Press day 2 isn’t quite done yet, so we’re gonna wait a little while longer before summarising all that. In the mean time, however, I’ve been on a load of roadtests. Time to see what some of the hottest new vehicles at this year’s show are really like once they’re off the display stands.
Review: 2019 Cornaldie Sprinter 350 Touring
“A high maintenance love with none of the benefits”
Well if you’d like to get my name right first, it would be appreciated. Anyhow, I won’t let that cloud my judgement.
Oh man. What have we here. The Sprinter 350 looks like a mess. It’s too tall, almost as if it’s a crossover - which is far from being worth its $47k base price, with no markup - and the tail lights look like they’ve been placed there without any care or consideration.
So it’s looks aren’t going to sell it. However about the performance? This is a performance wagon thing after all. With 348hp on tap, it can deliver enough power to keep up with rival mid-size sports machines. But the turbos feel so odd on this 2.2l i4; the AR ratio is huge, and yet top end torque is lacking. It’s very much a mid-rev-range machine, and that i4 soundtrack makes it feel almost like a hot hatch. Heck, perhaps it is!
The DCT gearbox is certainly nice and smooth, but it is very cost for such a car, they’re costs that I think could be saved without ruining performance. And what odd performance it is; there’s an aero kit, yet it hasn’t been tuned to provide downforce; it may well have active suspension, but its harder at the rear where there’s less weight and has sweighbars that feel like they’re trying to combat understeer that isn’t there. It sort of works. Sort of.
It certainly doesn’t roll, and feels sharp, but it lacks that satisfying tautness that rival performance cars offer in spades. That’s further evidence by how easily it gives in on the limit, mainly because the ride height is so damn high.
And while the inteior space is perfectly adequate, and the quality is nice too, for a car that costs over $50k, it’s a joke. Indeed, I find nothing on this car to justify that price. And that’s without markup, remember. It would probably need to retail for a hell of a lot more in reality, only making it even more pointless.
Review: 2018 Montes Roadster Turbo 230
“Like the Friends spin-off ‘Joey’, there was so much potential, but it never hit the mark”
Retro-modern styling seems to be back in fashion; just look at those Borranis the new Roadster is running on! It’s a bit too faddish for me; the rest of the car is too modern for it to look like some sort of classic car reinterpretation. Indeed, the styling of this car is worth noting; it’s pristine clean, slightly aggresive and very classy. I’m unsure whether or not I think it’s too clean and basic, but I think the chrome detailing and angular shape of everything saves it.
I’d really love to give this engine all the praise I think it deserves - excellent low spool from those turbos, plenty of smooth torque and a solid 230 hp at peak power - but once again, Montes are running this thing on 98 RON. This is not a £150k supercar, it’s a low-end sports car, and frankly you cannot justify spending that much on fuel no matter how efficient it is.
Still, its power delivery is smooth and predictable, and it’s good for 0-60 in 6 seconds, making this thing very nippy indeed. With the roof down especially, that’s a hell of a lot of fun for a low price. Its a similar story with the suspension; it feels poised and balance, certainly on the hard side to reflect the sporty character, but certainly not out of the ordinary. It’s a tad tail happy - a good thing in my books - though hardly mad enough to make you fearful of it sliding too much.
What a shame then that this car is so damn uncomfortable. Unless you’re driving this hard, this thing is as about as nice to drive around in as sleeping on pillows filled with grit. You sacrifice everyday comfort for that great driving feel, and it’s far too much of a sacrifice, especially when fueling this thing is going to burn holes in your wallet.
Fix those problems and you have a solid sports car Montes. But until then, it’s not worth it.
Review: 2018 Caliban Thunder
“A rabid squirrel among cats”
Low cost track car basics: small engine, low weight, hard suspension. The Thunder ticks all those boxes, with this tiny little insect of a coupe good for 0-60 in 6.2 seeconds. It’s as fast as most of the other entry-level sports cars on the market then, but, being so light, it feels far more manic and alive.
Very manic infact because it translates every single bump in the road through your arms and directly up your spine. No, not comparable to the other sports cars on display at this show then; this is pure track machine. Time to hit the Swiss mountain roads and see what it can do.
5 speed manual? Hell yeah! It’s like driving my old Znopresk Zap, except with a hell of a lot more go and a much sharper steering feel. The power delivery is smooth enough to not catch you by surprise, but it still gives you that characteristic VVT/L activation shove that never fails to be fun.
It feels like the yappy terrier barking at the confused German Shepheard; it is bloody good fun to say the least. No power steering yet it has traction and launch contol, meaning it gives you everything you need to stay safe but forces you to work hard elsewhere. I like that.
What I don’t like, however, are the looks. I may well have been using animal-based metaphors but I’d prefer it if it didn’t look like a mouse at the front. I think it’s that top grill, it just feels a bit snoutish. The rear is better, but it can’t escape looking like a Hot Wheels car.
As a performance machine, this is stellar. A perfect track toy if you’re one for tight nippy bends instead of 150 mph in the outside lane. But as anything less than a track machine, don’t even think about it. Then again, it’s damn well priced for a track machine. If you like expensive toys, add this to your Christmas list.
- Gavin Anderson
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