London, renowned as the nation’s epicentre for high-end automobiles, is facing a growing concern as a recent surge in thefts targeting supercars has placed owners on edge. In recent weeks, criminals armed with sophisticated methods have been specifically targeting Ferraris, prompting a city-wide frenzy to secure these prized possessions.
For the past decade, London has been a sought-after summer destination for ultra-high-net-worth individuals, who transport their private supercar collections to the city for leisure. However, over the last three months, a notable escalation in high-value vehicle thefts is posing a threat to supercar ownership in London, as reported by Windrush Car Storage, a discreet sanctuary offering top-tier security for exclusive vehicles.
During a fateful Saturday at the end of May, Windrush was inundated with phone calls from anxious owners seeking secure locations for their cherished vehicles, responding to a flurry of reports on stolen Ferraris across the city. Among the stolen vehicles were high-value models like the 812 Superfast, 488, and Pista.
Alastair Main, the general manager of Windrush, highlighted the urgency and distress exhibited by owners, especially those with Italian luxury brands, as they hurried to safeguard their vehicles from the rising theft wave. He noted that social media posts from owners, urging the public to be on the lookout and even offering rewards, triggered a surge in vehicles being brought into their secure facility.
Most people would go to Ferrari to collect their new cars or visit the museum and view the history of the famous Italian carmaker. Now Ferrari also offers another reason to visit the factory at Maranello in Italy: the Ferrari Classiche Academy. This is a new activity with driving courses that focuses on various classic cars that helped to create the legend of the Prancing Horse and write the history of their era.
There are different track driving modules for each course which is held over 2 days at the Fiorano Circuit. These modules give everyone, including people new to historic cars, the chance to familiarise themselves with the vehicle dynamics, the gearbox, corner management and many other aspects of driving the cars. There are also sessions which enable participants to learn the techniques used to drive cars produced before electronics and driver aids entered the automotive world.
Four classic models
The programme typically begins with a practical introduction to the cars covered by the course (four 308 GTS and GTBi models, all with various mechanical developments from the base models, and a Mondial 3.2). The cars are raised on a lift and examined to give an idea of the components used and their technical characteristics.
The participants then go on a guided tour of the Officine Classiche Ferrari and the company’s technical archive. Here they can view technical drawings, engineers’ notebooks and race reports for GT and racing cars produced from 1947 onwards.
The subsequent track sessions consist of a series of technical briefings by the instructors on driving techniques for cars with manual gearbox without electronic assistance, including ‘heel and toe’, ‘double de-clutching’ and others.
Once behind the wheel of a historic car, the participants (always accompanied by their instructors) perform a series of driving sessions of increasing difficulty. These take place in a wide range of conditions, including driving in the wet, counter-steering at speed and managing vehicle dynamics.
Driving a powerful supercar like a Ferrari back in the days when there were no electronic systems to prevent you from getting into ‘trouble’ required skill and muscles since there was no power steering. And you had to learn to shift precisely without a computer doing rev-matching too. If you want to know what it was like, book a session at the Ferrari Classiche Academy.
The Royal Malaysian Customs Department made one hell of a bust last Friday when they seized several supercars and other high-end vehicles worth RM12.2 million in Shah Alam, Selangor. 21 cars in total were seized from two car importing companies where they were found guilty of forging declaration documents in bringing them over into Malaysia. (more…)
Speechless. Utterly speechless. Seriously, what could I possibly say or write about in regards to the Mercedes-Benz AMG GTC that would persuade or dissuade you to buy one? Nothing. Nada. Zip. Zilch. Niente. But here I am again, at the wheel of something so automotively audacious that it beggars belief. Granted, I’m fully aware that there are other supercars out there offering similar specs, some even more gratuitous than this, but here’s the caveat; as a ‘complete’ package, this red monster from Affalterbach is hard to beat…
I had to pinch myself twice when I got the offer from Mercedes-Benz Malaysia (MBM) to have this car over the recent CNY break, a grand total of 11 days. Considering the fact normally we only get regular run-of-the-mill cars for 4 days at most, 11 days with something from MBM’s Dreamcarsstable was well, a dream come true really. It was almost poetic that the AMG GTC was painted a stark shade of bright red, a very ‘ong’ (lucky) colour for Chinese New Year2019 indeed.
