Goodbye Opposite-lock, for now at least

I know, DriveTribe has just closed, so, I’m sure you're wondering why I’m leaving? Well, it’s a combination of factors, but, the main reason is timing. With the closure of DriveTribe and the new year coming and going, I have had to change my schedule, and I will not have time to be writing on Opposite-Lock anymore, a very sad day for me, Indeed. But, Before I go I just want to thank you, the Opposite-Lock community, for not just helping me, but all the DriveTribers who have had to move platforms and adapt. You greeted us with open arms and I’m sure everyone in the DT community will join me in saying thank you. Thank you for every upvote, every follow, and advice you have given us. without the Opposite-Lock community, a lot of DriveTribers would have been left without a platform for us to give our unappreciated opinions on Formula one, and well, cars in general. Yes, I am leaving, but, this doesn’t mean I won’t return if the opportunity presents itself. Just like most people on Opposite-Lock, I have an ambition, a drive, and just because I don’t have time to fulfill the requirements of posting online doesn’t mean I won’t, I’ll try just as hard to return to the car writing sector again. Even if it’s in 1, 2, or ten years, I will fight tooth and nail to return. But, until then I will shut up and sod off, in the typical British fashion.

I want to stay out of politics, but I want to say Ukraine’s military and civilian defence has proved that the Ukrainian people and their president Zelenskyy have redefined the saying ‘balls of steel.’

Hello, I am glad to be part of this site I wish it was because of more favourable circumstances than DriveTribe app unfortunately closing down. But I just wanted to say a quick hello and thanks for having me

Caterham Seven 170-Is it the answer for beginners?

Short answer, depends

The 170 is Caterhams new budget track day car, it was launched only recently and is promised to be a cheap way to feel the thrill of a track day. But the question I find myself asking is is it the best Caterham for novices to partake in to learn about our hobby or are they best with one of the 170s many predecessors. Well, I wanted to find out which is why I have spent the last few days hovering over spec sheets and the few YouTube comments from the launch to learn the answer. But before I begin I want to preface that I do love the new 170, I think it's great that we finally have an affordable Seven again. But, I just don't think it's the answer for a beginner.

I want to begin with a few downsides the 170 has and the first one is power because for long time Caterham enthusiasts 84 brake horsepower is enough to put a smile on our faces because we focus on the craftsmanship and history of the cars we drive, unlike beginners which is where the downside starts. After all, novices tend to focus on horsepower figures and top speed like we all did when we were less experienced. But, it has made me wonder if maybe a higher spec potentially secondhand Seven might be better because yes the 170 is the lightest Caterham ever produced only 440kgs but I’m just not convinced the power produced by the weight would be enough to satisfy some people.

Another benefit of buying secondhand is pricing, because yes the 170 is the cheapest in the Seven range at only 22,990 pounds. However, It is still too expensive for a majority of new Caterham enthusiasts. I understand and agree with the way Caterham gives people the option to keep the price low and know that since Caterham doesn't get as much business as other car manufacturers they have to regain that loss in price. This is why I think any novice buying a Caterham for the first time should take a serious look at the secondhand market before making their decision.

However, a benefit you get from buying one new is the ability to choose to build it yourself, something you can't get with any other car manufacture. And I think this is a big upside to any Seven because yes you have to source the tools yourself but Caterham offers a Draper kit for 400 pounds which gives you everything you need apart from an engine crane which you can buy for a couple of hundred pounds which may sound expensive at first but when you remember that getting Caterham to build it costs 2,395 pounds so it ends up cheaper to build it yourself. It's also a good alternative to buying a secondhand Project car because you don't have to worry about rust or the painful process to remove it, giving you peace of mind when you do want to do a track day.

However, on the unlikely chance that something goes catastrophically wrong, you have access to a great community that is amazing, this is my first post on this tribe, however, I have been a follower for a long time on multiple accounts, and I don’t think there is another community quite like this one no matter what website you go to everyone is helpful. So if want a car with a good community then I would buy a Caterham. And for me, a good community is what matters

My Favorite V8 Cars

When we often think of V8 cars nowadays we often think of classic American Muscle cars with their big six, seven, and sometimes eight litre engines, however, with climate change being one of the toughest challenges we are facing currently, people are now, if they aren’t buying electric, trying to buy smaller more economical engines squeezing the already tight market. We are told this rather sudden need is because of not only climate change but the ever-growing need for small practical cars, so, sadly, these challenges, might signal the end of V8s in cars. And with the saddening news about DriveTribe's future, I thought I would make these last posts on the platform some of my best to give DriveTribe the send-off and tribute it deserves, So I have compiled a list of some of my Favourite V8 cars produced, some from the twentieth century and some from the twenty-first. So without further ado please enjoy this Tribute to Drivetribe and to quote James May “Like, Comment, Follow.”

