mentor, and following his advice, the family moved to Paris in 1881. Claudel enrolled at the Académie Colarossi – a progressive art school that admitted women. In 1886, she began working on L’Abandon, a sculpture of an embracing couple inspired by the ancient Sanskrit poem Sakuntala. Exhibited in plaster at the 1888 Salon des Artistes Français, it won an honourable mention. The critic André Michel praised its “profound feeling of tenderness both chaste and passionate, an impression of quivering, of restrained ardour”
Top table
Italian dining furniture attracts huge bid
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-70713 size-full" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/table101_p-e1680746841331.jpg" alt="great craftsmanship" width="500" height="621">
A magnificent Italian ormolu, white marble and semi-precious hardstone-inlaid centre table went for a healthy US$1.5 million at the widely-anticipated auction of Modern Medici: Masterpieces from a New York Collection held by Christie’s. One of the sale’s shining highlights, this bejewelled piece of furniture is a prime example of early 19th-century Italian craftsmanship – an elegantly sculptured base expertly rendered in gilt bronze with a rich combination of chased and burnished surfaces, paired with a marble top inlaid with glorious coloured stones. The latter, circa 1800-1810, is the handiwork of Roman mosaicist Giacomo Raffaelli. Assessing the appeal of this rare lot, William Strafford, Christie’s Deputy Chairman, European Furniture and Decorative Arts, said: “The spectacular table is a fine embodiment of the art of pietra dura and sculptural gilt-bronzes. Its eye-catching top is inset throughout with rare samples of semi-precious hardstones, an attribute that saw the table hugely admired during an exhibition dedicated to this exquisite collection. We were thrilled that it was one of two lots that fetched the highest prices of the sale, selling for US$1.5 million to an anonymous buyer.
Church Record
Happy ending for looted Kandinsky
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-70714 size-full" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Kandinsky_L-002-e1680746909771.jpg" alt="great craftsmanship" width="768" height="701">
A bid of US$44.9 million at a recent Sotheby’s sale scooped up a masterpiece by Wassily Kandinsky, representing a new auction record for the artist. The painting, Murnau mit Kirche II (Murnau with Church II), originates from 1920 and encapsulates the beginnings of the revolutionary abstract language that would underpin the rest of Kandinsky’s career. The work was recently returned to the descendants of its rightful owners, the Berlin art collectors Siegbert and Johanna Margarethe Stern; Johanna died at Auschwitz in 1944. Auction proceeds are to be shared between the 13 surviving Stern heirs and used to fund further research into the fate of their family collection. Lucian Simmons, Vice Chairman and Sotheby’s Worldwide Head of Restitution said: “This year marks the 25th anniversary of the conference, held in Washington, D.C., that first established the ground rules for the restitution of artworks looted by the Nazis during the Second World War. Since then, Sotheby’s Restitution Department has worked with many heirs and families to reunite them with their stolen property and, at the same time, to help re-tell their stories and celebrate their lives.”
Bugatti blast
Frenzied bidding for last-of-its-kind supercar
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-70715 size-full" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/07-BUGATTI_Chiron-Profilee_auction_p1-e1680746965181.jpg" alt="great craftsmanship" width="768" height="512">
A Bugatti Chiron Profilée, the last W16-powered car available from the famed French automotive atelier, has gone for nearly 9.8 million euros (about US$10.7 million), making it the most valuable new car ever sold at auction. It was the last possible opportunity to buy a new Bugatti powered by the legendary W16 engine – the only 16-cylinder engine in the world to be used in a car. With such an important piece of Bugatti history at stake, bidding was fierce. Marcus Görig, Car Specialist at RM Sotheby’s, said: “It was an honour for us to host this very special lot in collaboration with Bugatti. The sale of the Chiron Profilée was one of the most anticipated moments of the whole auction. With enormous global interest in the car, the Profilée attracted considerable attention at the auction among bidders and curious viewers who had visited to have a glimpse of this unique car.” Designed as a more radical version of the Chiron Sport, the Profilée took its name from one of Jean Bugatti’s first creations – a specific Type 46 model known as Surprofilée, with a sleeker silhouette and an elegant sweeping tail.
<h5>Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.gafencushop.com/auction-bids/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Applauding Creations From Different Centuries – Auction Bids to Note</a></h5>

