#10.) @Rk38 – Maesima Avellca ST-Z Limited
5 Seat FF Premium Sedan
215hp NA I4
67,8 Arbitrary Points
Who doesn’t know the Maesima Avellca? Those advertisements must have run around the world and probably brought in their fair share of buyers. „Dun-deet-dunn-dunn… Maesima Avellca. Prices starting at…“
Bottom line, it looks good. Really good. It has sleek, confident lines that catch your eye and make you think the word „Premium“. It is respectable and at the same time sporty enough to not look like an old people’s car and takes full points for it.
The Avellca is built with Partial Alu panels on an AHS steel chassis. There is a 2,5l I4 at the front, producing 215hp, which is by a fairly long way the least amount of power in this lineup, but elsewhere would be very reasonable. The engine has cheap, simple cast and forged internals, excellent economy and a rock solid, class leading reliability. From an economic point of view, that is great, though Bob tells me that the rev limiter actually cuts in a fair way before peak power and with some stronger conrods and accepting a hit to reliability, the engine could easily push 240hp. But that isn’t really the point of this car.
The front discs are a bit too small and the rear brakes are running one piston too many, all in line with the common trends it seems.
There is a fully premium interior.
The Maesima Avellca takes the concepts of reliability and economy and runs away with them. In a lineup full of high power sportscars, it is obviously the slowest, but its strengths still manage to push it fairly high in the lineup. Surprisingly enough, it is not the most economical when purchase price is accounted for, but comes very very close. It may go without saying, but in the prestige department, driving in a car with a 2,5l inline four engine is not going to make the top shelf of juicy adventure stories.
Trivia:
Least powerful
Least amount of torque
Highest engine reliability at 90.2
Highest average reliability at 81.7
Lowest service costs
Lowest Prestige
Best economy at 6,72l/100km
Lowest top speed
Slowest quarter mile and track times
#9.) @HighOctaneLove – Bogliq Ambassador RS
5 Seat FR Premium Wagon
514hp Mid Pressure Turbo V8
68,0 Arbitrary Points
The Bogliq Ambassador RS looks good in its traditional Bogliq blue livery. The one slightly unconventional detail about it is the wing, which has been placed directly over the rear wheels instead of further along the rear overhang for some reason. But that doesn’t do much to spoil the picture.
The AHS/Aluminium Ambassador is sporting a 4,8l turbocharged V8 engine which is generally well set up, but would benefit in both power and economy from a slightly lower compression and higher ignition advance.
The car has a fully premium interior.
The Bogliq Ambassador RS does well in most categories. The only notable deficiencies are in interior passenger space per person and prestige. The other parameters tend to be in the middle of the pack or slightly better. Perhaps most notable are the high reliability and good safety rating. On the whole, while the Ambassador is a strong all-rounder, it does not show high enough scores to climb beyond the ninth spot.
Trivia:
#8.) @Dragawn – Dragotec Helios R
5 Seat FR Premium Hatchback
580hp High Pressure Turbo I6
68,5 Arbitrary Points
To me, the Dragotec Helios R looks like something that some british blokes put together in a shed. Which isn’t an insult, mind you. It brings to mind a very respectable performance and, perhaps, a somewhat questionable reliability. And maybe some bits inside that were lifted off a Vauxhall. The racing green color only serves to reinforce this image.
The chassis and body of the Helios is made up entirely of aluminium. The 2.8 litre I6 engine block is magnesium with an AlSi head and has a turbo the size of Bob’s head hanging off the side to provide 1,51 Bar of boost. It is well set up with a redline a ways off beyond peak power. The ignition timing could be just a touch higher.
The brake balance looks good, though very soft pads are used and cooling air diverted to prevent fade. In this case, it works well with the rest of the setup for a good all-round result.
There is a premium interior in the car with high quality premium infotainment.
The Dragotec Helios R is very well engineered. It leaves the impression that there has been a concept in place from the beginning and the car has been carefully set up around it. It is shockingly fast around Green Hell, especially considering the comparatively modest power output. And in spite of that, it manages to offer a fairly comfortable ride. Being on the small side and lightweight, the Helios is held back by lower scores in interior space, prestige and safety. From an engineering and performance point of view, undoubtedly one of the most impressive entrants.
Trivia:
Best braking distance
#7.) @Denta – Pragata Gentala Taxi ver
5 Seat FA Premium Wagon
442hp NA V8
68,8 Arbitrary Points
Looking at the Pragata Gentala I am reminded of the Opel Omega of the late nineties and early noughties. Which may not sound like much of a compliment but I liked the visual. This looks a lot more sporty, though, sitting close to the ground and pointing its nose towards, presumably, the next corner. If it were an Opel (which it isn’t), it would probably say Irmscher on it somewhere.
The all-aluminium body is propelled by a 3,9 litre all-aluminium V8, which is well set up, though a touch less compression for slightly higher ignition advance would improve results. There is also a high flow cat just for a minute saving in weight. To be fair, the output of this engine being smaller than some competitors, the money lost is also less significant.
