2018 Antiyita International Motor Show

[Radster]

Nathan’s Bizarre Anikatian Day.

Is that a JoJo reference?

This 12th of June has surely been an exciting day for me. I woke up still a bit hungover from the beers I shared with my fellas at Trafikjournalen and Gavin Anderson last night, and I promised no less than five companies to test their cars. How would I manage that in just one day?

I had an idea. I gathered the representatives that asked me for test drives and we staged a day in my life using their cars, switching cars in particular moments of my routine. This was my day.

6:30 AM.

I wake up, have a shower and dress up. The usual.

Once I was out of the hotel I spotted it. The new Ceder Friala. It was waiting for me, dimly lit by the pinkish hue of the Anikatian dawns. Photos are not fair to judge how good this car looks: it’s sober, yet bold, with a striking set of headlights joining in a central fascia made with elegance in mind; seductive lines all around the car, making it one of the sexiest if not the sexiest hatchback I’ve seen so far. The rear is a bit more restrained, if just as sexy, than the front; overall, this is car I’d be proud to be seen in, if only for the looks.

Hoping into the interior is just as nice as seeing the car from the outside. This is no luxury car, but it doesn’t try to; instead it excels at being an excelent modest car, that offers a simple yet very functional interior that feels strong and timeproof - as in it won’t fall off after two years. So off to the Auto Show we set.

I decided to take a B road on the way there, though. The car got me hooked up after some spirited driving, even if it has a slight tendecy to understeer. However, that tendency is understandable as the drivetrain is front wheel drive and most of the weight is at the front as well. That being said, though, the weight distribution is pretty nice for a front wheel drive car, at only a 56% of the weight at the front according to Ceder’s representative. One thing I don’t understand though, why is the power steering hydraulic in 2018? Electric is all the rage, and with some refinement, has just as good feedback.

Now, this Friala might not be a cornering monster, but it’s fun to drive nevertheless. And the suspension is quite soft, meaning every bump is absorbed making sure you’re comfortable all the way to your destination. The 1.7 liter engine is also quite punchy with 170hp very accessible thanks to a really early turbo spool at around 2700rpm; the best of this all is that it is economical power and combined with the six speed manual, the Friala will return 48 milles per galon combined (US).

8:00 AM.

After arriving at the show grounds and having breakfast, I was called by the Farox representative: the Aerio was waiting for me outside the show. And when I saw it in person, damn, it really looked good. While its design is simpler than the Friala’s, it’s just as functional. Now, don’t expect excitement in the design of this car, it’s all about elegance, and it hits the nail in the head at that. This could very well be a presidential car, with seductive lines, a very sober yet modern design and some mild futurism. If there’s something I specially like about the exterior design, is that it feels really consistent throughout the car as well.

Interior is just as “take me to the best restaurant in town” as the exterior. Leather covers the seats, the wheel and as many elements as possible; the rest is very high quality plastic, accompanied by Android Auto, internet connectivity, a high fidelity audio system, and the bunch. But something I didn’t like is that the safety systems don’t feel luxurious. They are more akin to your regular mid sized sedan, and that’s a blow to the car’s image.

But let’s not judge the car for just one thing. How’s driving it like? Well, it’s all about comfort, expect no sportiness from this. The car has a tendency to understeer and the suspension is quite soft. However, too soft for my taste, and even if it makes the car really comfortable, it also makes it bouncy whenever you hit a bump or any salvageable obstacle of any kind. It also rolls quite a bit despite having quite stiff sway bars. But the worst offender for me is the engine. The 3.7 liter v6 falls a bit short for the high weight, and it has a severe flaw: it redlines way too soon, not taking advantage of the whole powerband. As a result, whenever the 7 speed torque converter automatic shifts up, you’ll drop so many revs the car will feel sluggish as a result.

Conclusion? It’s a package with all the right ingredients but without the right tuning. Good idea, bad execution; you name it.

13:45 PM.

I was appointed by IP to drive their Lifestyler to a restaurant in the Anikatian countryside; it was waiting for me just where I left the Farox, and a quick switch later, I was back on the road. I’ll be honest about the looks: I don’t like them. It feels too blobby at times, and the chrome on a clear paint doesn’t really work in my opinion. I must say, though, you can see they experimented; I know they can get the looks right but they’ll have to do a whole lot more experimentation.

