2017 Antiyita International Motor Show

[kingtj44]

The 2017 LT 850 Azure Prototype By Celerimus Automotive

A bold statement in hypercar design

What makes the Azure a hypercar?

Development of the Azure has been extensive, but as you can see, it has paid off. The Azure is faster, cheaper, and more luxurious than any previous model. With a top speed of 237.2 MPH (381.7 km/h), it will easily do laps around most performance cars in the industry. Not only that, but this piece of engineering has proven itself on the tracks of Nurburgring itself with a track time of 6:29.85. At the Automation Test track, this car also shines with a lap time of 1:46.86. This luxury vehicle is nothing to laugh at.

What powers the Azure?

Nothing other than a brand new 8.4 L V12 turbocharged engine designed specifically for the Azure in-house. This highly tuned engine produces 1555 HP at 7600 RPM, making it one of the fastest accelerating engines Celerimus Automotive has designed. Thanks to the 60 valves, AWD system, and optimized twin turbo design, the Azure can accomplish a very speedy 0-62 mph in just 2.1 seconds. You might not know looking at the amazing figures for this car, but we actually optimized the engine to use 91 RON fuel instead of higher grades, which allows us to effectively sell this car anywhere in the world because of the universal high availability of that fuel type. All in all, this car straddles the line between control and outright performance.

Tell us about the interior and comfort of the Azure

You won’t find any standard bucket seats here. The Azure has some of the most luxurious interior of any model from Celerimus Automotive. It features a full leather cabin, including imported wood from South Africa and leather from Sardinia, Italy. The cabin makes extensive use of glass and wood accents, as well as electronic assists to ease in driving. We understand the control and thrill that a manual transmission provides many enthusiasts, but as a luxury car based roughly on a Grand Touring style design, we also wanted to keep the shifting labor minimal and offer an automatic alternative, all while keeping in mind the sporty nature of the car itself. Thus, we decided to add a duel-clutch 7-speed sequential transmission with an automatic mode, for comfort. Don’t worry, however, your long journeys cruising in the Azure won’t be done in boredom. We have installed a top-of-the-line HUD entertainment system that is capable of being voice commanded, and is controlled through motions of the driver’s hands. The driver can easily stream music, video, and calls right onto the windscreen of the car, and also includes active driving assists and built-in navigation that can show you where to go live on the road right in front of you through the HUD system. For optimal sound quality, the Azure contains 28 speakers around the cabin with surround-sound for total immersion. If that weren’t enough, the cabin includes a quick-action AC system, heated seats that are electronically adjustable, pedals and steering wheel that are electronically adjustable, and an automatic engine starter linked to your key fob. Through a mode selector on the dash board of the car, the seats can be switched into “sport mode” which will raise the edges of the seats, effectively turning them into luxury bucket seats. Mounting points appear for race harnesses in “sport mode” so that drivers of the Azure can take full control of its mighty power. Of course, we also had to go with scissor doors for the design of the Azure.

Are there any unique features that the Azure has that you would like to share?

Of course! The Azure has truly been a unique and intense undertaking by Celerimus Automotive. For this design, we really focused on the essence of control and power that makes a hypercar a hypercar. We focused mostly on weight-saving features, and eliminated as much excess weight as we could. The only area we didn’t compromise was the interior, because we figured: what is the point in driving such a car when you have to be miserable in a bare-bones interior? In addition to weight-saving measures, we optimized the engine for quick and steady performance, and installed a unique 4-fin wing design that can be hydraulically lowered or raised depending on computer and driver input throughout the drive. In addition, we aerodynamically crafted this car to perfection, and our unique design provides great grip and handling throughout the drive, so that the driver can truly be in control of the power that this car offers. That is what the Azure is all about. Power. Control. Luxury.

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Summary

Engine:
Type: 8418 cc turbocharged V12
Power: 1555 HP at 7600 RPM
Torque: 1523 Nm at 6800 RPM
Redline: 8100 RPM
Fuel: 91 RON (Regular grade)

Performance:
0-62 MPH (0-100 km/h): 2.1 seconds
Braking: 62-0 MPH (100-0 km/h): 24.51 meters
Top speed: 237.2 MPH (381.7 km/h)
Automation test track time: 1:46.86
Nurbergring track time: 6:29.85
Handling: 1.60g at 140.1 MPH
Efficiency: 12.0 mpg (19.6 L/100km)

Chassis:
Body: Carbon fibre panels and monocoque
Suspension: Pushrod (front). Pushrod (rear).
Weight: 3512.6 lbs (1593.3 kg)

Projected Pricing:
$218,100

Celerimus Automotive.