NO.3-Saleen S7
I want to kick off this list with the Saleen S7, a car that is, in my opinion, one of America’s best Supercars, yes I’m going to call it a supercar, and that’s because it was different from the rest of the market, I mean sure, we did get the Ford GT but that was flawed and problem-ridden and you could never get your hands on one since they were only given to loyal Ford buyers. Yes, if you got the naturally-aspirated S7 both cars produced the same amount of horsepower 550, but, if you get the twin-turbo engine that’s when you saw the difference with 750 horsepower at your disposal. Both cars were paired with a 6-speed manual but the Ford only has a 5.4-litre supercharged Ford module V8 engine, with a 0-60mph of 3.5 seconds, while the S7 has a 7.0-litre Ford Windsor V8 with a 0-60mph of 2.8 seconds, I’m sorry if I’m making it sound like a head to head I’m just laying out the facts, but, I want to now talk about the S7’s flaws. Because just because it’s good doesn’t mean it’s perfect, the brakes, for example, were terrible, some people found it hard to control because of the driver aids which were nonexistent, but, at least the transmission was terrible, however, if you don’t like the S7 you don’t have to stare at then very often since there are only 60 of them in the world, a bargain if you only paid 250,000usd for one when they were new. I don’t know how I can explain why I like this car, I respect it for what it did, but there are so many reasons that I don't think I could explain it in one article, I’m sure you all have one car that you like but you can’t explain why, and this is, for me, that car. It has firmly secured the number three spot in my dream garage for V8s, a title it truly deserves.

NO.2-Ferrari F355
The Ferrari 355, the car that starred in the James Bond film Goldeneye, is my second favourite V8, because, we’ll come on it’s a Ferrari, you’ve got to like them that’s the law. But that’s not the reason why I like the F355 the reason is the engine, because yes, it’s only a small 3.5-litre 5V F129 B/C V8, different from the typical V8s on this list, but it still has enough power to produce 375 horsepower with a 0-60mph time of just 4.7 seconds, 1.3 seconds faster than its predecessor the still rather new Ferrari 348, the F355 produces 35 more NM of torque with an official reading of 363 compared to the 348s mere 323 Newton Meters. The other thing I love about the F355 is the styling, its short sloping bonnet, and flat almost brick-like rear, nothing, in my opinion, can beat the style of the 355 because it is just superb, in some areas. You got a choice of transmissions you could either get a six-speed manual or a 6-speed F1 automated manual, however, there have been complaints from 355 owners about having to be careful when changing gear because of poor gearbox ratios and lack of drivers aids, they find if you change gear at too high of an RPM, the rear wheels will start to spin, but what do they know they’re only owners, that’s their complaints, but, I now want to express some of my own mainly involving styling. Both complaints lie with the convertible and body material, you'll get what I mean in a second, to start this rant I want to talk about the convertible because it looks terrible, you have to wonder who was in that design meeting got up and said yes let's cut a hole in the roof and just tell people to put the roof in the nonexistent gap behind the seats, I mean seriously Ferrari you should have done better, but, the biggest problem by a mile is the material because the panels on the 355 looks, from a distance or photograph, like a bucket, quite literally, if you go look at a 355 you'll get what I mean. But, even though the 355 isn’t perfect it is still my second favourite V8 ever produced, I admit it’s not a massive compliment considering it's coming from an obscure British bloke who spends his days writing rants for the internet, but it’s still on a list, not just mine but also at one point on Jeremy Clarkson’s. Which is one of the highest compliments any car can get from arguably one of the world's best motoring journalists.

