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.
7 May 2024 20:29
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.
