Here are some street-cred marques to discover as the F1 season roars back to life in the Lion City.
Dashboard of Ferrari812-Superfast. Image: Ferrari.
Motorheads will be pumped up as the F1 Singapore Grand Prix night race gears up this week. However, if you can’t burn some asphalt like an F1 car does, here are some street-cred cars of their F1 marques who put out impressive torque and performance to make any automobile junkie smile. Time to rev up and lift your F1 spirits for the upcoming race…
Aston Martin
Aston Martin DBX707. Image: Roadandtrack.com
While Aston Martin is famous for its appearance in Bond movies, the marque has moved with the times to create its first SUV. The Aston Martin DBX707 is recognised as the fastest production SUV on the market. The high-performance 4-litre, twin-turbo V8-powered engine produces close to 700hp and can achieve a top speed of 310km/h. The 2022 edition has updates to its exterior like a new fascia with striking splitters, complemented by new side skirts and arresting new tail lights.
Aston Martin DBX707 produces close to 700hp. Image: Roadandtrack.com
The wheels measure 22 inches as standard with an option to upgrade to 23 inches. To tame the DBX707’s speed, high-performance brakes are required: the standard carbon-ceramic brakes measuring 16.5 inches up front and 15.4 inches in the rear; they’re tightly clasped by six-piston and four-piston callipers for the front and rear, respectively. Of course, the biggest revisions are under the hood where the AMG-sourced V8 pushes the 2.2-tonne vehicle to clinch 3.3 seconds for a Century sprint. There’s also the all-wheel-drive system and electronic limited-slip differential to handle curvy tarmacs.
Ferrari
Ferrari 812 Superfast. Image: Topspeed.com.
The Prancing Horse marque’s storied history spans more than 70 years, producing some of the most desired supercars in the world. The Ferrari Enzo — touted as the F1 car for the road — might have clinched a jaw-dropping top speed of 350km/h, however, the SF90 plug-in hybrid Stradale’s Century sprint boasted as low as 2 seconds to the mark.
Ferrari 812 Superfast rear design. Image: Topspeed.com.
Being the first electrified Ferrari, the Ferrari 812 Superfast offers a 6.5-litre twin-turbo V8 and electric motors that put out a combined 986 hp. The rear-engined vehicle accommodates 12 cylinders and is equipped with EPS (Electric Power Steering), not forgetting a high-tech transaxle architecture that houses a front-mounted engine with a rear-mounted transmission.
Alfa Romeo
Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio. Image: Alfa Romeo.
Since its humble beginnings in 1910, in Turin, Italy, Alfa Romeo has built a solid reputation in the car industry. It is no surprise that the marque enjoys the adoration of many diehard fans. With a marque that has participated in numerous Grand Prix races and rallies around the world, the love for this marque has solidified its loyal folk and still wins converts over.
Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio sedan. Image: Alfa Romeo.
Alfa Romeo was previously under the ownership of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles until it was recently merged with those of the PSA Group to form Stellantis back in January 2021. The fastest road car from the Alfa Romeo stable is none other than the 2022 Giulia Quadrifoglio high-performance sedan. Powered by a 2.9-litre twin-turbo V6 engine that delivers 505hp, the sleek car can achieve 3.8 seconds for the Century sprint and snag a top speed of 307km/h.
McLaren
McLaren Speedtail. Image: McLaren.
The McLaren Automotive badge has come a long way since its founding in 1985. On the other hand, its Formula One Group has gone on to win many races across the world. The British marque’s first Grand Prix win was in 1968 at the Belgian Grand Prix, but their greatest initial success was in Can-Am where they dominated the scene from 1967 to 1971.
McLaren Speedtail produces 1,035hp. Image: McLaren.
So what’s the brand’s fastest street-legal car? It’s the Speedtail — the first-ever Hyper-GT where a unique powertrain sits at the core of this aerodynamically efficient hypercar. The vehicle’s statistics are staggering: hitting 300km/h in just 12.8 seconds; top speed of 403km/h which outstrips even the McLaren F1; a petrol-electric hybrid powertrain where a whopping 1,035hp is produced. The hypercar is on a limited production of just 106 units worldwide. The Speedtail’s unique three-seater layout and central driving position will turn heads everywhere.
Mercedes
Mercedes AMG GT63 4-door coupe. Image: Mercedes.
Getting behind the wheel of the fastest road-going Mercedes car is the 2.4-tonne AMG GT63 4-door coupe. Under the hood, the 4-litre twin-turbo V8 coupled with a 204hp electric motor, the range-topping AMG 4-door coupe can produce a staggering 843hp and 1,470Nm of torque, making it the most powerful road-going Mercedes ever.
Mercedes AMG GT63 4-door coupe is the fastest road-going Mercedes ever. Image: TopGear
The car can snag the Century sprint in less than 3 seconds. The V9 Biturbo E-Performance is coupled with a PHEV system where the 6.1 kWh battery pack with the electric motor can provide a pure EV range of 12km at speeds of up to 130km/h.
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