However, I’m not the one to judge a book by its cover, and the beauty in this car is in the inside rather. The interior is quite nice, if a bit quirky due to their combination of semi buckets at the front and a beanch seat at the rear. Their infotainment doesn’t have as many features as the Farox, but it held up nevertheless offering an adequate amount of goodies and functions; more than I reckon I’d ever use, so it’s a nice bonus!

Let’s get up and turn the ignition on. Is that the growl of an inline 6? Oh boy, this just got a lot better. Their 2.8 liter turbocharged inline 6 develops 300hp, which, while it falls short like the Farox’s, in this case has a much wider powerband. This makes shifting its 6 speed manual much easier, and, wait for it - it includes a limited slip differential. The package just got a lot better.

However the suspension is not tuned optimally, or at least I feel it that way. It’s stiff…yet bouncy. That’s probably because of the strong springs. The handling is good though, if a bit at the very limit as it’s completely neutral. This means you can upset it easily, and in a car with familiar or pratical pretensions you want understeer if it can lose grip. Anyway, the electronic nannies are there in case you mess up to save the day, and the safety is on the higher end. The AWD system partially palliates this issue, but it’s still there. The fuel economy could also be better, but then again, it’s a heavy vehicle with all wheel drive so it’s understandable.

14:30 PM.

After a nice, traditional Anikatian lunch, my next appointment was with AL Autos to drive their Erucae in RGS2 form in a mountain pass, spirited driving of course.

You’re getting there on the looks AL, but there’s some bits about them I don’t like: a lot of the shapes and elements clash with the body lines, looking out of place; this is even more visible on the rear, with taillights that look…how to describe them? Rigid? I don’t really have an adjective for that, but nevertheless, that needs looking into.

Interior is on the sporty luxurious side. Two semi bucket seats, covered in leather, complemented by an advanced infotainment system comparable to the Lifestyler’s. Commodities are not the main appeal of this car, however, and we should consider performance more than anything else really. Speaking of which, the 0-62 sprint is completed in just 3.6 seconds thanks to their dual clutch 7 speed transmission and electronic LSD sending the power to the rear wheels. That’s not bad at all, if improvable however.

Handling wise the Erucae is like dealing drugs, getting in brawls with the police and running from them in a daily basis: living on the limit. The Erucae really wants to let the rear end loose, mainly because of its excessive camber, and its performance in the skidpad isn’t that good either. It’s a car that demands too much from you input wise and delivers so little. Handling really needs to be revised because, despite the electronic nannies and active suspension, this could be dangerous to drive. Sadly it is not legal to test this thing’s top speed at the highways, but the quoted top speed is 164 mph. Not bad at all, and also a reedeming feature, for the 360hp 2.3 liter i4, which manages the power without much turbo lag.

My last appointment was some sightseeing in Antiyita, where I took the last ride…

16:00 PM.

…and that last appointment was with Kasai to drive their Calibri. Their latest creation is a hybrid city car, with all the right bits to save fuel: turbocharged engine, front wheel drive, skinny tyres and automatic gearbox. With a quoted fuel economy of an insane 78 miles per gallon, this seems like the right car to do so.

The looks are nice and smart, if a bit “unoffensive” for my taste, but the car is definitely not bad looking. Hop inside and the interior is rather nice for a city car of this kind, with finely clothed seats, five full seats and an infotainment system with, once again, features comparable to those of the Lifestyler. They cut down a bit on the safety, however, which, similarly to the Farox’s, doesn’t match the rest of the package.

Driving it in the city, it was to understeer to oblivion and back. No, it’s not healthy understeer to make it easier to drive, it’s really heavy understeer. In the end, this kind of understeer doesn’t make the car easy to drive, but harder even. And that’s despite the whole lot of camber at the front and positive camber at the rear. I think the issue might be in the chassis, Kasai, and that seriously needs some looking into. It’s also the bounciest car I’ve tested so far and quite prone to roll. Not good.

But there’s also really good things in this car. The powerband is nice and wide, and while the 5 speed automatic gearbox might sound like it lacks ratios, it keeps the Calibri inside its powerband nicely. Could get a sixth ratio in there for overdrive and win extra mileage in the process, but still a nice gearbox nevertheless, with the advantage of being easier to replace and/or service.

Speaking of which, another good thing about the Calibri are its low service costs, and more than adequate cargo volume for grocery getting and similar stuff. And the Calibri is pretty comfortable as well. It could be the ultimate grocery getter if you ask me.