Highly-valued Craftsmanships – The Latest Top Bids in the Auction World

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Just in time for the long-awaited release of No Time To Die, the latest instalment in the hit James Bond franchise, Aston Martin Hong Kong and MF Jebsen International have jointly collaborated on an exclusive exhibition at The Peninsula Hotel that is sure to have gear heads at the edge of their seats.
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-61389" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Unveiling-the-new-Aston-Martin-DB5-Goldfinger.jpg" alt="" width="700" height="466" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Unveiling-the-new-Aston-Martin-DB5-Goldfinger.jpg 700w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Unveiling-the-new-Aston-Martin-DB5-Goldfinger-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Unveiling-the-new-Aston-Martin-DB5-Goldfinger-421x280.jpg 421w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Unveiling-the-new-Aston-Martin-DB5-Goldfinger-120x80.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Unveiling-the-new-Aston-Martin-DB5-Goldfinger-500x333.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Unveiling-the-new-Aston-Martin-DB5-Goldfinger-400x266.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Unveiling-the-new-Aston-Martin-DB5-Goldfinger-600x399.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" />
From now until 29 October, 007 fans will have the unique opportunity to get up close and personal with the stunning Aston Martin DB5 Goldfinger, a high-tech, high-octane automobile that shines in the 25th cinematic outing of the British superspy.
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-61386" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Aston-Martin-DB5-Goldfinger-close-up.jpg" alt="" width="700" height="466" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Aston-Martin-DB5-Goldfinger-close-up.jpg 700w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Aston-Martin-DB5-Goldfinger-close-up-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Aston-Martin-DB5-Goldfinger-close-up-421x280.jpg 421w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Aston-Martin-DB5-Goldfinger-close-up-120x80.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Aston-Martin-DB5-Goldfinger-close-up-500x333.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Aston-Martin-DB5-Goldfinger-close-up-400x266.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Aston-Martin-DB5-Goldfinger-close-up-600x399.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" />
One of just 25 models available worldwide – and the sole example to appear in Hong Kong – the Aston Martin DB5 Goldfinger on display is an authentic reproduction of its on-screen sibling, replete with such gadgets as revolving number plates, pop-out machine guns, a retractable bullet-proof rear shield and much more besides. With a price tag of&nbsp;£2.75 million (excl. tax), it is also burnished with the signature build quality and reliability that has seen the British marque become beloved the world over.
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-61387" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Aston-Martin-DB5-Goldfinger-rear-view.jpg" alt="" width="700" height="466" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Aston-Martin-DB5-Goldfinger-rear-view.jpg 700w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Aston-Martin-DB5-Goldfinger-rear-view-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Aston-Martin-DB5-Goldfinger-rear-view-421x280.jpg 421w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Aston-Martin-DB5-Goldfinger-rear-view-120x80.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Aston-Martin-DB5-Goldfinger-rear-view-500x333.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Aston-Martin-DB5-Goldfinger-rear-view-400x266.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Aston-Martin-DB5-Goldfinger-rear-view-600x399.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" />
Alongside this one-of-a-kind vehicle, guests will also be treated to a stunning photo exhibition showcasing the many gorgeous motors that star in No Time To Die, a veritable treasure trove of historic photos from Aston Martin’s expansive archives, as well as the latest concept cars from the legendary British automaker.
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-61385" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Aston-Martin-cars-at-The-Peninsula.jpg" alt="" width="700" height="466" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Aston-Martin-cars-at-The-Peninsula.jpg 700w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Aston-Martin-cars-at-The-Peninsula-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Aston-Martin-cars-at-The-Peninsula-421x280.jpg 421w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Aston-Martin-cars-at-The-Peninsula-120x80.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Aston-Martin-cars-at-The-Peninsula-500x333.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Aston-Martin-cars-at-The-Peninsula-400x266.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Aston-Martin-cars-at-The-Peninsula-600x399.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" />

Legendary Aston Martin DB5 Goldfinger unveiled as new 007 film debuts

Ever wondered what the cars of the future are going to be like? Extremely luxurious, AI-induced, galactically-inspired? German motoring marque <a href="https://www.mercedes-benz.com/en/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mercedes-Benz</a> have us something of a sneak peek at the reality of this vision when it launched its all-new VISION AVTR at <a href="https://www.ces.tech/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CES 2020</a>, the annual showcase of the latest electronic gadgets and gizmos.
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-51035" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/benz-1-min.jpg" alt="VISION AVTR" width="700" height="466" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/benz-1-min.jpg 700w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/benz-1-min-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/benz-1-min-421x280.jpg 421w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/benz-1-min-120x80.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/benz-1-min-500x333.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/benz-1-min-400x266.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/benz-1-min-600x399.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" />
Taking inspiration from James Cameron&#8217;s smash-hit fantasy <a href="//www.gafencushop.com/february-cinematic-releases/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">flick</a> Avatar, this new design features an advanced vehicle transformation technology, with the car&#8217;s skylight and the back shell of the seats change colours between light and dark blue according to its exposure to light.
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-51036" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/benz-2-min.jpg" alt="VISION AVTR" width="700" height="466" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/benz-2-min.jpg 700w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/benz-2-min-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/benz-2-min-421x280.jpg 421w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/benz-2-min-120x80.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/benz-2-min-500x333.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/benz-2-min-400x266.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/benz-2-min-600x399.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" />
Undoubtedly, the exotic look of the Mercedes-Benz: VISION AVTR is only a minor part of what makes this automobile such a visionary design. Under the hood lies an engine with a staggering 350 kW of power and a graphene-based cell that allows the car to be charged in 15 minutes, it is very functional and versatile. Moreover, its all-wheel-drive feature allows the driver to move each wheel separately also letting the car to be turned sideways by up to 30 degrees.
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-51037" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/benz-3-min.jpg" alt="VISION AVTR" width="700" height="466" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/benz-3-min.jpg 700w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/benz-3-min-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/benz-3-min-421x280.jpg 421w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/benz-3-min-120x80.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/benz-3-min-500x333.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/benz-3-min-400x266.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/benz-3-min-600x399.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" />
With sustainability a key focus for the VISION AVTR &#8211; something that will only grow in importance in the near future &#8211; Mercedes-Benz has implemented an eco-friendly vision in various components of the car. For instance, the seats are made using recycled materials and its battery is 100-percent recyclable by composition.
In short, the Mercedes-Benz: VISION AVTR perfectly combines sophistication and sustainability, allowing car enthusiasts to venture forth into the future with nary a shadow of a doubt that they&#8217;re relevant, trendy while looking good doing it.
All Photos: ©Mercedes-Benz

