In 1988’s seminal anime film Akira, the perversion of protagonist Tetsuo’s psychic powers and subsequent tyranny force his kin to summon the spirit of the film’s namesake: a supreme psychic child whose reappearance causes another ‘big bang’, such is his power.

Well, starting up the Fiat SB4 - or Mephistopheles - will likely cause a similar reaction. The picture above gives no credence or authority to the sheer Judgement Day violence the Fiat’s engine brings. I’m standing on a secluded straight at Fiat’s technical research centre in Balocco and the SB4 is alive. We’re talking End of Days, Apocalypse, Old Testament style fury. It’s loud.

Words: Vijay Pattni

Photos: Michael Ward/Fiat