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The Swiss are better off. That's what I wrote a few weeks ago, referring to a very special “sports car week”. And a few other little things.
And even if Switzerland claims complete exemption from speedy fun, the Swiss cannot avoid noticing: where a lot is forbidden, there is also a lot of pleasure. In addition to the almost malicious restriction of humane country road speeds, there is the sinful temptation of the wonderful Alpine passes. A special kind of dilemma. A real luxury problem. Wonderful roads, passes, one kruve follows the next. From serpentine to serpentine. That calls out for a trip of a special kind. And when an Alfa Romeo 4C with its 240 hp turbo engine is the weakest representative of the whole horde, then you really have a luxury problem.
# radical14 - My intro
But back to the beginning: The two Swiss petrolheads Peter Ruch and Markus Chalilow established a not always easy to digest antithesis for motor magazines on the internet with the online magazine radical-mag.com. And because Switzerland is not home to its own automotive industry, the two of them do not show any consideration. Unlike it has become completely normal for us. At Audi you get a little cold when Peter folds the Audi TT around the tornado line and stylises the Alfa 4C as a pleasure object.
#radical14 - When it came to putting the topic of automobile passion into a condensed form, sometimes to philosophize about the passion of automobiles aside from ruler triviality and measurement banality, the two Swiss organized a “who's who” of the current four-wheel legends. Four-cylinder turbo, naturally aspirated V8, six-cylinder, boxer engines, in-line engines, and - flourish they have even organized an electric motor. A colorful mix of petrol heads. Experiencing the mountain passes of Switzerland during the day, avoiding the speed traps and philosophizing about the new findings with beer and bratwurst. A great idea. I had to be there.
And the Alfa Romeo 4C was really the weakest representative. 240 PS are not enough to compete with the Porsche 911 GT3, Ferrari 458 special, McLaren 650S, Corvette C7, Jaguar F-Type and colleagues. Or is it?
In addition to the - clear - heroes of mixture destruction, underdogs had also gathered for the # radical14 week. The Subaru WRX STi - just recently driven by me, the ever lustful sports boy from Munich, now with new names (M4), a Tesla Model S and the supposed killer surprise of the radical week: the Volvo Polestar V60.
My diary in September was filled to the brim, radical14 for me therefore only a day trip to Switzerland. Nevertheless, it should be enough to meet old friends, make new friends, to broaden your horizons and incidentally, to meet some old faces. BMW M4, Volvo Polestar and Tesla Model S I just drove as little as McLaren 650s and Subaru WRX STi.
# radical14 - my personal intro
Porsche 911 GT3 vs. Ferrari 458 speciale
The ultimate combination. On the one hand the benchmark, the ultimate sports car, perfection on wheels. The Zuffenhausen madness has a name: GT3. The classic six-cylinder boxer turns the soul out of the body. The sports tires give you the color of the asphalt in all shades of gray and shades. The seating position integrates you between the double clutch transmission and double wishbones. You are part of the sports car benchmark. Too fast? In theory, you could always be. But your own inadequacy, your own imperfection prevents you from finding the limits of the GT3 within a day. On public roads anyway. You simply can't be so rich as to pay the draconian fines of the Swiss police for “driving fast” in the Porsche GT3 manner. So you can simply delight in the precision of the steering. With this surgical perfection with which the gears are changed and you control your excitement while listening to the sawing boxer sound.
And the 458 speciale? He can just do it all better.
But - this article is just an intro. Therefore: more later!
Corvette C7 vs. Jaguar F-Type R Coupe
The fine Englishman and the rude American? You can not compare the two at all? That's like Pepsi versus Earl Gray? Not even close. Seldom were two cars more similar. Not only because both come up with a fat V8. The idea behind the two is pretty similar. Only one is already so much grown up. Much more sovereign. The power from the speed cellar? They both have. The bollern from the tailpipes? You can provoke it at any time. It's a very simple recipe that either drives them completely ridiculous or deep into the hearts of the inmates. Pour lots of super plus in front, let it gargle through the pots and at the end it drums massaging from the end pots. While one may approach it in style, the other tries to level it with the level of the drunken proletariat.
The US boy of all people drives into the pilot's heart with V8 sound dominance and clean manners. The Jaguar with its supercharged V8, the electronically generated proletarian programming and the dull power is simply exhausting in its dynamic driving programs. Straight? The 680 Nm compressor V8 just pushes too hard. Across? All the time. Loud? Ongoing. Once the Kö up and down, experience the teasing sound of the programmed misfires and then it is also good. Beat through the Alps? The US boy of all people can do that in a much more pleasant way. Sure. Without a compressor - with 460 HP but only 90 HP weaker and with 630 Nm also not with significantly less pressure at work, your naturally aspirated engine - in conjunction with the manual 7-speed gearbox - starts quite differently. You can let the US boy fly in a linear, predictable and controlled manner. The Englishman - of all people, who is so distinguished in English - rips against the field like a drunk soccer professional.
But also about these two - more later.
BMW M4, Subaru WRX STi, Tesla Model S, Volvo Polestar, McLaren 650s
I did not drive during the # radical14 event. The WRX STi I know already well and will therefore again write a replica of Peter's article on the WRX STi. Because The Subaru has as much criticism as Peter found not deserved in my eyes. I also already know the McLaren 650s. A mercilessly good car. But the version that had been sent to the event arrived in the cockpit in Switzerland with clamps. Bucket seats that are sure to provide great lateral support if I had come in with my butt. So the Englishman fell out of the program too. The Polestar Volvo is said to have been the revelation in the wet. I believe. But it was dry at my personal radical14 event. And a station wagon was not on the wish list. But if you don't want to be persuaded, he continues reading on radical-mag.
And the Tesla? An electric car? Radical in its own way. I did not drive it, just because time was short. But the Tesla will still play a role. Later, when I dedicate myself to the Ferrari 458 speciale once again in more detail. Ironically, the Tesla will play a role. ! Yikes
BMW M4: Admittedly: I would have liked to drive the Munich time. But: So far, BMW did not consider it necessary to consider my blog. And then I can just be knitted in a simple way. Then I ignore this brand. Does not hurt me. And certainly not BMW. And if you really want to read something about the M4, you will find it at Sebastian passion: driving a few warm words.
That was my intro to # radical14! - Sequel follows …
You can find more about radical14 on:
All photos: Tobias Heil