VISION AVTR: Mercedes-Benz unveils car of the future at CES 2020

When Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue, the Vice President of Equatorial Guinea, was charged with money laundering and the embezzlement of over US$100 million back in 2017, his collection of 26 supercars was promptly seized by Swiss authorities. Recently, those self-same vehicles were auctioned by Bonhams in conjunction with the state of Geneva, with amazing results. In all, the supercars fetched almost US$27 million, of which roughly US$23.5 million has already been earmarked by the auction house to be donated to a charity in the African country.
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-49738" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/2014-Lamborghini-Veneto-Roadster.jpg" alt="2014 Lamborghini Veneto Roadster" width="700" height="466" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/2014-Lamborghini-Veneto-Roadster.jpg 700w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/2014-Lamborghini-Veneto-Roadster-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/2014-Lamborghini-Veneto-Roadster-421x280.jpg 421w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/2014-Lamborghini-Veneto-Roadster-120x80.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/2014-Lamborghini-Veneto-Roadster-500x333.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/2014-Lamborghini-Veneto-Roadster-400x266.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/2014-Lamborghini-Veneto-Roadster-600x399.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" />
One particular model, however, a white 2014 Lamborghini Veneto Roadster, emerged as the most sought-after attraction. Following a fierce three-way bidding war, the car – dubbed “the top lot of the collection and rarest of all, one of only nine built and introduced for the 50th anniversary of Lamborghini” – eventually sold for a staggering US$8.4 million, setting a new record for the most expensive Lamborghini ever sold at auction.
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-49737" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/2014-Lamborghini-Veneto-Roadster-sells-for-US8.4-million.jpg" alt="2014 Lamborghini Veneto Roadster sells for US$8.4 million" width="700" height="466" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/2014-Lamborghini-Veneto-Roadster-sells-for-US8.4-million.jpg 700w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/2014-Lamborghini-Veneto-Roadster-sells-for-US8.4-million-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/2014-Lamborghini-Veneto-Roadster-sells-for-US8.4-million-421x280.jpg 421w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/2014-Lamborghini-Veneto-Roadster-sells-for-US8.4-million-120x80.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/2014-Lamborghini-Veneto-Roadster-sells-for-US8.4-million-500x333.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/2014-Lamborghini-Veneto-Roadster-sells-for-US8.4-million-400x266.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/2014-Lamborghini-Veneto-Roadster-sells-for-US8.4-million-600x399.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" />
Other star turns included a black 2015 Koenigsegg One-1, with a final price tag of US$4.57 million, and a 2011 Aston Martin One-77 Coupe, which fetched US$1.57 million.