“Perfection doesn’t have to be a compromise.”

[kingtj44]

I know my post is a few hours late, but I just wanted to post it because I had already drafted the post. I apologize for any inconvenience.

[JohnWaldock]

you’ve got until the 21st, so you’re well in time

[Leonardo9613]

@JohnWaldock, @Rk38 Wrote this:

" Since we didn’t clarify initially I’ll allow any late final presentations until Monday 15th of May @ 10.30 AM UTC +8 then the rest of the show is left for the people and brands to explore exhibits, the city, parties, booth babes and of course polls for best cars in certain categories. "

(Quote didn’t function for some reason)

[JohnWaldock]

ah, my bad.

[Dorifto_Dorito]

#Merciel 2017 Verona

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OOC

“Hey remember that car company named ‘EADC’, yeah I wasnt really a fan of that name, it sounded too forced…so Ive come up with a better name (somehow making it French ), new lore and stuff ready for UE4! But for now heres the new Merciel Verona (Totally not redesigned for ATCC:Reborn)!”

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##Merciel Verona Ciel

The new Merciel Verona was unveiled earlier this year at NAIAS alongside the new facelift of the Merciel Weasel and the Merciel Corsair. With the partnership of Mericel and Japanese car manufacturer Shinomara, Merciel will be able to bring affordable cars all over Asia! The base trim, Ciel, can be fitted with a smaller 1.3L i4 or the larger 1.5L variant of i4 QL engine family, found in Merciel Rally Cars since 2003. The interior is standard with a basic radio, CD player and Air Conditioning. The safety features found on this car as also standard, given 3 Stars by EuroNCAP, making this car very safe. Prices for the car in Asia haven’t been finalised yet, however expect prices to start from as low as $15,000

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##Mericel Verona Sportif

The Sportif trim of the Mericel Verona is the more premium sports trim of the Verona. With either a larger 1.8L QL NA or a smaller 1.5L Turbo, the Sportif is also fitted with sports interior and a standard radio/satnav and Climate Control. With the more powerful engine, new vented disc brakes were added along with some new sportier suspension. However, while the Sportif is heavier than the Ciel, the Sportif is more responsive and is more fun to drive with the thicker sports compound tyres. As with the Ciel, prices in Asia haven’t been finalised yet, but expect them to start from about $23,000

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##Merciel Verona Évolution

As a surprise, Merciel have also unveiled their latest attempt at challenging Erin in the World Touring Car Championship with the Verona Évolution. This new Verona will be replacing the older 2014 Merciel Sprint which had a somewhat successful season last year coming 5th overall. Merciel are hoping that this new Verona has what it takes to catch up to Erin

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[Starfish94]

Been missing all the fun here, just want to let you guys know probably will not return that soon, been very busy with my things for now !

[DeusExMackia]

#Daily Round-Up 5
It’s been a busy week here at Antiyita for myself. I’ve been absorbing the wonderful local culture and driving a multitude of vehicles too, which I’ll be telling you about over the remainder of the week. In the meantime, there have been a few announcements made…

…first of which comes from Celerimus, who have launched the Azure hypercar, which on first glance appears to be two cars. The front seems to be a from a 1990s concept car and the back, which is very nice indeed, looks like it belongs in a RoboCop remake. I’m confused at how the back manages to be so modern and well thought out while the front is so strange and oblong. Still, it’s an incredibly advanced car with all the usual hypercar tropes, though one feature worth noting is the 28 speaker sound system. I don’t know why you need that, but there you are. An 8.4l Bi-Turbo V12 sits at the back, delivering a sweet 1555hp to all four wheels. The lap times look incredible and amazingly it runs on 91 RON petrol!
We’ll be finding out just how good or bad it is in a roadtest later this week.

In the meantime, EADC became Merciel in an usual turn of events and have relaunched their plucky Verona midsize. The looks have been improved and it now features a lovely rear light strip which I certainly approve of, while the rest of the specs look pretty much identical. It was always a good choice for those wanting a no-frills medium sedan but now it’s better looking and has a better name. How can you argue with that? The car will becoming to Asian markets later this year.

There were also some suspicious glances from the Erin booth as Merciel showed off their WTCC variant of the Verona. The livery has been very well received by automotive critics, while the team running it have made their intentions clear to challenge the British makers in the popular series.

