A second bite at the cherry

I’m often asked if it’s really possible to come up with an informed judgement on a new car after just an hour or two behind the wheel. The answer is broadly yes; having driven such a wide range of vehicles, you can use your senses to know what’s ahead of the competition, on a par or below standard. But sometimes a second bite at the cherry – and a second person – will reveal new issues that it would have been very hard to find out the first time round. The Kia Sportage that I’m driving over the festive period is an excellent example of that. With my wife, two children and a grandparent to get in the car, it was inevitable the former was going to have to sit in the rear with the kids. Within a few miles she was complaining of feeling queasy, something which never normally happens. Turns out that an adult sat in the middle of the Sportage’s rear bench seat is so high up they can’t see the road ahead, because the top of the windscreen is blocking it. That’s why my wife was feeling sick. We pulled over, swapped her to one of the window seats, put a child in the middle, and all was fine. These are the things that you never find out on a test drive, but which are vital to the real-world users who are actually going to spend their own money on these cars.

Winter tyres; the post-mortem begins

I’ve written before about the move towards winter tyres this year – most recently on this blog on 25 November – which it seems has caught the industry on the hop. A report from respected buying guide What Car? has found that stocks are running low. Following complaints from readers, the magazine sent reporters out posing as private buyers and discovered that finding winter tyres for the two most popular cars in the country, the Ford Focus and the BMW 3-Series, was much harder than expected. It’s an understandable situation; the weather so far this winter has been unexpectedly bad, and that’s resulted in calls for drivers to swap to cold-weather tyres – by journalists like me and the big motoring organisations – has been unexpectedly intense. It works as an excuse for this year, but it won’t wash again. The tyre industry has got 12 months to sort itself out and get prepared. Why? Because all the people who have bought winter tyres now will be telling their friends about how good they are at improving grip, and demand will grow exponentionally. If you’ve still not been converted, visit www.whywintertyres.co.uk

Caterham to break new ground... again

Caterham is expanding its product line-up and will unveil an all new model – not a new version of the Seven – at the Autosport International Show at the NEC, Birmingham, on 13 January. A statement from the legendary firm says it “marks the beginning of a new dawn for the company, but one that remains true to the lightweight, minimalist DNA of the legendary Seven and will complement its continuing global success.” Beyond that, the firm is keeping its cards close to its chest but what’s known is the car will be powered by a next-generation Caterham Motorsport engine. It’s not the first time bosses have tried to grow the brand’s appeal. The Caterham 21 was mechanically identical to the Seven, but with a two-seat roadster body it was designed to find a more mainsteam audience. Launched in 1994 with plans to build 200 a year, fewer than 50 were ever made.

In other news, I’m looking for a new sponsor. Swinton Specialist have been involved since the blog began but have decided the refocus their marketing activities. I want to thank them for their support, they’ve been great. So to pastures new; if you’d like to see your company logo on the blog please get in touch.

Finally have a great Christmas and thanks for supporting me in 2010.

Another motor show, another MINI

I’m only aware of the phrase Sports Activity Coupé being used to describe one car to date, and that’s the BMW X6. But now it’s appeared again, and it’s on the German firm’s other brand, MINI. This is the Paceman concept – somewhat smaller than the X6 – and it’s making its debut at the Detroit Motor Show next month. At 4.11m it’s the longest MINI to date – it’s a couple of centimetres more than the Countryman – but it’s much lower than its sibling. It won’t be slow either; power comes from the 211bhp 1.6-litre twin-scroll turbo from the John Cooper Works cars, though there’s no details on a 0-60mph time. Will this four-seater go into production? The company says it “could form yet another building block in the development of the MINI brand”. That probably means yes, though they say officially no decision has been made. Bosses are certainly not holding back in their desire to fill all possible niches. Personally, I think this is a better expression of the brand than the Countryman.

New VXR8 on the way in 2011

Vauxhall’s VXR8 super-saloon brought something new to the UK performance car market when it arrived in 2007. It replaced the Monaro, had bags of character and was good value. On the downside it lacked the refinement of rivals. Details of the next generation model have just been released by the Luton firm, and it’s not going to disappoint. Rear-wheel drive and with a 6.2-litre 430bhp V8 engine under the bonnet, why would it? It will hit 60mph in 4.9 seconds and go on to 155mph. The VXR8 is now based on Holden Special Vehicles’ E3 GTS model just launched in Australia - the old car was from the lower-spec ClubSport R8 - so it’s got revised front and rear styling, a new cabin and extra technology. New features include LED daytime running lights, sleek front wing vents and a revised rear spoiler. Making its VXR8 debut is Magnetic Ride Control, the suspension system from the Corvette ZR1 which adapts up to 1,000 times a seconds to road conditions and driver inputs. The VXR8 is on sale from March priced £49,500 and undercuts the Audi RS6, Jaguar XFR and Mercedes E63 AMG by between £13k and £29k. That’s money not be sniffed at.

First pictures of hot BMW 1-Series

Posting this today instead of Monday because I’m having the weekend off and don’t intend to be near a computer. BMW’s latest M-badged performance car has been unveiled and at under £40k it’s the most affordable of the lot. The 1-Series M Coupe – not the M1 for obvious reasons – is built around the same philosophy that all M cars have – useable performance through a hi-tech chassis, wrapped in an attractive sporty design. New exterior features include widened wheel arches, exclusive 19-inch Y-spoke alloys and dual chromed tailpipes. There’s also a discreet lip spoiler generating additional downforce and a rear apron with side openings echoing the look of the front air intakes. Even the trademark M car feature – the elongated chrome gill on the front wheel arch – is there, and the mirrors have come straight off the M3. There are three paint finishes Alpine White, Black Sapphire and the exclusive Valencia Orange that’s in the picture. The interior is exclusive to the car, with an M leather steering wheel and alcantara with orange contrasting stitching on the door trim, door inserts, handbrake, gear lever gaiter and instrument binnacle. Power comes from BMW’s 3.0-litre twin-turbo six-cylinder engine, producing 340hp, giving the car a 0-62mph time of 4.9 seconds. Get your orders in now, but don’t expect to get behind the wheel until May.

