The Laforza Is an Ultra-Quirky Luxury SUV Failure 

In Italy someone refers to this as “the giant Fiat Uno”

Finally, Doug shows me a car I've actually never heard of

Lol I can imagine the salesman back then “every button you see in here, straight out of a Ferrari”

It looks like a giant 80's Fiat Panda from the outside. Never knew this one existed, and I thought I knew a thing or two about obscure cars. Learn something new every day :o

This SUV is like the real life version of a vehicle out of Grand Theft Auto.

This looks like a Grand theft auto version of something in the real world. 😂🥳

12 yards long, two lanes wide. 65 tonnes of a̶m̶e̶r̶i̶c̶a̶n̶ italian pride. Is this a Canyonero?

Doug: Today, you will see Laforzas with Ferrari badging- Me: No Doug, we don’t see Laforzas.

This is basically a Vice City Landstalker.

Doug makes every car feel like a superhero for 30 minutes.

I have share my LaForza story. I used to live near the plant they converted these to US spec. This was done by Cars & Concepts in the Detroit area. When they stopped importing them in the late 90’s the plant just stopped. Parked out back were 20 to 30 of them waiting for conversion or to be sold. They sat there at least 10 years. Then one day they were gone and the building became a statuary store. Ironically it had a lot of Italian looking statues.

If this vehicle were in a movie, it would be called “Something Borrowed.”

I just took Doug’s advice and headed on over to carsandbids and bought this laforza. It still smells like Doug.

Like a Fiat Uno on steroids.

Fun fact...in early 1990's in Brighton Michigan my buddy's dad worked in a shop with these. It was the first time I'd ever hear of these or seen them until now. I'm unclear of what this small factory/shop was doing with these vehicles but there were new engines everywhere.

Wow, I used to work with a guy in San Diego that drove one of these to work fairly regularly. Looked just like this one, same color.

It looks like if the Fiat Panda could grow like the Hulk when it got angry

“If you’ve ever wanted a La Forza…” Like, who knew there even was a La Forza, let alone ‘always wanted’ one? That being said, I want one now.

One of the best Doug reviews for Doug fans I have seen in awhile. So quirky yet so so great. 100% had me glued and laughing with sheer enjoyment through the whole video. Thanks Doug and thanks Laforza for bringing the material.

The row of colorful indicator lights on the gauge cluster reminds me of what a typical IVECO truck would have had by that time. So maybe it's not just the chassis. ;-)

Doug: this car is a failure Doug: Hey this car is for sale.

I´d guess the turning signals and rear lights are really like the Brazillian Fiat UNO from early 90s

Just came across your review Doug. We were the San Diego Dealer for Laforza at Brian’s Classic Auto on Miramar rd. They were unique for their time. Brought Escondido California without a drivetrain where the were fitted with the Ford 5 liter V-8 Our service department went through the Units as there were many electrical glitches, and other issues so we stopped selling them. We were the classic car dealership with a full Diner in the showroom

It's like a range rover poorly translated over the phone in Italian.

Looks like a Range Rover that has raided the FIAT parts bin

Somebody shrunk Doug, and he's just standing next to normal Fiat Uno

When I look at this it makes me think that it's something Silvester Stalone would be driving around in 1989

"Bravo" Doug, for having found this "pearl" from the past. In Italy we remember this model (the "RF Magnum"), sold here during the eighties. Very very rare today on the streets. Never known it was renamed in the USA. Thanks Doug.

Jeep, an American company: Litre. Laforza, an Italian company: Liter.

This Truck was WAAAY ahead of its time in 89. Cell phone controls on dash , built in radar detector, flush headlights , supercharged 5.0 motor and great , roomy interior. Nice !

Dear Dug, I was born in Torino and raised there in the 80s and I remember very well this vehiche on the road every day for the few peple who could afford it. This was a suv made in Italy (high costs) called Magnum with manual transmission and big petrol engine. It was called the Italian Hummer, again assembled integrally in Italy using 80-90% of pieces from Fiat standard cars. It was the suv used by Italian police nationwide during years. The project was intentionally taken a Fiat Uno 1983 model (car of the year 1984) with fire 1.0 ltr petrol engine, made a lot bigger. Design by Pininfarina of course, again from Grugliasco (Torino). Probably an early experiment on sharing costs across production platforms. The most interesting aspect of all is that the Magnum was assembled in country (not workable today) and using a petrol engine (never done before on such big vehicles in Italy for mass market - LM001/LM002 for niche market). A vehicle who certainly had its heydays (over 10 years production) and appreciated by private owners and police forces. Magum was impressive. La Forza (The Power) together with automatic transmission was the passport for entering the american market. Unfortunately the product was inappropriate for the north american market because out of standards and for the competitors at the time.

In Italy was called Magnum and produced from Rayton-Fissore company. It was one of the first luxury SUV (at that time this category was limited to Range Rover :-). Due to lack on electronic assists and poor manufacturing was a total failure. Basically it was a mix of other car/vans pieces: it was higly unreliable and very dangerous to drive due to high center of gravity.

