Ferrari Amalfi vs Land Rover Discovery

What's the difference?

An entry-level car doesn’t normally start at half a million dollars but that’s what the Ferrari Amalfi is; the most affordable way into the pride of Italy’s current line-up.

A 2+2 GT with the engine in the front, driving the wheels at the rear, it’s a substantially upgraded and remodelled version of the Roma it replaces. 

No plugs, no motors, no drive battery, just a twin-turbo V8 pumping out 471kW of pure internal-combustion power in a sleek, relatively lightweight two-door coupe.

CarsGuide was handed the keys for a brief stint behind the wheel to see if it’s an improvement on its much-admired predecessor and a worthy alternative to the heavy-hitting, top-shelf machinery it competes with.

Land Rover has launched a 35th Anniversary Edition of the Discovery, a seven-seat model that’s been a familiar sight on Australian roads for decades. Sitting in the large SUV category, it’s up against a fiercely contested field where the Lexus GX and Toyota LandCruiser Prado are household favourites.

The special edition lands squarely in the middle of that pack, a space that demands serious capability and comfort while still delivering a sense of occasion. 

So the question is, does it manage to do all three?