Confessions of an Automationeer, Part 265: A Prime Pairing

Confessions of an Automationeer, Part 265: A Prime Pairing

Now that I've finally completed the car that I've shown in my previous post in this series, here it is:

Above, from top: Meet the 1995 Trieste GT - a big, powerful front-engined grand tourer that has massive presence from every angle, inside and out.

The 1995 Trieste GT is my first attempt not just at making a fully detailed Automation build based on the '96 Kompact in any size, but also a fully detailed build with a 3D fixture roof and pillar set in place of the stock item on any body set. Built on an all-aluminum body/chassis with a front/mid-mounted 6.0-liter V12 delivering 480 horsepower to the rear wheels via a 6-speed manual gearbox and helical limited-slip differential, its all-independent suspension (A-arm front and multi-link rear) strikes a balance between comfort and agility that covers all bases, from daily driving to track work. With a full luxury interior/CD and cassette stereo system, plus ABS-assisted large-diameter vented disc brakes gripped by multi-piston calipers, and dual front airbags as standard, it's not all brawn and no brains either.

Above, from top: Working with the door card and dashboard/central spine fixtures I chose for the Trieste GT was a real challenge, but I was able to puil it off, albeit with difficulty.

Inevitably, the Trieste GT is a top performer by contemporary standards, including a 198-mph top speed and 4.3-second 0-60 mph time, among others. But all that power and prestige comes at a price ($62,500 AMU when new in 1995), and besides, as a two-seater, even with its large trunk, it doesn't have room for more than one occupant other than the driver. So what would a customer for this kind of car have driven if they wanted to take more than one other person with them?

Above, from top: In anticipation of an upcoming Discourse challenge, I updated the HPG HL6 (itself originally intended for an earlier competition) by revising its mechanicals and making it more detailed inside and out.

The HPG HL6 (now revised to have both a model and trim year of 1995, with a matching engine family and variant year) could be that answer. At $50,000 when new, it was well-built for its segment, thanks to a hefty dose of additional quality points across the board - and more reliable than it was in its earlier incarnation. Crucially, though, as a five-seater, wealthy families can take themselves along for the ride in one go, although the basic ingredients (including a front-mounted V8 driving the rear wheels via a 5-speed automatic transmission and an A-arm front/multi-link rear) remain mostly unchanged, albeit beefed up.

In short, there are few better suggestions for a mid-90s modern classic 2-car solution with a 20-cylinder limit - and this one fits that bill perfectly. Of course, swapping the Trieste GT for a Macale Imperia from the same model year could also work, but you'd struggle to use it every day, although if you save it for special occasions, you'll get a much bigger buzz out of it.