Honorable Mention-Jenson Interceptor
The Jenson Interceptor like the Ferrari F355 starred in a few films, but, for the Interceptor it was a bit more modest than James Bond at first, it starred in a movie that I never knew of until I started researching for this post, it was called ‘The Junkman’ and has a rating of 6.8/10 on IMBD, but the Interceptor also starred in the James Bond film ‘Solo’, because that’s your dating status of you own one, anyway, I’m getting ahead of myself back to the Interceptor. When it comes to the Interceptor it seems Jenson couldn’t decide which engine to put in, because when it was launched in 1966 it had a Low Deck Big Block V8 producing 335hp until 1971 when someone said, right this engine we’ve tested it we know it works with the market, so why don’t we put in a less powerful 255 horsepower High Deck Big Block V8 and then in five years change it again to a Small Block LA V8 to meet emission regulations, the small block produced only five brake horsepower less than the previous engine, presumably because they were all made by Chrysler. Despite all these variants, the interceptor never hit big with only 6,408 ever produced, It’s safe to say the lack of quality and strikes in factories put off a lot of people despite it only costing 26,650 pounds in 1976. But, I want to finish off the Jenson Interceptor by talking about styling, I know, it’s a car website but I’m going to talk about it anyway, don’t worry I'll make it quick. The Jenson Interceptors long straight bonnet moving towards the sloped rear boot is a style that I like to a great extent, even if it falls apart when it leaves the factory, but, I can see why it starred in a Bond film it has the shape and dare I say elegance for a 007 character. But, despite all the ups and downs of the Jenson Interceptor, I think it deserves to be number one on my honorable mentions, and in fact, if the Saleen S7 was a bit worse the Interceptor would be number three on my list.

NO.1-Ferrari 458 Speciale
I want to finish off my V8 dream garage list by talking about the Ferrari 458 Speciale, not only my Favourite V8 but my favourite Ferrari in general, like the F355 I first sat down to learn about the 458 after watching James May drive it up America’s east coast during season sixteen of
Top Gear, you know that now obscure car show on BBC one and two, and ever since then I wanted to learn about any 458 that Ferrari released until 2013 when at the Frankfurt Motorshow the Speciale edition was unveiled, at 208,000 pounds the Speciale was 30,000 pounds more than the standard 458 but that extra thirty grand gets you a vented bonnet, Forged wheels, a taller rear spoiler, redesigned bumpers, and movable front and rear flaps. The engine was also revised it was fitted with a 4.5 liter Ferrari F136 F V8 with the Speciale being able to produce 35 more horsepower than the standard car with an official figure of 597 horsepower compared to the original 458’s 562, the Speciale has a 0-60mph time of 3.4 seconds with a top speed of 210mph, there was also only 3,000 ever produced making it rare. But, the thing that I love most about the Speciale is not the exclusivity, the speed, the looks, it’s the feeling, as soon as you sit inside a Ferrari you know, it’s hard to explain but it’s almost like this sudden buzz, the sudden realization of, wow! I’m in a Ferrari, I'm sorry, I just can’t quite explain it, because you have to have been in a Ferrari to understand what I mean. Anyway, reader, it’s time to talk about the important topic of reliability, because according to reports the 458 had transmission failures during 2010 and into 2011, and the 458 was even recalled multiple times once for the Crankshaft which tended to fail causing a sudden engine seizure which according to Ferrari may result in a crash, now, I’m no crash expert but if your engine suddenly seizes at speed of course your going to crash, but, what do I know. However at least if your engine didn’t try to kill you the brakes would take over that job for you because a few years ago Ferrari recalled nearly 10,000 vehicles due to a potential brake fluid leak which could lead to low brake fluid resulting in a partial or full loss of braking. And who could forget about the 458’s tendency to catch on fire, as Jeremy Clarkson and Richard Hammond made very clear to James May on their east coast road trip. From the differentness of the Saleen S7 to the Jenson Interceptor to the superb 458, this was my, an obscure British bloke, list of all-time favourite V8s and small tribute to DriveTribe, one of, if not the best car website ever.

Maserati MC20-The New Sistine Chapel?
When you look back at Italian history, you see great artworks such as the Sistine Chapel and the Colosseum, but, sadly, that passion, that design critique, hasn’t switched from ver to cars. If you look at car companies that made some of the best looking Italian cars, like Lancia, it’s sad how quickly car design can go downhill. But, hopefully, we are seeing a step in the right direction with the new Maserati MC20, I say ‘new’, but it came out months ago, the new era of car design, the closest we can currently get to redesigning the Sistine Chapel, Redesigning the Colosseum.

