Podcast Summary: The Smoking Tire
Episode: Driven: Totem SuperGT, the 670HP Carbon Alfa Clone
Date: August 28, 2025
Hosts: Matt Farah & Zack Klapman
Episode Overview
In this episode, Matt and Zack dissect their experience driving the Automobili Totem SuperGT—a carbon-fiber Alfetta-inspired supercar boasting 670 horsepower and ultra-limited artisanal production. The conversation spans an in-depth review of the Totem, broader takes on the wave of “reimagined” classics, and sidebars on the new Aston Martin Vantage Roadster and Chrysler’s rumored overland Pacifica van. The hosts candidly discuss what works, what doesn’t, and what makes the Totem a genuinely unique modern “tribute” to Alfa’s sporting heritage.
Key Discussion Points & Timestamps
1. Setting the Scene: Totem SuperGT First Drive
[00:50 - 02:56]
- Matt and Zack recap a long morning spent on twisty mountain roads with the Automobili Totem GT Super—a car that “looks vaguely like a GTV but is all modern and all carbon”.
- Matt: “It’s kind of like an Alfa if you gave an Alfa a whole bunch of acid.” [00:30]
- Buzz from the drive—“My brain is a little jelly right now because it was buzzed for six and a half hours this morning, meaning shaken.” [01:05]
- Zack remarks on the "peak reimagination" trend post-Monterey Car Week.
2. What is the Totem SuperGT?
[02:56 - 05:08]
- It combines “Alfa” styling cues (GTV shape, badge), but almost no actual Alfa Romeo components.
- Carbon monocoque chassis, carbon body, bespoke interior, extremely limited builds.
- Leather, houndstooth, billet metal trimmings—very high attention to detail.
- Engine: A unique 2.8L V6 with sequential turbos, pushing up to 670 HP.
- Ferrari-sourced Graziano transaxle (from a 550).
- “If you look at it, you go, that looks pretty quick. It’s like way faster than you think.” — Matt [05:09]
3. Power, Performance & Driving Impressions
[05:08 - 13:28]
- Three drive modes offering 350, 450, and 670 HP outputs.
- “Like the Porsche 959, there’s first turbo and then there’s second turbo. And they are not the same.” — Matt [06:22]
- The car is shockingly quick: “You’re in a tiny little Alfa Romeo…and you’re pulling like a McLaren.” — Matt [09:01]
- Transmission: Short gearing, great for back roads but buzzy on the highway (4,000 RPM at 70 mph).
- “It almost feels out of character for the car…I drove it around in middle power mode most of the time, which is lovely.” — Zack [09:36]
4. Interior & Build Quality Observations
[10:12 - 15:45]
- Interior design likened to Pagani for craftsmanship, though less ostentatious.
- Controls for five-mode adjustable shocks front/rear; lots of opportunities for user error in setup.
- All switches, steering wheel, and most fittings are custom-made—very little parts-bin raiding.
- The car is individually tailored for each customer even after delivery.
- “Pretty shockingly well made for a company's ninth car.” — Matt [15:08]
- Noted input from company founder regarding setup and client adjustments post-delivery.
5. Critiques & Flaws: Honest Feedback
[18:01 - 44:58, intermittent]
- Wind noise at highway speeds: “With the windows closed, there’s a lot of wind noise. It’s real loud on the highway.”
- Tire rub: Noticeable rubbing in both the front and rear under compression, possibly due to tire width and soft suspension.
- “It was shocking in a car that cost this much and has suspension that is very expensive.” — Zack [24:07]
- Steering oddities: Custom rack lacks proper self-centering and shows nonlinear response off-center.
- “From five degrees or so from center, either direction...it stays at that five degrees until you actively tug it back to center.” — Matt [28:21]
- Brake pedal feel: Soft, slow-to-bite pedal. Not an issue at moderate pace, but challenging at full power.
- “I also wanted a firmer pedal...it lands low enough your foot is too far down to heel-toe.” — Matt [36:47]
- All problems described as fixable and acknowledged by the manufacturer.
6. Broader Industry Thoughts—The Reimagination Craze
[02:27, 39:53, 85:10]
- Debate about “peak reimagination” and the wave of boutique restomods (Totem, Singer, Cyan P1800, etc.).