Is Top Gear magazine right? Personally, no

So Top Gear magazine has pronounced its verdict on the Car of the Year and it’s given the award to the Citroen DS3. Clearly no one from the magazine is over 6ft, because if they were, they might be aware of its shortcomings. Yes, it’s a fantastic piece of automotive design; yes, it drives like no Citroen has for years; but, no, it’s not built for the taller user. I adjusted the seat for leg length and couldn’t reach the steering wheel properly. I put that right and my knees were up against the dash. I would have thought comfort for all types of customer would be a consideration when judging these things, but obviously not. I have to agree with some of the Top Gear team’s other choices, though. The hot hatch award goes to the VW Golf R, a car the testers say is so good at doing everything it’s impossible to know where to start praising it. And they’ve given the coupe gong to the Peugeot RCZ, which I very much enjoyed. Can’t really understand why that didn’t make the final shortlist for the European Car of the Year award. It deserved to more than some than did. Like the Citroen DS3, for example.

New performance Audi... but at what price?

Having spent more than seven years on staff at Auto Express magazine, and still writing for it regularly now, I know how hard it is for a car to be awarded five stars following a ‘first drive’. And for a concept to get top marks is even more unusual; these are generally high-cost, one-off prototypes and the engineers don’t want you pushing too hard, just in case it breaks or you put it in a ditch. Because of that, it can be hard to judge just how good or bad the car is. But the Audi Quattro Concept – featured in the current issue – has clearly earned its stripes. Auto Express testers have been behind the wheel, and are full of praise. Colleagues at Autocar are similarly enthusiastic, suggesting it’s highly likely the coupé (above) will go into production. There is a legion of fans of the Eighties’ original who will be whooping for joy at that. The problem for them will be affording its spiritual successor, and even if they can, finding one to buy. The word coming out of Audi is that if the car gets the green light, it will be in the region of £100,000 and only built in limited numbers. While the original Quattro – enjoying renewed acclaim because of TV’s Ashes to Ashes – was expensive, you didn’t need a banker’s bonus to buy it. Audi is deliberately pricing fans out of its replacement and personally I think that’s shame.

Does 'win on sunday, sell on monday' still exist?

Fans of touring car racing, both in BTCC and WTCC formats, will know Chevrolet has had quite a good year. In short, a tuned and stripped-out version of the Cruze saloon that’s on sale in the UK won both titles (above). All very nice, well done Chevy. But for a brand that freely admits it needs to massively raise its profile in the UK, does motorsport success translate into showroom traffic and new car sales? It’s a question I posed earlier this week to Wayne Brannon, the president of Chevrolet Europe. He’s an impressive character, someone who started on the engine assembly line in Detroit opposite his dad when he was 18 years old and has worked his way up the ranks over the 38 years since. Here’s what he said; racing gives the Cruze credibility and creates enthusiasm among existing customers. It also breeds a passion throughout the dealer network. Employees come to the races, buy the merchandise, shout for Chevrolet and are unified around a common purpose. To Brannon that’s priceless. Crucially he didn’t answer the actual question, and you can read what you will into that. He also explained it’s possible to put a financial value on the amount of screentime the brand gets because the race-day cameras are focusing on the cars. He reckons that value is more than twice the amount of money he spends on the entire motorsport programme. Winning races does help brand awareness, but it’s good cars that create customers.

Ultra-clean 918 takes Porsche into new territory

I like to think I’m on top of motoring news and gossip, but I have to confess I was nothing short of gobsmacked by something I read this week. I was compiling a ‘news review of the year’ feature for a magazine and had to write some stuff about the cars which debuted at March’s Geneva Motor Show. Not surprisingly, one of the undoubted stars of the event, the Porsche 918 Spyder, figured prominently. What had passed me by at the time was that this plug-in hybrid concept can lap the legendary Nurburgring in Germany faster than its spiritual predecessor, the Carrera GT, and yet it only produces 70g/km of CO₂. I’ve struggled to find a comparable figure for the Carrera GT – I’m not sure Porsche ever made it public – but given its 5.7-litre V10 took the two-seater to 60mph in 3.5 seconds, my guess is it was closer to 370g/km. It’s a graphic illustration of just how much automotive powertrain technology has come on in the last few years. The great news is that Porsche bosses announced during the summer that they will build the 918 Spyder. Under the bonnet will be a race-derived mid-mounted 493bhp 3.4-litre V8 plus twin hybrid motors that together offer offer another 215bhp. Can’t wait.

Drifting in a winter wonderland

Just back from a couple of days in the Austrian Alps where I’ve been testing the new BMW X3. You can read my write-up in next Wednesday’s Auto Express magazine. Suffice it to say, this MkII car is a world away from the awkwardly styled original and is now a truly impressive baby brother to the larger X5. That aside, we journos drove the new SUV up twisty roads to more than 2000 metres above sea level, where the ski lifts start. It was -10 deg C and there was fresh powered snow. Taking the cars off the road and on to a level area, we had some fun doing timed laps of a cone course (pictured, above). While it’s obviously a hoot to start sliding sideways in the snow without fear of hitting anything, there was a serious point. By turning the car’s various electronic driver aids on and off, it gives a graphic illustration of just how clever these things are nowadays. Systems off, and at the first corner you go into a massive oversteer as the back end slides round too far. Systems on, it doesn’t happen. Simple as that. No fuss, no drama. Also worth a mention are the winter tyres the X3s were riding on. Not snow tyres, but winter tyres, which are just likely regular ones but made from a softer rubber compound and have a slightly different tread pattern. Braking distances are dramatically improved at this time of year and I’ve just reshod my wife’s Ford Focus with some. Find out more at www.whywintertyres.co.uk

The future of Subaru? Hmmmm....

I’ve yet to drive the Cosworth-tuned Subaru Impreza, but I’m told by colleagues who’ve been behind the wheel that it’s pretty brutal and exceptionally quick. But if you’re looking for the next generation of cars from the Japanese performance brand, here’s a car that should get your juices flowing. It’s called the Impreza Design Concept and, according to the company, hints at “a possible future design direction”. The wraps came off at last week’s Los Angeles Motor Show, and I have to say I’m a bit disappointed with it. A design sketch was released a couple of days earlier and it looked a whole lot sexier when someone had drawn it rather than photographed it! Sure, it’s a four-door with coupé styling – isn’t everything these days? – but take the interesting front end away and it’s a bit of a jelly mould. The Impreza Design Concept is powered by a combination of the firm’s 2.0-litre naturally aspirated flat-six engine with a Lineartronic CVT automatic transmission. This combination represents Subaru's next-generation of powertrain, as Lineartronic is currently only available on 2.5-litre models in the UK.

