You’ve probably heard of this ‘Europe’ land, but reports of its actual existence are sketchy at best. Stories of ridiculously quick Ford hatches, of supercars washing up on our shores swearing they’ve come from a great land north of the equator… we know it’s all fairy tales and nonsense.
Still, this talk of the SEMCA F16 and its growing domination in Europe has us wondering if we’ve been wrong about all this.
If these images are anything to go by, the F16’s freakishly happy countenance would at least explain the ease with which it has swept through country after country ‘up there’… somewhere.
Already available in France since late 2008 and after being launched in the UK last month, the SEMCA F16 has now been launched into Germany like a ballistic Cheshire cat. (…what? – Ed)
Starting from €17,990 (AU$32,211), the F16 draws its power from a rear-mounted 1.6 litre Renault petrol engine developing 78kW (105hp), which is sent to the rear wheels via a five-speed manual transmission.
You won’t be breaking any land-speed records in the F16, and it’s not quite as quick as the fighter jet with which it shares its name, but with a weight of just 564kg (1243lb), it’s eager enough to move.
According to SEMCA, the demonically happy beach-buggy-looking F16 will pounce on 100km/h in 5.5 seconds, on its way to a 177km/h top speed.
We’re not likely to see the F16 on our fair shores, but if one crawls out of the surf gasping for life and speaking in riddles of this ‘Europe’ place, we’ll be ready.