The emblem being an "L" says so much lol

*Laforza Owner:* "But officer, the radar detector comes with the Laforza from the factory. It's not aftermarket." *Police officer:* "Sir, this isn't Forza. This isn't a game. Please step out of the vehicle."

The taillights are custom but based on the original design from the Citroen BX. My theory is that Citroen most certainly had DOT-compliant designs on hand as they were certifying the BX for sale in the US at the time, perhaps LaForza was able to reuse their assembly with minor changes. Headlights are straight from the Audi 4000 but the turn signals are also custom.

Wow Man! This is incredible! I was talking to my friend about a Ferrari Engine SUV that was on sale here in Tampa FL, like 10 years ago, they wanted $7000 for it back then! But once again you cleared my doubts about this vehicle. Thanks again for another great video fro you I missed … you have so much gold content!!! My friend has a Chrysler Aspen, he asked me to ask you if you could give a review to that quirky SUV? Happy New 2022! God Bless!

It looks like a kids drawing of an old grand Cherokee.

It looks like when a ZJ Jeep Grand Cherokee and Isuzu Rodeo have a child.

I owned 2 Laforzas back in 1992, and frankly speaking it's very Durable and I BET if any other SUV has same powerful 4WD,,, I have tried the LAFORZA 4WD in the toughest Deserts in Jordan Wadi Rum and in Saudi Arabia and the performance was stunning.

I love the "Deposito a Domicilio" wood screws used to hold in the various wood panels around instrumentation, such as @9:01 and @9:31.....

"the front is too generic" The WHOLE car looks like a generic 3d Asset Doug

Once I realized that the rear tires weren't centered in the wheel wells, I couldn't stop staring. That is some serious amateur-hour engineering.

All new at time maker 4:24. Doug Demuro introduces the death board. From the 1980s... Never mind all that. Keep up the good work Doug.

This SUV looks just like silhouette in the animation apperaring in Doug Demuro at the start of the video

It really was ahead of its time: 30 years ago, it already displayed panel gaps an average Tesla owner could only dream of in 2021.

Just park this big boy next to a fiat uno, and you have recreated the "don't speak with me or my son ever again" meme.

Always wanted to see the ins and outs of the Laforza! Awesome!

Looks just like a scaled up 1989 Fiat Uno 5 door !... only with taller suspension and bigger wheels !

Doug: The Laforza was an utter failure Also Doug: Good news this Laforza is now up for sale

"A lot of LaForza you see driving around have Ferrari badges..." Uh, Doug, how many LaForzas are you seeing driving around regularly?

Great work as always !!

Nice review, as usual. This Laforza styling borrows very much from the mid 1980s Fiat Uno, especially the Brazilian version, which had a very similar hood. The windows, doors, windshield, tailgate.

Before he went inside I honestly laughed about the fact that he called this a luxury suv.

This reminds me an awful lot of a fiat uno

Clearly one of his most souvereign videos in 2021. Very relaxed.Great!

I love how the front end has the classic default cold war era grille and headlight pattern

Really looks like a FIAT Uno that someone has attached to a high pressure line and inflated

Two things I haven't heard Doug mention in this video: It was said that during crash testing, the Laforza was so strong, it plowed THROUGH the crash barrier. So you know it was safe. (Honestly, the only reason my parents considered allowing me to get a car without airbags). And the other thing is that the Laforza was originally manufactured for the Italian Army, and thus the offroadability and other certain quirks that drew me in (the 32 foot turning circle is INCREDIBLE for a vehicle of this size) and the 18 gauge steel frame were made for actual military duty and thus meant to be durable. The Ford V8? Ugh. Better than the Italian alternatives, but still. And the electrics left something to be desired.. especially the window motors, which were a common failure point, and the windows in general went up and down verrrry slowly, until the motors eventually gave up the ghost.

I saw a nice one of these Laforza's in red in person back in the 80's when I was a teen. It was in our next door neighbors driveway. At first glance I thought it might be a Ford. I don't care if people don't like it, or if it failed, I like it. It's so great to see Doug finally reviewing one. If I had the money I would buy one. Thank you.

I literally couldn’t think of the name of this thing and I was thinking of it, then this video pops up. Wow Doug you read my mind sometimes 🤣

I'm European. I was an adult in the 1980's. Ive literally never heard of this car. Not even once. Awesome.

I don't wanna see McLarens, I don't wanna see Bugattis. I wanna see cars like this. Fabulous! Amazing!

Doug, the hand brake and the seat belt buckles gave me a flashback because my grandpa's LADA 'Samara' (Soviet Fiat) had the exact same ones, same goes for many switches and windshield wiper stocks I distinctly remember playing with as a little kid )

As a kid, I used to see a few of these driving around Cincinnati. Never got a chance to see it up close like this. Cool.

Interesting Laforza quirk you might like: the door handles are shared with the Delta Integrale.

This... looks like the GTA equivalent of the Range Rover of the time.

supercharged 302, well at least they did something correct

Great review and glad you had the opportunity to drive it. I am a Saab fan and didn't know that it was from the same designer and thank you for sharing the adventure. Never have had the opportunity to sit in or drive anything from the Italian leather so bucket list. Why only 25k likes?

