21/10/2004
NEWS STORY
Earlier this week we reported that Fiat is to produce a limited edition M Schumacher Fiat Stilo for the British market.
We invited our (oh so cruel) readers to suggest some more F1-inspired limiterd edition models that manufacturers might wish to introduce.
It wasn't long before the e-mails started arriving.
Gregor Veble
BMW Juan series: While opinions on this new Chris Bangle design were initially split, the new nose restyling didn't seem to help in this regard either. While a competent machine, the drivers never feel terribly enthused about extracting all its potential.
Mercedes SLK Kimi-B: most of the drivers complained about appaling reliability combined with lack of handling and pace on the original Kimi model. This revised version is a much better car but still only the very skilled and motivated drivers are able to take it to its limits. Not recommended for ageing motorists.
Renault Clio Sport V6 Fernando edition: Nothing beats it in traffic light duels but only expect proper servicing if you have good connections with the upper management.
Honda Civic Type-BAR: Incredibly powerful for its class with good handling, but the Japanese models tend to detonate their engine for no apparent reason while the UK models are technically the same but strangely reliable.
Fiat Stilo Giancarlo: Outsiders would say it's exactly the same car as the Schumacher edition, but a lot of major differences such as the blue paint job separate them. Anonymous but surprisingly often seen glued to your tail.
Jaguar Type-S Mark Webber edition: The moment the engine finally seemed to be properly broken in on the early models and gave glimpses of its potential, the servicing on the model was stopped.
Toyota Corolla Schumacher-R: Cost a huge ammount to develop yet the mechanicals seem surprisingly like those in the Stilo. It's neither fast nor desireable. The "Schumacher" stickers on the sides of the car peel off easily.
Ford Focus Jordan: Comes in painfully bright yellow and has a ridiculous ammount of spoilers, skirts and bulges to make it look fast. A certain sort of girls like it, but a bog standard Focus is the better choice.
Autobianchi Mini Minardi: the original Mini as produced in Italy by licence. Updated each year just enough to pass the MOT, it's not a car to want to be seen in yet costs a ridiculous ammount of money to be
given the privilege to simply drive it. A surprisingly good measure of talent of the driver, though.
James Saunders
It is too easy really and slightly nullified by the fact that the parent company has arguably produced one of the finest automotive creations ever, but…
McLaren: A Kimi special edition that is entirely one shade of grey (no really, just one colour for everything) with one of those on board audio notification devices (like in fighter planes) of Ron’s voice just endlessly prattling on and constantly reminding all occupants who have not forced sharp objects into there ears that they must “ensure the safety restraint device is optimally adjusted” and that “the fuel strategy currently adopted will not be suitable for a trip to Birmingham but that no one is more unhappy about it than he is and he will ensure that procedures will be put in place to remedy the problem, or problems like it, in the future”.
Mike Zimmermann
Besides the obvious limited edition BMWs and Merc's we could have a BAR Honda that is guaranteed to smoke. We already have super hot Renaults but what about a limited edition Jaguar that would be guaranteed to handle worse than anything else on the road, be slower than a Toyota and would always break down on any journey you took. Not only that but when you want to take it to be repaired you find that all the dealerships have closed down!
Bernie Campiglio
How about a Montoya Special Edition BMW M5-V10 powered like the F1 cars but with an exhaust system modified to whine instead of rumble? or will this be a project better suited for M-B?
Roseann Testagrossa - Melbourne, Australia
Hopefully we don't get a Sato one, as the engine won't last any decent distance.
Keith Read
How about Minardi sponsored milk floats?
Tony Webb
How come nobody's suggested a Barrichello edition Stilo?
Looks identical from the outside to the Schumacher edition but built in
South America & therefore cheaper. Intial road tests have suggested that the engine produces less power than the Schumacher edition's, that it's electronics are not as good & that it is less reliable although this has
been hotly denied by Fiat. Jeremy Clarkson stated that it could beat the
Schumacher edition in a race but perhaps only if the driver of the Schumcher edition felt like it, was having a bad day or there was a Colombian anywhere near.
Bernie Campiglio
Ferrari revives old and proven technology and combines it with their latest and best in speed and reliability - all this to be found in their first foray into raodbuilding machinery the Ferrari F-2005CV Compressore a Vapore (steamroller).
Tony Webb
No to BMW M5 Jenson.
It appears that the much anticipated "Jenson" edition BMW M5 will not now be available following a legal wrangle over the name Jenson. Jensen Motors Ltd, a British car company with no connection to BMW or F1, successfully appealed a special court somewhere warm & sunny against BMW's proposed use of the word "Jenson" argueing that it would merely serve to confuse they few customers they had left. The judges went on to point out that not only is "jenson" a no-go but the word "button" belongs to Cadbury's & the initials "JB" to the Bond people.
BMW are now believed to be looking into the intellectual property rights of the word "pizza".
Have you got any suggestions for a limited edition car, if so, send them in!