NationStates Jolt Archive

(OOC: In this thread, all relevant postings will be made for the Automotive Press in Van Luxemburg. Think of exclusive scoop pictures, Vehicle reviews, Automotive News, etc. You can also submit! Posting reviews of VLT's automobiles is possible!)

Test: Monteluci Duca 3.2 V6 Biturbo

Monteluci has risen again, this time under the skilful command of VLT, which has recently launched it’s first Monteluci: The Duca. We test the most potent petrol version, the 330 HP V6 Biturbo, and see if it’s any good.

In the last years, Monteluci had completely collapsed. Sales, that is. It still managed to launch some impressive models, but it could never buyers to their showrooms. The image of the 1930’s Monteluci, with it’s racing legends and powerful sportscars, had vanished since the 1970’s, only leaving a vague silhouette of what the brand used to be. Since early 2007, Monteluci is protected under VLT’s powerful wings, and has come to make a remarkable improvement. The brand name now truly associates with racing and technology again, with it’s recently unveiled plans for entering international racing series. Also, this Biturbo is a perfect example of the new technology Monteluci will be delivering over the few coming years.

So, we’re having the Duca V6 Biturbo over for tea today. It is amazing what Monteluci has achieved within the few months that it is under the management from VLT, and we’re beginning to doubt if this was meant to be a Monteluci. On the outside, as well as on the inside, the car looks stunning, and it doesn’t seem to be using any inferior materials. The coupé lines are unusual for this type of vehicle, but it is gaining popularity, looking at VLT’s own L6 and L7. There are only a few disadvantages to these designs: the back seats’ headroom is usually limited, and the boot space is smaller than that of ‘regular’ models. We have no complaints about the headroom, however, but the boot space is indeed a tad small for such a car. Maybe wait for a station wagon version of the car, if you want some boot space.

Inside the vehicle, everything looks good, and feels like it has been thoroughly reliable and solid. The interior lay-out is well thought-out, and ergonomy is perfect, although some of the access buttons for the adaptive suspension could have better been added to the navigation controls behind the gear lever. But honestly, only grumpy people would have problems with that, or maybe if you’re a race driver (well, that’s the same, isn’t it? ~ Red.). The satnav itself, as well as the air-conditioning, are perfectly easy to control, and nobody on the redaction had any problems with operating it. Most systems on the Monteluci are entirely different from their VLT counterparts, underlining their semi-independence once again. Not a single VLT button or knob can be found, neither do any of the other parts look like they came from a VLT. There are no major flaws to be found in the interior, and the seats (comfortable Monteluci-designed sport seating) sit remarkably well, and the rear seats deserve a plus as well.

Turning the beautifully-styled key, the V6 produces an impressive growl, aggressive yet civilised. The sequential semi-automatic 7-speed gearbox, only on the Biturbo, shifts through it’s gear without any problems, and does it’s work precise and with a sportive accent. Even the automatic setting uses the concept of throttle between gear shifts, increasing the sportive feel of the Duca even more. When we take the Monteluci out on the open roads, we were very surprised. While the last few Monteluci’s under the old management had bad suspension, and didn’t drive that well, this new Monteluci drives like a full-fledged sportscar. Partly due to it’s double wishbone construction on both axles, the vehicle corners extremely good, and, while corners can be made at relatively high speeds, the vehicle’s acceleration is magnificent. Due to the interesting turbocharger construction, the Duca has little to no turbo lag, and clamps to the road as if it were on rails. The adaptive suspension does what it should do, although the automatic setting can be a bit problematic, with it doing some adaptations when you don’t want it to, but it’ll do just fine on the manual setting, especially when set to ‘Sport’ This does not only stiffen the suspension, it also causes the engine characteristics to change. The Duca becomes a four-door sportscar with a great engine sound, singing out of the two beautiful rear exhausts, placed on either side of the vehicle. The 4D system (optional, $2,128) makes the vehicle stable enough to withstand some serious aquaplaning, and can also be of help when taking the Duca out on the somewhat less paved roads, although this would be rare when driving a Duca. Accelerating is no problem for this Monteluci, as said before, and the vehicle is perfectly enjoyable on the tight, winding B-roads we drove on. Acceleration together with great driving dynamics, the Duca could outperform some more hard-core cars, if you would like to. However, since the buyer of a Duca is unlikely to fiddle with the settings of the suspension a lot, the standard setting is perfect for normal commuter traffic, while the driver can still enjoy himself on empty roads with the normal setting, in which the vehicle remains sportive enough to offer some great driving pleasure.