Ill-gotten Goods: Seized Lamborghini supercar sets new record

<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-28429 size-full" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/wheels-1017-01.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="400" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/wheels-1017-01.jpg 600w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/wheels-1017-01-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/wheels-1017-01-420x280.jpg 420w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/wheels-1017-01-120x80.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/wheels-1017-01-500x333.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/wheels-1017-01-400x267.jpg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" />
Imagine, gentle reader, a cardboard box. Picture this box fresh and new, securely taped shut – both top and bottom.
Strong, isn’t it? Nice and rigid, resisting forces applied to it with stern resilience.
Now slice the top off and see what it becomes: a feeble, floppy mess, twisting this way and that at the slightest pressure. Removing the extra support provided by the top dramatically reduces the strength of the box as a whole.
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-28430 size-full" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/wheels-1017-02.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="400" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/wheels-1017-02.jpg 600w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/wheels-1017-02-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/wheels-1017-02-420x280.jpg 420w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/wheels-1017-02-120x80.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/wheels-1017-02-500x333.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/wheels-1017-02-400x267.jpg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" />
The same, on a larger scale, is true of cars. A strong coupé or saloon body shell can be rendered a bendy embarrassment by cutting the roof off in a bid to manufacture wind-in-the-hair glee.
Car makers are usually faced with a choice between accepting the sloppy handling a weakened chop-top chassis inevitably creates or adding strengthening girders to the remaining bottom portion of the car to stiffen things up, resulting in extra weight.
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-28431 size-full" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/wheels-1017-03.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="400" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/wheels-1017-03.jpg 600w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/wheels-1017-03-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/wheels-1017-03-420x280.jpg 420w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/wheels-1017-03-120x80.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/wheels-1017-03-500x333.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/wheels-1017-03-400x267.jpg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" />
The new open-topped Spider edition of McLaren’s 570S sports car, however, is neither heavy nor floppy. The convertible is every bit as stiff and agile as its fixed-roof siblings, while squashing the scales with about the same heft.
The source of this have-your-cake-and-eat-it miracle is a solid chunk of racing car technology at the heart of all modern McLaren models – a carbon fibre ‘tub’. Most cars derive their strength from a continuous metal body shell, with forces spread across the floor and roof. By contrast, McLaren’s carbon fibre tub – so called because it’s shaped like a broad bathtub – holds strong with or without a roof.
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The benefits of this carbon fibre backbone are numerous. Increased stiffness makes for more predictable and consistent handling, with the suspension geometry undisturbed by chassis flex. Reduced weight makes the car more agile, allowing for quicker acceleration and improved braking around corners.
The tub also acts as a survival cell, armouring occupants against crash damage. But perhaps the biggest boon is the feeling of shared experience with professional racers that a 570S Spider owner derives from knowing that this car is based on Formula 1 technology.
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That sense of kinship with those who wear scorch-proof onesies and spray champagne for a living is further underlined by the Spider’s driving experience. It’s amazingly fast.
From a standing start, the 494kw 3.8-litre twin-turbo V8 will hurl the McLaren’s 1,498kg to 100kph in just 3.2 seconds. Given enough road and enough bravery, a top speed of 328kph is possible.
These abstract numbers do little to communicate the startlingly rapid way that the world rushes to meet the driver.
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After the mental shock comes the physical. Accelerating hard isn’t so bad; simply lean back and let the headrest take the strain. Braking is a different matter. Squeezing on the optional carbon ceramic brakes is like crash landing in water. Neck muscles strain to keep one’s focal point ahead rather than straight down.
The brakes are one of the few flat notes in the Spider’s symphony of speed. While they respond well – &nbsp;translating foot pressure into deceleration promptly and predictably – there’s little feel through the pedal, making the job of judging grip levels more difficult.
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As a high-speed attack weapon, the Spider is an impressive performer, but it’s capable of more than one trick. With the roof fixed in place and a gentle touch on the controls, it’s also a civilised and comfortable everyday car.
Offering good all-round visibility and taking up a sensible portion of road space, it’s easy to drive through crowded city streets and manoeuvre into cramped parking spots. Although stiffer than an SUV, the suspension will soak up lumps, bumps and potholes well enough to prevent discomfort.
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It’s also a competent long-distance weekend cruiser. With the roof in place there’s little clue that the Spider is in fact a convertible. The wind roar at high speeds is minimal and the road noise is acceptable, albeit more than one might expect from a typical luxury saloon or coupé.
Overall, the Spider does everything a fixed-head 570S does, with the added element of open-top driving pleasure. The only question is whether those advantages justify the HK$205,000 price increase over the Coupé. A quick top-down, full-throttle blast through a tunnel should be answer enough for anyone.
Text: James O’Donnell 
Photos: McLaren
For the full article, please check out the latest issue of Gafencu’s print magazine or the Gafencu app. Download the app from the Google <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.gafencu.android&amp;hl=en">Play Store</a> or Apple <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/gafencu/id541555130?mt=8">App Store</a>

Raze the Roof: McLaren’s 570S Spider merges Formula 1 tech with open-top sexiness

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Fashion and automobiles have something common in their DNA. They both go a long way in revealing about their owners’ personality.
So it should hardly come as a surprise that iconic carmaker, MINI, known for the unique make of its models MINI Clubman, MINI Countryman and MINI Cooper, has been supporting budding Hong Kong fashion labels for quite some time now.
As a natural extension of that, MINI recently sponsored the Hong Kong Young Fashion Designers’ Contest 2017 (YDC). Young, upcoming designers like Aries Sin, Mim Mak and Derek Chan showcased their talents in the contest.
As a tribute to MINI, each of the designers created small MINI-inspired mementos for the occasion.
Apart from the beautiful designs on the ramp, what caught our attention was the MINI John Cooper Works Convertible which was displayed for the first time at the venue.

MINI hosts YDC 2017 to support young fashion designers in Hong Kong

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There must be something electric in the air, or at least on the streets of Hong Kong, after last weekend’s Formula-E race and the unveiling of Detroit Electric’s very first production vehicle, the SP:01.
Electric, and we assume regular, car enthusiasts enjoyed catching a glimpse of the two-seater pure-electric sports car, which was designed and built in England, as it zipped around the 10-turn two-kilometre course on Saturday ahead of the opening of the 2016/17 FIA Formula E Championship.
The SP:01 can accelerate from 0-60mph in 3.7 seconds and boasts a top speed of 155mph.
The SP:01 is reportedly the lightest high-performance electric vehicle in the world and has a high-energy density battery.
The interior of the SP:01 features the first Android based Smartphone Application Managed Infotainment System [SAMI] with a touchscreen that sits at the heart of the centre console, which sounds like another thing to keep a driver’s eyes off the road.
The SAMI works as a music player and satellite navigation to the car to check its status for battery temperature, charge-level and range to recharge.
Three-time Macau Grand Prix champion Darryl O’Young set a lap time of 1:24:713 in the SP:01.
Photos: Brian Ching and Thomas Lam

