Alfa Romeo 155 TI.Z & GTA.Z '1993-1996

'SuperCorsa'

Alfa's ever cool 8-hole wheel design. Source: italiaauto.net

Alfa 155 and Lancia Delta Integrale has always been my great heroes; these cult cars share one of the most aggressive and race styling, both dominated race tracks and even civil versions are delighted with magical reputation. Somewhat Alfa 155 Q4 is more desirable of the two, because the ultimate  combination: Alfa's impressive styling, racing reputation in DTM and Lancia's heart developed in rally. 

Source: alfa155club.nl

Alfa Romeo 155 TI.Z (International Tourism Zagato) and GTA.Z are very rare and special models of the range topping Q4. Alfa 155 is designed by Ercole Spada (man behind some iconic designs such as BMW E34 & Fiat Tipo) while working in Zagato.  Together with race engineer Giuseppe Bizzarrini guys developed TI.Z and proposed it for the production. Unluckily this aggressive styled masterpiece with performance to match didn't fly and TI.Z/GTA.Z's ended up for a very limited production funded by Luca Zagato himself and bunch of Japanese businessman.

Source: leblogauto.com

In details

Engine
In-line 4, 1995cc, 16 valve, Marelli fuel injection, Turbo
Garrett 'T3' turbocharger
Compression ratio: 8:1
reprogrammed engine management
Zagato's signature in engine cover 
Transmission
5-speed manual, FWD
Central differential (47% front & 53% rear)
Torsen rear differential
Numbers
215hp/5500rpm
313Nm/3500rpm
Top speed: 225Km/h (Q4)
0-100Km/h: 7s (Q4)
0-400m: 15,2s (Q4)
1390kg (Q4)
Bodywork modifications reduce drag from 0,31 to 0,296 
Chassis
Electronically adjustable gas dampers
Uni ball front suspension
Ride height lowered by 34mm
Wider front (from 1.477 to 1.517mm) and rear track (from 1.402 to 1.446mm)
Ventilated disks (284mm) front and disks (240mm) rear, ABS
Steering 2,9 turns lock to lock
O.Z Racing 17x6,5" (f) and 17x7,5" (r) alloys (signed by Zagato)
Pirelli P-Zero 204/45Z17 tires 
Exterior
Flared DTM-style wheel arches made of lightweight composite
Redesigned side arches
Modified rear doors
More aggressively styled front bumber with lager air intakes
Rear bumber with cut-outs for DTM's venture
Boot mounded spoiler
Racing style fuel filler cap
Interior
Leather interior and sport steering wheel 
Other
TI.Z is a one-off prototype  
Z Automobili produced 24 Zagato bodied GTA.Z models based on TI.Z
All GTA.Z models ended originally to Japan markets

Volkswagen Golf GTI G60 Fire and Ice ( A3)'1990

'Purple Element'

Beautifully painted Fire and Ice GTI with upgraded ever cool BBS RS's. Source: volksforum.com

Source: ffp.fi

In 1990 Volkswagen released Fire and Ice edition of the mk2 Golf for the German markets. Dark violet pearl finished and very contemporary trimmed edition was offered in several engine options.

G60 prefers the fastest and rarest versions of mk2 Golf that are equipped with "G-lader" magnesium supercharger with 60mm inlet. Engines are highly sensitive for the air temperatures and performance depends much of the weather. The G60 engine is developed from the earlier and smaller G40 version used in Polo G40. Original G40 unit was produced to compete with Polo's more powerful hot hatch rivals, such as Peugeot 205 GTI 1.9. Engine deputed in 1988 at B3 Passat's nose and was produced until July 1993. The ultimate G60 unit can be founded from VW Motorsport produced Golf Limited with 209hp and 247Nm.

In details

Engine
Straight 4, 1781cc, 8-valve, supercharged (G60 PG)
Side-mounted intercooler
Compression ratio: 8:1

Numbers
160hp/5600rpm
225Nm/4000rpm
Top speed: 216Km/h
0-100Km/h: 7,8s
0-400m: 16,3s
1032kg

Transmission
5 -speed manual, FWD

Chassis
McPherson, coil springs, anti-roll bar (front)
Torsion axle, trailing arm, coil springs, anti-roll bar (rear)
Ventilated disks

Estoril 15" alloys with 190/50VR15 tyres

Exterior

Dark violet pearl metallic lacquer paint finish

Green tinted glass

Double head light grille

Colour coded 'big' bumbers with deep front spoiler

Clear front indicators

Darkened rear lights

Large Fire & Ice -logo on the rear head quarter panel

Pink rear Golf badge

Interior

Sport seats

Custom trim with various Fire & Ice -logos

Other

Approx. 2,500 produced;

1.8 8V, 90hp - 2.200 made

1.8 8V GTI, 107hp -  200 made

1.8 16V GTI, 129hp - unknown

1.8 8V G60 GTI, 160hp - 70 made

1.6 8V GTD, 80hp - 60 made

Porsche Boxster 550 Spyder 50th Anniversary Edition (986) '2004

'Perfect match'

Today I got inspired of the first Boxster while dreaming of having convertible in my garage. It's not the prettiest Porsche with its straight character line, ugly roof lump -shared by many and also spoiled numerous of otherwise great designs, somewhat symmetrical front and rear design and the ever-ugly roll bars. Mazda Miata from the same era don’t have roll bars, so why Porsche? Anyway, it's a Porsche with sympathetic frog face and fabulous soul. 

GT Silver, dark chrome and cocoa-brown makes a perfect match. Source: auto-power-girl.com

Porsche is a master of producing limited edition models -the cars that Wolf Cars celebrates. There's a tremendously of different versions, most of them ridiculous sales boosting make overs, but some of them are really special, like RS-models. The one that I felt in love today is a 550 Spyder 50th Anniversary Edition released in 2004 -exactly one of those make over editions, nothing really special, but has a perfectly matching colour scheme. GT Silver Metallic from Carrera GT concept and cocoa-brown leather interior makes a one of the most sophisticated marriages I have seen.

Cocoa-brown leather and silver detailing. Source: 6speedonline.com

In details:

Engine
Flat 6, 3179cc, 24-valve
Compression ratio: 11:1
Boxster S sport exhaust with special end tip 
Numbers
266hp/6200rpm
310Nm/4600rpm
Top speed: 266km/h
0-100km/h: 5,7s (Tiptronic: 6,4s)
0-400m:14,1s
1420kg 
Transmission
6-speed manual, RWD
Sport shifter -15% travel 
Chassis
'M030' sport suspension -10mm
Silver four piston brakes with cross-drilled and ventilated 318/299mm disk
Two-tone seal grey and silver Carrera 18" wheels with 5mm spacers   
Exterior
Painted in GT Silver metallic (from Carrera GT concept car)
Grills finished in body colour
Cocoa-brown soft-top  
Interior
Cocoa-brown full leather interior
Special silver detailing
Sport seats with silver back
Production number plate in centre console
Bose-high-end sound system 
Other
Grey natural leather interior as a no-cost option
1953 pieces produced (celebrates the 550 Spyder from 1953)
American model has a fully red rear lights