Italian car manufacturers seem to have had a knack for car design, an example of this is the Lancia Stratos and 037, and even if you don’t Italian cars, you have to admit that they are the best-looking cars on the planet, but we got word that Maserati was developing a supercar I, like many, was skeptical that a Maserati designed supercar was going to look good... but boy was I wrong. Like I said before the MC20 looks amazing, its futuristic look yet aggressive lines makes it seem like a tiger about to be released from its cage. It’s mesmerizing that Maserati could come up with this design after years of failed attempts and near bankruptcy, and yet, despite some of the characteristics feeling like an Alfa Romeo, it still feels like a Maserati, it should, they would be designing the wring car, it should still have that Bologna flair, the feeling that you are going back to the roots of Maserati, yes, they are now owned by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, which is the by-word for good quality, not. But that can come with its benefits. For example, you can choose from six different colour options, seven brake caliper options, and four alloy wheel designs. I struggle to decide whether to get my water from a machine or a tap, let alone entire car customization. That being said, however, at least Maserati hasn’t fallen into the trap of performance customization, like Tesla, you get all the performance available, free of charge. But, how much performance do you get?

Supercars now, are taking a turn down the path of racing technology, and the MC20 is no different. The MC20 makes use of a twin-combustion engine from a Formula 1 car, giving it 630bhp from a small three-litre engine. In fact, it is 3.2 litres smaller than the Chevrolet Camaro SS, a car that only produces 455bhp. Because the MC20 has a mid-engined V6, it saves on weight, with the whole car only weighing 1500kgs, 100 of which is the Carbon-Fibre monocoque, making it one of the lightest and fastest Maserstis to date. With a 0-60moh time of 2.9seconds, only a second slower than the still awaited all-electric Tesla Roadster two. In the top speed race between petrol and electric, the MC20 is losing to the Tesla Roadster with a top speed of 202mph, a whole 48mph than the Roadster which uses its powerful electric motors to reach a speed of 250MPH, according to Tesla’s marketing team. But, when you get into the corners none of that matters because the MC20 glides through. It’s like a river running into an ocean. The MC20 is free of any expectations from the human mind. As you glide through the corners you get the feeling that it’s just you and the car, with the suspension having a sixth sense and soaking up the bumps when you put the MC20 in its comfort mode, GT. You sense that underneath the leather and all the sporty characteristics, the MC20 is, actually, a GT car, it invites you to drive distances without hesitation, you feel like the Royal Family at an exclusive club, the car does all the work for you as you eat up the miles. It’s also a slightly different style for Maserati, they got the combination right, advanced technology, for Maserati, as you’ll see in a minute, along with the new luxury trend of minimalism.

The Maserati MC20 is certainly not a Space X Rocket... in fact, it’s, actually, quite basic, like a Kansas with no colour. Mainly because the MC20 technology isn't vapourware. The most exciting thing about the MC20 is the twin-combustion system, which means, each cylinder has dual-combustion chambers, each with its own spark plug. As the name implies, air and fuel aren’t actively being injected into the pre-chamber, which is smaller than the main combustion chamber and is located directly above it. Instead, the air-fuel mixture is drawn into the main combustion chamber and then pushed up into the pre-chamber, by the motion of the piston. This setup is designed to speed up combustion, which in turn reduces knock. If you didn’t understand a word I just wrote, here’s a simple version... makes the engine more efficient. Got it? Okay, let’s move on to the screens. Because, the MC20 has two of them, both ten-inch, one controls the digital cockpit, or digital instrument cluster, depending where you are in the world, and the other is responsible for the multi-media system, which ranges from controlling the climate control to providing plain, yet, interesting statistics for us car people. The multi-media system is compatible with Alexa/ Google smart assist with a wifi hotspot and Tidal streaming; all features we heavily rely on in our evermore technology-filled lives. But, Maserati has put in a sound system that I have never heard of, of course, according to Maserati it is a high-end sound system, which sounds as reliable as someone selling you a fake Rolex on the beach, I’ll send you the warranty later sir. This sound system is called the “Sinus Faber audio system”, in case you were wondering; which you probably won’t since all your thinking is, “will this annoying British bloke shut up?” Don’t worry, I’ve read the mood and will shut up in a minute, just struggle through this last bit, okay?

I think what we have established in this article is that the MC20 is a good Supercar Grand Tourer, if they exist, the, not so, new kid on the block has made an everlasting first impression, and despite its few performance foibles, it’s fantastic, and to be honest, I’m going to say something quite bold, the foibles in the MC20, and other cars, add to their personality, make them feel more human, and I don’t think any country demonstrates this better than Italy. Italian cars are so frustrating, yet, we are so patient and forgiving of them, because, I think the time we spend in them, driving or not, triggers something happy and special in ourselves. So yeah, the new Sistine Chapel? I think so.