Detroit Electric city

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Modern life is full of compromises. Conventions to which you must conform in order to be accepted as a fully fledged citizen of the 21st century, no matter how irritating they may be. From society’s expectations of round-the-clock response to electronic communications, to the meaningless biz-speak buzz-word jargon du jour, it is incumbent to participate or find yourself cast to the margins of the modern-day world.
It is not hard to get the feeling that the designers at Jaguar nurse a very similar sentiment towards sports utility vehicles, a somewhat embarrassingly popular niche. The category norms of hulking size and brutish form are the very antitheses of a marque with, arguably, the most elegant family album of all. Despite their tardiness in delivering a grand four-by-four, move with the times they clearly must. As evidenced – sorry – proven by the new Jaguar F-Pace.
Jag’s sloth in releasing an SUV, of course, could also be attributed to all those other logos that appear on the corporate coffee cups. As a group, Jaguar-Land Rover is already responsible for more than its fair share of 4x4s, both in terms of farmer-favourited Land Rovers and footballer-favourited Range Rovers.
The least engineering-intensive approach to creating a Jaguar SUV, of course, would be to simply affix a snarling pussy cat badge to the front of one of these well-established vehicles. This particular flavour of brand butchering, however, is likely to do nobody much good, at best cannibalising sales from one corporate column on the sales ledger to the next. A different approach, then, was clearly called for. Rather than borrowing oily bits from Land Rovers, the new F-Pace instead shares much of its under-the-skin architecture with the XE and XF, Jaguar’s small-to-medium size saloon cars. 
As with its four-door siblings, the F-Pace includes a lot of weight-saving aluminium in place of all that hefty steel. It also features the odd bit of exotic magnesium, largely in a bid to minimise mass towards the higher reaches of the car and lower the centre of gravity as much as possible.
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Steel does, however, make an appearance in the rear cargo space floor. While this is partly for strength, it also helps to balance mass across the axles in as near to a 50/50 fashion as possible.
All this weight saving and balancing is something of a clue to just the kind of car the F-Pace is intended to be – a fast road car, rather than a rugged off-roader.
Its fast road proficency is given something of a boost with the inclusion of Jaguar’s 3.0 litre supercharged V6 petrol engine, at least on the sportier R edition. Churning out 375 horses at a fizzing 6,500 rpm, with 332 lb-ft of torque at 4,500, is enough to push the F-Pace to 60 mph in a genuinely fast 5.1 seconds.
More accurately, that should be push and pull given that the eight-speed ZF gearbox distributes force across both the front and rear axles. Again, instead of swiping some all-wheel-drive wizardry from Land Rover, Jaguar’s own system makes a somewhat unwelcome reappearance in the F-Pace, in particular, the incarnation last seen in out-and-out sports car F-Type.
As a performance – rather than an off-road-focused all-wheel drive system – most of the power is typically directed to the rear wheels, aiding acceleration out of tarmac-clad bends, rather than mud-soaked fields. When conditions are slippery, however, up to 50 percent of the torque can find its way onto the road through the front wheels.
Many SUVs post impressive acceleration times, largely thanks to their ability to harness the sheer brute force of their oversized engines and signature all-wheel drive systems. Where many fall down – quite literally – is when it comes to cornering, with their big-weight-high-up-on-soft-springs combo toppling over as the lateral load increases.
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The F-Pace lives up to its suffix though, nicely negotiating the twisty bits. Initial turn in to a corner is near instant, with steering wheel movement translating nearly instantly to a shift in direction. As the cornering load increases, the Jag settles into the business of generating sideways forces, something it does both reasonably quickly and smoothly. While there is some body roll, it’s by no means extreme, alarming or unpredictable. Unlike a number of other SUVs.
Pushed hard – up to and over the surprisingly high limit of its cornering grip – the F-Pace tends towards neutral handling, with both axles sliding at roughly the same time. Again, this is a refreshing change to the numbing wave of understeer offered by the majority of its competitors. All in all, that low centre of gravity and even axle load allows keen drivers to control the Jag rather as though it were a giant, slow-motion go kart. Carry on braking past the turn-in point and the back end will start to swing out in a languid tail slide. Apply power early mid-bend and the front end will scrub out, progressively widening the corner exit.
