Fiat Stilo Schumacher
Though
not as vociferous as Michael's GP car, the Fiat Stilo Schumacher
is still special enough for the rest of us
What's
New
Michael Schumacher may not be having the best of Formula
One seasons this year but don't forget, he's still the reigning
(and a seven-time) F1 world champion. And what better way
to commemorate his fifth consecutive title with Ferrari
in 2004 than with a limited edition car bearing his name?
Only
3,500 units of the Fiat Stilo Schumacher will be available
worldwide, with 50 of these earmarked for the Singapore
market. Exclusivity is guaranteed, in other words. This
special edition Stilo is available in any colour you like,
as long as it's Rosso Scuderia Ferrari - the same shade
of scarlet found on Ferrari's F1 cars.
Unique
colour aside, you'll be able to recognise a Stilo Schumacher
by its full bodykit, 'Scorpion' 17-inch twin three-spoke
alloy wheels and oval 'MS Limited Edition' badges on the
tailgate and side skirts. These add-ons don't detract from
the three-door Stilo's boldly chiselled shape, which looks
particularly stylish when viewed from the rear three-quarters.
While
the exterior design remains contemporary, the car's cabin
does betray its age - the driver's footwell is cramped and
the dashboard panel gaps could be more consistent.
Still,
there are plenty of cool features to keep the driver entertained,
such as the Easy Go keyless entry and starting system, a
comprehensive trip computer and an integrated stereo with
fingertip remote controls on the steering wheel. Special
floor mats, white-faced instrument dials and a numbered
plaque on top of the dashboard serve as reminders that you've
splurged on the sportiest Stilo variant.
How
it Performs
With a 0-100kmh time of 8.5 seconds, the Stilo Schumacher
feels satisfyingly brisk rather than scorchingly fast, especially
when lined up next to turbocharged European rivals like
the Opel Astra Turbo, Renault Megane RS and VW Golf GTI.
There's
good news for those who believe it's the quality rather
than quantity of the performance that counts, though. The
170bhp 2.4-litre five-cylinder engine is fabulously smooth
all the way from idle to its redline, and the even spread
of torque means you can afford to be lazy with the gear
lever and still relegate slower traffic to the rear-view
mirror with ease.
The
car sounds the business, too. While revving the four-cylinder
engines of its rivals is not dissimilar to switching a vacuum
cleaner to maximum power, the Stilo's engine rewards hard
prods on the throttle pedal with a warbling soundtrack that's
hugely addictive.
Unlike
the other Stilo models sold here which are fitted with the
semi-automatic Selespeed transmission, the Schumacher comes
with a five-speed manual and is all the better for it. Although
the gearchange are clutch actions are not the slickest around,
the transmission does allow you to fully exploit the car's
potential on challenging roads.
With
decent steering feel and plenty of grip from its wide tyres,
the car can be driven quickly with confidence, up to eight-tenths
of its limits. Push harder than that and you can feel the
springs and dampers working overtime to keep body movements
in check.
How
it Stacks Up
The Stilo Schumacher is an intriguing proposition - in spite
of its race-inspired image, it isn't as uncompromisingly
sporty as some other cars in this class. Instead, it mates
a truly outstanding engine with decent dynamics, while tossing
a surprising level of refinement into the mix.
Come
to think of it, this might be just the kind of car that
Schumacher would want to drive after a hard Sunday's work
at the wheel of his F1 machine.
| Technical Specifications |
|
MODEL
Fiat Stilo Schumacher
ENGINE
Engine: 2,446cc 20V in-line 5
Max Power: 170bhp @ 6,000rpm
Max Torque: 221Nm @ 3,500rpm
TRANSMISSION
5-speed manual
TOP SPEED
215 kmh
0-100km/h
8.5s
|
