Fiat has always built fast and attractive enthusiast cars, whether it’s the little 127 of the ’70s or the sleek Punto Turbo of the ’90s, the combination of sleek Italian styling and eager revving engines has made the brand popular with enthusiasts. drivers from all over the world. as long as one can remember. Combine this intrinsic drivability with elegant coupe styling and you have some of the most enigmatic and unforgettable coupes in recent memory. The sleek 124 Coupe was the car to have in the ’70s, with its luxurious 1.8-litre twin-cam engine and clean, seductive lines. By comparison, Volkswagen at the time was still building the air-cooled Beetle and finalizing development of the Mk 1 Golf.

This tradition continues with the Fiat Stilo 2.4, in particular with the limited edition ‘Michael Schumacher’ version. What makes this car so special is that it once again combines Italian good looks with a powerful engine under the hood and a sense of style that most other automakers are desperately trying to emulate. Worldwide, the number of ‘Schumacher’ Stilos is limited to 3,500 units, each carrying a numbered plate on the dashboard. Singapore has been allocated 50 units that will be available between now and the middle of next year.

Needless to say, fashion designer labels are an Italian creation, and few cars are as innately stylish as the three-door Stilo, which translates to ‘style’ in Italian, by the way; the combination of sharp laser-cut lines at the front end flows into a dynamic wedge-shaped passenger compartment and is perfectly resolved by the dramatic trapezoidal taillights. The subtle flaring of the bodywork around the rear wheels gives the Stilo strong ‘shoulders’ that evoke power and strength. And the way the rear profile slopes forward gives the entire car a strong stance and an undeniable sense of forward motion. For even more drama, the Schumacher version has a lowered suspension, sporty Zender sill extensions and stylish 17-inch alloy wheels.

But this limited-edition Stilo is more than just an eye-catcher. Under the hood is a powerful 2.4-litre 20-valve five-cylinder engine that puts out an impressive 170bhp. As Audi, Honda and, more recently, Volvo have discovered, an inline five-cylinder engine offers the best of both worlds: It’s slightly larger and heavier than a four-cylinder unit, but provides similar performance figures to those of a straight engine. – gold V6 engine. In the best Fiat tradition, this car is incredibly fast and feels powerful and vigorous, even when pushed. In fact, it just thrives when pushed.