[Leonardo9613]

The 2019 Bonham Orwell

Bonham Orwell 2.0 Balmoral in Tour de France Blue

Revised for 2019, the Bonham Orwell has moved the game on in terms of desirability in its class.
The brand new face, with full LED headlights and tail lights, give it a distinctive look, with family cues relating it directly to the top of the range Kashmir sedan, but with its own unique personality, as shown on the intricate DRL detailing.

Down the sides, the body sculpting continues with the carefully styled chrome add-ons and blacked out pillars, creating the impression of a floating roof, which can be specced in body colour, white or black.

At the rear, the car continues with the LED theme and also continues the distinctive Bonham look.

All in all, this is the first crossover you could actually want to buy.

Bonham Orwell 2.0 Balmoral in Tour de France Blue

However, it’s not all show and no go. Underneath, the Orwell is a very credible car, joining the best of Baltazar engineering together with Bonham luxury and exclusivity, The car is based on the cutting edge C/D Platform from Baltazar, with all-round fully independent suspension, a modern DCT gearbox and the new 2.0 engine range.

Said engine is available in 3 states of tune, with 202, 262 and 310 hp. The lowest power model can be had with either a 6-speed manual or DCT, with FWD only. Mid spec models are automatic only, with the option of FWD and AWD, where as top of the range models are AWD and DCT only.

Sales begin in September in China, Anikatia and East Asia. First deliveries for Europe and the USA will begin in October.

Pricing and detailed performance numbers soon on Bonham’s website.

Bonham Orwell 2.0 Balmoral in British Racing Green

Bonham Orwell 2.0 Balmoral in British Racing Green

[DoctorNarfy]

Original song for an Original crossover debut.

The 2019 Shromet Parvus is here.

Embrace your inner desire for discovery in the new 2019 Shromet Parvus. With a striking new exterior design to turn heads, and an equally stunning interior, trimmed with Nappa leather seats and both heated and cooled seats as options. Explore the world in sublime comfort and stay connected with Shromet Harmony 2 Infotainment, Standard on all models.

The all-new 2019 Shromet Parvus is for the go-getters, the adventure seekers, the family that’s always in motion and anyone else who finds meaning in the everyday drive. Because no matter where you’re headed, this midsize SUV has the technology, safety and capability to take you there.

Engines options include Shromet's 1.5L Direct Injected 3 Cylinder turbo, with up to 220 Horsepower, as well as a 2.0L 4 Cylinder Direct Injected Turbo, with up to 270 horsepower. The 2 Liter 6 Cylinder Will also be optional exclusive to the All-Sport Parvus model. Transmissions include either a 6 Speed automatic, as well as an 8 speed ZF automatic. Visit your local Shromet Dealer for exclusive offers on the 2019 Parvus. MSRP: 24,300$

[11alualhati]

Thanks for the review Mr.Computah! Awesome constructive criticism and pointers. I will be taking a look into those points you mentioned

[Knugcab]

PRESS DAY 2

As I said, I took it easy yesterday night, but I am not as sure that every one did (I’m looking at YOU, mr. Garcia!), and fresh for a new day (i’m not as sure that he is that either), I started by having a look in the TURBINA monter. The brand is said to be revived now, but I’ll believe it when I see the cars rolling on the road. They showed some interesting fast wagons and sedans in the Alka series though. But why those cluttered front ends?

To be honest, I was more interested in SHROMETS monter and quickly left for that one. The rebirth of the Interval, let go that it is a concept car, was of course interesting for all automotive enthusiasts. Being all electric, it shows that being green doesn’t have to mean being boring. But for buyers that want to buy an electric Shromet today, Radiant E is the weapon of choice. The Parvus is an interesting looking SUV, that actually seems to have some ground clearance, and probably is cabable outside the main roads too. 3, 4 or 6 cylinder engines will be available, with turbos at least on the two smaller alternatives, 6 or 8 speed automatic are the transmission choices.

Another SUV that seems to be worthy its name is BONHAMS entry, the Orwell, so that was the next company that got a visit from me. It seems to have a fair amount of ground clearance combined with large diameter tyres. Design wise it is up to date, and from the technical specifications it seems to be on par with its competitors, it has, as we have understood it, a 2 litre engine in three variants with between 202 and 310 hp, 6 speed manual or DCT transmission, and either FWD (not on the 310 hp model) or AWD (not on the 202 hp model).

