There are just some cars that do not need any justification. No justification for being the price that they are, or how fast they are or how good looking they are. Itâs a universal constant found across all prices ranges and car types. But if thereâs one car that has always been above the rest, itâs the Zavir Squalo. Since the mid-70s, it has been a standard for ultimate luxury. No ifs, no buts; its always had more class than anything from Britain and more style than anything from Germany.
Which of course means this review pretty much speaks for itself; the 7th generation Squalo is a masterpiece. Its styling is effortless, welcoming and endearing, with the rear in particular being truly sublime. Itâs fantastic range of engines are powerful, well made and sound goregous. In particular, the 6.0l V12 on this Ultima trim is sonorous.
The interior is best experience in the rear. This particular model has rear reclining massage seats, a panoramic sun roof, in-car internet streaming and whole lot more. The options list is like the shopping catalogue for the John Lewis tech department. If you want it, itâs here.
It drives like eating greek yoghurt with a drizzling of honey and nuts whilst looking out over the vista of a secluded bay somewhere on Mykonos. The 9 speed automatic that comes as standard is just about as perfect an auto-shifter Iâve ever come across, and I certainly wouldnât expect any less.
There are some downsides to the awe-inspiring comfort and ease of driving this thing provides. For one, it is absolutely huge, hence meaning you will need a small dockyard to park it. Plus, the active suspension is very soft indeed, so donât drive it too hard or else it becomes a bit of a king-sized four-poster on wheels. Plus, it is very costly; at ÂŁ250k for the top of the range model, you will need to remortgage both your main house and your second property to afford it.
Then again though, its worth it. I had the pleasure of slinking around the west end of London and blitzing it on the motorway, and I was suitably amazed. But this car really deserves to be driven big. Iâm talking a north-to-south road trip of Scandinavia, or the cruise along the French Rivera. You see, when youâre sitting inside the Squalo, with the engine purring away nicely, some down-tempo RnB on the sound system and the air-con set just right, youâre in that magical luxury bubble that you experience with the real cream of the crop of luxury cars.
Luxury motoring is about comfort and scale. The Squalo has it in spades. It wants you to drive it across Europe and back again, just so you have enough time to use all the features and experience all the car has to offer. Sitting in this thing makes you feel priveleged without any desire to be arrogant. Itâs pertinence without the upper-class toffness.
Not that you wonât look like a millionaire driving this thing, and everyone will think youâre a bit of a show off not matter where you park it. But then again, thatâs the point, isnât it?
- Gavin Anderson