Well, this is a post I never thought I would have to write, at least not this soon

DriveTribe-A Brief History

DriveTribe, one more car persons dream platform, that is, unfortunately, another business to be lost due to COVID, however, I think I speak for everyone when I say losing DriveTribe is the hardest, after being founded in 2016 it has gained popularity at pace, largely thanks to the enormous work put in by the DriveTribe team behind the scenes, something that we are all grateful for, and of course, we thank all members of DriveTribe for what they've done, but, saying thank you isn’t the reason I am writing this, there is already a thank you on my profile, the reason I am writing is so you can read DriveTribe’s chapter, an era, in short, I'm going to tell a brief history of the car website we all know and love before we all, sadly, have to part ways onto different corners of the internet.

On the 22 November 2016, Just six days before the app went live, Jeremy Clarkson announced on the DriveTribe YouTube channel that he was launching a new platform alongside his two other Grand Tour co-presenters, Richard Hammond and James May, with American born entrepreneur Ernesto Schmitt becoming the co-founder and CEO, later stepping down after just six months, becoming CEO of DriveTribe is not an easy task since he would be representing some of the biggest names in the automotive journalism world. It was also agreed that 21st Century Fox, now owned by Disney, and Breyer Capital would each invest 6.5 and 5.5 million dollars respectively, according to Wikipedia.org, while it is unclear how much The Grand Tour trio and Andy Willman have invested if any. It’s become apparent that it wasn’t enough to survive the disastrous loss of profit, something I will discuss in a moment, and the devastating effect of the pandemic.

As I discussed earlier Drivetribe has struggled to make a profit since its launch, I, among many was not aware of the magnitude of the situation until recently, when I stumbled across an article written by the daily mail, I know not the most credible source I’ll admit, but, they reported on 23 January last year that Drivetribe had lost around 21 million pounds since the launch, 8.3 million in 2017 and 5.3 million in 2018, a thirty-six percent decrease in loss, a rather impressive achievement and it is about now that I would have liked to tell you that the feat has continued, they faced the hardships head-on and were winning, however, the 2021 numbers haven't been released, probably for good reason, meaning we won't know if DriveTribe turned a profit in 2021, but, with the app sadly closing I'm guessing the news is grim.

But, another way businesses stay afloat are business deals, the lifeline of most companies, DriveTribe included, yet, for a company that is still quite young it has had an impressive few commercial partners, for example, in April 2018 it was announced that Audi would become DriveTribe’s first commercial partner, with the German car company getting their own tribe to sponsor and publicize their launch of the new E-Tron in December of that same year. I think it was rather successful because even though there wasn't any investment or money given to DriveTribe, that I know of, Audi did at least become one of the first car manufacturers to join DriveTribe and got the ball rolling for their next commercial partner in June. Just a few months after the Audi deal DriveTribe launched a joint partnership with JOE media and Renault, in which, a six-figure deal was signed focusing on the launch of the new Megane R.S, Adam Wood, commented saying the partnership would look to “engage a broader lifestyle market through original content production, influencer led activation and editorial support." unfortunately, there is not much more information on the business deals that took place, with only a handful of websites reporting these partnerships meaning that many more unsuccessful deals could, and probably did, take place, but, if they did it certainly hasn't slowed down DriveTribe’s rise, as you will see in a moment.

It is a shame that the DriveTribe app is closing particularly because as Richard Hammond said, it was their most successful year to date, not just on the app but on all their social channels. On Twitter, for example, they have nearly 170,000 followers, the DriveTribe youtube channel reached over two million subscribers, and yes who could forget about The Smallest Cog which even though it isn't funded by DriveTribe the growth of their business is a monumental achievement nonetheless. But DriveTribe's achievements are just as impressive and based on the 2020 loss numbers it appeared that DriveTribe might be able to turn a profit this year, but alas we will never know. Unless it gets revamped in the future which, I’m sure, actually I know, is what everyone wants to happen. But, until then we can’t do anything apart from saying our many thanks to the DriveTribe team and hope that we get to meet on this platform again.

@Armith-Vala, see ya, but if the ‘midwest’ farewell video is anything to go by, I should still be around for another 20 posts.

@vondon302 yeah, those people are risking their freedom to do the right thing.