Citroen's DS4: is it funky enough?

Spent the day yesterday with Citroen, driving the new C4. As a rival to the likes of the Astra and Golf, it’s a decent enough car with strong diesel engines. The measure of it will truly come in the new year when the next generation Focus goes on sale, which many in the industry are widely expecting to take things to a new level. Anyway, the fastest versions of the C4 are the 1.6-litre 155bhp petrol and 2.0-litre 150bhp diesel, which both hit 60mph from a standing start in about 8.5 seconds. The company says that will be it for performance from the C4, because of the eagerly anticipated arrival next summer of the DS4 (pictured). Echoing the relationship of the smaller C3 and DS3 siblings, the DS4 should be sportier and edgier than the standard C4. My fear is that it might not be; all we’ve got to go on at the moment is this picture, which reveals that externally the car doesn’t look dramatically different to the C4. It’s certainly a lot less bold than the DS3 with its contrasting colours and ‘floating’ design for the roof. I hope I’m wrong. I also hope the designers pay a bit more attention to the practicalities of driving and owning the car. The DS3 has no cupholder, a cardinal sin these days. The DS4 will come with a range of petrol and diesel engines when the car is launched, but top of the pile for hot-hatch fans is likely to be the 200bhp petrol unit, which should offer a 0-60mph time of around six seconds.

Going to Goodwood in 2011?

You may have heard the British Motor Show is no more. This year’s event was cancelled ages ago, the 2012 one has already bitten the bullet and effectively that means it’s all over. There’s just not enough manufacturer support to make it worthwhile. All this is good news for Goodwood, which stages several annual events that are going from strength to strength. Dates for 2011 have just been confirmed; the Moving Motor Show is 30 June, the Festival of Speed is 1-3 July, and the Revival is 16-18 September. The biggest of these is the Festival and next year’s theme will be ‘Racing Revolutions; Quantum Leaps That Shaped Motor Sport’, a celebration of the quest for increased power, greater efficiency and more speed. It will undoubtedly be an excellent event – because it always is – and 2011 marks some significant anniversaries that fit with the theme. It will 75 years since Auto Union won the European Championship with a ground-breaking rear-engined car, 60 years since the naturally-aspirated Ferraris vanquished the supercharged Alfas, 30 years since the dawn of rallying’s four-wheel-drive age, 25 years since turbocharged engines ruled the roost in F1, and 20 years since a rotary-engined Mazda took the chequered flag at Le Mans. It’s also the centenary of the Indianapolis 500, and there will be a special collection of cars and drivers to mark that. Tickets are on sale now, and if you buy before the end of the year they’re cheaper because of the lower VAT rate. Visit www.goodwood.co.uk/festival-of-speed or call 01243 755055
to get yours.

UK's most reliable car brand is...

At this time of year, half the fun in heading out of the house for any kind of journey in the car is knowing/praying the engine will start. The weather out of my window as I write this is miserable; it’s cold, wet and extremely windy. The last place you would want to be this morning is stranded at the side of the road. Cars are pretty reliable these days, especially if you take the time to give them the tlc they need. But what’s the most reliable brand? The perception is that it’s probably something Japanese, and with Toyota’s recall troubles this year (which incidentally are still going on, it issued another one last week, this time on the iQ city car) the smart money would probably be on one of its rivals. Interesting then that a survey of company cars out this week ranks the number one brand for reliability as… Honda. It takes into account a massive 1.5 million vehicles owned or managed by the 50 largest contract hire operators, and as such is the largest study of its kind. The Civic and Accord both finished in the top 10 vehicles. If you’re looking to treat yourself to a used performance car this Christmas, you could do a lot worse than a Type R version of either, or even an S2000.

What would you choose?

For me, the European Car of the Year (ECOTY) award lost a little of its shine this time last year when jury members voted the VW Polo as the best new vehicle. The German supermini is a perfectly fine machine, but was it really a more worthy winner than the innovative Toyota iQ? Not in my eyes, but then I’m not on the judging panel. The shortlist of seven for the 2011 honour has been announced, and those in the running include the Alfa Romeo Giulietta, Citroen C3/DS3, Dacia Duster, Ford C-MAX/Grand C-MAX, Vauxhall Meriva and Volvo S60/V60. The most notable nominee is the Nissan Leaf, the first EV to ever reach this far in the competition. The hardest thing for jurors must be trying to narrow down the long list to the short one. In the initial batch of 41 cars – and therefore already eliminated – was some pretty serious metal. On paper least, you could make a good case for the Nissan Juke, Kia Sportage, MINI Countryman, Suzuki Swift, Mercedes CLS, Honda CR-Z and Jaguar XJ to be an alternative final seven. Yet all these cars have already missed the cut. I’ve saved special mention for the Peugeot RCZ, which is another one that won’t be the winner. It’s a cracking performance car, a real shot in the arm for the French brand, and would have made my shortlist. The winner will be announced on 29 November.

The race is on

Been writing an article about how long it will be before we see the first car to break through the magic 100mpg barrier. Ignore hybrids, plug-in hybrids and futuristic fuel cell vehicles – I’m talking a good old-fashioned internal combustion engine working on its own. The best on sale now is the Smart ForTwo diesel (above), which officially can top 85mpg. On the face of it, any car that can take fuel economy into three figures is likely to be powered by a low-capacity oil-burning unit. However, there are a range of issues about getting those clean enough to meet the next generation of emissions laws. Setting that aside, there are a few contenders to take us to 100mpg. The next generation ForTwo is an obvious one, along with VW’s new small city car, marketed below the Polo as a production version of the UP! concept. An outside bet might be a replacement for the Citroen C1/Peugeot 107/Toyota Aygo triplets. Insiders say nothing is due on that score for at least a couple of years, but Citroen did briefly offer a C1 diesel back in 2005 when the model first when on sale and squeezed close to 70mpg from it. One thing is clear; in the current climate, the PR value of being the first to get to 100mpg would repay all the engineering costs and then some.