The Pragata has a Viscous LSD, a rare sight in this lineup as most have gone for geared or electric solutions. It seems to work out well enough, as there is no wheelspin to speak of. Also uncommon, the car has an adaptive air suspension system. And carbon ceramic brakes at the front.
The interior is fully Premium.
The car has achieved this, fairly high, position in the rankings by doing almost everything at a slightly better than average level. The one notable exception being a low prestige rating, with only a middling result in safety. A solid all-round contender.
Trivia:
#MOTORING MAGNIFICENCE
#6.) @Darkshine5 – Golden Limo
5 Seat FF Luxury Hatchback
331hp NA V12
70,3 Arbitrary Points
When I first laid my eyes on the Golden Limo, I just stood there, stunned, for several minutes. It is outlandishly aggressive, with a colossal chromed grille, headlights sharp enough to cut your finger and rear suicide doors. It had the sort of presence that made you think you would have liked to have a poster of it when you were a kid. As an adult, it brought to mind fashion shows where people wore completely ludicrous looking things and it was okay because it was all on purpose. It was scrambling my mind.
At that moment, Bob climbed out of the back, looking just as bewildered as I was. „Come,“ he motioned.
The inside was immaculate. Luxury kit, bulging leather padding, quality timber and electronics covered every interior surface and came together in an image befitting the impression one had gotten outside. We read from the brochure that the Bunya pine was harvested locally from the CEO’s owned property and worked by hand. We read that the red deer for the leather were shot in a specific carefully picked hunting reserve, though by this point we would not have been surprised to be told they’d been smothered with silk pillows by men wearing tuxedoes, who each had a doctorate in modern dance.
The floor was completely flat. I pointed to it and Bob nodded. „Eff eff.“ He said. „Vee twelve.“
The transverse SOHC V12 was miniature by comparison to some of the other vehicles we had reviewed. In a stark contrast to the interior, it was made from cast iron, but the exterior covered in a filigree etched pattern to keep the general theme going. It was clearly set up for performance, with an extremely high VVL profile and a redline at ten thousand RPM. The noise was incredible.
The car had magnesium wheels, air suspension and a downforce undertray. Somewhere, an engineer and a designer were cackling madly at each other.
The Golden Limo is a stunning piece of work. Part of me wanted it to win, just because it was so bonkers. Unfortunately, the interior is fairly cramped, the ride is not as comfortable as it could be, and upkeep costs would make it an unsound financial decision.
Trivia:
Highest redline
#5.) @DeusExMackia – Erin Berlose Vox 3,5l
5 Seat FR Premium Sedan
284hp Low Pressure Turbo I6
70,9 Arbitrary Points
The Erin Berlose Vox looks like something that a member of parliament could step out of. It is stately. Smooth lines, carefully distributed thin bits of chrome and a dark blue color that makes you feel you should have worn a suit. Suitable for any executive.
The car is made from Alu panels on an AHS steel monocoque. A low pressure turbocharged 3,5l I6 engine provides excellent economy and a nearly flat torque curve from 2000 through 5000 rpm. It may have benefitted a bit from a slightly lower compression and higher ignition advance and, with those, a slightly larger exhaust diameter.
The car rides on medium compound road tires, which are surprisingly narrow at 215/225mm, and further stress that this is an executive saloon, not a track toy.
A premium interior and and active comfort suspension system provide a ride that is tied for the best in the group.
The Erin Berlose Vox is a thoroughly respectable car, with very sensible decisions throughout and a very clear stress on the more sensible kind of driving. Its good economy figures and modest purchase price give it the best all-round score for economic considerations and the car performs above average in safety tests and reliability simulations.
Unfortunately, it does not have the right image for a track taxi, so would not be a prestigious pick for that purpose and performance on the track is near the very bottom of the pack. This is a very good car for a gentleman, but it has no Mr. Hyde for when one slams the pedal down.
Trivia:
Best comfort (tied)
Best Canvas/financial score
#4.) @Asdren – Revera MS GTS
5 Seat FR Premium Wagon
604hp Mid Pressure Turbo I6
70,9 Arbitrary Points
Revera have managed to make the MS GTS look respectable and fast at the same time, which isn’t always an easy thing to do. Sleek lines, ultramodern lighting systems and a certain touch of malice in the front end earn it maximum points for the exterior.
The body is fully made from aluminium, equipped with a 4,1l I6 turbo engine, which is very well tuned. Had the budget allowed for it, the front brakes might have benefitted from an extra piston, though the car stops very well as it is.
This high in the ranking, however, simply having a Premium interior without extra points in quality starts to become a bit of a hindrance.
Comparatively light weight and excellent traction help the Revera MS GTS take home a very good bundle of points from the performance categories. Interior space, interior quality, comfort, safety and costs are all solid averageish results and reliability slightly higher. Unfortunately, six cylinders does not sound as cool as one would hope, even if each one of them delivers a hundred hp to the table, so prestige score is low.
