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Top Marques 2018: 15Th Anniversary
TOP MARQUES – 15th Edition
Words by Richi Mackie
Photos by Giorgia Rossi
This has been the year of the fifteenth edition, which confirmed how TOP MARQUES Monaco has matured overtime and has become a real world reference point for the iceberg’s peak of luxury, from boats to jewels, passing obviously through cars and everything that revolves around a top-end lifestyle. The four days of the events took place from 19th to 22nd of April and despite the streets of the Principality are constantly invaded by road works of expansion and renewal, the chaos triggered by the clamor of the event wasn’t missing.
Entering the Grimaldi Forum we have been able to admire a selection of supercars and concept cars that from year to year are increasingly directed towards the quest for the ultimate customization, even the most extreme, but still gaining almost the totality of space compared to traditional manufacturers, used to attend classic events, such as the Geneva Motor Show. After passing the entrance and then the section dedicated to the jewelry and some other random stuff, including the extraordinary Franck Muller and Rolex, a permanent presence at the TM in Monaco, we are untangled among the large crowd captured by the most extravagant artistic creations, such as single plush upholstered armchairs, oil paintings depicting the most iconic brands in the world, cigars and other objects and furniture. We climb up the ramp leading to the main pavilion, which is lit by the rays of the sun above the Principality, and in front of the main entrance one of the most interesting proposals at the fair, the Corbellati Missile.
Missile, a name certainly not chosen by chance (which means Rocket), given that as one of the creators of the small atelier tells us, the goal will be to break through the 500 kph wall. How? With a twin-turbo V8 engine with 1800 horses and a weight slightly higher than a ton. Front-engined, rear wheel drive and with manual transmission, but it does not end here because one of the most interesting aspects of the Missile is its design, inspired by the Italian supercars of the 60s, proving that something madly fast and performing can be just as beautiful and emotional. The small firm, currently practically family-run, plans to end the homologation and set the record as soon as possible, so to begin to collect orders for the limited production of the Missile. Achille Corbellati, the young boy behind this project, is enthusiastic about the path taken so far and we wish him to continue on this route, because from his words shines the purest passion, something the automotive world needs not to lose for no reason.
Walking through the pavilion, you cannot help but notice the eccentric proposals of Alandi Performance, Moldovan tuner who has literally exasperated a small group of Americans, with huge Forgiato rims, aerodynamic appendages far more than extreme and a series of mechanical modifications that can boast thousands of horses under any bonnet. A more classic tuning is that of Brabus, which as every year sets up a space full of proposals, including two fresh classic remise en forme, a 800 Biturbo based on the new AMG C-Class sedan and an Aston Martin DB11, embellished by the Startech kit. Even the Russians of TopCar did not miss the fifteenth anniversary appointment, bringing a Stinger 991.2 Turbo, a very menacing GLE and a Mercedes V-Class, the mobile office that we all want. Returning to the theme of small builders, honorable mention for Arash and Zenvo, while among the most extreme but successful creations we loved the 488 GTB and the Pogea Racing Alfa 4C, not to mention the particular Smart ForTwo Bellator brought here by the boys at M13.
Tushek unveiled the TS 900H, a hybrid hypercar of only 1400kg and something like 950 horsepower, good for a 0-100 kph of just 2.5 seconds and a top speed of 380 kilometers per hour. The look is very similar to the previous models, with a very low line, the engine is in the mid-rear position, large air intakes on the whole body like a “barchetta” and a tail that goes down almost vertically. Finally, a car that caught our attention was the Throwback S of Equus Automotive, developed on a Corvette C7 and achievable on both Stingray and Z06, while it will soon be available modding the more powerful ZR1. This Equus, in absolute preview, is built around a body entirely made in carbon fiber, with numerous details that pay homage to the Corvettes of the past including the C1 and especially the C3. At the rear the three huge tailpipes placed at the center let us imagine the crazy sound that its V8 can unleash once on, while the product manager assures us that the Throwback S represents a grand tourer that can be used every day, offering great performance but also comfort, and allowing you to live a driving pleasure typical of the best European sports cars at a competitive price (for the starting model) that should start at around € 125,000. 25 units will be produced annually and we hope to get our hands on one very soon.
There is no Top Marques without the hellfire that invades the streets, this year strictly restrained by a very severe police. Hundreds of car spotters have been waiting for the ultimate shot, observing all types of Lamborghini, Ferrari and McLaren, including the P1 of the former F1 champion Mika Hakkinen. Not to mention an unspecified amount of AMG, Audi RS and BMW M wrapped in every shape – in short, the event in the event, for a weekend that every enthusiast of exclusive cars should not miss. And we’re already waiting for next year, which promises to be even more exciting, because of the many new models coming and that will be duly doped by tuners around the world in time for the one and only supercars show.
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