A trio of new performance SUVs on the way

SUVs have had a bad press in recent years, mainly in stories written by mainstream news hacks who lack any automotive experience and who jumped on the proverbial bandwagon at the first opportunity. Performance SUVs – models like the Porsche Cayenne and Range Rover Sport – are simply the devil incarnate (sorry, bad pun). Critics argue why does the world need these big machines at all, let alone ones that can hit 60mph in just a few seconds? There are two things to say here. One, the good news is that the latest generations of these vehicles are more eco-friendly than ever. Secondly, smaller performance SUVs are on the way too. A story in this week’s Auto Express magazine previews a new Porsche – which it believes will be called the Cajun – alongside a baby brother to BMW’s X6, likely to be badged the X4. Already announced is Land Rover’s contender, the Evoque (above). Aside from being practical transport for those that can afford it, this is seriously sexy looking hardware. And you can bet your bottom dollar they will be fast.

A new type of automotive envy...

Lack of a test car this week meant yesterday I had to drive my wife’s 55-plate Ford Focus estate to an event. It was a fortuitous decision, as I was heading to the launch of the Vauxhall Astra Sports Wagon – a direct rival for the Ford – which allowed comparisons between the two. The interesting thing is there aren’t really any; the world has moved on so much in the last five years that the Astra wins hands down in every aspect. That’s particularly true from a practicality point of view. The ageing Focus’s cargo area comes with a rollerblind-style tonneau cover and that’s it. The new Astra has one too, but it works on guide runners so it’s much easier to use, and you can give it a sharp tap so it slides up the C-pillars out of the way but not right back. There are eyelets for cargo nets, side pockets for small items, and foldaway hooks engineered into the plastic for keeping shopping bags upright. There are quick-release levers at the boot entrance which push the seat backs flat in a flash (all pictured). If all that’s not enough there’s even more space hidden under the floor. You can even get an optional foldout boot lip protector so you don’t scuff the paintwork when you’re sliding heavy loads in. All pretty impressive stuff, and none of it is in my Focus. Yesterday I drove home with ‘practicality envy’.

Hot Lexus on the way

Lexus isn’t a brand I’ve written about too much on this blog, mostly because it doesn't offer the sort of performance upgrades you guys are interested in. But here’s an indication that might be about to change. This is the first official picture of the F-Sport version of the CT200h. If you’re thinking the CT-what, it’s not on sale in the UK yet, but will arrive early in the new year. It’s a compact hatchback, the Japanese firm’s smallest model to date and – as you can see – ripe for modification. If you’ve spotted the background, yes, that is the Sydney Opera House. The car was unveiled at the Australian Motor Show. Lexus UK hasn’t signed off a sporty version for us yet, but given we already get an F-Sport variant of the IS250 and 220d, it’s pretty likely to happen. So what does the Aussie car get? The Flame Blue paint job is the first of a raft of cosmetic upgrades. Exterior changes include revised bumpers, fresh alloys and unique badging. Inside there’s an F-Sport steering wheel, sports pedals, scuff plates, instrument panel and privacy glass. Power remains the same, but the suspension and damping is revised to offer a more controlled ride and sharper handling.

Power-boost button on the way

Like me, I’m sure you’ve often thought that some sort of ‘power-boost’ button would be an excellent addition to the modern dashboard. How cool would it be for those tight overtaking manoeuvres? The good news is that what’s believed to be the world’s first one is starting trials on a prototype Jaguar XF. A simple touch by the driver would upgrade engine performance for 10 seconds. It’s part of hybrid technology developed by engineering firms Torotrak, Prodrive and Flybrid. Energy is created from regenerative braking, but instead of storing it in a battery, it’s kept in a flywheel spinning at 60,000rpm. The dashboard button is currently known as ‘Push to Pass’ and uses that flywheel to temporarily increase power by 54bhp. It’s similar to the KERS system used in F1 last season. A Jaguar engineer told me this is only a development vehicle and we shouldn’t expect to see it on road cars anytime soon. But he said the technology was creating serious interest within the company. “If it meets its objectives, and it’s showing every sign of it, we will evaluate the results and that’s when it gets picked up and taken forward or not,” he added. Exciting stuff.

Modding: the answers

As promised in last Thursday’s posting, I’ve put in some phone time to see what impact the recession has had on the modifying scene. Had some interesting chats with senior staff at suppliers and retailers, and the bottom line is this – it’s not been easy, it’s not going to get any better any time soon, but there is business to be had if you think smart. One well-known company boss said outfits that were stacking it high and selling it cheap would always turnover stock, but without necessarily making much in the way of profit. His attitude was that colleagues needed to be canny in terms of their marketing strategy, and that sticking a double-page ad in some of the modding mags was pretty much a waste of cash. Clever online marketing, low-cost viral stuff and building solid relationships with enthusiast clubs – either local or national – was not only a good way to find customers, but keep them coming back time and time again. There’s little doubt the scene has been hit by a lack of disposable income, but for you the customer that’s no bad thing. It means it’s worth shopping around, because there will be deals to be had. Four new rims for the price of three is a obvious one I saw in the Isle of Wight last week. If you’ve cash to burn, lucky you, so make sure you get the most for your money.

Still got disposable income for modding?

Was on the Isle of Wight yesterday, for the launch of the Hyundai ix20. It’s the Korean company’s new supermini-based MPV (pictured), a sort of high-roofed Ford Fiesta. A fine car it is too. Never really spent much time on the IoW. I’ve never lived close enough for it to be a viable destination for day trips, holidays, etc, but it does seem to have a thriving modifying scene. Spotting two or three shops as I drove around selling all sorts of accessories, car audio equipment, etc. I supose if you love your vehicle, but geography restricts where you can drive it easily, personalising it is the next best thing. All this got me thinking… has the recession had an impact on the modifying world? If people generally have less cash to spend, does a luxury hobby – like ripping out a perfectly good sound system to replace it with something more powerful – have to be sacrificed? I’m going to make a few calls between now and Monday to find the answers. What do you think? What are your experiences? I’d be keen to know.

Would you buy a car called Wind?