- Hosts stress the difference between artisanal craftsmanship (Totem) and mass-market hypercars.
- Zack: “I think this is an exceptionally well-done homage or tribute to something like this.” [40:15]
- Discussion of classic styling’s appeal for those uninterested in modern exotics’ flashiness.
- “You get it in a subtle color, and it’s not like a screaming yellow Revuelto.” — Matt [42:15]
7. Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- On performance: “The acceleration is shocking. Like, you can’t believe how hard it’s pulling in sixth gear.” — Matt [08:22]
- On build quality: “This is an amazing piece of fucking artwork that just needs proper setup to drive right.” — Matt [38:16]
- On “reimagining” trend: “Fifteen years ago this was just called pro touring...now it’s reimagining.” — Matt [85:45]
8. Sidebar Reviews: Aston Martin Vantage Roadster & Chrysler Pacifica Overlander
Aston Martin: [52:20 - 54:10]
- “Very comfortable, very fast, very planted.” — Zack
- Roadsters always ride better than the coupe.
- “The Vantage Roadsters are always excellent…a little better than the coupes because they get updates and refinements.” — Matt
Pacifica Overland Van: [54:10 - 59:09]
- Chrysler concept for a lifted, rugged minivan: “I’m in. I’m pro-Pacifica—as long as it’s not a hybrid.”
- Humor about practical camping, odd color/trim choices, and how these make perfect sense for family road trips.
9. Listener Q&A Highlights (Patreon)
[60:50 - End, selected]
- Recommendations for depreciated luxury SUVs: 2012 Range Rover praised for durability, simplicity, and aesthetics.
- Manual swaps: Lexus IS-F and other V8 German sedans cited as dream candidates.
- Advice for teens—Miata as a first manual for car enthusiasts.
- Strong opinions on “Transformers badges,” tuner magazine era favorites, and the value (or not) of EV muscle cars.
Structured Highlights
Totem SuperGT: Quick Pros & Cons
Pros:
- Artisanal build quality, gorgeous interior, and exterior design
- Unique, wild powertrain (2.8L twin-turbo V6, 670HP)
- Each car tailor-made post-delivery to customer’s driving preferences
- Exhilarating performance—feels like “McLaren-level acceleration”
Cons:
- Tire rubbing at stock ride height
- High noise levels on the highway
- Custom steering rack has odd nonlinearity and resists self-centering
- Soft brake pedal hampers hard driving
Verdict:
“This is an amazing piece of fucking artwork that just needs a proper setup to drive right. I hope they can just move some bolts and adjust some things, and that would be great.” — Matt [38:43]
Concluding Thoughts
- On the Totem SuperGT: It's a showcase for bespoke craftsmanship and a genuinely thrilling drive—equally stunning and ferocious. The flaws are surmountable and largely setup-related, appropriate for new low-volume manufacturers.
- Reimagination trend: The hosts see value in high-touch, small-batch restomods, even as the market seems saturated. They appreciate diversity beyond the now-ubiquitous 911-reimaginings.
- Philosophy of enjoyment: For both hosts, the Totem and similar projects are about joy, craftsmanship, and standing apart from mass-market, tech-laden “mainstream” exotics.
Additional Notable Quotes
- “I think this stuff inspires me and other people. This is a little different because this is actual, like, artisanal kind of thing. This is a little shop making a small number of cars.” — Matt [02:56]
- “Find a person that’s like, ‘Nah, the GTV doesn’t look good.’ That person doesn’t exist.” — Matt [03:58]
- “If you want to have something that’s different from other ones that are around…this is an exceptionally well-done homage.” — Zack [40:15]
- “If you’re already willing to indulge he’s getting a new car of some kind, now it’s just a matter of the car that you want him to have or the car that he wants.” — Matt (on getting a teen a Miata) [98:45]
Episode Energy & Tone
- Candid and unfiltered, with an infectious enthusiasm for both engineering details and the intangible “vibe” of standout cars
- Willingness to point out flaws, even in six-figure “artworks”
- Balances technical analysis with storytelling, humor, and a clear love of driving and car culture
For listeners, this episode is not just a review but a window into how the “reimagined classic” movement can create cars with as much soul and surprise as their inspirations—and why, even when imperfect, they make the automotive world richer.