I then saw an opportunity to speak to the MONTES people and asked them why Anderson and Garcia had gotten an invitation to test their cars while I didn’t. It appears like we misunderstood each other yesterday, and I got the opportunity to test drive two of their cars, which I’ll write more about tomorrow.

When I came back, HOLTS had revealed yet another model. There is a joke about the H8 that it will already have recieved all its facelifts before reaching the market. And the final design? Well, maybe not bad, but for some reason, it makes me think of the previous generation Ford Mondeo with the front end of the current one. But sure, you won’t get a V12 in a Mondeo, and not even half of the comfort equipment that the H8 has. So maybe that’s the car for people that wants luxury but doesn’t like being seen? It will probably blend in among the crowd of Mondeos on the highway.

Time for some lunch, and maybe I did a smart move by finding the local Mc Donalds. Exactly as boring as in Sweden, and exactly as safe too, I have to be in shape for tonight I guess, because it appears that I promised Anderson and Garcia that tonight will be the night when hell breaks loose.

After lunch break there was no time to spare. I revisited TSRs monter, and it seems like their “Station wagon” was something more SUV-like. Or crossover, if you ask TSR. We asked for a test drive in the XCross, so maybe tomorrow?

In the taxi to the Arlanda airport before leaving Sweden for the show, we stood still at a stop light. Behind a rusty and shabby 80s Saab 900i. That’s not the most common sight anymore. And… It had the silly little 5-SPEED badge on the rear. Yes, it was hot stuff back then. But nowadays it should be a basic requirement to have AT LEAST 5 gears. But unlike the rusty 30 year old Saab, the $159000 ALBERTUNI Leopardo doesn’t have more than 4 gears. I can’t really say that it is easy to take such a company seriously. And the design looks like a chain collision involving at least a Camaro, a Mustang and a Porsche 959, maybe nice cars but not welded together to one. Nah, I have a hard time believing in the future of this company.

More interesting was the Corsaire Rafale shown by MERCIEL. A classy little sports car as it seems, 525 hp inline six, 250 kg weight reduction and special tuned suspension sounds like a concept that can’t go wrong.

CEDER was the last monter that recieved my visit this day, they are updating their Mirri microcar with a new Inline 3 that is said to give impressive mileage. It also have undergone revisions on both the inside and outside. Interesting!

And now, it’s time to do some automotive journalist…things…together with Anderson and Garcia.

---

OMITTED FROM THE TRAFIKJOURNALEN WEB:

Some hours later:

“HEEEEEEEEEEELAN GÅÅÅÅÅÅÅÅÅÅÅÅÅÅÅÅÅÅR!”

Even more hours later, when the lession in swedish drinking songs didn’t turn out as planned:

“Mr…Gachia…I tell you one…he… thing…you can’t schay…that…IP isn’t…the geatescht automo…bile”

Yet some hours later…

“You know…gavi-hin…if it…waschnt…for my…wi…hife…i’d aschk you…where to…schore…i heard you know…such…thingsch…everywheere in the…wohhorld…”

As time goes by…

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

And too many hours later
ZZzz… mpfh… “TEN O CLOCK AM?!? I DON’T HAVE THE TIME FOR THIS!”

(Beating world record in running from a hotel room to the first taxi available)

[Mikonp7]

Haapala-WRC2018

All your racing needs in one pack!

The FIA-ready car comes with a sealed 352hp 1.6L Inline 4 Turbo engine. Full Alu Panels and Chassis. 6 Speed fully tuneable Seq Gearbox with AWD. Viscous Dif. 0-100 to 4 sec. Comes with Tarmac and Dirt Wheels. Completely tuneable suspension. Comes with all needed Racing equipment including full race seats, radio and cameras around the vehicle. Complete vehicles will start at 18.000$. The shell without drivetrain will be 15.000$.

But for the people without a racing license:

The street legal version!

Make every road your track!

330hp / 336NM. Same drivetrain from the race version. Padded Sport Seats and Entertainment Packet. Comes installed with Power Steering, ABS, TC, ESC. Trim starts at 22.000$

[F.A]

dammit i shouldn’t have looked at Porsche photos while making this car!

[Knugcab]

I wouldn’t worry too much, remember that my entry looks like a boring mix of late 90s Galant, mid 00s Passat and Rover 75 Tourer…no, I am NOT satisfied!

