Alfa Romeo Commercial: The 4C

Posted on March 12, 2013 by JP Zakher

The mini supercar, it was labeled at the Geneva motor show were it was officially revealed to the public. The Alfa Romeo 4C marks the return of the brand to the world of lightweight sports coupés, an extraordinary event. When all the other supercar manufacturers were focusing on power delivery, Alfa Romeo decided to focus on agility. The power, delivered to the rear wheels, is provided by a 1.7 turbo 4 cylinder engine delivering 240hp and 258 ft.lb of torque which is ok performance. The transmission is a TCT (Twin Clutch Transmission), automatic transmission which is being used on most of the cars available at this 83rd edition of the Geneva Motor show. With the small Giulietta costing around 45000$ in Lebanon the 4C is gonna cost a minimum of 75000$. So what is so special about this new Alfa Romeo coupés?

Well it weight: 895kg. You read it right, eight hundred and ninety five kilograms. Putting in mind that a Suabru BRZ weighs 1230kg, that is staggering. Because it’s so light, in power-to-weight terms, it has 268bhp per ton. That’s more than the lightest Porsche Cayman S (246bhp per ton), and even a base model 911 Carrera (253bhp per ton). Add that to a mid-mounted engine, it burns the 0-100km in just 4.5 seconds. This 240hp car promises to be very agile through the corners and fast in a strait line.

I think that it is this agility aspect that is implemented in the commercial:it is so light that is cuts through air and is faster than the wind. A bit far fetched but I like it. Regarding the car itself, I loved it. It looks amazing, very sporty, very aggressive, yet so classy, so Alfa. The small painted Italian flags similar to Zonda’s ones on the side mirrors are a lovely detail. Its shape is very neat and beautifully drawn. Looking at the side of the car, the front bonnet and headlights reminded me of the 911 look. Well maybe it is just me. Any way, even with all of that said, and knowing that we are in the 21st century and that technology has evolved dramatically, I would still think twice before buying an Alfa. They had such amazing yet fragile cars in their history that I am still a bit reluctant. Still, I find this 4C, as Alfa Romeo mentions it at the end of the commercial, a “Pure Alfa Romeo”. I just hope that it won’t break down like a pure Alfa.

Ferrari Commercial: LaFerrari

Posted on March 10, 2013 by JP Zakher

Ferrari-LaFerrari_2014_side

Arriving at the Geneva motor show, everyone expected the P1 to be the only star of the show they were surprised to find 2 other, the Lamborghini Veneno and the LaFerrari, the new breed of the Enzo. Since the Venom is gonna be owned by only 3 persons on the planet, two Americans and a guy from Saudi Arabia we can forget about it and focus more on the two main rivals, the P1 and the LaFerrari.

Developed in 499 examples and in collaboration with the F1 Scuderia Ferrari team and drivers, Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa LaFerrari is the fastest Hybrid production car ever build. It is equipped with a 6.3 liters V12 engine that revs to a maximum of 9,250 rpm and delivers 800hp combined to it, a HY-KERS electric motor with 163hp. This adds up to a total output of 963hp and 900 Nm of torque coupled with the F1 dual-clutch gearbox to the benefit of optimal weight distribution. The electric motor works in collaboration with the V12 making sure torque levels are high at low revs. The batteries are charged under braking (even hard braking with the ABS active) and every time the V12 produces more torque than required, such as in cornering. In the latter instance, rather than the being sent to the wheels, the excess torque is converted to energy and stored in the batteries.

The design of the car was achieved by putting an Enzo into a wind tunnel and fine tuning it. The chassis is made with no less than four different types of carbon-fibre. The seats are melted into it. It is the steering wheel and the gas and braking paddles that can be adjusted to fit the drivers dimensions.The seating position is very similar to the one in an F1 racing car: very low, close to the ground making sure the center of gravity of the car is as low as possible. LaFerrari benefits from an active and instantaneous aerodynamic system. Five flaps (two in front one in the middle and two at the back) located under the car and big rear spoiler generate downforce when needed without compromising the car’s overall drag coefficient.

LaFerrari? What sort of name is that? What is the next one gonna be called LaFerrari II or something? Replacing the famous Enzo and after 11 years of research, I think that a more interesting name for it could have been found. The over-all look of the car is fine but I have some problems with a couple of details. The front bonnet is and the back are very inspired by the Enzo, which is good. However the front lights and the rear ones are stolen from a 458 Italia, the side mirrors look like a mixed of the Mclaren MP-4 and the Zonda ones and why is steering wheel in sort of a square shape? For a successor of the Enzo I think it should have been more refined, it is not “magical” enough. I feel like the Ferrari team was so focused on the performance and tech stuff that they missed out a bit on the design phase. In case you feel like watching an Enzo drift on dirt, you can always click here. (The P1 will be reviewed and compared in another post later on).