Spent last Friday test-driving new Renaults around rural Leicestershire, some of which were sporty and some of which weren’t – which was a bit of a disappointment. First, the new Wind convertible (above). At 3.83 metres long it sits between the Twingo and Clio. It’s basically a Twingo convertible, and unfortunately it’s compromised in the way all very small cabrios are. Yes, it’s got the world’s fastest electric roof – only 12 seconds – if that’s important to you. But in my opinion, that’s about it for plus points. Rear visibility is poor, through either the ultra-shallow rear glass or the small door mirrors, and it’s not meant for blokes of my size. I’m 6ft 4ins, which I accept is at the upper end of normality, but I’m no freak. There were a host of other things I didn’t like about it either, including the price. The 1.2-litre 100bhp Dynamique is £16,400. Find an extra £600 and buy an Mazda MX-5. Much better was the Twingo Gordini, It’s cheaper at £14,600, has 133bhp, four seats and a more engaging drive.

Lotus at Paris: some thoughts

Look back to my 20 September posting and you’ll see a picture of the new Lotus Elite. It was what the company said it was going to unveil at the Paris Motor Show, and it duly did. What it didn’t say until last week’s Press Day was that there was also a new Esprit (above). And an Elise. And an Elan. Oh, and a four-seater called the Eterne. All five cars were on its exhibition stand, plus a city car. Yes, a Lotus city car! It’s a whole new product range that Norfolk bosses admit will cost £770million to launch within five years. Factor in some costly delays and you’re look at £1billion. So Lotus stole the show and got lots of great headlines because of it. Wonderful… or it is? I would argue it’s a bit of a PR own goal. If you unveil one new car you might get a page in a car magazine. But if you unveil five at the same time, you don’t get five pages. You might get two; editors will pick one model to focus on and do smaller stories on the others. Here’s what I think Lotus should have done. It should have unveiled the Elite to secure the page of coverage, and said it would debut another four cars at four shows over the next 12 months. For a cottage industry car maker like Lotus, that would have been news enough to whet editors’ appetites. There’s anticipation before each show – some teaser images can be dripped out in the run-up – and Lotus gets another page of coverage when the car is actually unveiled. By shouting about five models in one go, three things have happened. Firstly, there’s less coverage. Secondly, industry people are naturally a little sceptical about Lotus’s ability to deliver on its promise. Thirdly, bosses have put their heads so far above the parapet that all eyes will be on them to see if they can pull it off. My concern – and I know I’m not alone – is that the only way is down.

Paris' performance car stars

Two of the best known names in performance motoring and two new supercars. Both Jaguar and Lamborghini took the wraps off concepts at last week’s Paris Motor Show – and both were stunning. The Lambo is called the Sesto Elemento, and made its debut at a preview event staged by parent firm VW last Wednesday night, before taking centre stage at the exhibition the following day. The name translates as sixth element – a reference to the Periodic Table in chemistry, where the sixth element is carbon. Not surprisingly, it’s made from carbon fibre. Expect its outrageous design to influence the next generation Murcielago, though power comes from the 560bhp V10 that’s in the Gallardo. The Jag is called the C-X75 and has been created to celebrate the UK firm’s 75^th anniversary. Officially it’s just a prototype, but if there’s enough interest it seems like bosses will green light a production version. However, whether what’s under the bonnet will see the light of day is another matter. The car uses a pair of micro-turbines that work like a diesel-powered range-extended EV. Engineers say it technically sound, but far from showroom-ready.

Paris Motor Show; not as much fun as it sounds...

Posting this early because Thursday morning will be spent getting rid of shoe leather, pounding the halls of the Paris Motor Show. I could blog from the event – plenty of people do – but to be honest my day will be so frantic there’s not really time. My first press conference of the day is Vauxhall at 7.30am, which means getting suited and booted from 5.30am to ensure I’m out of my hotel and at the venue on time. I do wonder about the value of starting the event so early. Some of the big American shows, eg, Detroit, have a similar style, but everyone is still half asleep, especially as there are numerous pre-show briefings the night before which often finish after midnight. I’ve also sampled shows – Chicago is one I remember from years ago – where it was 9-5 and everything came to a halt for a lunch-hour. Now that’s civilised! My day will finish when the final stories are written, sometime after midnight. I will have walked miles under sweltering exhibition lights, and eaten and drunk too little. It is not an event to be enjoyed but endured, and I will be back in the show for 8am Friday for more of the same. Dwell on that if you think the life of a motoring hack is glamorous.

Ferrari rubs me up the wrong way

To the average car fan, there’s something quite smug about Ferrari. It’s like punters need to belong to a special club for them even to find out about their new cars. I find it all a bit off-putting, and it’s doing nothing for their brand reputation with me. What am I talking about? The company has published first pictures of a new car, called the SA Aperta (above). It will be unveiled at the Paris Motor Show later this week – I’ll be there to take a look – but it’s effectively the 599 convertible. It’s what the Italian firm calls a ‘special series’ model, which means it will be built in limited numbers. In this case, it’s just 80. That’s because it’s to mark the 80^th birthday of styling house Pininfarina, which has created many of Ferrari’s most successful cars. The SA element of the name celebrates Sergio and Andrea Pininfarina, the son and late grand-son of the firm’s founder who have been behind much of its prowess. All good so far… and then this little nugget in the press release. All the cars have already been sold. Talk about sticking two fingers up at anyone who might have the audacity to think about buying one! I’m sure there are scores of people around the world who have the cash to consider this car – and who will see it for the first time in magazines this week – but who aren’t actually customers already (that’s who will have been offered the chance to buy the SA Aperta). It really rubs me up the wrong way. It’s arrogant.

Your Next Peugeot Could Look Like This...

We all love the smell of petrol and the sound of a highly tuned performance engine, but is that soon to be a thing of the past? There’s been an event this week showing off the potential of electric race cars and bikes, and now Peugeot has unveiled this – the EX1. Designed to highlight what can be done with an electric motor and some batteries, the car has already beaten a host of world acceleration records for vehicles of this type. It can complete a mile from a standing start in just over 40 seconds, which is pretty impressive stuff. There’s the prospect of more records to come, which Peugeot won’t talk about now, but teasingly say they’re something to do with driving in China! Developed round an ultra-strong exoskeleton, the EX1 puts out 340bhp via two electric motors, one at the front and one at the back. It’s hard to see in the official picture, but it’s shaped like a water droplet with the rear wheels set closer together than the fronts. Transmission is four-wheel drive. Access to the two-seat interior is via a pair of reverse-opening doors, and once inside the occupants sit race-car style with their legs stretched out in front. I want a go!