It feels just as home on the Autobahn as on the local B-roads, however. Even when on ‘Luxury’, the Duca covers up all bumps in the roads, making it as comfortable as a flying carpet. We couldn’t get to the magical top speed of 293 km/h due to traffic, but trust us, it does 250 km/h like you were doing only 120. In traffic jams, the Duca has no problems comforting the driver either, since the seating offers enough support, and while they are sport seats, it was comfortable throughout the lockup. The Bose sound system acts perfectly when trying to relax, producing soft, clear tones. When trying to discover what comes standard with this car, you are in for a surprise. Practically everything is standard, including satnav, climate control and leather upholstery. The best surprise is, that this is standard for every Duca, including the models with somewhat less potent motorization. The Duca can be yours for $27.211, for a 171 mHP 2 litre. This particular model, the Biturbo, is yours for $41.667, with an additional $2.128 for the 4-Wheel Drive bringing the price to $43.795.

Pros:
- Stunning design
- Good quality
- Price
- Driving dynamics & power.

Cons:
- Little boot space
- Small overall mistakes

Leaked: Monteluci Duca Pre-Production!

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You might never believe what ended up in our mailbox today: one of our readers found this floating around over the internet. From the looks of it, these shots are the last pre-production sketches of the Duca, before it went into production several months ago. As you can see, the pre-production seems to be more aggressive than the actual version, and borrows some of it's looks from the Squadra Forze Sportive version. The headlights are placed further back as the production version, which could mean that the headlights did not meet safety requirements, or were insufficiently visible.

After all, however, the more aggressive look of this pre-production model has been incorporated in the Squadra Forze Sportive, While the F1-shaped nose of the SFS seems to be toned down in the pre-production process, the back of the car seems to be preserved for the production version. While it may be sad that we didn't get this version of the car, the beautiful Squadra Forze Sportive is just as great as this pre-production version, so we won't complain.

Monteluci and VLT win on Kreuzbadinsel, Monteluci champion in Touring Cars

In an agonising last race of the season, VLTCC heated up with a battle on the Kreuzbad Street Course between Jung and Fiorentini. The race, which passed over the course two days after the international F1 championship had whizzed by, was exciting from begin till end, with Monteluci Driver Fiorentini fighting for first place with Weiß-VLT driver Uwe Jung, both also contenders to the championship. Their finish was so close that the photo had to be examined to decide who the winner was.

Not only the fight between Fiorentini and Jung was interesting, to say the least, a fierce fight between the third fourth and fifth drivers also excited, Where two Weiß-equipped cars - a VLT and a BMW - fought with a Monteluci over third place. Eventually, the Monteluci, driven by Gérard Duranseau, won from the two Weiß cars, driven by Ármin Szigethy and Mika Savonheimo respectively.

This was the last race of the season, Monteluci has won both the drivers' and constructors' championship, followed by family members Weiß-VLT in second place in both situations.