[F.A]

haha i’ll have to participate in the next motor show now that i fixed most problems with that car, i made it go from 4 seconds to 2.6 and made it 7 gears now lmao, also reduced the price

[Holts]

Today, well start with our BQX-4.This is the first gen BQX-4. This trim were showing you right now

Is the LS Trim, the mid range model of the BQX-4
There is a
S (base)

177HP 1.8L Inline 4 with an 9-speed automatic giving you 36MPG combined. FWD, 0-60 in 8.7 seconds, ok for a 3500 pound SUV.

Premium Model

The one we have right here. 3.0L I6 Putting out 287HP and 288lb-ft torque. Also mated to a 9-Speed Automatic Giving you 27MPG and 0-60 in 7.1 Seconds. Interior Has 10-Way Folding Seats, Analog Instrument Cluster, 11 Inch INfotainment And a Sunroof.

Type-HS Model

This one has 380HP. THis is the same engine from the HK5 trova. Still mated to a 9-speed, weighs 4000LBS, 0-60 in 5.5 seconds and 26MPG. Sporty Interior Diffrent COlor Stitching and More.

BQX-4 Premium on Hilltop

MSRP: $25581 (S Trim)
Test Drives Are Available, PM For more Info

[Gamer_Cheetah]

The Shark EX and El Verano ST are ready for test drives. Contact a Westward representative to set up an appointment. (That is, send a PM)

The Shark EX is a limited edition (750 units only) hypercar. It is a mid-engine AWD vehicle with an amazing 6.5L twin-turbo engine capable of a staggering 1,115 hp. The transmission is a 7-gear dual clutch, with a top speed of 226 mph. MSRP $71,396.

The El Verano ST is a 4-door, 5-seat sedan with a FF drivetrain. The 3.0L SmartPower engine delivers 183 hp while getting 30 mpg (US). A computer-assisted 6-gear automatic transmission is standard, as is Westward’s MediaLinq infotainment system. MSRP $18,485. WRT Offroad conversion available.

[11alualhati]

AL Autos Booth @ Antiyita International Motor Show 2018 (Press Day 2/2)

Hello one and all! Welcome to the AL Autos Booth here at the 2018 Antiyita International Motor Show! We here at AL Autos are continuing the release of our brand new lineup!

Continuing from our last press day, here is the release of the brand new AL Autos Actio!

The 2018 AL Autos Actio (Trims Shown: RGR, RGR2, and RGR3

Video Presentation

AL Autos Actio AIMS 2018 Video

Performance Stats

AL Autos’ Draconis Tuning Division will soon lay their hands upon this beauty!

---

That’s all for now! Thank you for joining us here at the AL Autos booth here at the 2018 Antiyita International Motor Show! Next place you will see us is at Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance! Our release schedule can be found here!

[Knugcab]

For a whole bunch of reasons, I entered late the third press day of four, and I could not do any test drives this day. Anyway, it’s getting a bit thin now news-wise. Haapala is showing its roots in a nation that loves motorsports and have raised many stars by showing both street and rally trim, with the street trim not being much tamer. HOLTS revealed their BQX4-SUV, which I think is missing something when it comes to looks, it’s just a bit bland and incomplete, but of course, only a test drive can speak about the rest. WESTWARD is showing their Shark EX spots car and the El Verano ST sedan that we probably will take for a spin too. AL revealed another supercar again, the Actio, the looks are not far from those of the Erucae but being a step further upmarket with starting at 774 hp, after the highest trims of the Erucae. Not a day with much happening really, thank god it was like this today…

[MBT808]

The new Atlas Carbon, track ready performance without breaking the bank. Pick your level of fun with 3 available trims.

The Carbon is always prepared to go all in, are you?

Atlas automotive™(Atlas Zeta & Omega SUV revealed), uncompromising performance.

Test drives available for press. Vehicles available 3 carbon S, 5 Carbon V250, and 2 Carbon V300.

[DeusExMackia]

http://d3hrnetf5izp16.cloudfront.net/optimized/4X/6/5/5/655109c535caa85c373c5564668d0e665cab31a4_1_689x154.png

Press Days 3 & 4

Antiyita 2018 is just hours away from being open to the public, meaning my work here is almost done. Farox’s Aerio has certainly been getting a fair bit of attention despite its lack-of-interesting-features issue, while MotorNation also picked up on its poor suspension setup. Still, they certainly got the sentiment of the car. After quite the night with the Trafikjournalen town, I managed to clear my hang over enough to get this written…

---

Ceder’s 4th gen Mirri city car has had a facelift, with a clear focus on overcomplication at the front end. It lacks flow in my mind, while the rear is a little more composed. The promise of 70+ UK MPG from a petrol car, however, is damn temping, courtesy of the company’s newest OpenSky engines. Worth a look if budget is what you care most about in a run-about.