With the dawn of a new era of cars. I along with many were surprised when Audi launched their new TT particularly since they are so determined to have an electric line up by 2025. However, even though the 2015 Model came out just before a huge advance in the car industry, I still regard it as one of the best TTs ever produced.

One of the reasons why I love the 2015 model of the TT is the performance. Even though the TT only has a finicky two-liter turbo it still has enough power to produce 211 horsepower with a 0-100kph time of six seconds and an overall top speed of 250kph. And even though Audi has been making two-litre turbos since the 1980s this is still an impressive feat, especially since this TT only has 89 fewer horsepower than their 1990 Rallycar that finished second in the overall standings that year. Furthermore, it isn’t the vast amount of power that is impressive it is how Audi has been able to keep that engine power while still keeping the quality that their customers demand and expect.

While we are on the topic of quality I want to talk about the TT’s style because I will be the first to admit that Audi’s styling can with some cars be rather awful. I mean all you have to do is look back to 2005 when Audi was still making the dreadful A2 to know what I’m talking about. However, when I saw the TT for the first time I was surprised as well pleased because it was a thing of beauty, with smooth lines and no panel gaps just like a car should be. And it is, in my opinion, the best-looking TT ever made.

I think that what helps the design is the large range of colors, some colors are Vegas yellow, Floret silver, Scuba blue, and Mythos black to name a few. I am not alone because there is a wide range of these colors for sale on Autotrader. This brings me nicely onto one of my last points, which is second-hand value.

No car is safe from the current inflation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and while some car values have skyrocketed over one hundred thousand pounds, others such as the Audi TT stay at a fairly modest price. For example, if you are happy to drive a car with a few minor faults you can buy a TT for as little as five thousand pounds, which I think is a fair price for what is arguably one of the most interesting sports cars on the second-hand market, behind only the Porsche 911 and 944. However, you have to be careful when buying a second-hand TT since oftentimes the cheap ones can be write-offs or untaxed, furthermore, previous MOT failures are a common occurrence in stating that if not taken care of properly the TT can be expensive to own.

My overall opinion of the 2015 Audi TT is quite good, in my days of research I have not been able to find any faults with the TT apart from the common MOT failures I discussed earlier furthermore instating that the 2015 Audi TT is the best produced

@EssExTee, since we Brits are petty we would say that the emergency key was designed by someone Scottish or Welsh, who lived in a shed, but it was never designed by an Englishman. If however- after designing that key-they did something extraordinary they would immediately become British.

@notsomethingstructural, yes, I’ve been fortunate to drive the MC20 in Europe, where I live. A very kind man at a Maserati dealership allowed me to test drive one, one day after uni. I have driven one Ferrari but seen lots at things like car events. To answer your question, I think If you live in the USA it would be a good idea to wait the petrol crisis out or wait for the electric model that is rumoured to come out. But with things like Supercars you shouldn’t be buying off interest anyway, I will come back to haunt you.

@gmporschenut-also-a-fan-of-hondas, ah that explains it, sorry for the screw up. I will change the wording in a moment as to not create confusion.

@SilentbutnotreallyDeadly, thanks for the advice, I will follow it.

Maserati MC20-The New Sistine Chapel?
When you look back at Italian history, you see great artworks such as the Sistine Chapel and the Colosseum, but, sadly, that passion, that design critique, hasn’t switched from ver to cars. If you look at car companies that made some of the best looking Italian cars, like Lancia, it’s sad how quickly car design can go downhill. But, hopefully, we are seeing a step in the right direction with the new Maserati MC20, I say ‘new’, but it came out months ago, the new era of car design, the closest we can currently get to redesigning the Sistine Chapel, Redesigning the Colosseum.

Italian car manufacturers seem to have had a knack for car design, an example of this is the Lancia Stratos and 037, and even if you don’t Italian cars, you have to admit that they are the best-looking cars on the planet, but we got word that Maserati was developing a supercar I, like many, was skeptical that a Maserati designed supercar was going to look good... but boy was I wrong. Like I said before the MC20 looks amazing, its futuristic look yet aggressive lines makes it seem like a tiger about to be released from its cage. It’s mesmerizing that Maserati could come up with this design after years of failed attempts and near bankruptcy, and yet, despite some of the characteristics feeling like an Alfa Romeo, it still feels like a Maserati, it should, they would be designing the wring car, it should still have that Bologna flair, the feeling that you are going back to the roots of Maserati, yes, they are now owned by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, which is the by-word for good quality, not. But that can come with its benefits. For example, you can choose from six different colour options, seven brake caliper options, and four alloy wheel designs. I struggle to decide whether to get my water from a machine or a tap, let alone entire car customization. That being said, however, at least Maserati hasn’t fallen into the trap of performance customization, like Tesla, you get all the performance available, free of charge. But, how much performance do you get?