Meanwhile, earlier this week, I got to know the new Baltazar Qausar Hatch and took it for a test drive around the city.

#Roadtest: Baltazar Quasar (Mk 5) Hatchback
You know, I can’t emphasise how nice sometimes it is just stepping into a regular hatchback and not something aimed at high end buyers. And of all hatchbacks to step into, the Quasar is a really good one. Good in the sense that it’s dependable and predictable; you just know what you’re getting with a Baltazar, a solid and well-rounded car.

The new Quasar has been received well worldwide, winning the coveted Best Car Design award in the Common category last year (though ‘Common’ does have a rather patronising tone to it’), and now the hatchback variant has arrived. Like its sedan brother, the smooth and uncomplicated design of the outside is very pleasing on the eye, but they’ve still squeezed in enough edginess to make it interesting without over doing. Competent is the best word to describe the aesthetics; its not going to set the world on fire, but a hatchback doesn’t need to do that anyway.

Moving inside, the interior is laid out nicely as you’d expect, though I was surprised at just how well furnished it is. Even the entry level trim gets faux-leather, as does this mid-ranged Tellurium trim model. 7" touch screen as standard, air con and climate control, some nice metal highlights on the dash and more. It’s certainly a pleasant place to be. This emphasis on premium feel is likely down to this car’s European target market, where features like this make the compact market fiercely competitive. The Quasar will no doubt compete well here, though how it will fair in reality will have to be seen.

Practicality is pretty much as you’d expect. Good rear passenger space, nice sized boot with a low lip and good all round visibility. It’ll be as easy to use as any other equivalent car. Time then to see how it fairs on the busy streets of Antiyita, before seeing what it’s like on more open roads.

Taking it out on to the road, I start to get a feel for the engine. On this trim, I have a 1.6l i4 at my disposal, serving up 123 hp at around 6700 rpm. It’s a good unit, based off of a 2009 design. Response is good, and its nice to drive a small car without a turbo for once too. The best aspect however was the torque band; it’s nice and consistent throughout the midrange, which I found to be very useful when overtaking; you have the power when you need it, and it carries the car with ease. The 6 speed manual is a nice transmission box, though it is a little over geared, with 6th acting entirely as an overdrive and first feeling a bit too long for its own good. For city driving, it’s not quite as good as some of its rivals for this reason.

Economy was lacking on this trim, averaging 41.4 mpg. Other rivals can do considerably better than this, and I have to say that I expected more in this department. The entry level trim looks to be far more up to scratch, but frankly, customers shouldn’t have to buy an entry level trim just to get the best fuel economy. Motorway economy, it should be noted, was a lot better.

The handling is nice, thankfully. A bit soft, but there are very good performance trims if you’re looking for something to blast down a B-road in. The standard car holds itself well on the road, not overdoing itself on body roll and feeling predictable when being pushed the limit. The usual and expected understeer is there, but there’s a slight sense of fun in having to work around that when you’re driving quickly. The brakes were nice too, and incredibly for such a car, it has vented front disks. Good responsiveness, not too heavy handed and perfectly adequate for stopping.

That softness in the suspension however is done with good reason; the Quasar is a very comfortable car to be in, keeping both noise and ride quality in check. At high speed, it doesn’t drone, and over bumps, it rides well. I felt relaxed at almost all times in the car, and could certainly see this as being a nice vehicle to commute in.

The Quasar Hatch is car then that seems to do pretty much everything really rather nicely without standing out in any particular areas either. But, don’t let that put you off; it’s well rounded, which makes a difference in this market.
I liked the well equipped and well designed interior; it’s probably the real selling point of this car, especially given its pricing. It’s certainly very practical and the engine has been nicely tuned, plus its soft driving characteristics ensure great levels of comfort.
I didn’t like the sub-par economy rating, nor the slightly over geared transmission - it just lacks a certain amount of usability in the lower range. Plus, however nice that comfort is, some prospective buyers may be wanting a more engaging handling feel.
Overall, however, its that rounded feel that will probably appeal most to buyers. As a benchmark for this market, this car marks an excellent centre point for what you should expect from a car like this, and it delivers on most areas. There are better choices if you want something more exciting, but as a safe and tidy purchase, the Quasar fits right into that description with ease.

That’s all for now folks, but stay tuned: we have tests of the relaunched Zavir Luna Spider, the 28 Speaker Azure and very special drive in the new Sachiuri Sagitta. Bye for now!