Current standings:

VLTCC Race, Kreuzbad Street Course
Results

1. Uwe Jung Weiß-VLT
2. Mario Fiorentini Monteluci
3. Gérard Duranseau Monteluci
4. Ármin Szigethy Weiß-VLT
5. Mika Savonheimo Weiß-BMW
6. Mike Evans Barrett-Thompson
7. Arian Sandberg SCARVL
8. Archibaldo Olivárez Weiß-BMW
9. Lewis Owens Barrett-Thompson
10. Simeun Dragotinevic SCARVL
11. Thorsten Schmidt Eisemann Motorsport
12. Thierry Dionne Team Renault
13. Ignazio Mazzanti Squadra Mazzanti-VLT

DNF. Emanuele Mazzanti Squadra Mazzanti-VLT Lap 3 (Engine failure)
DNF. Dominik Schaefer Eisemann Motorsport Lap 6 (Tire blowout)
DNF. Marcel Reinhardt Team Renault Lap 8 (Crash)
DNF. Morgan Elliott Barrett-Sinclair Lap 8 (Crash)
DNF. Lucas Carpenter Barrett-Sinclair Lap 16 (Crash)
DNF. Édouard Soucy Courtemanche Touring Lap 16 (Crash)
DNF. Maurice Audet Courtemanche Touring Lap 16 (Electric Problem)

OVERALL STANDING – DRIVERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP

1. Mario Fiorentini Monteluci 145 Pts
2. Uwe Jung Weiß-VLT 140 Pts
3. Gérard Duranseau Monteluci 95 Pts
4. Morgan Elliott Barrett-Sinclair 90 Pts
5. Ármin Szigethy Weiß-VLT 81 Pts
6. Mike Evans Barrett-Thompson 79 Pts
7. Arian Sandberg SCARVL 75 Pts
8. Archibaldo Olivárez Weiß-BMW 68 Pts
9. Mika Savonheimo Weiß-BMW 65 Pts
10. Simeun Dragotinevic SCARVL 62 Pts
11. Ignazio Mazzanti Squadra Mazzanti-VLT 60 Pts
“ Emanuele Mazzanti Squadra Mazzanti-VLT “
12. Édouard Soucy Courtemanche Touring 55 Pts
13. Thierry Dionne Team Renault 53 Pts
14. Dominik Schaefer Eisemann Motorsport 52 Pts
15. Lucas Carpenter Barrett-Sinclair 50 Pts
16. Marcel Reinhardt Team Renault 48 Pts
17. Maurice Audet Courtemanche Touring 45 Pts
18. Thorsten Schmidt Eisemann Motorsport 42 Pts
19. Lewis Owens Barrett-Thompson 40 Pts

OVERALL STANDING – CONSTRUCTORS’ CHAMPIONSHIP

1. Monteluci 240 Pts
2. Weiß-VLT 221 Pts
3. Barrett-Sinclair 140 Pts
4. SCARVL 137 Pts
5. Weiß-BMW 133 Pts
6. Squadra Mazzanti-VLT 120 Pts
7. Barrett Thompson 119 Pts
8. Team Renault 101 Pts
9. Courtemanche Touring 100 Pts
10. Eisemann Motorsport 94 Pts

From the Zeitong Mateneen:

VLT Automotive presents year report: share owners delighted

ESCH-SUR-ALZETTE - Kristin Becker, head of the Board of Directors, presented the year report of VLT Automotive Group N.V. today at their headquarters in Esch-sur-Alzette. The automobile manufacturer made a profit of $31 Trillion USD.

The huge automobile conglomerate from Esch-sur-Alzette mainly made profits on the production of the more expensive vehicles, sold across the globe as a Van Luxemburgian quality product. The Venezian daughters Monteluci and Lepanto saw a huge increase in terms of sales, after their takeover by VLT this year. They mostly sold in Van Luxemburg. Monteluci's venture in Formula One was not a succesfull one, but Mister Monteluci himself has promised that they are gearing up for another season of the worldwide racecar battle, which will probably visit Van Luxemburg for a GP race once again.

Most of VLT's profit was relinquished to the major shareholders, being the Grand Duke of Van Luxemburg and the State. However, the staggering amount of $12 trillion USD was reserved for future projects, aswell as advertising and automobile development. VLT has also planned the acquirement of a fleet of new car carrier ships, since the old ones cannot possibly fulfill the hige amount of transport routes. Private transporters had already been hired to transport more ships abroad than ever: over 1000 million vehicles left the various factories and shores for a foreign destination.