VW Commercial: The GTI 7

Posted on March 4, 2013 by JP Zakher

UPDATED: Had the chance to drive this beauty today (27-03-2014) and I have to say I had a blast! The car feels light, the steering is smooth and precise, and most importantly, the DSG burp is still there 😉 I just can’t get enough of that exhaust “explosion” sound every time you up-shift at around 5000 rpm. In Lebanon the GTI comes as standard equipped with an LSD, a touch screen, parking sensors on the front, back and side to side, and a media plug in to connect your phone. The automatic start and stop option won’t be available on models sold in Lebanon. Yes it has no hand brake but for the first time you can completely disengage the ESP by keeping the button pressed for around 10 seconds. Starting price is around $49K. Ain’t that cheap but, well these are the prices of hot hatches in Lebanon lately! Can’t wait to give the new GolfR a spin! I was told it is going to reach the motherland in mid-July. Will keep you guys posted.

Amazingly staggering and peaceful commercial by VW for the official launching of the new GTI 7. The all timer hot hatch is back with its 7th edition that will be revealed at the Geneva motor show in a couple of days. This new breed will be equipped with a revised version of the previous 2.0 turbo charged 4 cylinder engine delivering 220hp (10 more that the GTI 6) and 258 lb-ft of torque. The six speed manuel and DSG will be offered with a Stop-Start system as standard. This system, saves fuel and trims exhaust emissions by cutting the engine when the vehicle is at a complete stop. This makes the Golf 7 GTI 18 percent more fuel efficient than the outgoing model. This new Golf GTI has lost around a 100kg over its older brother and has firmer suspension. A sport package will be available. It brings with it 10 extra ponies, a torque-sensing limited-slip front differential and up-sized brakes all around.

Front wheel drifting is most easily done and has always been done by applying the hand break: The hand break locks the rear wheels and the car goes sideways. By checking the video below you will see that the rear wheels are not locked when the car is going sideways meaning no hand break was applied. Guess why! Because there is no proper hand break in this new GTI!! There is a stupid and small (P) button like the one you find in the new Tiguan, an electronic hand break. Moreover, I hate the fact that the Stop-Start system cuts the engine automatically when the car is in a complete stop. Imagine being in a traffic in Beirut and your GTI going on and off every time every 2 minutes. Hope the car can be ordered without that option.

Other than that, the car does look good in pictures so far. Rolling at night like in the commercial, the car looks very classy. I suspect that it will look even more impressive live. The interior looks very clean, clear, luxurious and useful. You feel like everything is where it is suppose to be. No clocks or random stuff hanging around. The steering wheel is a bit weird but I like it. Driving wise, I suspect the new GTI 7 to be a wonderful car. I own the fifth generation GTI and I love it even more every day. Rendez vous in a couple of days in Geneva!!

Audi Commercial: The Ultimate Paintball Duet

Posted on February 27, 2013 by JP Zakher

Staggering video by Audi promoting there brand new version of the RS4. This restyled version incorporates the same 4.2 liters direct-injected V-8 of the previous RS4. This time the V8 has been tweaked to now produce 450 hp and 317 lb-ft of torque. A Quattro AWD system will be responsible to convert this power to the road. In normal driving the torque will be rear-biased at 40/60 percent. A crown-wheel center differential can adjust this ratio almost instantly between 70/30 and 15/85 according to road conditions and driver input. A special edition sport differential that can handle the full amount of torque on the rear wheels can be ordered as extra. Regarding the design, the car has a very sporty yet classy look. The 2 big rear exhaust tips are just gorgeous. They will be fitted on all the RS models.

Audi Paint ball For this video, “Rubber Republic” fitted the two fully equipped 2013 RS4 with professional paint ball guns and a couple of GoPro cameras. (You can check the making of the video by clicking here). The output is a big mess of paint in this military hangar, to the sound of “Push it to the Limit,” by Paul Engeman. Two professional drivers, Jim Dowdall & Colin Skeaping, two of the UK’s most experienced stuntmen, were picked for this Ultimate Paintball Duet, they earned points each time they were able to hit each others car with a paint ball. (You can check an interview with them by clicking here) Will there be a Paintball Edition RS4 avant? Well as much as I would like it, I am sorry to tell you no.

MINI: THE Backfilp!

Posted on February 20, 2013 by JP Zakher

After launching a teaser (which you can access by clicking here), MINI finally released the full video of there attempt to achieve a backflip in a MINI! They used the over modified super light MINI JCW Coutryman rally car for the stunt. It was driven by Chicherit, a world champion freestyle skier and champion rally driver. He completed the jump in Tignes, France. The suspension was modified in order for it to be able to absorb the chock of the landing. MINI claims to have achieved the first unassisted backflip in the world. By “unassisted” they mean that nothing was used to help the car rotate. Impressive!