TSR’s ‘Big, Massive’ XCRoss is very big and massive, especially when it comes to inefficiency. I’m sorry but for a Japanese make, is 23.6 US MPG on your upper-mid trim option really acceptable these days? Especially when its a 3.6l unit producing 300 hp. The styling is also off putting, looking more like a discarded model used in some Gerry Anderson supermarination TV show and taking on strong fish characteristics, and not in a good way.

Bonham’s charming flagship compact SUV, the Orwell, has seen an update for the 2019MY. Now sporting the company’s distinctive bottom grille design and some extra edgy lighting, it certainly goes some way towards being “the first crossover you could actually want to buy”, but the snobbery of the Bonham badge does a lot to work against that. I remain unconvinced (though that C pillar looks very nice).

As if luck would have it, a same-class rival from Shromet was revealed shortling after. The new version of the Parvus is still pretty obtuse in the flesh, and that chrome at the front still looks ugly, but just look at that 2.0l i6 option. THAT is what I am talking about. I still don’t want to buy a crossover hwoever.

Haapala pulled the covers off their factory-ready rally racer, the WRC18. You can see my full dissection below.

Another compact crossover! This time the Holts BQX-4. The name puts me in mind of a cheap Android phone, while the styling is still utterly bewildering, and simply doesn’t compare to the Bonham or the Shromet. The option of ‘different coloured stitching’ also wasn’t particularly tempting.

The covers were also pulled off of the new Atlas Carbon sports coupe, which seems to be targeted at the track-day market. It looks okay, but feels outdated, save for the rear, which is positively hideous. The entry level sports car lacks the composer of rivals from Maesima and Conte, to name a few.

---

Road test time! Click to expand and see my full thoughts.

2018 Haapala WRC18 - ”A rally experience day on steroids

Review: 2018 Haapala WRC18

”A rally experience day on steroids”

There’s something special about the Scandinavian love of motorsport, in particular the off-road sort. Haapala have often been at the forefront of that love, and their newest purpose-built rallyer - cordially named the WRC18 - continues this. There’s little difference between the fully-fledged car I’m driving today and the road going version, made purely to stay in line with homologation regulations, with a mere 23 hp difference…

…and hopefully a few more creature comforts than this. The interior, or rather lack of it, is a barren land of roll cages and harnesses, save for the whacking great digital display in front of me. One wonders where the co-driver is supposed to go in this one seater vehicle.

The 1.6l Turbo i4 unit powering this car is typical of current regulations, peaking at 354hp and shoving a mountain of torque down the drivetrain at just around 4800 rpm. It’s frantic, loud and totally wild, as is the performance it delivers. 0-60 in 5.8 seconds feels lacklustre for a car like this, but on loose surfaces it’s quite something. On the off-road course I was able to test it on, it’s safe to say this thing can shift.

It’s also safe to say that I know nothing about rally driving. Colin Mcrae might have given me a rough idea of what to expect, but I wasn’t able to get anywhere near the full amount of off-road speed this thing can deliver.

What makes the WRC18 different is that unlike rival cars, there’s actually chance you’ll be able to own it, or at least something almost as powerful as it. That might well be a positive to some, but in my mind, it’s hugely let down by how un-special the styling is. The circa-2003 headlights with the stupid amounts of chrome all over them, the stodgy and dull front grille, the Ripspeed catalogue rear lights. It’s overdone and done so entirely in the wrong direction.

And while it might be good as a rally car, I really don’t see why you’d buy a road going version of this, when for a similar price, you could happily convert another vehicle for use as a weekend off road toy. The appeal just isn’t there for me, and it’s made worse by the car’s ugliness.

As a machine, it seems to be good. As a car though, it just doesn’t hit the mark.