-Gavin Anderson

[Dorifto_Dorito]

Oh btw @DeusExMackia Merciel is now French…just dont ask…

[DeusExMackia]

@Dorifto_Dorito Ah, thanks for clarifying that. Shan’t ask any further

[kingtj44]

@DeusExMackia Thanks for the feedback on the front of the Azure! I’ll try to give it a more modern and cutting-edge look in my upcoming model. I was trying to go for a somewhat Lexus LFA type styling but with more of a hypercar feel, and I purposefully used a similar headlight style to older Celerimus models to give it that sort of “heritage feel” if that makes sense. I’ll definitely give the front some more love in the upcoming model. I think the part that is kind of strange and gives it a 90’s concept feel are the side vents next to the indicators, which I will rectify in the future!

[DeusExMackia]

#Roadtest: Celerimus Azure LT850
There’s always something odd about roadtesting a hypercar, mainly because ‘roadtest’ doesn’t seem to be the right phrase. Maybe it should be “Try not to die while driving this thing” or “How confident are you as a driver in reality?”, though those aren’t particularly catchy. Case in point, the Celerimus Azure, a 1555hp, 237 mph, styled-by-a-12-year-old monster. Let’s see how close to meeting the grim reaper I can get to today.

The Azure, like many other hypercars, is conflation of all the most advanced things you can put on a car today. Magnesium-block 8.4l turbo V12, fully carbon fibre construction, electric-adaptive-active everything and a decadent interior. It’s ridiculous, flamboyant and tasteless - and that doesn’t mean a thing. This appears to be an exact replica of every car you drew as a 9 year old, except you can actually drive it. So however grotesque or stupid it is, I can’t deny how exciting it is too.

As I mentioned in my initial thoughts on the car, the styling is a bit hit and miss. The front is confused, while the back looks excellent. The sides, which I didn’t mention before, are a little messy, but they do follow the rule of “put as many vents as you can on it for no reason whatsoever” very well. And in profile, there’s no denying the sleekness it has to its body.

Inside, well, that’s hard to explain. It’s covered in speakers, what appears to be Denon home-cinema system is shoved into the dash and the dials look like they came off an F-38 Lightning. Still, it is very comfortable despite the craziness to it.

And now, for the main event. Starting the engine. Oh my.

I press the red ‘ENGINE START’ button, though it may as well say “MAIN BOOSTER IGNITION” or “ARM/DISARM” on it. The noise that suddenly fills the cabin is phenomenal; it turns out that this car has a 7" exhaust, otherwise known as “no exhaust at all”, and even the huge amount of leather padding can’t cover it. It’s as loud as some race cars and my ears soon start to whine.

Still, the noise is good, and it hints at the immense amount of power sitting behind you. It still amazes that this thing runs on 91 RON, which should make it one of the cheaper hypercars to run on paper, not that that will matter. The fuel economy is bad, though not dreadful - I’ve seen worse. But that doesn’t matter does it.

What matters is how fast it goes. 0-60 in 2.1 seconds, with first gear taking you to 50 alone. The gearbox is insane, almost feeling like a race transmission in its setup, even more so because of how much this thing wants to spin its wheels. Even with that AWD system managing to split the power, even pressing the pedals slightly too hard will result in loss of traction. Don’t even think about turning off the TCS, you will kill yourself.

Still, it’s reassuring that it can stop so quickly; the carbon ceramic brakes are phenomenal and can deliver jaw dropping amounts of stopping power, which you will need if you want to drive this car anywhere need the limit. Oddly though, they bias the front more than the rear, which makes for a very scary feel in a mid-engined car; the weight is all on the rear wheels, but the stopping power is at the front, resulting in the car hinging around the front wheels under braking. That means if you brake hard with the front wheels even slightly turned, you will spin. Reassuring.

The handling is also scary. The whole suspension setup is rock hard, with very little give, and the result is that it feels like its fighting the forces of the car. Even though the whole thing is light for such a vehicle (coming in at just under 1.6 tonnes), it can’t help but not clash with the hardness of the suspension, and as a result, it corners flat for all the wrong reasons. It means that it starts understeering at just 40 mph. Any faster, and it swings round and oversteers. There is grip there, but it’s like didn’t tune the car to work within its own limits.

Driving this thing at any speed then is terrifying. You cannot predict how this car will react, nor how to work with it. I’ve never been more scared driving as car. It’s like actually being inside a swarm of wasps. I thought the Veloci Concept R was scary - that doesn’t even compare to this.