The videos above already say everything I feel about this car, so instead of telling you why you should buy it in this article, I’m going to highlight 5 points on why you shouldn’t! Here we go…
Looks: Being an attention grabber ain’t for everyone
While fully aware that looks are indeed very subjective – some still think the Fiat Multipla is a beauty queen – I didn’t meet anyone over the span of 11 days that wasn’t simply bowled-over by the way the AMG GTC comes across. With its short rear-end, and very long front-end (housing an absolute beast, more on it below) the GTC definitely tips its cam-covers to the days of iconic roadsters like the Jaguar E-Type. The formula is simple, but the execution is extraordinarily difficult.
And unlike the aforementioned Jag, the GTC doesn’t suffer the indignity of looking like it’s riding on stilts. This is one of the widest cars I’ve ever tested (check the last photo in the gallery, it almost didn’t fit in my porch) and it sits squat to the road, giving it a very muscular stance. The whole package comes-off brilliantly, and to me the GTCs proportions are spot-on perfect.
So perfect in fact that it received heaps of attention everywhere it went, and sometimes that got a bit lairy because other drivers come way too close to have a better look. And on more than one occasion I actually saw drivers taking photos of this car with their phones while doing 110kmh on the highway; one hand on the wheel, one hand on the smartphone. Highly dangerous because your hands inadvertently steer where you look. So if you want to keep a low-profile in life, this is not the car for you. Really.
Specs: 1 Man, 1 Engine
“All show, no go” definitely doesn’t apply to the GTC. With 550bhp and 680Nm of torque from a 4-litre V8 Bi-Turbo engine up front sitting right over the axle, this car will sprint to 100kmh faster than it took you to read this sentence. About 3.7sec actually, in 4 different ‘selectable’ drive modes. Keep the power on and it’ll see a top-speed of 317kmh. Being a bona-fide AMG means that one engineer was responsible for this cars’ engine (Fabian Rou, take a bow) from the first bolt to the last nut. AMG prides itself on its “One Man, One Engine” credo, and that man’s signature is proudly displayed on the engine cover. Power goes to the rear-wheels via a 7-speed dual-clutch auto transmission with steering mounted paddles.
This car is blindingly quick, there’s no other way to put that, and honestly it’s a speeding-ticket waiting to happen because it doesn’t feel like it’s moving while doing legal highway speeds. If you’re not paying attention, 160kmh feels like eighty. This is not an exaggeration. That’s how well this car is sorted.
Comfort: What’s that?
Right, so being a strict two-seat roadster, it’s a bit of a given that colossal amounts of interior space are not to be found in the GTC. so if you need that, buy an SUV instead. There are suspension settings to choose from, however, riding on those 19- and 20-inch AMG wheels (which cost more than my whole car) shod with 35-series tyres aren’t going to offer the most plush ride you’ve ever experienced. Don’t forget this is a supercar offering superlative performance, so if you want comfort, buy an S-Class instead. And as can be seen in the video, there’s not much boot-space either. Again, if you need cargo space, buy a truck.
Price: If you have to ask…
More than a million after taxes. You need a very, very healthy bank account to keep this baby on the road, for not only is its annual road-tax quite a hefty sum, things like those super-grippy Michelin Pilot Super Sport tyres are going to require replacing quite regularly and those, well, let’s just say you could buy another whole used-car for the price of 4 of those. I think it’s very fair to say that if your bank account doesn’t reflect two commas (and the first numeric can’t be anything from 1 to 9) you’d be ill-advised to own this.
Ownership Experience: Can you live with it daily?
Well, let’s get this out of the way right now, no, the GTC is not a daily-driver by any stretch of the imagination. This is not the kind of car you buy to trundle to work and back home with. This isn’t even really a car anymore to be perfectly honest, it’s a statement. The AMG GTC is something you buy not to fulfill a need, it has been created to satisfy a want.
That’s why it’s classified as a ‘Dreamcar’ by Mercedes-Benz themselves. This is the kind of car you dream of owning someday, to be used for fun – and only that – especially on weekends, for the occasional Sunday leisure drive, or to attend some glitzy gala event where you step out of it onto a red carpet, lined with red velvet ropes and paparazzi. The rest of the time, this car will be sat at at home, looking absolutely resplendent. The kind of car you look at, admire and quietly say to yourself “Yeah, I deserve this…”. Mercedes-Benz, making dreams come true for over a century. What an incredible car this is. – Chris Wee.
Vantage. Seven decades as an iconic model and heartbeat of Aston Martin; the evocative name for a magnificent bloodline of thoroughbred sports cars – the revolutionised rendition made a grand arrival at Aston Martin Kuala Lumpur today. First used in 1951 on a high-output engine option for the DB2, Vantage was quickly established as a model in its own right. Highlights include the William Towns-designed V8 vantage, spectacular twin-supercharged V600 Le Mans and the much-loved V8 Vantage. Today, this formidable sporting dynasty is poised to hit new heights with the introduction of the new Vantage.