- Gavin Anderson

2018 AL Erucae RGS2 - ”Unnecessarily expensive and overdone

Review: 2018 AL Erucae RGS2

”Unnecessarily expensive and overdone”

Of the several hundred trim options on this AL auto’s 43rd car this month, the RGS2 seemed to make the most sense. 361 hp, 1.3ton kerb weight, 0-60 in 3.6 seconds and plenty of optional extras to keep you comfortable. As a mid-range vehicle within the Erucae lineup, it’s hard to judge how well it fulfills its roll. As a car though, it’s probably the best looking vehicle AL have done so far - though it’s hardly difficult to improve on what we’ve seen so far.

Everything, however, is so needlessly over engineered. And while it is very, very well built, the costs are mad. You’re looking at a minimum of $60k (and that’s with no profit for AL) for a car who’s rivals are over 30% cheaper.

While that straight line speed is supercar-esque, the gearing is so short and underdone. There is no overdrive, and a hard limit of just 164 mph, which the car slams into without any flexibility. It feels wrong for everyday road use.

The engine is an improvement, with a decent spool up and tons of mid and high range torque. It’s quite nice to drive a car which gives you that turbo shove-back-into-your-seat kick and then keeps on delivering the more you push it.

Stopping, on the other hand, is terrifying. The brakes are way, way too strong, and even so much as stroking that middle peddle sends the ESC into a frenzy and has you fighting to maintain control. They are so strong.

In the corners, it’s planted and balanced. They’ve tamed that MR oversteer and maintained almost all of the sharpness, which is nice. Although all electric - a detraction I’m always going to point out - it benefits comfort around town and gives you tons of customisability.

Still, $60k for this is far too much, and I can’t imagine maintainence costs are going to be much nicer either. One wonders how much nicer this car would have been if the brakes weren’t so stupid and gearing was more expansive.

It’s getting there, but it’s too expensive for its own good, save for that nice 2.3l i4 unit. Other rivals are better, and a lot cheaper too.

_ - Gavin Anderson_

---

And with that, Antiyita’s press events are done. The public get to see all of this tomorrow, meanwhile I’m spending the weekend as one should do in the Far East by sampling local cuisine, entertainment and seeing the sites. A proper middle class tourist experience is what I’m aiming for.

Until next time, goodbye.

- Gavin Anderson

[Knugcab]

Watch out for the local cuisine…

[Radster]

And Mr Garcia’s affinity to drinking too much beer…

[Chickenbiscuit]

Oops…um, the LMC Nessus Concept cars will be revealed at Paris later this year

[ashwinv16]

Arrowhead Motors Corp
UE4 New Model Line Up

Vyil: Sport Car (S-Segment)

Xelar: Executive Class (E-Segment)

[Knugcab]

The last days at the show was quite hectic, flooded with test drives, and now when I’m soon heading back to Sweden, I finally have the time to put them up on the web. The first two test drives that will be up is for the Monolith Jupiter 525D and the Montes X90 4.5 430 Luxury.

---

MONOLITH JUPITER 525D

First of all…
Yes, this car has a decent sound system. Not great but decent. And my song of choice was Raubtiers “Achtung Panzer”. You will realize why in a moment.

Next, do you have a drivers license that is taken after 1996? If so, then forget driving this in Sweden, unless you have a heavy truck license. The GVW over 5 tonnes breaks the 3.5 tonne limit by far. As long as it is registered as a passenger car. We guess that most of those will be registered as trucks with a dividing wall behind the rear seats. Then a heavy truck license is a must how old your drivers license even is.

And by just looking at this huge beast, one can really see why. This ain’t going to be Joe Averages commuter car to work in Sweden, or anywhere in the world. The engine is something as odd as a 5.3 litre (almost) diesel V12, yes you read that right, and it is of course a torque monster, 385 Nm at idle and a peak of 627 Nm at 2100 RPM, and a maximum power of 369 hp, this vehicle is close to a heavy truck in more than just the registration. For being a huge diesel, the throttle response is fantastic though, and it also is smooth like few diesels are. Following the Monolith tradition, it is probably bomb proof too.