As well as the Jag’s intrinsic advantages of minimised, well-distributed weight, it also features the kind of torque-vectoring system more typically found only on supercars. This electronic traction policeman monitors grip and slip levels at each wheel, automatically squeezing individual brake discs as needed in order to maximise cornering performance.
It is, perhaps, the most sporting of any sports utility vehicle, producing a driving experience much more akin to the fast saloons and grand tourers with which Jaguar built its reputation. Genuinely enjoyable though the fast road driving is, the F-Pace is not without its niggles. Modern cars, in search of the eco-halo of reduced fuel consumption, tend to be fitted with frugal electromechanical power assisted steering – the big Jag being no exception. While precise and responsive, the steering lacks feel, robbing fingertips of the tiny sensations that reveal how close the front tyres really are to losing road traction.
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Another minor frustration is the engine. Granted, it produces a great deal of power and a great lump of torque, but it needs an unfeasibly large number of revs to get going. Drivers accustomed to other SUVs, with their lazy, lusty, oversized engines, will find the constant gear-shuffling required to get the engine into its power band somewhat annoying. While the F-Pace is indeed a four-by-four, it’s by no means an off-roader. Its extra traction and higher ground clearance will make short work of well-kept fields and dirt tracks, but any attempt at deep mud, steep inclines or rocks bigger than a grapefruit will be followed by a red-faced call for a proper Land Rover. And a tow rope.
In truth, this level of off-road ablity will more than suffice for the way almost all drivers will use this car almost all of the time. Modern motorists want a car that looks like it can do the outdoors stuff, rather than one that actually need to get stuck in. Or indeed, get stuck. 
Its target market is more likely to drive the F-Pace to the edge of the wilderness, then proceed on foot (or mountain bike/skis/surfboard/paraglider). Jaguar has recognised the faux ruggedness of its customers, providing an adventure-proof “Activity Key” wristband. After changing into your scuba gear, you can then lock everything in the boot, keys included. After a hard day’s shark wrestling, you can regain access by simply holding said wristband over the rear tailgate.
As a long distance cruiser to and from such adventures, the giant Jag has much to recommend it. Despite its sporty handling, it rides the bumps smoothly, soaking up road imperfections with ease. It’s quiet, too, with the raucous V6 settling down to an almost sub-audible purr when acceleration is no longer required.
The cabin is also a genuinely convivial place to sit, with the fortunate occupant reclining saloon-car style, rather than sitting bolt upright as is the SUV norm. As with other contemporary Jaguars, the F-Pace’s interior is simple and uncluttered, with knobs and buttons kept to a minimum. Aside from the altitude, there’s little in the view from the driver’s pew to suggest that the F-Pace is anything other than normal luxury saloon. The windscreen is long and shallow, the door cards are high and the transmission tunnel is chunky. You sit amid the F-Pace, rather than upon it.
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A particular pleasure to use is its large central ‘infotainment’ screen. Touch sensitive, its gesture-activated operation should prove easy and intuitive for any member of the iPad generation. In something of a welcome change, the back seats are large enough for two adults to ride in comfort. Despite the swoopy coupé roof line, there’s enough headroom for even the reasonably tall. Matters are even better behind the rear seats. At 650 litres, the rear cargo space is some 100 litres larger than a BMW X3 or an Audi Q5. With the rear backrests folding down in a 40/20/40 combination, large items of oddly shaped furniture or sporting equipment would be no problem to transport.
Any car, of course, is a compromise between a multitude of competing wants and needs. As a halfway house between the prevailing automotive fashion for oversized off-road wannabes and Jaguar’s fast road heritage, the F-Pace admittedly excels.
Hard core performance drivers are never likely to buy one, in just the same way that hard core off-road drivers will be similarly averse. Both extremes, however, represent tiny market segments. It’s fast enough and easy enough to drive fast for almost every would-be purchaser, while having just enough off-road ability to spare you embarrassment.
Jaguar’s SUV may have been a long time coming, but it seems likely to have a similarly long road ahead.
Jaguar F-Pace R 
Engine: 3.0 litre supercharged V6 
Power: 375 bhp @ 6,500 rpm 
Torque: 332 lb-ft @ 4,500 rpm 
Transmission: 8-speed ZF semi automatic through four-wheel drive 0-62mph: 5.1s 
Top speed: 155 mph (limited) 
Price: from £52,000 (HK$530,000)
Above: The cabin is also a genuinely convivial place to sit.