Expectations for the coming year are good: VLT will see another increase in profit, although it will probably be not as much as this year.

Yet Unknown Criminal arrested: Police denies everything

VENEZIA - A rather mysterious arrest took place on the A78 near Venezia yesterday: So far, the police denies all involvement. The IVD claims to be 'unaware of an arrestation'

This rather vague picture was made by an onlooker yesterday. The heavily armed arrestation team has surrounded the suspect's car with their vehicles, and are in the process of capturing the passengers. Currently, the Arvaglio Polizia Stradale, Polizia Communale and the national intelligence agency IVD deny any involvement. The Van Luxemburger Arméi did not respond to our inquiry.

It could well be that the suspects arrested in this action are affiliated with the Mafia in Arvaglio, usually only active in the most southern tip of the Van Luxemburger region Arvaglio. The Police has recently started a crackdown on all Mafia members, and has arrested quite a few criminals. This could be the most recent addition in the series.



Monteluci M6 4x4, an up-and-coming icon?

ESCH-SUR-ALZETTE - The Monteluci M6a is mostly known from it's impressive looks in use with the Grand-Ducal Marechaussee and other military units geared towards civilian services. But the M6 might receive a second, civilian life?

The FTS (Federal Traffic Service, Van Luxemburg's vehicle registration office) has registered more than a thousand M6'es on civilian license plates in late 2007. This is not unique for a military vehicle, but it has never took place in such major numbers. Can we speak of a new icon in mobility here?

'It is indeed possible that the Monteluci will receive the same attention as the Civilian Humvee did almost twenty years ago. The first vehicles are coming out of Military ownership and are being sold off by the Ministry of Defence as we speak. The Marechaussee versions have had special modifications to make them perform better, and they usually have a low mileage, while the price is attractive. It is a great way to acquire a cheap and reliable car.' According to Herman Vollenbroek of the FTS.

The reliable M6 can also be easily modified, according to mechanics. The engine technology can be easily replaced or modified, meaning more power or more fuel efficiency. 'We have even seen M6'es modified with Monteluci 6.0 V12 engines. I haven't gotten the chance to drive one of those examples yet, but according to our inspectors it leads to a very powerful vehicle. Some have even described it as a reincarnation of the Lamborghini LM002.' According to Vollenbroek.

The FTS has stated that they expect the rise of the M6 to continue. They also said that it would be no problem to let the vehicle apply to Van Luxemburger civil motorvehicle laws. 'Monteluci has partly prepared the vehicle for the Civilian market already'

Lepanto Supercar: It's coming!

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A Lepanto teaser picture has been sent to all press instances.

We've been waiting for it, but it has come to our inbox: A Lepanto supercar.
The brand, nowadays part of VLT and belonging to VLT's 'exclusive' branch, commanded by Monteluci, has been promising it's return for a while, but has now finally put out the first (fruitful) results.

This Lepanto, of which the name has yet to be decided upon, will be equipped with a 6-litre V12 that can develop 650 PS. This will be a slight improvement over the older Monteluci V12 with 640 PS that has been installed in other Lepanto's. Most of this engine has been redeveloped, just to gain the little bit more horsepower and a better cultivated engine. Lepanto has however promised that the engine sound will still be quite brutal, thanks to their sound engineers. With this new V12 engine, the Lepanto 650 (as it will probably be named) can achieve speeds of over 330 km/h and accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in approximately 3 to 3.5 seconds.

The vehicle will be supplied with technology (ABS, ESP) that can always be turned off, like we're used to with Lepanto. The car is said to be superior in build quality to the VLT L7 Sport (the previous supersportscar by VLT), and will cost around 500,000 USD. The Lepanto will incorporate the best leather and interior products around, while the finest materials will be used to handcraft the vehicle at the Lepanto garages on the Via Lepanto in Venezia. Lepanto expects they can assemble around 200 vehicles of this car annually, and ensures that service is one of the most important words for Lepanto. For now, the only other Lepanto dealer in Van Luxemburg is on the Boulevard 5. Mee 1945. Due to the significant distance some customers will have to travel, the brand will offer a possibility to take the car from the owners' home, service it, and return it to the owner. For foreign owners, the Lepantos will be flown back to Van Luxemburg for maintenance once a year. The owner can also travel with his vehicle, to enjoy the Lepantos in venezia or take a special driving course on the Monteluci/Lepanto track in Moiano, inbetween Omignano and Venezia.

