Prince Rainier attended the event, and seemed to be fully supportive. One closed road would have been a great idea and prevented any trouble with the police.
Monaco may be a millionaire’s paradise, with as many Ferraris and Lamborghinis as people. However, even Monaco, the home of the most glamorous Grand Prix, couldn’t help but be amazed by the Top Marques at Grimaldi Forum. It is not just a car show. This event features the most sought-after marques, including Pagani, Bentley, Koenigsegg and Venturi. There is also a $1 million mobile phone and a Mosler Venturi. The collection of cars as well as the passenger rides on the streets of Monaco Grand Prix circuit would make a great show. However, those who attend tend to be serious buyers. One of the main stars of the show was the Gumpert Astro, which was adorned in orange outside. Since the initial pictures were published in the press, we have witnessed the car grow over the years. It looked terrible at first, but it has improved over the years and now looks like a Ferrari. Although Ann-Caitrin, the Apollo’s model, may have helped to make it so special, the Apollo was still a huge hit with the masses outside Grimaldi Forum.
The cockpit’s turret is now slim and low. It stands out against the Monaco skyline. At AfAE’A,AC/AfAC/AC/aEURsA!A…A!AfaEURsA,A!249,000 the Gumpert almost looks like good value against the likes of the Porsche Carrera GT and Lamborghini Murcielago, and with 650bhp and more on offer from its tuned Audi 4.2-litre twin-turbo it is just as exciting. As this car is not for the elegant lady, I folded into the passenger seat and fastened my race belt. Claus, the sales manager, took me on the Monaco Grand Prix track. He unleashed the decibels against walls and built up knots at an incredible rate in record time. Although it’s not a racing car, this car has the best traction control system that I have ever seen. This dial can adjust the electronic aids to suit any situation, including wet conditions and race tracks. It was used on F1 cars. Gumpert can reach 62mph in 3.0 seconds and stomp through 125mph in 8.9 seconds. There are very few cars that can go faster and they don’t look as aggressive. The Apollo is a winner and orders are coming in fast. Castagna Milano almost got its new AZNOM at the ball despite the fact that the incorrectly sized wheels didn’t fit and that the brake discs had been taped. This car looks fantastic, despite the rough edges that come with a prototype. The Italian firm used carbon-fibre to keep the car’s weight down to 1340kg. This is a lightweight version of the Corvette Z06 GT3 race-engine with 750 bhp and 980 Nm. It does have one. This stunning car will come in two versions: a track car that is stripped down to its core with full telemetry, and a comfortable car that has heated seats. A communication centre will also be available with all the necessary information, including SatNav and full internet access. Corvette’s modified heads-up display will complete this fighter jet styling. The car also has a removable double-bubble canopy, which fits perfectly in the boot’s 420-litre capacity. This ensures that practicality is not compromised. 700 bhp might seem a bit much even with traction control and all the skill and will of the world. According to data, the faster version will reach 62mph in an explosive 3s Dead. This is due to a longer first gear, which takes the car up to 100kph. The top speed is set at 220mph. On May 21st, the car will run in front of a crowd at Monza. We’ll be closely watching this event. Weber Engineering presented its impressive, but somewhat unattractive, entry into super sportscars. The distinctive squared off front means you’ll never mistake a Weber for anything else, but then I’m not entirely sure it will have the customers flocking to the gates to splash out AfAE’A,AC/AfAC/AC/aEURsA!A…A!AfaEURsA,A!700,000 as a base price either. The carbon-fibre construction is completely functional. It doesn’t have door handles because they will disrupt the airflow at 249mph+ that the rebuilt seven-litre GM engine intends to achieve. Weber could hit 62mph in 2.5 seconds and surpass 400kph with the 900bhp beast. It would be a great seller if it looked like the Hunchback from Notre Dame. The highlights include an intelligent four-wheel drive, a sequence gearbox, and a chassis made of aircraft-grade aluminum. The interior will be made to order by a company that makes private jets. If it wins the record, then it can expect to get enough orders to keep the 7-litre beast in business. Caparo also brought his T1, although it wasn’t running at the show, they had a beautiful looking car. Instead of introducing turbocharging, the firm has increased the engine’s displacement from 2.4 to 3.0 litres. Caparo believes that this engine will still produce 700bhp, if needed. The 500kg flyweight can generate power outputs of 550bhp. It should be an amazing car to drive, with the added benefit of massive downforce and a soft setup for street use as well as on the circuit. We’ll have to wait until June 6th. I’ll keep you posted on how it goes. Other gems were on display, such as the F&M Antas, which is the pinnacle of modern coachbuilt cars. Even though the windscreen wipers are ineffective, the machine’s details are stunning. However, a car named ‘Eagle’ (in Etruscan) will still be a hit with people and hearts. Although building a car around a Maserati V8 from 1960s sounds risky, the Antas has enough fans – this handbuilt machine can be sold as many times as they wish to. If you ask about the price, it’s clear that you can’t afford one. Other highlights included a ride in the Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera with Valentino Balboni. Balboni is a legend and it was an honor to meet him even though Monaco traffic was at a standstill. He even offered to take Balboni to Italy for a drifting lesson. Let’s just say that dates were already set in blood. After a string of encounters with the Monegasque police, FIA GT’s star and former Nordschleife record holder, Wolfgang Kaufmann, a Gemballa driver, looked set to lose their licence. Unmarked Ford took him back to the pits, while a heavily armed man read him the riot act. He vowed that the Mirage GT would remain in the pits the rest of the day. He was taken out of Monte Carlo half an hour later. Ariel was performing another act. Prince Rainier attended the event, and seemed to be fully supportive. One closed road would have been a great idea and prevented any trouble with the police. Maybe next year, this will be more than just a gathering of cars and become the most amazing show on Earth.