Jaguaren’t

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Arguably, Alfa Romeo is the most likely of all carmakers to give those petrol-headedly inclined a faraway, dewy-eyed look. Long before such upstarts as Ferrari and Lamborghini stole the limelight, it was Alfa that proudly bore the standard for Italian motoring. And with good reason. Both before and after the war, its racers won grand prix after grand prix, while its road cars were the conveyances of choice for the wealthy European elite.
Fortunately for the company, its still attracts a hardcore fan base of road-going romantics, all prepared to support its products despite their questionable quality over recent years. Now part of the FIAT empire, the famous Alfa badge has all too often found its way onto the front of some decidedly average machinery, sharing chassis and front-wheel drive layouts with horrible hatchbacks and slow saloons. Even the recent purpose-built Alfa Romeo 4C sports coupe was something of a let down.
Predictably, then, the newest Alfa Rome &#8211; the Giulia Quadrifoglio (or ‘Cloverleaf’) &#8211; has been greeted with a mixture of high hopes low expectations. It is fair to describe it as the go-fastest version of the company’s compact executive saloon, competing squarely with the triple German juggernauts of the BMW M3, Mercedes C63 and Audi S4.
It does, however, deliver two surprises. The first surprise is it’s good. The second surprise is that it’s actually very good, possibly even better than the Teutonic trio listed above.
The Giulia Quadrifoglio does, however, share a fair amount of componentry with other models in the FIAT family. While you could be forgiven for expecting this to be a bad thing, particularly in terms of prestige and performance, in this instance it’s actually a good thing. Most impressively, the 2.9 litre twin turbo V6 engine tucked under the Giulia Quadrifoglio’s bonnet actually amounts to three quarters of the V8 power plant squeezed into the Ferrari 488.
Predictably, the engine is powerful. Very powerful. Producing 503 brake horsepower at a 6,500 RPM, and up to 440 lb-ft of torque between 2,500 and 5,000, the Giulia Quadrifoglio is capable of sprinting from stop to 62 mph in a jowl-stretching 3.9 seconds. That’s much, much faster than the out-and-out supercars of just a few years ago. With sufficient smooth, straight autrostrada and a number of untypically tolerant carabinieri, a top speed of 191 mph is easily possible.
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The straight-line speed boasting box is well and truly ticked, matching – or even beating &#8211; the Germans when it comes to top-trumps statistics. As any 19th hole barfly will all too quickly point out, however, power is useless without a chassis that can harness it. Fortunately, the Alfa also has this angle covered.
Unlike the company’s recent 156 and 159 saloon models, the Giulia comes complete with a front engine, rear drive layout &#8211; again matching the Germans when it comes to handling credentials and delivering power roadwards. What’s more, the car’s weight distribution is not far off a perfect 50/50 balance front to rear, further enhancing its prospects as trackday hero.
At 1525 kg, the Alfa isn’t exactly anorexic. Other high-performance innovations have, however, been adopted in order to keep that mass to a minimum. To this end, racing-chic carbon fibre makes an appearance in both the roof and bonnet panels, while the drive shaft is entirely carbon. This helps to not only reduce overall mass, but also cuts inertia in the drivetrain, ultimately aiding acceleration. Lightweight aluminium is also a feature of the door panels and bumpers, as well as playing a prominent role in its suspension components.
A number of other track-borrowed elements further enhance both the Alfa’s speed and, perhaps more importantly, its appearance of speed. The expected high-performance cues are there of course &#8211; gaping front radiator air intakes keeping things cool when the pace gets hot, with dashing slashes to the bonnet and behind the front wheels.
Perhaps the most striking feature, though, is the rear diffuser, seemingly tucked under the rear in a bid to reduce aerodynamic drag and improve down force. While its aerodynamic credentials are unclear, bracketed by two pairs of rakishly inclined exhaust pipes, it certainly makes the Alfa look faster.
Less for show and more for go, though, is the front air splitter, a flourish usually hidden away under the front bumper. When parked, this little high-speed detail is all but invisible, only being deployed forward when the Alfa’s stability control system decides that more front end grip is required (even then, only when the car is moving fast enough for aerodynamics to have a role to play).
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-1456 aligncenter" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/1188251_Alfa-Romeo_Giulia-Quadrifoglio_44-600x400.jpg" alt="1188251_Alfa-Romeo_Giulia-Quadrifoglio_44" width="600" height="400" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/1188251_Alfa-Romeo_Giulia-Quadrifoglio_44-600x400.jpg 600w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/1188251_Alfa-Romeo_Giulia-Quadrifoglio_44-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/1188251_Alfa-Romeo_Giulia-Quadrifoglio_44-400x267.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/1188251_Alfa-Romeo_Giulia-Quadrifoglio_44.jpg 642w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" />
Such attention to detail suggests that the Giulia Quadrifoglio may genuinely be up to the task of beating its rivals for speed, rather than having been merely designed to look that way.
Climbing inside instantly provides further confirmation that this Alfa might actually be the real thing. The deep bucket seats grip and hold the body snugly, although those having overdone it on the tiramisu may find themselves held rather more snugly than they might prefer.
The cabin layout could best be termed business-like, providing the driver with well-space buttons and switches for easy operation on the move. There is also, of course, the obligatory prominent, race-style tachometer and speedometer, fetchingly aligned with all the more interesting numbers right at the top the dial. Refreshingly, its on-board computer interface is easy to use, with the menus and sub menu options flowing intuitively from the central console control wheel.
While efficient, the interior is not without the flourish that you would expect from Italian design, most notably the over-sized crosshair air vents and mini-Alfa grille-shaped pedals. Somewhat in keeping with expectations, while the interior is nicer to look at than the typical Teutonic offers, it’s also somewhat insubstantial, with a number of the panels and switching feeling light and hollow to the touch.