'Lepanto is an experience, not just a car. We hope the owner of such a vehicle will experience this. This new supercar is a special event, and we will handcraft the vehicle, as with every model, on the Via Lepanto. When the owner takes delivery of the car, he can make a test drive with the mechanic that does the final inspection, and, if required, ask for some last-minute touchups. If the driver needs to, he can always E-mail, or phone when the Lepanto factory is open, the mechanic that did the final inspection if he wants to consult him, and all of this will be free, it is all service of Lepanto. It does indeed take a lot of money and time, but we think that Lepanto is worth this.' according to Giancarlo Moretti, head of the Lepanto garage in Venezia.

A set introduction for the 650 has not yet been announced, but we can besure it is nearing.

(OOC: And it is time to reactivate this for a bit. This reviews has been cross-posted from the Ducareale thread. I hope to be posting some more excerpts from the VL automotive press when time allows.)

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Autovisioun is one of Van Luxemburg's leading automobile magazines, and known for it's writing about more high-class vehicles. It is not so much focused on testing 'budget' cars. The magazine claims to be independent, but obviously suffers from so-called 'Automotive Patriotism'.

Quattroporto Purificata: The Monteluci Ducareale Tipo 188 (V8 Biturbo)

It is not hard to find the gargantuan testing complex of the Automobili Monteluci S.p.A. From the Autobahn, a sign already directs you towards this monumental piece of history. ‘Autodromo di Moiano’ is a standard vocabulary definition for anyone who has indulged himself in the national racing history. And we will be going there today. Not to race the world’s most prestigious supercars, but to test Monteluci’s newest product: The Ducareale.

It is early in the morning when I get into my own VLT and take to the motorways in order to experience a day I’ve been looking forward to: We will be driving a Ducareale, the new 4-door luxury saloon from Monteluci. And not just the flagship of the brand’s line, no, we will be taking out the Tipo 188, a special edition car of which only 188 cars will see the light of day. And we can pick it up at Moiano, the place where the original Tipo 188 was developed. How suitable.

On arrival, our car already awaits us. Outside one of the historical pit boxes, we get to see the magnificent four door saloon – a Quattroporte, as the Italians would say – gleaming in the sunlight. Its brilliant white paint (Bianco Pavignano) really seems to be blinding the eyes, and the massive 20 inch Titanium-colour wheels indeed remind oneself of the historical Borranis, mixing perfectly with the vehicle colour. Two aggressive, smoked front lights look at you, almost begging to take her out for a spin. Round the back, double exhausts on either side of the automobile remind you that this beauty is not just to be looked at. Though not as fast as the V12 SFS, this four-door saloon is still capable of 311 km/h. Don’t forget that.

Inside, the changed interior breathes luxury as well as sportivity. The calfskin leather that lines the seats’ sides mixes perfectly with the Alcantara that covers the central seating areas of the upholstery, carefully wrapped around the sport seats that provide superior seating. In the back, the situation is really the same, but sadly enough only provides seating for two, thanks to the centre console continuing throughout the vehicle. Of course, the rear passengers are provided with the best luxuries Venezia could come up with – we absolutely loved the ability to move the front passenger seat from the rear. Furthermore, the passengers can take lots of luggage with them in the specially provided luggage set, that can carry 550 litres of baggage. Behind the steering wheel, All pieces come together. The luxury, the sportivity, the heritage. The interior has switches and buttons that are chromed and partly made out of titanium, while the dashboard has been made in the same leather as the seats, which looks exclusive to say the least. Another defining pro is the magnificent on-board entertainment system, which provides a sound and video experience at cinematic level. The downside of this is of course that it takes some time to get used to the overwhelming choice of options and settings, but even with the most default setting anyone can enjoy the rustique sounds of Ludovico Einaudi, a CD we found in the entertainment system. Strange.