What’s such a shame is that at lower speeds, this car is OK. In a straight line, it’s perfectly fine and very, very fun. And there’s no denying how nice the interior is, even if it is mad. But the whole point of a performance car is to drive it on the edge, which with this, will almost certainly end you up in a fireball.
I liked the styling. A lot actually. However lacking in form it is, it’s great to see something this mad once more. And, the interior is very well equipped. Plus, from an engineering aspect, the engine is work of art.
But I detest how this thing drives. It’s terrifying. Massive wheelspin, rock hard suspension, too much noise, killer brakes; it just doesn’t work. It’s too mad. More to the point, it’s dangerous.
However, this doesn’t feel in any way deliberate to me. This kind of power is never easy to manage, and I get the impression that Celerimus could get some incredible results out of this car if they rework it thoroughly. Everything is here for this to be an incredible hypercar, it’s just that it seems to be have assembled wrong. Sort out the suspension, reign in that wheelspin and get some experts in to tune the brakes, suspension etc properly, and I really think this could be something special.

[kingtj44]

Although probably not a very favorable review, it’s still very helpful! that’s my first car I have had reviewed so it was nice to have some of the more “practical” issues of the car pointed out to me by someone who has seen a lot of cars. It’s hard to see some of these issues purely from the numbers especially since I’ve never seen how anyone else actually makes their car on the technical level. I will definitely improve on these areas in the future! Luckily I have found out in the model I’m currently working on that softer suspension can actually be a benefit. The brakes might be difficult to fix because for some reason the front tires just seem to require much more braking force than the rear ones, but it’s very insightful to hear how that can be problematic! I will also look into balancing the brakes a bit more.

[DeusExMackia]

Yeah, I was harsh, but hopefully you can see the reasoning. Top tip with any mid-engined car is to make the rear brakes stronger and the rear suspension harder to deal with the back-heavy nature of it. You’ll get there though! This game is all about trial and error and getting up the learning curve.

[11alualhati]

Welcome to the AL Autos Booth (Recently Updated @ 10:14pm USA PST with new car to feature)

AL Autos is proud to bring a wide variety of cars with us to AIMS! The vehicles we have with us at AIMS are bound to appeal to all audiences from small but practical compact cars, to sporty sports cars, to luxurious vehicles. So without further a do, let’s do our next few reveals!

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The AL Autos Luxus (Trim Shown: 588 XLE)

The Body

AL Autos is proud to present the AL Autos Luxus, a complete redesign of the AL Autos Classe which made its debut at the 2017 Automation Geneva International Motor Show as a luxury LWB sedan. AL Autos was keen to improve on the many mistakes that were made during the conception of the car, mainly, the styling. The styling of the AL Autos Classe was truly outdated compared to the rest of the luxury sedans which made their debut at Geneva. Now, with the re-conception of this car, the Luxus, we’ve made sure to bring the Classe into the 21st century: LED headlamps and fog lamps, exquisitely designed front grilles and tail lamps, and much much more.

The Performance

The Luxus has a more sensible 3.7 L Twin Turbo Flatplane V8 which produces 588 HP which is sent to all four wheels through a sophisticated longitudinal AWD system. In addition, AL Autos has ditched the 9 Speed Automatic and fitted a 7 speed double clutch sequential gearbox, included a re-worked electric LSD, reworked the Double Wishbone (F) and Multilink (R) suspension system. This allows the Luxus to go from 0-62 MPH in 4.4 seconds, achieve a top speed of 178.2 MPH (286.8 KPH), and set a generous lap time of 1:23.4 on the Top Gear Test Track.

The Luxury

While you are blasting down at highway speeds, AL Autos has done everything to keep you comfortable: Premium Nappa Leather Seats, 12 Speaker Bowers and Wilkins Sound System, Polished Wooden Trim to match the theme of the interior, massaging front and rear seats, rear entertainment screens, front and rear climate control, and AL Autos’ ALConnect Infotainment System: USB Capability, HD Radio, Hands Free Satellite Navigation w/ Real Time Traffic and AL’s WorldConnect which allows the user to see what attractions are nearby, make reservations, check sports teams scores, weather forecast, and so much more!

Pricing

Top Range Model (Shown): $124,494
Base Model: $95,157
Secondary Base Model (V8 N/A): $85,175
Third Base Model (V6 Hybrid): $76,138

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The AL Autos Flusso (Trim Shown: 542 XLE)

The Body

The AL Autos Flusso was another luxury LWB sedan that made its debut at the 2017 Automation Geneva Motor Show in which it’s styling was a bit out of place. For the newest model, we decided to tone down the fixtures a bit from the previous model to go for a simpler yet modern look.