First picture: the Lotus Elite

Look very closely at the bonnet badge on the front of this stylish silver racer and you might be able to pick out that it’s green and yellow. That means only one thing – a new car from Lotus. Reviving the name Elite, which first appeared in the late Fifties and ran through into the Eighties, and at 4.60 metres long, this is a biggest car the Norfolk company has produced since the Esprit. Should Lotus be doing stuff this size? Or should it stick to smaller cars like the Elise and Exige, and leave this sector to Aston Martin and others? It’s clearly something bosses have thought long and hard about. The press statement states: “There will always be those who believe that Lotus should stick to small sports cars but we didn’t take the decision to design something like the Elite lightly, it’s based on months of careful research and planning. It’s worth noting this sector has been very successful for us in the past and now the Elite raises the benchmark higher still.” A front-mid-engined 2+2 with rear-wheel drive, it’s powered by a 5.0-litre V8 developing 620bhp. Interestingly there’s the option of a hybrid powertrain with an F1-style KERS regenerative braking / energy capture system. Expect a top speed of around 3.6 seconds. Start saving for the £115,000 price tag – you’ve got more than three years before this car is due for launch!

Ford's all new Focus ST - official pics

Everyone loves a fast Ford and here’s the latest! Ahead of its debut at the Paris Motor Show – as blogged about on 6 September – these are the first official pictures of the all-new Focus ST. It’s described as ‘an early preview model’ but don't let that fool you. This is as production-ready as they come. Check out that massive black front grille and the centrally-mounted twin rear exhausts which are fused to make them look like one. The car will go on sale in the UK early in 2012, almost a full year after the standard versions of the next-generation Focus make their debut. The ST features a unique 250bhp version of the 2.0-litre, four-cylinder EcoBoost engine. Insiders say it will be completely true to Ford's ST heritage, offering enthusiasts an intoxicating cocktail of exhilarating performance, dynamic handling and an addictive engine note. And that new colour is called Tangerine Scream; after the success of the orange on the last ST and the green on the RS, this is bound to be popular with buyers. Check out the matching brake callipers.

Performance car models... with personalised plates

Saw this over the weekend and thought what a great idea for the performance car fan in your family. It’s a model of their favourite car – owned or aspired to – with a personalised plate. You can put anything you like on the front as long it’s eight characters or less. Each is colour-correct; black lettering on white at the front, and black on yellow for the rear, and silver on black for older vehicles. They will do names, dates, football club initials like ‘MUFC’, actual number plates, messages or words. I had a look at the website www.model-marque.com where they’re sold and there are hundreds of cars available. Check out the picture above for just three ideas. (I’ve got a friend Dale who is just about to turn 40 – how spooky is that?!). There are also plenty of WRC and Formula One race cars, as well as a slightly bizarre sideline in tractors. Each replica is roughly 25cms long and and many feature opening doors, bonnet and boot.

Vauxhall's new Astra three-door

If you’ve been waiting for the sporty three-door version of the newest Astra, the launch date is getting ever closer. Vauxhall will show this concept version – badged the GTC – at next month’s Paris Motor Show, giving the biggest clues yet on how the production car will look when it goes on sale next year. Insiders say the changes will be minimal, though the 21-inch twisted five-spoke alloys might not make the cut. There’s also a very interesting line in the press statement which says: ‘If the GTC moniker were to be adopted, it would be the first time that a Vauxhall has been so named’. Sounds like a done deal to me. The design features Vauxhall’s signature ‘blade’ down the flank – mimicking the larger Insignia – and note the second line running from the door handle to the rear that’s almost a mirror image of it. Hinting at the car’s potential as a hot hatch is an electronic limited-slip diff and an updated version of Vauxhall’s FlexRide adaptive damping system. Power comes from a four-cylinder 2.0-litre turbocharged engine with start/stop technology.

News of hot new Focus on the way

An all-new version of one of the UK’s most popular cars is to be unveiled at the Paris Motor Show in less than a month. And in a rather striking dark yellow, here it is. Fleet operators who use the Ford Focus as a workhorse for their company car drivers will be watching keenly. The private buyers who love the Focus for its mix of style and excellent dynamics will also be paying attention. And you, the performance car fans, should also be interested because this will form the basis of all-new warm ST and hot RS models. Paris will see the launch of the five-door and estate derivatives, due on sale in the spring around the time of the new 11-reg plate. But my sources say there will be announcements about sporting variants on Press Day. That’s Thursday 30 September, so mark it in your diary. So what of the car? Assuming it drives as well as every other Ford of recent years, it will undoubtedly be a big success. The lines of the smaller Fiesta are clearer visible in the newcomer, especially at the rear end. And maybe that yellow will grow on me. Or maybe not.

The New Suzuki Swift Sport?

Writing this in a Munich hotel room after an interesting press conference at the launch of the all-new Suzuki Swift. In the corner of the venue was this performance version (above), which I and many other journalists thought probably pointed the way to the more powerful Swift Sport. The performance flagship of the outgoing model has been a bit of a hit in the UK, accounting for about 10 per cent of sales and giving the firm some much needed credibility. We won’t see the new Sport until late next year, and despite what you might think, this isn’t it. This is the Style II, a showcase for all the accessories you can buy to put on your standard Swift. There are aggressive new bumpers, rear wing, rubbing strips and 17-inch black alloys – all very tasty. There’s nothing in the way of performance upgrades though, so you’ll have to wait for the Sport for that. As before it will be based on a 1.6-litre petrol engine – the standard car only gets a 1.2 – and should offer enthusiasts a bit of extra bang for your buck. Expect something more than the current 123bhp next time round.

