Affluent Page Presents Lavish Leviathan

By Author: John Santos
Total Articles: 40
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The 1,200-horsepower DiMora Natalia SLS 2 is set to redefine the ultra-luxury sedan market.

A veritable explosion of exotic sports cars that has pushed prices and power into the stratosphere has hit the market during the past decade. And while styling and performance in the ultra-luxury sedan segment has evolved substantially, even the most esteemed models remain positioned in the sub-$500,000 price range. These cars feature conservative sheet metal compared to their two-door counterparts, and though 600 horsepower is certainly impressive, it is nowhere near the top of the power chart in the modern era.

Enter Alfred DiMora and his incredible Natalia SLS 2 concept. Its spec sheet and revolutionary design hint at a super sedan that is one part Maybach and two parts Bugatti Veyron. When it hits the road next year, its unprecedented $2-million price tag and 1,200-horsepower drive train will be comparable to the latter. The car will be powered by a massive V16 Volcano engine, and to ensure precise handling, four-wheel steering will be part of the package. Its outrageous looks and performance pay homage to the over-the-top ...
... vehicles from before World War II, such as the Duesenbergs, Cadillacs, Talbot-Lagos, and Rolls-Royces that were prized by ultra-wealthy families of the era.

Automotive aficionados will recognize the DiMora name from the Clenet and Sceptre novelty car companies of the 1970s and 80s. DiMora's company in Palm Springs, CA, also currently manufactures custom motorcycles with six-figure price tags and markets the Hennessey Viper Venom GT supercar around the world. A consummate entrepreneur, DiMora has earned acclaim in business for numerous ventures, including revolutionary advances in such diverse industries as computer chips, antifreeze, hazardous waste management, and chemical recycling. But his true passion since boyhood has been automobiles. He spent his teen years rebuilding cars and learning welding, and his diverse business experience of the past quarter-century has helped him tap into the most cutting-edge technologies for the Natalia project.

When DiMora (also called Sir Alfred J. DiMora since he was inducted by the Knights of Malta in 2001) was honored with a star on the Palm Springs Walk of Stars last year, he told audiences that his goal for the five-year project was to change the way cars are built. He explained that he was pursuing superior technology, and that his goal was to bring back the American pride that we seriously need because, according to him, the U.S. builds the most high-quality automobiles.

This super sedan will be a high-tech tour de force, with groundbreaking innovations in virtually every process, assembly, and system. The standard feature list reads more like that of a stealth fighter than an automobile—probably because it could be one. It includes space-age materials, dozens of computer systems, heads-up displays, and numerous onboard cameras and monitoring systems, to name just a few of its features.

Its construction begins with DiMora's trademarked D-Tek System of honeycomb sandwich chassis panels, constructed of exotic materials that are interlocked and bonded together. Not only does this keep the chassis weight under 500 pounds, or about one-fourth that of a traditional body structure, but it avoids the substantial amount of greenhouse gases created by the manufacture of aluminum. Other benefits of this unique process include noise-dampening, low-tech assembly in a short amount of time, and an ability to make quick changes to the design.

Just a few of the futuristic tech gadgets on board include: a novel headlight array that can project movies or informational videos about the car, a heads-up display on the windshield that includes feeds from night vision and numerous perimeter cameras, and heated frameless windshield wipers. The Natalia development team seems to have adopted every hot feature from the aftermarket world, including handheld personal computers with wireless internet, paint that changes colors with temperature differences, rear seat massagers, NASA memory foam seat cushions with a gel lining, AC/DC power outlets, lighted Waterford crystal ashtrays, and so much more.

The car also breaks ground as the first and only vehicle that extends the front passenger seat outside the car and rotates it 90 degrees for easy ingress. Not only is this a spiffy way to impress onlookers, but it's a convenient built-in accommodation for passengers with physical challenges. As if that's not enough, you can also purchase a supercharged version that cranks out 1,400 horsepower for an additional $600,000, and you can get it blinged out with diamond-studded wheels for $500,000 each.

While many exotic car manufacturers ply their buyers with watches or track events, buyers of the Natalia receive a $12,000limited-edition handbag with their purchase: quite the womanly touch. With the Natalia, well-heeled buyers have a substantially higher-quality option than the Rolls-Royce, Bentley, and Maybach offerings, and by all accounts, it has the style and performance to ensure they are the center of attention wherever they go. The vehicle's name is a tribute to the woman who raised DiMora from toddlerhood. Not only was Natale her maiden name, but when translated from Italian, the word connotes inspiring leadership, originality, creativity, and wisdom—quite appropriate for such a groundbreaking vehicle. Natalia also comes from the root Latin phrase natalis dies, or birth day: Let's celebrate the birth of a new standard of excellence.

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