CAFÉ RACER 76: 12/25/13

HAPPY CHRISTMAS

Maserati Quattroporte SQ4: Going off piste…

Maserati has taken a leaf from German books by offering a four-wheel-drive ‘SQ4’ version of its Quattroporte saloon – allowing all that Italian luxury to venture further than previously possible…

The first-generation Quattroporte might be remembered for its unconventional body – which carried plenty of passengers and their luggage in the type of sporting luxury for which Maseratis have become famous. However, if the party’s destination was a ski slope, they would be out of luck: the rear-wheel-drive luxury liner would be consigned to the roadside, its occupants forced to watch better-equipped groups head to the summit.

First full-time 4WD Maserati

That’s remained the case up until now – but that’ll soon change with the introduction of the SQ4 and its namesake four-wheel-drive system. The newest Italian diva uses the familiar 8-speed auto mated to the also-familiar 3.0-litre V6 biturbo found in its RWD siblings. Producing 404bhp, the SQ4 should be able to keep up with all but the most potent xDrives and Quattros, with 0-62mph dispatched in 4.9 seconds. And while the engine might not be as symphonic as a naturally aspirated V8, the characterful snorts and crackles make it easy to accept the loss of those extra cylinders.

Italian elegance inside

Inside the SQ4, occupants remain untroubled by the V6’s under-bonnet activities. Cosseted by a silky ride, they’ll soon settle into the wide, well-bolstered seats, taking in the atmospheric appeal of the leather, wood and touches of chrome. In fact, you could find that once you do get to the summit, your passengers might be quite happy staying exactly where they are.

When you finally manage to usher all occupants into the lodge, return to the car park and you might find the Quattroporte has an admirer or two. Among the usual German machinery found at these heights, the Italian certainly makes a bold statement with not only its extrovert design, but also its up-to-date technology. It’s certainly no off-the-shelf saloon; rather, it's the automotive equivalent of practical haute couture.

Photos: Maserati

S 1000 RR "Mad Max" by wunderlich

When two sides do the same thing – something fascinating arises. Wunderlich, the BMW motorcycle accessories specialist from Sinzig, created in close cooperation with the tire manufacturer Continental a unique motorbike – a BMW S 1000 RR with MAD MAX – outfit. This supersports bike contains many technical refinements from the extensive Wunderlich product portfolio – alone the special coatings in various Matt - colours attract attentive glances.
But the absolute highlight of this offroad capable supersports bike are definitely the unusual tires.
This brutal bike has studded tires TKC 80 in the new dimensions 120/70 B17 M/C 58 Q and 180/55 B17 M/C 73 Q.

The first ideas for this macho – bike ripened last October. The tire – specialists from Hannover had one wish: to create something special and extraordinary. The purpose of this challenge was a stylish presentation of this unusual offroad tire, with it's not enduro typical sizes.

You can tell that this task has succeeded. From the pen of the french designer Nicolas Petit arose a radical conversion on the base of a BMW S 1000 RR, which unifies many high – quality products from several Wunderlich – partners.

Beside an Öhlins undercarriage you will find exclusive Moto – Master brake discs, drive technology fromWieres, a handlebar from Magura and finally a special stainless IDM – Superbike exhaust system from Remus.

Wunderlich contributed from it's huge S 1000 RR repertoire a complete superbike conversion, a modified rearset, a new designed seat as well as crash pads, oil radiator grid and adjustable VarioLever clutch and brake levers.

1956 AUSTIN-HEALEY 100M LE MANS ROADSTER

This beautiful 1956 Austin-Healey 100M Le Mans Roadster is one of just 640 factory built examples from 1956, it was originally designed to commemorate a particularly good year at Le Mans forAustin-Healey however the model has gone on to be considered by many to be the most beautiful car the factory every produced.

There’s a little bit of contention nowadays about what constitutes a 100M Le Mans Roadster, the factory made 640 of them but also offered a kit for dealers and 100M owners to convert their own cars, the kit contained high-compression pistons, a modified camshaft, a louvered bonnet, a leather bonnet strap and a glorious low profile windshield. Only 170 official Le Mans Roadsters still exist today, although there are said to be many hundreds, even potentially thousands of modified 100Ms running in the same spec.

I don’t know about you but this is one of the few British roadsters that I’d choose over an E-Type, given the opportunity. Read more about the history of the Austin-Healy 100 here.