“This car is the second new model under our Second Century Plan. The second of seven new models in seven years,” explained Ms. Nancy Chen, Head of Sales Operations for Aston Martin, Southeast Asia (below, right) during the launch. “It (Second Century Plan) is a bold plan, and it is working. We have made a strong start with the DB11, taking Aston Martin back into profit earlier this year. The new Vantage will build on this success, and take the company to greater heights.”
Predatory Stance-Inspired Design…
The spectacular new Aston Martin sports car, powered by 4.0-litre, 510PS/685Nm twin-turbo V8 mated to eight-speed transmission, is channeled by its bold and distinctive design language. Pure, sculptural forms create an athletic, predatory stance, while the minimal front and rear overhangs, muscular flanks and broad haunches express the agility and dynamism inherent with the car. Its new head and tail lights form dramatic new signatures, giving the Vantage unmistakable road presence and contribute to a strong, individual identity within the growing Aston Martin model range. FULL specifications can be found after the photo gallery below.
“The new Vantage is purposefully designed as an independent statement of poise, performance, and a beautiful distinction of meticulous British craftsmanship that commands a predatory character, whilst retaining the key principles; purity and beautiful proportion. It is crafted for the independent thinker, one who has a strong and individual identity who wants to make a statement with their car,” said Mr. Gabor Csurgai, Regional Managing Director of Wearnes (two pics above, left).
For the FULL details of the new Aston Martin V8 Vantage, click to download this: Aston Martin V8 Vantage PR
And here’s the video of the official roll-out of the new Aston Martin V8 Vantage, its maiden debut in Malaysia!
The new Vantage will be available for viewing in the showroom. For viewing appointment, please call +60 3 2163 1196. Estimated price from RM1,600,000 after duties. The Aston Martin Service Centre is located at Lingui Industrial Park, 15 ½ Miles, Sungai Pelong, 47000 Sungai Buloh, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia. For more information, visit www.astonmartinkualalumpur.com
For the FULL Spec sheet of the Aston Martin V8 Vantage, click to download this: SPECS AM New Vantage V8
Selamat Hari Raya folks! Hey, have you heard of an Alfa Romeo Disco Volante? You don’t really need to be a car fanatic in this instance, because even if you have an appreciation for the finer things in life, art for example, this would appeal to you…
Carrozzeria Touring Superleggerais a coach-builder that dates back all the way to 1928. An incredibly skilled team of master craftsmen who can take something that’s already quite beautiful and turn it into something extraordinary. Take for example this Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione below…
At the hands of Touring Superleggera, they took that 8C, and produced the incredible Disco Volante by hand. What you see below is very likely the most beautiful car that’s been created in the last half century at least, one of only 7 in the world, it’s the Touring Superleggera Disco Volante Spyder… and I drove 700km in total just to meet it in person.
When I heard that there was actually one unit in Singapore, at EuroAutomobile, it didn’t take me very long to decide that I simply had to go see it, despite the 4-hour journey one-way. The only other person I could think of to make the trip with me was Bobby Ang of EVO Aurizn, because I remember distinctly having a conversation with him about the Disco Volante some time ago, and the words that stuck were that the DV just happened to be his dream car…. so at 5am one recent morning, we set-off for Singapore in a Volvo XC90…
The journey, which we dubbed “In Search of… the Disco Volante”, was arduous to say the least, especially the causeway crossing, but all that changed when we reached EuroAutomobile @ No. 24 Leng Kee Road in Singapore, at the heart of ‘Motown’. And there she was… Here’s the video of my first viewing, something I never thought would happen, ever.
Created by Carrozzeria Touring Superleggera, the Disco Volante, which translates from Italian to ‘Flying Disc or Flying Saucer, is the most incredible looking car you’ll ever clap eyes on. 007 Bond fans will of course remember that ‘Disco Volante’ was the name of the hydrofoil yacht that belonged to the villain Largo from SPECTRE in the Bond movie of 1965, Thunderball, as well as its remake in 1983, ‘Never Say Never Again’.
Hand-crafted by one of the oldest and most gifted coach-builders in the world, here’s what good ‘ol JC had to say about it in this episode of UK Top Gear back in 2014…
That was of course the coupe, and what we drove a total of 8-hours to and fro to see was the latest Spyder, one of only 7 in the world. Priced at SGD$ 1.68 million before taxes, we’re hoping it’s snapped up by someone from Malaysia, seeing as how it’s a left-hand drive and (ironically) LHD cars are illegal in Singapore.
