Revving Beyond the Ordinary: The Coloni S1's Leap from Alfa Romeo's Shadow

The Coloni S1 shares its appearance largely with the Alfa Romeo 156, but this machine is too remarkable to overlook.

Beyond its visual resemblance to the 156, the Coloni S1 also recalls the Alfa Romeo 164 V10 Pro Car, another high-performance marvel. The car, created by Enzo Coloni, whose team participated in Formula 1 from 1987 to 1991 with limited success, achieved notable results in Italian Formula 3 competitions.

As a prototype designed to compete in the FIA's Group E, the Alfa Romeo 156 in the Coloni S1 guise features a carbon fibre chassis. It boasts a centrally mounted three-litre V6 engine producing roughly 500hp, enabling it to accelerate from 0 to 60mph in under 2 seconds.

This makes it faster than the McLaren F1. Like the British car, the Coloni S1 features a driver's seat positioned in the middle of the cabin.

Notable, too, are the six-speed sequential gearbox and the Brembo brakes, which incorporate carbon fibre and titanium. Furthermore, the development of the suspension design alone reportedly cost over €600,000 (approximately £516,000). Reports suggest the car's weight is under a ton.

Although the car was listed for sale in 2022, those advertisements have since disappeared from the internet. Nonetheless, a recording from the Zwartkops track in South Africa remains, showcasing the captivating sound of this car.