Reassuringly chunky, though, is the muscular steering wheel, solidly flanked by large, solid-feeling column-mounted gear selector paddles. While a six-speed manual gearbox is available in some markets, right hand drive cars come solely with the eight-speed ZF semi automatic unit.
Pressing its steering wheel-mounted start/stop button produces a satisfying raspy snarl from the exhaust, one suggestive of hyperactive menace. The initial getaway from a standing start matches the hostile engine sound, launching a brutal g-force assault on the driver’s internal organs.
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1457 aligncenter" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/1188199_Alfa-Romeo_Francoforte_11-600x401.jpg" alt="1188199_Alfa-Romeo_Francoforte_11" width="600" height="401" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/1188199_Alfa-Romeo_Francoforte_11-600x401.jpg 600w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/1188199_Alfa-Romeo_Francoforte_11-200x134.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/1188199_Alfa-Romeo_Francoforte_11-400x267.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/1188199_Alfa-Romeo_Francoforte_11.jpg 641w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" />
Despite lacking the dual-clutch system of a number of other modern performance cars, snatching the gear change paddle delivers the next ratio in only 100 milliseconds. Shifts are smart, without being savage, allowing near continuous acceleration without sudden shocks to either neck muscles or rear tyres.
Pressing hard on the brake pedal produces even more brutal forces, all courtesy of the optional carbon ceramic discs. Although deceleration forces build progressively, there’s a disappointingly numb sensation in the brakes.
Lack of feeling is, however, not a problem when it comes to the steering, which ably communicates front-tyre grip levels to the fingertips. It’s a quick steering rack, with small hand movements translating into large changes of direction, a conceit that takes but a few moments to get used to before it become instinctive.
Although quick, the steering is far from skittish. The quick action allows the driver to leave both hands on the wheel &#8211; racing style &#8211; instead of having to feed the steering, arm over arm, even in relatively tight bends.
The Giulia Quadrifoglio comes with a choice of four selectable driving modes, ranging from a full-sleep cruise setting to a distinctly racy configuration. As with most performance cars, the middle two settings provide a quicker throttle response, stiffer suspension and snappier gear changes. One slight disappointment, though, is a lack of sideways power sliding fun, something commensurate with the increasingly brisk driving modes.
Through a combination of independent wheel braking and torque vectoring rear differential, the stability control system ruthlessly exterminates anything so wasteful as wheel spin. This also acts to send power where the tyres can best make use of it, while also slowing wayward wheels.
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-1459 aligncenter" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/1188198_Alfa-Romeo_Francoforte_10-600x401.jpg" alt="1188198_Alfa-Romeo_Francoforte_10" width="600" height="401" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/1188198_Alfa-Romeo_Francoforte_10-600x401.jpg 600w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/1188198_Alfa-Romeo_Francoforte_10-200x134.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/1188198_Alfa-Romeo_Francoforte_10-400x267.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/1188198_Alfa-Romeo_Francoforte_10.jpg 641w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" />
While this zero tolerance approach to flamboyant driving is decidedly un-Italian, it does result in notably rapid progress. That is, at least, until the ‘race’ mode is selected. Rather alarmingly, this sends the stability control programme off for its union mandated two-hour lunch break, leaving the driver with no assistance whatsoever.
Thankfully, transitioning from braking to initial corner turn-in is smooth and controllable, even without the electronic assistance. The even front-to-back weight distribution allows the driver to carry a little brake-lean on the nose as a way of aiding an initial direction change, all without provoking the merest hint of a tail slide.
Pushed to the absolute limit of speed and grip, though, the Giulia Quadrifoglio will eventually understeer. That, however, of easily cured with a moderate lift off the power.
With the fun police banished, the Alfa’s 503 horses are more than happy to oblige when it comes to spinning up the rears with a firm prod of the right pedal on corner exit. Despite its huge power and quick steering, kicking this car sideways isn’t overly scary.
The sensation is one of amiable playfulness, almost as is if this Alfa enjoys a little of the sideways stuff and wants the driver to have his share of the joy. By contrast, it is not difficult to get the impression that certain of its German rivals are on a mission to prove their superiority by looking to catch out inferior drivers and spit them backwards off the tarmac.
Full speed driving in the Alfa is every bit as much fun as it is in any other car in its class – perhaps even more so. The fairly fast driving experience is similarly enjoyable, but does require a degree of preparation.
While the twin turbo V6 is hugely powerful, it can prove a little sleepy lower down the rev range. Flooring the throttle at below 2,000 rpm takes it somewhat off-guard, requiring a few beats to wake the herd for a full-on forwards stampede. Sudden overtakes on single lane roads, then, may well require a few swift tugs on the downshift in order to be safely completed.
Overall, it&#8217;s fair to say, though, that the Giulia Quadrifoglio is the car Romeo fans have been waiting for. For a very long time. Now, those sporty driving enthusiasts, who also have the inconvenience of having to transport their family from time to time, no longer have to choose between theirs heart favouring Italian flare, while their head fixates squarely on the innate superiority of all things rear-driven and German.
All said, the Giulia Quadrifoglio is a genuinely excellent driver’s car, one wrapped in all the aesthetic joy and historic pride that Turin can muster. It seems certain that this Alfa will also confer a certain degree of exclusivity, as most fast saloon buyers are still like to opt for the conventional reassurance of a BMW, an Audi or a Mercedes.

Tag: cars