Pictures really don’t do this car justice. You really do have to see it in the flesh to completely understand just how incredibly special this car is. It isn’t a car anymore per se, it’s a driveable piece of hand-crafted automotive art that borders on erotica. Would I buy one? It’s a no brainer, of course I would, if I had the means, and yes, I’d park it in my living room between drives, and just ogle it for hours…
It’s also an investment for sure, since there are only 7 in the world, prices will definitely skyrocket in the near future. I can honestly say, hand on heart, you could park a Disco Volante next to any other modern-day supercar, and no one, absolutely no one, will pay any attention to the others. And then we spotted this…
After the most memorable 2hrs I’ve had in recent memory, Louis Yong of EuroAutomobile let us in on a little secret. They also have a Touring Superleggera Berlinetta Lusso! Based on a Ferrari F12 Berlinetta, I’ll let the short video below do the talking. It’s simply, incredibly, unbelievably beautiful too…
And now a quick shout-out to all Alfa Romeo Owners in Malaysia, if you happen to own one of the newer AR’s like the Giulia & Giuletta, EuroAutomobile would like to invite you to bring your cars over to their premises for a full-check up, service and repair. EuroAutomobile can also arrange the sale and export of any new Alfa Romeos that tickle your fancy, including the Disco Volante that we came to see. And last but not least, a BIG thank you to Louis Yong of EuroAutomobile for hosting us and putting up with our juvenile fan-boy antics! – Chris Wee.
A confirmed future classic, the incredible Ferrari SP38 – the latest offering from Ferrari’s One-Off Programme – has been unveiled at Fiorano where, after the ceremonial handover to one of Ferrari’s most dedicated customers, (We weren’t told who, Nick Mason maybe? – Ed.) the car was immediately put through its paces in a series of hot laps.
Designed by the Ferrari Design Centre on the chassis and running gear of the 488 GTB, this unique car reflects the specific vision of a client with a deep passion for racing. The result is a model that can be driven both on road and on track, while at the same time expressing all the beauty and innovation inherent in Ferrari’s road cars.
The all-new bodywork, in a newly conceived three-layer metallic red, marks a radical departure from the language aesthetic of the donor car. The twin-turbo, twin-intercooler set-up of the award-winning 488 GTB inspired the team to reference the mighty F40 as an icon from which to instruct the project’s general direction.
Compared to the 488 chassis, the visual mass of SP38 appears concentrated over the rear wheels as the wedge design sharply stretches towards the front. In plan view, the strongly tapered nose expands towards muscular wheelarches, giving the car potency and agility. Specific inset headlights were designed to be as thin as possible, with the mandatory DRL (daytime running lights) units relocated to add character and functionality to a slim bumper lip reminiscent of the 308 GTB.
On the side, the defining air scoop of the 488 GTB is completely concealed where the sheet metal folds in on itself from the low belt-line on the door and into the rear wheel-arch and three-quarter light.
The effect is dramatic, as it reinforces the importance of the rear volume while, at the same time, maintaining the air flow to the intercoolers at the base of the side window. The dynamic styling continues over the engine cover, which sheds its rear glass and is treated as a flip-up assembly in carbon fibre with shutlines slashing the flanks in a gesture directly reminiscent of the F40’s.
Three transversal slats slash across the engine cover to evacuate engine heat, and the smooth integration of a substantial rear spoiler is a hint at the famous rear wing of the F40. The trailing edge of the spoiler links seamlessly with the wing and with the aerodynamic diffuser at the bottom, to create a suggestive frame surrounding the tail volume.
A full Tailor Made cabin trim puts the finished touches on this truly special Ferrari, which will be on public display for the first time at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este on Saturday 26th May 2018.
It’s here! Naza Italia, the official importer and distributor of the iconic Ferrari brand in Malaysia has just launched the all-new Ferrari Portofino (link) at Bukit Kiara Equestrian & Country Resort! And yes, it’s a stunner!
With a price tag just shy of a million ringgit (before taxes), the Portofino boasts 600bhp and a whopping 760Nm of torque from its turbocharged 3,855cc V8 engine, the Portofino is able to #dropthetop in a mere 14 seconds, and sprint from 0 to 100kmh in just 3.5sec.
As mentioned, in “just shy of a million”, we mean the new Ferrari Portofino retails for RM948,000 (base price), before taxes. Pictures don’t do it justice, so check out the official video below!
Ferrari Portofino Photo Gallery (photos by Beng Lim, EVO/Aurizn.com)