Supercars now, are taking a turn down the path of racing technology, and the MC20 is no different. The MC20 makes use of a twin-combustion engine from a Formula 1 car, giving it 630bhp from a small three-litre engine. In fact, it is 3.2 litres smaller than the Chevrolet Camaro SS, a car that only produces 455bhp. Because the MC20 has a mid-engined V6, it saves on weight, with the whole car only weighing 1500kgs, 100 of which is the Carbon-Fibre monocoque, making it one of the lightest and fastest Maserstis to date. With a 0-60moh time of 2.9seconds, only a second slower than the still awaited all-electric Tesla Roadster two. In the top speed race between petrol and electric, the MC20 is losing to the Tesla Roadster with a top speed of 202mph, a whole 48mph than the Roadster which uses its powerful electric motors to reach a speed of 250MPH, according to Tesla’s marketing team. But, when you get into the corners none of that matters because the MC20 glides through. It’s like a river running into an ocean. The MC20 is free of any expectations from the human mind. As you glide through the corners you get the feeling that it’s just you and the car, with the suspension having a sixth sense and soaking up the bumps when you put the MC20 in its comfort mode, GT. You sense that underneath the leather and all the sporty characteristics, the MC20 is, actually, a GT car, it invites you to drive distances without hesitation, you feel like the Royal Family at an exclusive club, the car does all the work for you as you eat up the miles. It’s also a slightly different style for Maserati, they got the combination right, advanced technology, for Maserati, as you’ll see in a minute, along with the new luxury trend of minimalism.

The Maserati MC20 is certainly not a Space X Rocket... in fact, it’s, actually, quite basic, like a Kansas with no colour. Mainly because the MC20 technology isn't vapourware. The most exciting thing about the MC20 is the twin-combustion system, which means, each cylinder has dual-combustion chambers, each with its own spark plug. As the name implies, air and fuel aren’t actively being injected into the pre-chamber, which is smaller than the main combustion chamber and is located directly above it. Instead, the air-fuel mixture is drawn into the main combustion chamber and then pushed up into the pre-chamber, by the motion of the piston. This setup is designed to speed up combustion, which in turn reduces knock. If you didn’t understand a word I just wrote, here’s a simple version... makes the engine more efficient. Got it? Okay, let’s move on to the screens. Because, the MC20 has two of them, both ten-inch, one controls the digital cockpit, or digital instrument cluster, depending where you are in the world, and the other is responsible for the multi-media system, which ranges from controlling the climate control to providing plain, yet, interesting statistics for us car people. The multi-media system is compatible with Alexa/ Google smart assist with a wifi hotspot and Tidal streaming; all features we heavily rely on in our evermore technology-filled lives. But, Maserati has put in a sound system that I have never heard of, of course, according to Maserati it is a high-end sound system, which sounds as reliable as someone selling you a fake Rolex on the beach, I’ll send you the warranty later sir. This sound system is called the “Sinus Faber audio system”, in case you were wondering; which you probably won’t since all your thinking is, “will this annoying British bloke shut up?” Don’t worry, I’ve read the mood and will shut up in a minute, just struggle through this last bit, okay?

I think what we have established in this article is that the MC20 is a good Supercar Grand Tourer, if they exist, the, not so, new kid on the block has made an everlasting first impression, and despite its few performance foibles, it’s fantastic, and to be honest, I’m going to say something quite bold, the foibles in the MC20, and other cars, add to their personality, make them feel more human, and I don’t think any country demonstrates this better than Italy. Italian cars are so frustrating, yet, we are so patient and forgiving of them, because, I think the time we spend in them, driving or not, triggers something happy and special in ourselves. So yeah, the new Sistine Chapel? I think so.

@RamblinRover, very interesting, thanks for sharing

@Mark-Tucker, very interesting, thanks for sharing

@Armith-Vala, don't worry I plan to return to Opposite-lock, either on this account, or a new one, but I will make a post telling everyone if I do return.

@Armith-Vala, see ya, but if the ‘midwest’ farewell video is anything to go by, I should still be around for another 20 posts.

@MasterMario, I agree