The Performance

The AL Autos Flusso features a downsized but still powerful 3.5 L Twin Turbo V6 that produces 542 HP that is sent to all four wheels through a sophisticated longitudinal AWD system. This is also accompanied by a brand new 7 speed double clutch sequential transmission, Double Wishbone (F) Multilink (R) suspension system, and electric LSD. These components allow the Flusso to go from 0-62 MPH in 4.9 seconds, achieve a top speed of 186.3 MPH (299.8 KPH), and clock a 1:23.5 on the Top Gear Test Track.

The Luxury

AL Autos has done everything to keep you comfortable: Premium Nappa Leather Seats, 12 Speaker Premium Bose Sound System, Polished Wooden Trim to match the theme of the interior, massaging front and rear seats, rear entertainment screens, front and rear climate control, and AL Autos’ ALConnect Infotainment System: USB Capability, HD Radio, Hands Free Satellite Navigation w/ Real Time Traffic and AL’s WorldConnect which allows the user to see what attractions are nearby, make reservations, check sports teams scores, weather forecast, and so much more!

Pricing

Top Range Model (Shown): $95,741
Base Model: $81,185
Secondary Base Model (V6 Hybrid): $79,186
Third Base Model (V6 N/A): $69,854

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Updated 5/18/2017 at 9:30pm USA Pacific Standard Time

The AL Autos Actio (Trim Shown: 800 R)

The Body

The Actio’s body was designed to be as aggressive as possible while also providing an army of aerodynamic features. There are special vents in the front grille which are closed when going at city speeds (<50 MPH/72 KPH), but when you put your foot down and go highway to track speeds, the vents open up to not only provide more air to the engine, but to also provide an extra bit of downforce. The front lip is also an active front lip. When going above 80 MPH / 128.7 KPH, the lip angles down ever so slightly in order to provide just a tad bit more downforce. Then there is the specialized active wing for this car which reads the speed of the air passing over it and adjusts to suit the speed.

The Performance

The Actio has the heart to get your heart racing: A 4.7 L Twin Turbo Flatplane V8 engine pushing out 800 HP to the fat 315 R AL sports compound tires. In addition to this, AL Autos has integrated a Semi-Active Pushrod F and R suspension system, a specialized electric LSD, 285 F AL sports compound tires, a 7 speed double clutch sequential gearbox (Also available with a 6 speed manual) and a gorgeous titanium exhaust system so you can hear all the wonderful noises coming from this magestic beast. This recipe for awesomeness allows the Actio to achieve 0-62 MPH in 2.6 seconds, achieve a top speed of 213.2 MPH (343.1 KPH), and clock a 1:11.4 on the Top Gear Test Track. Even with all of this performance demon trickery, the Actio still manages to achieve an average of 21.6 MPG (Full Power Mode) allowing you to have fun for a longer time.

The Technology

The Actio has AL Autos’ ALDrivingProfile. This allows the driver to choose or customize how they want the car to perform: stability control sensitivity, aero sensitivity, suspension sensitivity, steering sensitivity, throttle/brake sensitivity, etc. There are 3 modes already pre-loaded into the system: normal, sport, and track. If none of these suit the driver’s needs, the driver can customize their own profiles and save it as a custom preset.

Pricing

Top Range Model (Shown): $129,548
Base Model: $110,885

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AL Autos would like to thank you for joining us at this presentation! Look forward to the reveal of the rest of our wonderful machines as AIMS continues!

AL Autos would also like to invite AIMS attendees and any car magazine representatives to test drive any of our wonderful machines currently here at AIMS! We have cars standing by! Find any representative on the floor or head over to the main desk located in the center of our booth!

[DeusExMackia]

#Daily Round Up 6
Antiyita may be drawing to a close, but there’s still plenty going on. More test drives are on the way, and the all important polls will be setup very soon too. Stay tuned!

AL Autos gave us yet another announcement today, showing off some reworked cars that they revealed earlier this year. The Luxus and Flusso have been greatly imprived style wise, particularly the latter which really is quite something. The large amount of chrome may put some off, but this is a luxury car after all, and the smooth design lines are sure to impress. Better still, the top of the range Flusso 542 XLE has 542 hp stuffed under the bonnet, does 0-60 in under 5 seconds and comes in at $95741, meaning that while it isn’t the fastest of the super limousines on offer, it’s certainly an option worth considering if you don’t want to spend so much.