Subaru saloon is back

Here’s a picture which will make Subaru fans dance with joy – the WRX STi Impreza saloon is set to roar back into showrooms! This is an official picture of the four-door model, which will sell alongside the five-door hatchback from early next year. Is it an admission that moving away from the tried and tested saloon formula – when the Evo X from arch-rival Mitsubishi stuck with it – was a mistake? I’ll hopefully get the chance to ask someone quite important within Subaru at the launch event in France in October. I’m sure they will say both bodystyles, a first for the Impreza range, were always part of the bigger plan. But I’m not sure about that. There’s little information on specs and prices at this stage; I suspect more will come out at the Paris Motor Show, which is at the end of next month. I’ll be there, and I have to say I’m looking forward to it. The drip, drip, drip of information on new models is just starting now and I’ll have more of that in the run-up to the show, which I’ll be reporting from.

The Big Debate: too many road signs?

There’s a debate going on in the media about road signs, and whether we have too many of them. TV coverage shows some councils – Ashford in Kent is one – removing signs and other street furniture that locals have determined are unnecessary. The Government supports the idea, and I have to say I agree. There are too many signs, and for the average driver it can be confusing. But there is another side to this argument. I was at a roundabout on the outskirts of Southampton yesterday and it had five exits. Not one of them had any signs. There was a big sign before the roundabout telling me I needed the third exit, but when I got there, there was nothing to confirm it. I ended up going round again just to make sure, then getting confused as to which was the third exit in the first place. The thing with signs is that it’s about balance. Obviously some are required, but not too many. We as motorists leave it to the expertise of road-planners to work out the right number. But the answer is surely not none at all.

Step off the kerb, get hit by the Tardis!

How would you like your car to sound like a V12 even if it was only a four-cylinder? Or maybe some sort of spaceship? The technology exists to do it, and will be appearing on an unnamed production car within 12 months. I spent some time last week with bosses from audio firm Harman, who are behind high-end brand names such as Harman Kardon and Mark Levinson. They’ve developed a project with Lotus – it’s called HALOsonic after the two companies – which can synthesise sounds for cars. And it’s not just for fun, so your Renaultsport Clio can sound like Dr Who’s Tardis. It’s serious technology for use with hybrids and electric vehicles when they’re in low-speed ‘silent running’ mode. Harman has got it in a Toyota Prius at the moment (above), and it’s very clever. A speaker in the nearside front bumper projects a sound – and it can be whatever you want – for pedestrians to hear. The evidence is that people simply don’t notice these cars and tend to step out in front of them. Many of the big-name vehicle manufacturers have seen the HALOsonic demo and are impressed. The big question they have is what noise it should make. Should it reflect their current line-up of petrol and diesel cars, or go in a new direction – a bit more like the Tardis. Time will tell what they decide.

Happy Birthday Jaguar

Jaguar is 75 this year, and as part of its celebrations the company has taken the wraps off this little beauty. Actually it’s a pretty big beauty. This is the XJ75 Platinum Concept, a one-of-a-kind design project that will go on display at the Pebble Beach Concours event in California this weekend. It’s based on the 2011 XJ LWB and is powered by a supercharged 470bhp engine. Check out the ground-hugging front, rear and side sills, and the paint finish, which is a rather special-looking Satin Matte Pearlescent White. All the exterior chrome elements have been revised to either a dark chrome or gloss black, and it’s riding on mighty 22-inch two-tone alloys. Entertainment is provided by a 1,200-watt Bowers & Wilkins surround sound system with 20 speakers. So what’s the point? The company says it’s a design exercise that shows its vision of XJ customisation for those who can afford it. All I’ll say it’s that it’s a long way from Jag’s image of shagpile carpets and walnut trim – and that’s a good thing.

Celebrate Type R at Silverstone this Sunday

Alright, I know I’m plugging another event. I promise this will be the last one for a while. But I’m actually going to be at this one – and if you’re a Honda Type R owner you should be too. Honda is bringing together fans of its high performance cars at a special event at Silverstone next Sunday, 22 August. The celebration of the famous Red H badge coincides with the latest rounds of the BTCC featuring Matt Neal and Gordon Shedden in the Honda Racing Team. But enthusiasts from Type R owners’ clubs will get the chance to experience the track for themselves in a Lap of Honour to commemorate the Type R. Why? Because production is ending soon; the last of the current Civic Type R will be sold later this year, with nothing to replace it on the horizon. At Silverstone there’s an exclusive ‘Type R Only’ car park, and each attendee will be able to enjoy Honda’s ‘Dreamfields’ hospitality throughout the day.

* Honda is also using the Silverstone event to launch a new offer for Civic Type R buyers. The Type R GT is now available at £19,495 – that’s a sizable customer saving of £2,230. And the new PCP finance offer of 5.9% (over 43 months) means a Type R could cost as little as £235 a month, with a 30% deposit.

The ultimate Vauxhall?

I’ve plugged performance car events on this blog before, but nothing quite like this. The world’s fastest Vauxhall, Red Victor 3, will make a star appearance at the VXR Power Festival later this month. Packing over 3,000bhp from its 8.8-litre, twin-turbo V8 engine, the car is a highly modified version of Vauxhall’s original 1967 Victor FD. It’s attending the event – at Silverstone Circuit, Northants, on the Bank Holiday weekend, 28-29 August – to promote a partnership between Vauxhall’s VXR brand and the Red Victor team for the 2011 MSA Pro-Modified Drag Racing season. While the car is still in development, the Red Victor team is predicting an initial top speed of 240mph in the quarter-mile. That will take about 6.5 seconds. And there’s no reason to doubt the guys; their last project, Red Victor 2, was capable of nearly 200mph in the quarter-mile and 0-153mph in 4.8 seconds. Thousands are expected to attend the event, which includes 0-60mph challenges, auto-testing, karting and VXR track tuition with pro-drivers. VXR and Vauxhall V8 owners can even pay to take to Silverstone’s famous track in their own cars. For more information, please go to www.vxrpowerevents.co.uk

Great idea BMW, but....

The photograph BMW has released to illustrate its new ‘Winter Tyre’ programme isn’t actually very helpful. It suggests this new high performance rubber is only designed for use in snow, which isn’t true. I know why the company has used the image – it’s a dramatic action shot with powder flying in all directions – but it’s actually going to confuse people. The press release has it right; these new tyres are for owners to get the best on-road performance from their car throughout the winter months, regardless of weather. Changing tyres to suit different seasons is already part of mainstream motoring in most of Europe. But it’s never caught on here, I suppose because we confuse winter tyres with snow tyres. Here’s the difference. Snow tyres usually have metal studs in to improve grip, and they’re for use where there’s permanent compacted snow on the road, eg, in Scandinavia. Winter tyres are for use in any weather when the temperature drops below 7°C, but will also work better in snow. They’re made of a special rubber compound, which gets up to temperature quicker when it’s cold. Hats off to BMW for launching the programme; I imagine bosses don’t want a repeat of last winter’s TV coverage of rear-wheel drive cars struggling in the snow. But with prices ranging from £600 to more than £2,000 for four new wheels and tyres, I wonder how many people will actually sign up.

