Impreza v Evo

Which do you think has sold the most in the UK this year, the Impreza or the Evo? Historically, it’s no surprise. Subaru launched its first hot saloon in 1993 and has shifted 37,000 of them since. By comparison, Mitsubishi – which didn’t have a rival until 2000 – has sold about 5,000. These are just the official figures; it’s impossible to know how many grey imports have arrived. But what about in 2009? Motoring hacks weren’t exactly falling over themselves to praise the hatchback Impreza (above), but were left dribbling with excitement at the Evo X. Interestingly, it’s the Subaru that wins, selling more than 500 hot Imprezas. Mitsubishi’s total is barely half that, but it’s strength is its range depth. If you compare every model – superminis, hatchbacks, SUVs, etc – there’s no contest. Mitsubishi has sold more than 10,000 cars this year, Subaru has barely scraped past 3,000.

... ... ... ... THAT'S IT FOR 2009. BACK ON 4 JAN. MERRY CHRISTMAS! ... ... ... ... ...

Aston Martin's city car. Yes, really...

You may have seen a picture of this car in the summer, but here’s a new version just published by Aston Martin. There was an element of ‘you’re having a laugh!’ when the Cygnet concept was first talked about in June. People checked their calendars to make sure it wasn’t April Fools Day. Yes, it really is a Toyota iQ with a new badge and grille. But Aston said it was serious about developing it as a luxury commuter vehicle, and this official picture proves that’s the case. What’s more, its plans appear to have subtly changed. Bosses had said it would only be available to existing Aston customers, based on the premise that they all have a second vehicle anyway so why not make it an Aston. But now the company line is that it will be “initally available” to Aston owners, suggesting it would go on general sale later. I'd like to see the V12 version. Unfortunately you'd have to sacrifice the seats...

Fiat's hot 500 - and it's diesel

Historically the words ‘performance car’ and ‘diesel’ haven’t sat happily together. But with modern turbos offering impressive torque, more manufacturers are developing and selling them. They’re least accepted as city cars, but again, things are changing. And Fiat is about to set a new benchmark with the most powerful diesel ‘hot hatch’ the A-segment has ever seen. The 1.3-litre 75bhp Fiat 500 diesel is being axed in favour of a new 95bhp version. It’s got more power and torque but less fuel consumption and emissions, which is hard to argue against. The new engine – christened the MultiJet II – also makes the car quicker; the 0-60mph time is down from 12.5 to 10.7 seconds. Okay, it’s not quite the Abarth model but it still makes this a pretty nippy, and rather stylish, motor. And you can’t argue with 72.4mpg fuel economy.

Infiniti's view from above

How cool is this? The idea of parking cameras isn’t new, but this next generation version I really like. It cleverly creates an overhead view (above, on the right of the image) to help you inch into a bay. It worked a treat for me in a space which others had given up on because of a hazardously close pavement bollard. How smug was I! Talking of brands new to the UK – see previous posting – the car this technology is fitted to is an Infiniti. Who? Infiniti is to Nissan what Lexus is to Toyota – the premium brand with big engines, lots of standard kit and high prices. I’ve been driving what’s expected to be the big-seller, though that’s a relative term. Only a handful will sell because it’s a performance SUV with a 3.7 or 5.0-litre petrol engine and no diesel. It’s a smart beast, drives impressively well and makes a great noise when it’s pushed. Oh, yes, and it’s easy to park.

A 22k hot Mini. Ouch!

I’ve been asked to write an article for the New Year issue of Auto Express magazine looking back at the last decade. Can you believe it’s 10 years since the millennium? It’s meant a trip down Memory Lane and one thing struck me. Of the new car brands launched in the UK since 2000 – Chevrolet, Dodge, Hummer and a few others – MINI has been the soaraway success. It’s shifted 1.55million cars worldwide since 2001. Who saw that coming? The lastest new model is a hot one, a John Cooper Works tuned version of the Clubman estate (above). My journalist colleagues reckon it’s pretty good to drive, but I’ll reserve judgement until I get the chance. The thing that sticks out is the price – it’s more than £22k, and that’s before you’ve looked at MINI’s legendary options list. It’s going to have to be exceptional for people to want to shell out that much.

All I want for Christmas is...

Looking for the perfect present for the performance car fan in your family? May I humbly recommend a day out at the Porsche Experience Centre. I was there recently for the launch of the Panamera saloon and it’s a great facility. Built right next door to Silverstone circuit in Northants, there’s a variety of track days on offer, including a chance to drive historic 911s. Most incorporate the hilarious ‘kick-plate’, a machine hidden in the track surface which randomly boots the back-end out left or right and invites you to catch the skid before you spin. There’s also several low-friction corners where you can practice your Stig-like power slides. Check out www.porsche.com/silverstone for details. And if you want to get the youngest family member interested, why not go for the 911 pedal car (above). Yours for £187. Yes, you read that right.