AL then revealed a new supercar, the Actio. The name might be a little underwhelming but the specs certainly aren’t; powerful V8 in the middle, push rod suspension all round, 800 hp to boot and carbon fibre-aluminium construction. That certainly covers all the bases well, and the performance is very, very good too. 0-60 in 2.6 seconds, top speed of 213 mph, TGTT time of 1:11.4 - some might even call this a budget hypercar. We’re not sure it’s quite worth of that accolade, but at $129k, you can’t deny its cheapness as a super car. Certainly the most competent performance car we’ve seen from the company so far.

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Meanwhile, I’ve been down to the Anikatian coast to test a car that was made for sunny days by the seaside; the Zavir Luna Spider.

#Roadtest: Zavir Luna Spider
It’s amazing how some things remain the same wherever you go in the world. Seaside towns are one of them; I may well be on the other side of the world from Blackpool, but even here in Anikatia, there are penny arcades, fish & chip shops and plenty of places to get ice cream. The only difference here of course is that if you stare hard enough to sea, you don’t just see Northern Ireland; here, you see China.

That’s nice then, isn’t it. A sense of familiarity mixed with a good bit of Asia exoticness. Which makes testing this particular car all the more brilliant, as just to add to the cultural mix, it’s an American-Italian make with latin naming. It is of course the recently relaunched Zavir Luna Spider, the choice for budget GT luxury. This new model hasn’t dissapointed; it retains the crisp looks of the standard 6th gen Luna yet conveys elegance with that canvas roof. Speaking of which, it’s time to get it off.

I head up the coast road, away from Anityita. The mountains to the right make for a gorgeous back drop as I cruise along by the coast. You really couldn’t find a better place to test a car like this. The mid-range Spider is just as well equipped as the equivalent mid-range models of the base car, aside from some extra details and exclusive dashboard design that signify that this is the Spider. Part of me wishes the faux leather was real leather, but then again, you could just go for a more expensive trim.

At $28,485 it’s well priced, certainly fitting into the entry-level sports car market well, yet offering something a bit more than just that. This isn’t really a sports car, though there are plenty of features fitted to make it seem that way. The semi-active suspension for instance, which offers enough comfort for cruising but also isn’t so soft that it feels sloppy; the gearbox, which although has two ratios for overdrive, is still a DCT and very responsive; the brakes, which are all-round vented discs to ensure you always slow down regardless of whether your entering a tricky right-hander or trying to avoid an accident. It’s a nice balance.

And then, there’s the engine. It’s a sonoruos 2.7l V6, quite large for a car such as this, but glorious in every way. The tuning is very much in the vein of GT cars; 253 hp that is delivered over a gradual torque-power curve that offers plenty of usability without being twitchy. And my god the noise is good; all the more reason to have the roof off. V6s are Zavir’s speciality, and this one is a gem.

That slightly unaggresive tune though does once again hammer home a point; this is not a sports car, and it should not be bought as one. Instead, it’s a cruising machine. A compact one at that, but that makes it a little more special. It can still deliver punches; 0-60 in 5.9 seconds for one, and the handling is sharp at most speeds, though it ends up feeling more rounded. Don’t worry though, it’s still tons of fun to drive.

This car really satisfies best at lower speeds. Keep it under 40 or 50 through the bends (mph that is), and it is splendid. It just doesn’t feel comfortable going any faster, and pushing it to the limit isn’t as satisfying as in some other cars. But remember, this isn’t that type of car anyway.

We arrive in another town; who knows what its called. The views are excellent - we’ve made it to the north eastern stretch of coast. Around the town, the Spider is just as easy to use as the normal car. Obviously, visibility is a little constricted if you have the roof up, but otherwise it’s as easy to use as any other compact. Some of the standard features on this trim are also very nice, including automatic parking, a great sound system (though not the B&W one that can be optioned - one does wonder how many companies use them…) and a brilliant infotainment system. You can’t deny that it keeps you comfortable.

That said, I don’t like everything about it. For one, the rear seats are quite cramped. There is space there for sure, but it’s hardly usable (not that that isn’t the case on any equivalent car). And while the efficiency is good, the gearing is very wide at the lower end, which can feel a little odd. Plus, something tells me that it could be just a little more comfortable. The suspension setup is great for driving quickly, but around town it felt a little lacking. And, the safety is lower than average for a compact, which was a little disappointing.

