Interesting Laforza blurb:
sandiegometro.com
One Unique And Rugged SUV With an Italian body and Ford powerplant,
the Laforza is made in Escondido
Tucked away in Escondido lies San Diego county's own auto company. The vehicle assembled here is the Laforza ("The Force"), an upscale 4x4 sports utility which, from a distance, vaguely resembles the shape of a Range Rover.
Back in 1989, a group of enterprising American individuals had a brainstorm. In Italy they had seen an Italian army vehicle built by Magnum Industriale, a company in the small town of Cherasco, near Torino. It was powered by a diesel engine, and performed service in this configuration for the army and the polizia. The group thought this vehicle, with a more powerful American drivetrain, might be a candidate for the high end of the burgeoning American SUV market.
The group set up an assembly plant in Michigan, bought rolling chassis (complete body and chassis with partly finished interior and all mechanical components except the engine, transmission and associated parts and controls) from Magnum and over the next couple of years delivered completed SUVs with Ford drivetrains to the American market.
Unfortunately, in August 1990, the group fell upon hard times, not difficult in this business, and declared bankruptcy.
sandiegometro.com
The Laforza, a sports utility vehicle, has an
Italian body and American innards for a powerful ride.
In 1991, a Saudi Arabian company called Badrahn Enterprises purchased all the assets of Laforza in the bankruptcy sale, which included 300 rolling chassis. Of these, 150 were finished and sent to Saudi Arabia.
In 1994, David Hops, chief executive and president of Monster Motorsports of Escondido at the time, contacted Badrahn and completed a deal to buy 50 rolling chassis. In 1995, 43 Laforzas were completed and sold in the United States. The company's name was changed to Laforza Automobiles Inc., and in 1997 Hops made an agreement to buy more later-design rolling chassis from Magnum Industriale.
Even with the new chassis, Laforza has more of the 1989 versions left. It will modify these, installing a Ford Explorer 5 liter V-8 engine and 4x4 all-wheel drivetrain to customer order with a $5,000 deposit, for a final price of $32,500. This compares to a 1998 model, which, with the same mechanical modifications, more luxurious interior and better equipment, sells for $59,500.
The 1989 and 1998 models have the same crisp, elegant Italian exterior shape; however, significant interior differences involve Italian seat leather, the instruments and the general appearance.
Laforzas have pure Italian leather seats, door panels and console. The interior has an Italian luxury-car feel, easy to live with. You think you're in a Maserati or an Alfa Romeo. There's a full complement of instruments, power windows, door locks and mirrors, six-way power front seats and a sunroof. The doors close with a satisfying "thunk" into a very heavy and solid body. There are three generous seats across the back, and the rear area is commodious, accessed by the rear lift- up door.
On the road, this is clearly a rugged vehicle, showing its intended army-police use, with high ground clearance, rugged wheels and tires, and a firm, somewhat harsh, ride. It has an incredibly tight turning circle which makes it very maneuverable, and the all-wheel drive gives it a grippy feeling on the road. Like all SUVs it is a little "tippy" on corners, however. I had no opportunity to test one off road, although the driving I did signaled a capability to climb almost anything. Expect about 14 to 18 mpg for this 5,000-pound SUV -- no economy car, but neither is the Ford Explorer.
The 215 hp Ford motor puts out plenty of power for hill climbing, but sure lets you know it's doing it. The sound level inside the cab from the motor and the tires is higher than one might expect from a luxurious SUV.
The Laforza has some unique attractions that set it aside from standard SUVs. On the road, it feels indestructible. And if you own one you are likely to have the only one on your street or in your suburb or town. It's probably a good conversation starter anywhere you are: "What do you drive?" "A Laforza." "A what?" "Have you ever been to Italy?" And so on.
This SUV is clearly targeted to the affluent who desire a unique and expensive foreign machine, and since SUVs are very popular right now, this might be the right vehicle at the right time.
Laforza has recently signed up to supply the SUVs to Lamborghini dealers in Chicago, Orlando, Palo Alto and Bellevue, Wash. In San Diego, Brian's Classic Auto on Miramar Road has agreed to sell Laforza exclusively. The Laforza facilities in Escondido offer a total potential production capacity of 10 cars per week.
A limited edition -- five in all being offered for 1999, called the Laforza Especiale. This specially equipped SUV will retail for $87,500, and comes with a supercharger.
The warranty is three years or 36,000 miles, whichever comes first. Owners shouldn't have a problem with warranty work or parts for the Ford driveline, although for Laforza parts they will have to rely on Laforza and the five dealers' parts inventory, which might be limited.
This is a unique and substantial vehicle, rugged and luxurious, and for $32,500 the 1989 model seems like a bargain. Just don't crash into one with your car; you won't come out of it very well.
Motoring since 1952, Austin Lynas has owned 54 cars and at one time raced mini-sedans in England. An aerospace engineer, he was instrumental in developing the anti-skid systems used in British military aircraft that preceded today's ABS systems. Lynas can be reached by e-mail at osten@aol.com.
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