It might feel a bit over the top with a 9 speed automatic to such a strong engine, but of course, fuel economy is one of the reasons, and for its size one must say that the mileage is great, every 100 km driven means a loss of 8.5 litres in the tank and that’s really not a disaster. A top speed of 226 km/h is more than enough for the vehicle type (especially when they will be equipped with the obligatory 90 km/h speed limiter in Sweden) and 0-100 is done in 8.23 seconds, sports car performance just some decades ago. AWD and a viscous differential is there to help when the conditions get slippery, but honestly, don’t expect an offroader in this car at all. Of course, it can cope with really rough, almost non-existant roads, but nothing more than that. The long wheelbase, relatively small ground clearance and street-friendly tyre thread is effectively reducing offroad performance. But very few of them will probably leave the tarmac anyway.
Handling is about what you can expect from a vehicle of this type, it’s like driving a supertanker, but it is stable for what it is. The high driveability almost is tricking one into believing that this is a much smaller and lighter car than it is. When braking it becomes appearant what a tank this is though. 41 meters from 100 is not really the most impressive result today and there is some fading problems. Not even the giant pizzas behind the 20 inch alloy wheels are up to the task of stopping this huge barge stable and secure all the times.
Should it go wrong, however, you are safe inside tonnes of high strength steel. Probably that’s more than you can say about what/who comes into your way. Our guess is that anything smaller or less sturdy than a mountain will be crushed. Safety equipment includes about everything you could ask for, of course including ESC.
Inside, it’s less well appointed than some of its competitors. It’s almost like if Monolith is trying to get some kind of workhorse image by leaving out the fully leather interior and head restraints with integrated screens, while focusing on more important stuff, you won’t be missing anything though, it’s just nothing impressive either. The comfort is, to be honest, adequate. Average, but adequate. It becomes appearant that cars like this one are compromises, not really being great at anything more than being big. Rugged construction and heavy duty springs compromises comfort for utility, which in its turn is not a very strong side either compared to vehicles more specialized on the task of moving goods.

It’s good at being big, and it’s good if you love being seen. And we guess that the (all grey import) market in Sweden of some cars per year will be exactly there. Among people that likes being seen.

And that has $47324 too much in their wallet.

---

MONTES X90 4.5 430 Luxury

Finally having a look at the Montes, I am still convinced that this is an AWD station wagon, not a SUV. Reports also say that it’s about as good off road as a Farox Aerio which should give some clues too. I start to wonder if the word “station wagon” is something the automobile manufacturers are ashamed of? Please, don’t be that! The station wagon has been a great concept for ages, and it will continue to be in the future. Just let it live, it will survive all the trends that are coming and going.
With that said, what first meets the eye is a nice car. Discrete without being anonymous, modern but yet timeless, good fit and finish overall. Glued aluminium construction with aluminium outer panels means lower weight (though on this car one can question it) and no rust issues, but can mean very expensive repairs should a collision happen.

Stepping inside, there is soft, comfortable leather wherever you watch, nice thick carpeting on the floor, a dashboard that’s more a piece of art than a piece of wood veneer and molded PVC. 4 zone electronic climate control, a state of the art infotainment system with HUD, whatever you mention, chances are that this vehicle will have it, including a full list of safety equipment.
Propelling the heavy (2.2 tonnes) vehicle forward is a 5 litre 429 hp twin turbo magnesium V8. It’s tremendously smooth, the turbo lag is hardly noticeable and the throttle response is great. At idle you only hear a quiet whisper, and not even when pushed hard it will give much of a noise, just hints of the familiar V8 growl. Behind it is an 8 speed automatic that, for some reason, felt a little bit thin. It’s not a bad gearbox, but it was like if something was not really calibrated to the rest of the car with the gearing. The AWD is biased slightly to the rear and has an electric LSD to help in slippery conditions. Top speed is (limited to) 250 km/h and 0-100 is done in 5.82 seconds, one has to say that performance wise it’s doing well. 0.85 litres per 100 km is also acceptable, considering what kind of car this is.

One could believe that with rear biased AWD, double wishbone front suspension and multilink rear, it would be a real driving machine, but the fact is that it is quite boring when it comes to handling. The understeering is heavy already at slow speeds even if the car is said ro be a decent performer on the skidpad. The brakes could bite though, 37.7 metres to stop from 100 is a value that is fully acceptable even if some cars have managed to brake better. That without using much of any advanced technology either, just well balanced and sane brakes. When it comes to comfort, it’s better though. Hydropneumatic suspensions are a rare sight nowadays with even the french avoiding them, But it’s not only helping offroad performance, it’s giving a lovely comfort too, it’s really like riding on clouds.

It will never be an everymans car though. Complicated construction with service costs following that, and a price of $57883, it puts it out of perspective for most buyers.
But even with a few flaws, it IS a great car. When looking at it from the right perspective. As a wagon. Not a SUV, not a crossover. W-A-G-O-N!