'20 per cent power hike' for next VXR

Some gossip from sources I trust on the next generation Vauxhall Astra VXR. The performance flagship of the hatchback range is set to get a significant power hike over the 240bhp of the current car (pictured), with suggestions that it may be by as much as 20 per cent. That would take the car much closer to the 300bhp of the sold-out Ford Focus RS. The VXR’s power will go through the front wheels – as it does on the Focus – suggesting Vauxhall’s engineers have come up with their own version of the innovative RevoKnuckle front end set-up which killed virtually all the torque steer on the RS. The VXR isn’t due in showrooms until late 2011 or early 2012, the same time as standard versions of the three-door car. A concept version, to be badged the Astra GTC Paris, will be unveiled in October. It makes its debut at the Paris Motor Show, hence the name. Disappointingly there’s no pictures yet, but I’ll be sure to post them when they’re released.

The Million Dollar Question...

Where are the best driving roads in the UK? I’ve had excellent fun in many parts of the country, and trips to Wales and North Yorkshire stand out in the recent past. But I’ve reached a decision that you really can’t top the Highlands of Scotland. I’m writing this in the departure lounge of Aberdeen Airport, and it’s on the roads west of here that I’ve been putting Volvo’s second generation S60 saloon through its paces. The car is probably the most dynamic the Swedish – soon to be Chinese – company has ever built, and it’s got a stack of very clever safety kit. This includes a world-first pedestrian detection system which actually brakes the car to a halt if it believes you’re not going to do it yourself. But the highlight of the trip was the fast-flowing driving route we were given. Roads such as the A939 are of decent quality, free of traffic, and happen to go though some very impressive scenery. The high point – literally – was the trip up to the base of the Lecht ski resort and down the other side. Great vistas. If you’ve never been to this part of the world, and you’re a fan of driving, I would urge you to visit. It will take your breath away. Disappointingly and rather bizarrely, Volvo didn’t bother to take any suitably illustrative pictures, so you’ll have to make do with one of the S60 outside an arty looking building. Sorry.

EV discounts get the green light

It’s a decision that probably won’t register on the radar of most performance car fans, but it should. Yesterday the new Government decided it will stick by the old Government’s plan to offer a £5,000 incentive to everyone who wants to buy an electric vehicle (EV). The current regime of cost-cutting meant Gordon Brown’s plan had to go back to the drawing board to be re-examined, but now it’s been given the green light for the second time. This is good news for everyone, because if we are going to have more vehicles along the lines of the stunning Tesla Roadster EV (pictured), then the UK has to be serious about building an infrastructure in which designing, engineering, testing, assembling, selling, owning and driving EVs is taken seriously. Yesterday, one small step was taken on a very long road to making that happen.

Who's a lucky lad then?

Spent a very warm and enjoyable day at the World Touring Cars at Brands Hatch the weekend before last, as a guest of Chevrolet. The racing was good, though a little too much of a procession for most fans’ liking. We left after the second touring race ended, which I suppose was about 3.30pm… and of course missed the most dramatic moment of the day. If you’ve not seen the crash in the SEAT Leon Eurocup I recommend you take a look. It’s all over YouTube so not hard to find. Go have a look. How lucky is the marshall with the cap on? Half a second later moving away from the Armco barrier and he wouldn’t be alive. Also lucky is driver Francisco Carvalho; what with this cartwheel and Mark Webber going airborne in the F1 recently, and both emerging with nothing more than dented pride, you’ve got to be impressed with motorsport vehicle safety. There’s a time not that many years ago when both of these people would be brown bread. And it’s a good reminder that marshalling isn’t just about getting close to the action without having to buy a ticket. These people genuinely risk their lives.

DIY car-building at its finest

Most of us go through a ‘designing the perfect car’ phase, but generally grow out of it as we discover the opposite sex and alcohol. For others it never goes away. Feast your eyes on stunning roadster, loosely based on the Slovakian K1 Attack kit-car but modified by Oliver Ashley, a 26-year-old technical manager at a Merc garage in Bristol. He’s spent 4,000 hours of spare time over the last three years – not to mention around £70k – creating his own machine. It’s appearing at a number of car shows this summer. “I have actually assembled the car four times since starting the project,” said Oliver. “I had an original concept firmly in mind, and the design and specification evolved as I went along by building the car, checking the fit of every new component, dis-assembling, making modifications and so on, until I was happy with every element.” Interior tech includes state-of-the-art audio and DVD equipment, amplifiers, speakers, hard drive navigation and a reversing camera system. It’s all been provided by Clarion.

* No posting on Monday as I’m on a camping holiday, and outdoor bacon butties with my kids takes priority over blogging. And I doubt there’s wifi. See you Tuesday.

Driven: Abarth 500C

Spent a very enjoyable few hours blatting across the North Yorkshire Moors last week in the newest hot hatch from Abarth. If you’ve not heard of the brand it’s the in-house performance division of Fiat, but is a separate company. If you buy the Fiat 500C Abarth (above), you’re buying an Abarth 500C and that’s what it says on the V5 log book. The car is the hot version of the convertible 500 and features the same 1.4-litre turbocharged powerplant, though the engine management system has been retuned to offer another 5bhp, boosting it to 140bhp. You’re looking at 0-62mph in 8.1 seconds so it’s a proper pocket rocket. The short wheelbase means this car was never going to have the smoothest ride, but the Abarth team have done a good job making it as sporty as possible without being crashy. New on this model is a paddleshift gearchange on the automatic transmission – there’s no manual version yet – and it works really well. I also got the chance to drive the car on a private test track, and it didn’t disappoint there either. At £17,500 the Abarth 500C isn’t cheap, but you’re getting a premium performance product that marks you out from the crowd.