Ginetta on a roll

I’ve been writing an article on Ginetta, the famous British race car brand. It’s launching a new model at the Autosport International Show at the NEC in January. The G40 will replace the G20 coupé (above) in the Ginetta Junior Championship, but the big news is it’s been homologated for the road. Ginetta boss Lawrence Tomlinson claims that makes it the UK’s only race car you can drive to the circuit in, compete, and then – assuming no Armco interaction – use to head home. Ginetta was a firm I knew very little about but the more I learned the more I was impressed. From being insolvent not long ago it’s now profitable, based in a state-of-the-art engineering facility in Leeds, selling cars into three one-make series, competing in the European GT4 Championship and taking on the big boys like Peugeot and Audi in the Le Mans Series and at the famous 24 Hour Race. Not surprisingly, Tomlinson was shortlisted for an Outstanding Contribution to Motorsport honour earlier this year. He only lost out to some F1 chap called Brawn who also had quite a good 2009.

Bloodhound: on the scent of greatness

I don’t know if you’ve heard of Bloodhound yet, but trust me, you’re going to. The car (above) is Britain’s next World Land Speed Record challenger and is being developed by Richard Noble. He was the driver of the 633mph Thrust 2 in 1983, and the brains behind the current title holder, Thrust SSC, which went supersonic at 763mph in 1997. If Bloodhound succeeds in its aims, it will not just break the record but shatter it. The goal is 1,000mph and at the wheel in 2011, on a dry South African lake bed, will be current record holder Andy Green. At the media launch this week, Noble said that Bloodhound – on a computer programme at least – is capable of hitting its target speed. That’s four football pitches in a second. You’ve got to admire the team’s ambition. I’m pretty cynical about stuff generally but even I came away enthusiastic. So much so that I’ve spent £10 on having my name as one of the 330,000 that will be printed on the tail fin. You can do the same. Visit www.bloodhoundssc.com for details.

Nissan's second generation Z car

Been having a play in the Nissan 370Z (above), which I hadn’t had the chance to drive before now. It’s got a slightly shorter wheelbase than the axed 350Z and uses more lightweight materials. I reckon it looks better too; the striking design and its overall proportions just work more effectively. The car is powered by a front-mounted 3.7-litre V6 that pumps out 331bhp. Press the start/stop button and it burbles into life, and power delivery is impressive all the way to the 7,500rpm redline. If you’re looking for practicality, this is not the car for you. The boot is shallow, the door bins are tiny and there’s only room for a couple of soft bags behind the two seats. But if you want something that’s rare enough on UK roads to still be a real head-turner, the 370Z is perfect. And there will be a roadster version along in the spring.

The world's first electric unicycle

Final mention of my trip to Japan, I promise. The U3-X (above) sounds more like a missile than anything else, but it’s actually very clever ‘personal mobility’ technology. It’s the world’s first electric unicycle and is the brainchild of the Honda engineers who don’t do cars and bikes. You sit on it, lift your feet up and lean in the direction you want to go at up to 4mph. Is this a Sinclair C5 for a new generation? We’ll never know as it’s not for sale, but Honda’s boffins say the multi-direction wheel set-up underneath could ultimately have automotive applications, such as improving a car’s manoeuvrability when parking. And what about a motorbike that never falls over? Don’t laugh, one Honda engineer told me the firm is investigating the possibility. Check out me and the U3-X in action, below.

Japanese two-seater for the UK?

I was in Japan primarily to attend press day of the Tokyo Motor Show. But the mood there was grim, mainly because everyone bar the local car makers – Honda, Toyota, etc – had pulled out for cost-cutting reasons. Scores of hacks milling about with nothing much to write about was good news for a tiny Japanese firm called Suzusho, which was giving a world debut to its latest two-seater, the Supasse (above). Tipping the scales at just 850kg, it weighs less than a Lotus Exige S and is powered by the 2.3-litre turbo unit from the Mazda 3 MPS. The name is an abbreviation of super-passer, as in ‘excellent overtaker’ and it’s priced at nine million Yen (£60,000). The Supasse is launched in Japan next year and while the boss talked the talk about bringing it to the UK, I wouldn’t hold your breath. Judging by the questionable build quality of his show car, he’ll be busy keeping Japanese customers happy for a while.

Civic Type R by Mugen on the way

So, finally, here it is. The blog. That's me top left. And 9/11 seems like a good date to start writing about cars and the car industry. Hope you enjoy it.

Sometimes it’s hard to avoid the conclusion that being a motoring journalist is a great job. I’ve just come back from Japan where, as a guest of Honda, I spent a day at the legendary Motegi race circuit in the hills north of Tokyo. I was meeting the British-based engineering team behind the Mugen-tuned Civic Type R (above). Boosted from 200 to 240bhp, it’s going on sale the spring. There will only be 20 made and it’s close to £40k to buy, but this is a premium road-legal motorsport upgrade, not a crass styling kit to shift aftermarket parts. The car is a little gem and there’s no way all 20 won’t sell. Such is the power of the Type R badge in Japan, one or two are even expected to find their way to enthusiasts there. Check out www.typermugen.co.uk for more details.