In a true James May fashion, this should called The Theforza

If I bought this Laforza, I would first drive it through the snow while pulling a horse trailer and then I would park my Laforza so I could go "watch a fountain"; all the while repeating, "Laforza offers the power of a heavyweight champion with the agility of a dancer. No other automobile has faced a diverse a group of conflicting needs, and answered them all."

I remember seeing these for sale in the Dupont Registry back in the day

I remember seeing one of these at a new auto show in the early 90s. It was the only locked vehicle in the whole show. I was excited to see it since they were advertised a lot in DuPont Registry. Mysterious and glorious.

Except for the bland exterior styling and mediocre build quality, this thing really wasn't that bad. It was just ahead of its time before luxury SUVs became the highly desirable status symbols they are today.

From speed tail to this. And no let off in enthusiasm. That's why we love Doug

The Monteverdi Safari was the predecesor for the Rayton-Fissore Magnum. The Magnum was built off the Ivaco VM 90 platform and was produced in Cherasco, Italy from 1985 to 1998 and was sold as the Laforza for the US market from 1989 till 2003 with production in Brighton, Michigan

18-20 years ago the local salvage yard had one of these sitting behind their office. It was one of the owners personal projects. He said "engine runs perfectly. Everything else...well...needs attention." I forgot how huge these things are.

Doug's success has always been this wild animal documentary atmosphere. Analyzing cars as unique species. The beige shots and the sounds of birds confirm this.

It's not often Doug reviews a car that I have legitimately never heard of.

I owned one around 1990 - I do remember driving in snow storm - and when we turned on the defroster, snow blew right into the interior - it was fun while it lasted!

I'm always shocked at what amazes Doug. Directional map light? Majority of map lights I saw in the 80's were like that, and I'd say about half of them I've seen in total. But yet, totally ignores it's a single light instead of having a pair of them.

From the outside looks like a jacked/grown up Yugo. Inside a Maserati.

This Blaupunkt Radio is such a sweet gem for every 80's car. Old school look with modern tech inside. I have it too in my BMW E30 and love it!

Wow I’ve been living in Italy since 1993 and I totally forgot about this car. I used to see it only as Police and Carabinieri cars, yet back in a day such cars including Range Rovers were a very rare sight, but this one was literally nonexistant apart from the cops and it wasn’t a bad car at all, probably just too big and too niche for the time and for the Italian towns and cities.

I would love to see you do a video on the Isuzu Impulse. That was one of my first cars -a 1983 model and it was the quirkiest car I ever owned and I've owned alot of cars. I wish I still had that one because it was one crazy automobile.

Italian Wikipedia also said that this was available with a 455 hp GM engine. Many years before the 2002 cayenne turbo with 450 hp. Even thoug we Germans think that we invented the performance suvs segment ( x5 4.6i, ml55 Amg and cayenne turbo), the italians invented indeed, with this vehicle and the mightly Lamborghini LM002.

The thing I can't stand about this vehicle is how the rear wheels aren't centered in the wheel arch.

Nice video, beautiful unit, the taillights are similar to the Fiat 1 and the climate controls are similar to the Renault of the 80s!!

Here is a drinking game...take a shot every time Doug says LAFORZA! Jokes aside, love your work Doug. :)

The rare automotive misfits like this one, are always interesting when they are presented in a Doug review. Yes they are useless and cheap, but when they are unknown brands to many, they do have a mystery about them. You want to know more about the level of failure and quirkiness, what still works on them and what not and perhaps what parts on them are donor parts from other cars. Ugliness, rarity and quirkiness in a car, are always intriguing elements when presented and analyzed by the one and only Doug DeMuro..

That Yugo body styling was a brave move.

18:55 "also managed to stand out from anything else on the road" Car: *Looks like a large Lada Niva*

That interior wood paneling reminds me of the type of wood used in really cheap laminated furniture 😂 Oh, and so much brown too! Very 80s. ;)

Back in the mid 90s, I was in a "home school coop" with a bunch of other families, hosted at a woman's mansion in the nicer part of town. Her husband was in Tech, and apparently bought her anything she wanted, which included a Red with tan leather LaForza. Oh, boy, did she drive that thing like a bat out of hell. I still remember the two or three field trips she drove a group of us, and we were all white knuckling in the back seat. Definitely had the radar detector add-on, too ;P

Does anybody else think that looks like a lifted four-door Yugo???

Nice review. I want a Laforza

Doug is the quirkiest quirk out of all the quirkiest quirks out there

It’s rare finding a car I never knew existed. But Laforza is that one, it’s always great to learn about them.

Maserati does awful panel gaps...Laforza: hold my cappuccino.

Doug: Not too many factory boost gauges back in this era! Me: The boost gauge is crooked…

a friend worked at a nice little used car lot in the burbs in the late 90s. they had two of them at one time. both had the Ford 5.0. we took one out for run. it was really nice to drive. really pretty inside, like a Maserati. it was softer in the corners that a rover but it made way more power.