Overall though, I was pleasantly impressed. This is a delightful little car that brings GT style characteristics to an affordable level, and it manages to do it with very little compromise.
I loved the engine - it’s magical, truly - and the performance. It feels fast without being too nippy; grownup, if you will. It looks great from every angle and having the roof down is simply divine.
That said, I feel as though it could be a little more comfortable, and a bit better geared too. Plus, the safety is a bit low for such a car.
But what really matters on a car like this is how it is to drive, and on the winding coastal roads I took it on, it was excellent. Obviously you do need the sun to be shining and for it to be warm enough to have the roof off, but those are minor things to arrange. Be in no doubt however that the Spider is back, and in very good form indeed.

That does it for today. We’ll be starting the polls very soon, so stay tuned for those. Bye for now!

-Gavin Anderson

[Hshan]

Heh, so it seems that I’m going in the right direction, but I could stuff more “premium” in that supposed-to-be-premium compact - which I think I’ll do when I’ll be rebuilding Luna for the Unreal. Especially that safety… I might be too much concerned about lightness of the car Thanks for the great review

[Empire]

Oooh, This was a cool thread to read through. Some really nice and original cars.

[anon14927014]

2018 Cornaldie Automotive Sapphiro

Luxury. Beauty. Soul.

Experience the very essence that defines Cornaldie Automotive when you drive the Sapphiro LS trim. It sweeps over you on every mesmerizing drive with power and sophistication, with a timeless and elegant look. Craftsmanship at it’s finest with state of the art engineering produces a hand stitched, quality machine that pushes all the boundaries of luxury and performance. Cruise in comfort with the wind in your hair, with effortless momentum from a smooth, soulful V12 BiTurbo.
MSRP: Starting at $111,000

Sapphiro LS

Power. Performance. Comfort.

Make a bold statement with the Sapphiro GTP. Your trackdays will never be the same. Be fast, cunning, competent, but also…comfortable. Our state of the art Active sport suspension makes every drive comfortable, yet ridiculously quick. Complete the Automation Test Track in 2 minutes and 5 seconds without breaking a sweat, or overheating your brakes; all while maintaining a natural driving feel and enjoying the sounds of powerful V12.
MSRP: Starting at $128,000

Sapphiro GTP

[Grandea]

2017 Zenshi Pike (XPW53B, 3rd Generation Facelift)

The 2017 Zenshi Pike makes it’s way to the 2017 AIMS as a major facelift to the original PW53, which debuted in 2015.

By giving the Pike the Shinka Design treatment, The Pike looks like a whole new machine. Not only is it refreshed outside, it is also refreshed inside in many aspects as well.

One major addition to the 2017 Pike is the addition of a standard power split tailgate with configurable opening heights for the top part of the hatch. Another addition to the car is an active suspension system which allows for the Pike to adjust it’s ground clearance when going through multiple terrains.

The aggressive, brutish looks the Pike has isn’t just for show either. Using the SA48-GDA engine found in the GT as well, the 4.8L V8 sports 444 HP and 371 lb-ft and can propel the large 2400+ kg vehicle to 100 KM/H in 5.7 seconds. Like before, all Pikes come standard with a 6-Speed AvanTec transmission.

Standard equipment on the Pike include leather upholstery, power front driver and passenger seats with memory function, tri-zone climate control, D-ACT driving analysis system, backup camera, active suspension system, 8 inch touchscreen system, and power rear split tailgate.

The top of the line 4.8 GT SM-AWS comes standard with a Nakamichi audio system, 9 inch infotainment system, dual power sunroof, power folding mirrors, power tilt/telescopic steering wheel, power second row seating, rear passenger entertainment system, auto windshield wipers, 360 view camera, and power retractable sidesteps.

More to come on the Pike, as specs for the 4.8 GT SM-AWS is available here in Antiyita.

SPECS:

Chassis Code: SAPW53B
Weight: 2431 kg

Engines: SA48-GDA 4.8L 32V Naturally Aspirated V8
Power: 444 HP @ 6500 RPM
Torque: 371 lb-ft @ 5000 RPM

Transmission: 6-Speed AvanTec
0-100 km/h: 5.7s
80-120 km/h: 3.8s
Top Speed: 240 km/h without limiter

Fuel Economy: (Ci/Co/HW)
4.8 GT SM-AWS: 13/14/17 MPG

Japanese MSRP:
¥7,399,130 (~$65,500)

Journalists who sign up on the Zenshi booth (PM me) will be able to check out the Zenshi Pike 4.8 GT SM-AWS '17 and take it for a spin.