Trivia:
#3.) @thecarlover – Solo Rhino SM
7 Seat FR Premium SUV
467hp Low Pressure Turbo V12
73,5 Arbitrary Points
The Solo Rhino SM is very pretty. It is not quite as respectable as some of the other contestants, as there is a certain obnoxious undertone of „look how much money I have“, which is not remedied at all by the gold paint job. But for an executive shuttle, that fits just fine and earns the Solo full points.
The car has an AHS steel monocoque and aluminium body panels. Tasked with moving around the considerable 2145kg bulk of the SUV is a seven litre AlSi turbo V12, which in Bob’s opinion could be making significantly more power at a similar specific economy with a higher AR ratio. In addition, a slightly lower ignition advance could be in order and some money seems to be wasted on a high flow cat.
The interior is a high quality set of premium seats and infotainment and remarkably, there is room for seven people.
The Solo Rhino SM is a marvelous piece of engineering and takes home high scores all around the board. Interior space per person is merely average, unfortunately and so are the times on the race tracks. It bears mentioning that with a different engine tune, the Rhino may have lost out on a point or two in economic considerations, but earned enough back in performance categories to be clawing for first place. A very worthy contender.
Trivia:
#2.) @phale – Pearlite Magnitude
5 Seat FA Premium Wagon
900hp Low Pressure Turbo V12
74,8 Arbitrary Points
The Pearlite Magnitude has a sparkly superhero smile and a chin that suggests strong will of character. It is a respectable, good looking car, though perhaps not quite as sleek as some of the other contestants. I like the front lights a lot.
The chassis and body of the Magnitude are made entirely of aluminium. Power is provided by a 7,5l turbo V12, which delivers almost 900Nm of torque starting from about 2700RPM and a peak power of 900hp. The tuning is precise and purposeful, with an exceptional economy for the power output. It bears mentioning, perhaps, that the output is about twice that of the third-place taker Solo Rhino SM with not much more engine capacity.
The interior, unfortunately, is terrible. The seating is your standard premium fare, which garners no applause, but also has little cause for complaint. The onboard infotainment, however, is Dacia grade. There is nowhere to charge a laptop or phone, no way to connect to the onboard speaker system for a conference call – not that there are many speakers to talk of – and no screens for the passengers at all. What little is there seems to be made from good materials, but that doesn’t help much.
Weighing in at 2184kg, the Pearlite Magnitude is whisked around the racetracks as effortlessly as a ball of yarn by its amazing powerplant and great suspension setup. It comes close to the fastest cars in the lineup and still manages to completely iron out all but the hardest of jolts and bumps on the road. There is ample space on the inside, safety ratings are top notch, reliability is good and prestige is best in class. Upkeep costs are higher than average, but considering the performance, that is understandable. As mentioned, the car faceplants terribly in interior infotainment solutions. It would almost certainly have taken first spot if money had been found for Premium grade infotainment solutions.
Trivia
Highest service costs
Highest Prestige
#THE CHAMP
#1.) @Klinardo – Boss Executive Sport 302B
5 Seat FR Luxury Sedan
458hp NA V8
76,0 Arbitrary Points
The Boss Executive Sport 302B, true to its name, looks executive and quite sporty. It has a sweeping roofline akin to the „comfort coupes“ produced by MB and VW, but the protruding wheel wells and angular rear duck tail suggest there is more to it than comfort. The lights and vents at the front end do not align to create as good a concert as some other cars in the lineup, however, so the Boss takes home fewer points for looks than the other members of the top three.
The car is made from aluminium panels on an AHS steel chassis. A five litre aluminium DOHC4 V8 provides the power. The engine is relatively simple, with regular MFI instead of DI and VVT but no VVL. It is quite well tuned, though could produce more power at a better economy with a slightly lower compression and higher ignition advance.
The gearbox is a six speed single clutch sequential and transfers power to the road via a Geared LSD. The car is provided with sports compound road tires, 275mm wide front and back, and vented disc brakes which are well balanced.
The interior is flawless. There are luxury seats with ample padding, massage, heating and cooling options, individual climate control and all the technical gadgets and options one could ask for.
It is testament to the quality of the car that the Boss does not have any significant weak points. The prestige score is rather average, but it just gets better from there on. It has a top of the line interior and is tied for the best ride comfort in the entire group, which is something one is likely to appreciate after sitting in airports and planes and more airports. Safety is great. Performance around the track is respectable. Though the Boss cannot quite keep pace with the fastest cars in the group, it can go around the ’Ring on road tires in the same time as a Nissan Skyline GT-R R32, which is pretty brisk indeed.
When I set up the scoring system to get a better overview of my options. I considered I might have to override the winning result, if there was something the scores could not sensibly account for. In retrospect, I have to say the score worked exactly as it was supposed to and there was no need for adjustments. The Boss Executive sport is the best all around car. While I have noted for the second and third place takers that they could have taken the lead with some modifications, there is also a bit of budget left on the Boss’ tally sheet to make it faster or whatever, and a few extra points could be had by fiddling with the fixtures. Thanks to all the contestants for entering and special thanks to @KLinardo for Blomozvakia’s new Luxury Airport Shuttle.
Trivia
Tied for most comfortable
but hey, I still kinda followed the spirit! Kinda…