The instrument cluster is a tasteful combination of new and old, with Jaeger-Lecoultre, certainly not a newcomer when it comes to clocks and measuring devices, providing traditional instruments for the Ducareale, which are then mixed with technology from Walter Autotechnologie. Under some circumstances, these analogue instruments have the tendency to reflect sunlight, especially with the sun in a low position and directed on the instrument cluster. Furthermore, the mirrors on the vehicles make use of an electro chromatic system that prevents the driver from being blinded by the headlamps of cars behind him.

But we are not here to admire the car it’s beauty. Behind the steering wheel, it only takes a push of a button to initiate the starting sequence. This means that the oil heating system starts feeding the carter with enough heat to quickly bring the oil to the required temperature, the instruments self-test, and, best of all, the V8 Biturbo in this particular Ducareale revs till 4000 rpm, producing a shout that can cut straight through your bone. And your soul, probably. Our tip would be to do this with an opened window or door, since sound isolation onboard this Monteluci is good enough for a house. Of course, the engine noise is present when you want it to be, but at cruising speeds, a complete sense of serenity overwhelms you.

Putting the 7-speed Semi-Auto in first gear is easy, especially considering you have so much options to do it. By the flippers behind the steering wheel, with the stick, or simply pushing the ‘Drive’ button to rely on the completely automatic transmission to do the work. As you accelerate, and the V8 Biturbo begins to climb into the revolutions, it seems as if all hell breaks loose. A mighty ottocylindri roar breaks the silence around Moiano, and the whining of the turbochargers further enhances the feeling of being in a spaceship that is accelerating to achieve orbital escape velocities. Within 10 seconds, 200 km/h lies within reach on the banked test track of the Moiano proving grounds, and if we’d let the 550 horses under the Ducareale bonnet continue to gallop, we’d approach the magical 300 km/h limit.

And the best thing of this all is, that you hardly feel anything of the bullet-like properties of this car. The special SEM1 system makes you feel nothing at all, as if I was flying. The special linear electromagnetic motors keep the vehicle level at all times, meaning it is extremely comfortable, but also eliminates all pitch & roll movements from the vehicle. And if that is not enough for the customer, the system can be tuned to their personal likings.

Of course, this SEM1 has a major influence on the driver characteristics. There is no roll whatsoever in corners, and the vehicle does not pitch in any way when accelerating or stopping. Even though this gives you a fantastic roadholding ability, it must be said that it also diminishes a bit of the purity of the Ducareale, since the driver does not have the opportunity to ‘feel’ the road as much as the average driver. On the other hand, however, the pedal response and steering feel is on a completely different level, with an unseen directness and responsiveness.

On the Autobahn, it is not very much different. It is possible to catapult to speeds well over 250 km/h without even noticing, and only a background roar reminds you of the engine’s potential when accelerating. Thanks to the Biturbo turbocharger construction, the vehicle has power readily available at every rpm, but is most at home when making higher revolutions. Combined with the silky smooth gearchanges by the gearbox in automatic mode, it is certainly not a punishment to drive hundreds at a time with this vehicle, and by the press of a button (being the ‘Sport’ mode button), it can then change into an aggressive carnivore, which eats corners for breakfast.

And, after a day of driving with the Ducareale, you certainly want more. The positive points certainly outweigh the negatives, and who wouldn’t buy it for its looks? However, Monteluci has proven they still have it, and continues their success after the Duca with the Ducareale. Points of improvement would be the visibility of the instrument cluster under some circumstances, and perhaps a bit more ‘feel’ in the electromagnetic suspension. And, despite Monteluci’s recent reputation in terms of reliability, the cars still suffer from quite some depreciation thanks to the pre-2007 Monteluci era. The Ducareale, however, is nothing but one of the best executives saloons to come out of any Van Luxemburger factory for a while.