Mercedes Commercial: The A45 AMG

Posted on February 16, 2013 by JP Zakher

Mercedes finally revealed the AMG version of their small A class hatchback model. What they came up with is the most powerful series production four-cylinder turbo engine in the world. Its output? 360hp and 450Nm of torque!! YES 360HP!! A 4 matic all wheel drive will make sure to transfer that power safely to the road through a 7 speed dual clutch gear box. Being an AMG car, its engine is hand built following the AMG philosophy of “one man one engine”. The beasts exhaust system is fitted with an exhaust flap that provides a striking engine sound when the throttle is open and during gear shifting. This flap makes sure that the exhaust is silent during normal, calm driving sessions and shouting out loud during more sporty and aggressive sessions.

Mercedes-Benz-A45_AMG_2014 interior The look of the car is unfashionable, it is simple and sexy from the outside and damn does it look luxurious on the inside! With this model Mercedes has jumped at the head of the hot hatch category, a market in which they were totally absent. The super expensive RS3 with its 2.5 liters turbocharged V5 delivering around 340 hp looks ridiculous compared to this new Merc. Even though I wasn’t a big fan of Mercedes Benz, I am really considering buying this new model in the coming years. Being a hot hatch enthusiast, the RS3 was high ranked in my list of favorite cars, it has now been outrun by this outstanding A45 AMG. The AMG team, I salute you. To hear this beast farting, you can check its first track test by clicking here.

Huyndai Superbowl Commercial: Team

Posted on February 12, 2013 by JP Zakher

Very nice and fun commercial for Huyndai’s 2013 Big game commercial. The idea is nice, the execution is brilliant and it is no secret that it is its 7 seater feature that draws first and foremost our attention in this commercial. Regarding the SantaFe it is the high end 4×4 of the lot. The GLS limited edition features a 3.3 liter V6 delivering 290hp and 252lb-ft of torque. The Less powerful edition, the Sport 2.0T is equipped with a 2.0 liter turbocharged V4 delivering 264hp and 269lb-ft of torque which is more that enough to drive your big family anywhere and in any weather condition. The new interior design of this SantaFe looks really good it is neat and clear and luxurious. Thumbs up to South Korean car manufacturers!!

Ram Superbowl Commercial: The Farmer

Posted on February 6, 2013 by JP Zakher

After Jeep promoting their partnership with the United Service Organizations (USO), Ram is promoting the farmers with this two-minutes spot over the beautiful speech by the famous radio broadcaster Paul Harvey, “God Made a Farmer.” The photos featured in the video are breathtaking showing the hard and rough work that farmers go through every single day. Even though this is a very lazy execution for a superbowl commercial, it is a nice advert that many will appreciate.

The Ram 1500 has a 3.6-liter V6 delivering 305 hp and 269 lb-ft of torque. It is the typical massive American truck. It features an 8 speed automatic with AWD. What do I think about it? Why would buy that heavy, fuel thirsty truck when you can get an indestructible Toyota Tacoma or the more powerful Thundra.

Audi Superbowl Commercial: Prom

Posted on February 4, 2013 by JP Zakher

Discouraged, no date on his prom night, his dad hands him the keys of his all new 2013 S3. The courage grew in the heart of the kid as he drove it to prom where he kissed the prom queen and got his ass kicked. Thus the slogan “Bravery is what defines us”. And because no super bowl spot can be without a hashtag these days, this one has #braverywins. Well I find that very lame specially for a superbowl commercial. I mean there is a TV show, “the transporter” in which a driver just drifts the 8 class all over the place to make sure that a package guests delivered on time. They could just have taken some footage from the show and it would have made a better superbowl commercial!!

Other than that, about the S6; it features a detuned version of Audi’s S8 twin-turbo 4.0 liter TFSI V8. Well maybe the engine is detuned but it delivers 420 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque which makes this sedan reach 100km/h in just 4.8 sec. Stunning performance and such a stunning car. Being the small sister of the S8 it has a lot of luxury materials inside the habitat like leather on the seats as well as on the steering wheel. It has adaptive air suspension for a more comfortable drive. In two words, what Audi calls “sporty elegance”.

VW SuperBowl Commercial: Get Happy!

Posted on February 3, 2013 by JP Zakher

For this year, VW dropped the Darth Vader thing that they focused on the last two years and opted for a more happy commercial. As for the previous superbowl commercial, the new Beetle is the star of the ad. It features a turbocharged 2.0-liter four cylinder engine producing 200 hp and 207 lb-ft of torque. This is the same engine that is used for the golf GTI. A Beetle R is being worked on it will most probably be equipped by the same engine that will be tweaked and tuned a bit in order to deliver a couple of extra ponies. For now the Beetle Turbo has really turned from a girls car (with its flour vase that was standard) to a guys car. It’s design has really evolved. Would I’ll buy of of those? Well I think the Beetle still has that girl spirit in it. It would need a couple of years before being accepted by the masculine community.

For the ad, it is a very happy and fresh commercial, I really had a smile on my face at the end of it. The beetles front grill, is sort of smiling at you! Well in this world of chaos and stress and work, we all need a smile from time to time to peace-out 🙂 be happy!!

NB: To see the last 2 VW superbowl commercials you can click here and then here 🙂