DaveU

Hmmmm?

I thought it looked great - I like the wheel at each corner idea, I bet it has pin sharp handling.

The sound was AMAZING - it actually sounded the same as my TypeR with the Blitz NUR spec exhaust & the baffler taken out!

40k? Quite a lot of money for a car with outstanding performance but no roof!

What did everybody else think?

Dave

colint

The owner of the company developing the Delfino Feroce brought the car up to
Knockhill for a film shoot - a pilot car based programme for Channel 4 named
Sex Drive. He needed a garage for the night in Edinburgh, so I offered
space in mine.

I went along on Saturday afternoon to Knockhill and watched the filming.
They were doing a sequence called 'Supermodels', and had a rather tasty
Italian model named Paula driving the car, while they filmed from various
angles. 4 hours of standing around in sub-zero temperatures and they were
finished.

I got one passenger lap in the car, then it was time to go

The car was tucked up in my garage overnight, but Sunday morning I had to
deliver the car to the company owner elsewhere in Edinburgh - a drive of
about 3 miles. Since I had to be there for 9, I left at 7.30, and took,
shall we say, a detour (For those that know the area, round the bypass,
then down to Peebles via Penicuik, and along to Innerleithen, and back).

It's still a pre-production model, so has no roof, or heater, so I was well
wrapped up, since it was still really cold at 8am.

The first thing that gets you is the noise. It sounds superb. The standard
Impreza engine has a different exhaust that exits the rear through 2 side by
side upswept pipes. The driving position isn't ideal, although the
production car will have a lower seat. The seat was all the way back, and my
feet were fine, but the steering wheel just touched my legs, making keeping
your hands on the wheel while turning difficult, and in town driving a bit
awkward. The 4 point belts don't have inertia reels either, so you can't
lean forward to see out at junctions...

Once out of town, the next thing you notice is the acceleration. It's been
measured at something around 4.5s 0-60, and it feels like it too. Any gear,
anything above 2500rpm, and it takes off. It's very, very quick, even
compared to a 22b. Sitting lower makes it feel even quicker too, and having
the top open adds to that again.

The roads were wet, with some ice at the sides of the road, so I was taking
it easy on the corners, but it feels like it's very well glued down. I felt
one slight twitch from the rear, putting the power down coming out of a
tight corner, so I'd imagine it could be quite playful when you get used to
it (and you own it, and it's not the only one in the world...)

The brakes don't have any servo assistance - not sure if the production car
will have or not, but to be honest once you're used to it, it's not a
problem slowing down 850kg of aluminium and fibreglass.

The suspension is still being tuned, and does need some improvement. It
thumps a bit over potholes and rough roads, but coming over crests, going
through dips, or round long sweepers, it feels a bit soft. I suspect either
softer dampers or harder springs would sort that out, depending on driver
preference.

The only other thing I'd like, which is probably a personal thing, is a
slightly quicker steering rack.

Overall it felt very well put together - a lot better than I expected from a
development car.

If Delfino manage to secure some 280bhp STi engines, sort the suspension,
and get a roof sorted out, they'll create an absolute hooligan of a car.
0-60 in 3.8, theoretical top speed of 175 or 180, yours for 39,500...

(www.delfino.co.uk has some info, and I'll try and upload some digital
pictures somewhere)

Carp Catcher

I think - it needed a wash !!

Only joking. I thought it looked mint from the front.

How do you open up the front end though?, It had us guessing.

C.C.

Nightmare

it pivotsup from the front 'a la Dodge Viper'

DaveU - the prod version will have a 'removable lid'

I quote " we dont feel a crappy leaky soft top is for us, and an all singing all dancing motorised job would be heavy and expensive" A Marx

Okay - so it was something like that anyway

Apparently, official 'full roof' version in mags soon...!!

Tim W

iTrader: (1)

When I saw the car in print I wasn't sure, but now I've seen it in the flush, I love it !

Shame I can't afford one though .

Carp Catcher

nightmare,

Ah .... All becomes clear!

We guessed it did but could not see anything to confirm.

One thing we did notice though was how much dirt and s**t had gathered in the mesh grille's just behind each of the front wheels.

Some serious scrubbing for someone!!

C.C.

JohnS

iTrader: (1)

Some excellent pictures of the Delfino when it is nice and cleanm at the following web site, courtesy of Colin, and hosted by Adam.

DaveU

Love this quote from the website:

"Looks that invoke others to move aside"

LOL!

Lee Ng

Hi guys,

My lack of sleep on Saturday night must have caught up with me, cos I totally missed the D @ Donno

johnfelstead

i can't make my mind up.

sometimes i think it looks the dogs

other times i think the bonnet scoop just doesn't match the shape of the rest of the car.

i think it would look much better without the scoop and with a chargecooler or front intercooler installed, looks a bit kit carish to me, sorry