Wiesmann MF4 Roadster, the Shelby/Morgan love child we can't have
(Wiesmann)
At last year's Geneva Auto Show, I was fortunate to sit in a Wiesmann MF4 coupe, a visual cross between a Morgan Aero 8 and a Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe. Everything seemed so deliciously old-world: the smooth leather covering every imaginable surface, metal toggle switches, and a cramped cockpit with an amazing view of an obscenely long and narrow hood.
For 2009, this tiny German manufacturer added some needed headroom to the MF4 in the form of a beautiful softtop roadster. As with many cars in Geneva, it's off limits for Americans.
Two BMW V-8s supply the power: a 4.8 liter, 362 horsepower engine from the 550i and the M3's snarling small-block, good for 414 horsepower. A 6-speed manual is standard, with the option of a 6-speed automatic or 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox. The M3-powered MF4 S hits 62 miles per hour in 4.4 seconds, says Wiesmann, and there's little doubt to that claim.
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Clifford Atiyeh is an automotive writer and car enthusiast . He has spent his entire life driving cars he doesn't own. In the garage: 1995 21-speed Iron Horse, 2002 Jeep Wrangler X (by association) |
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Bill Griffith is a veteran Boston Globe reporter, having reviewed cars for more than 10 years and serving as assistant sports editor for 25 years. He was also the paper's sports media columnist. In the garage: 2006 Subaru Baja |
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John Paul is public affairs manager for AAA Southern New England, a certified mechanic, and a Globe columnist. He hosts a weekly radio show on WROL.
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Craig Fitzgerald has been writing about cars, motorcycles, and the automotive industry since 1999. He is the former editor of Hemmings Sports & Exotic Car. In the garage: 1968 Buick Riviera, 1996 Buick Roadmaster, 1974 Honda CB450 |
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Keith Griffin is president of the New England Motor Press Association and edits the used car section on About.com. He also writes for the Hartford Business Journal and various weekly newspapers in Connecticut.
In the garage: Mazda 5, Dodge Neon |
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George Kennedy is a senior writer for WheelsTV in Acton, which produces video reviews for Yahoo, MSN, and other auto websites.
In the garage: Lifted 1999 Jeep Cherokee |
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