Lots in the press last week about the Volkswagen XL1, a concept car that’s in many ways the spiritual successor to Honda’s original Insight of the late Nineties. The covered rear wheels and coupé-style body are the obvious link between the two, as is the pioneering approach to taking motoring forward not in small steps but in giant leaps. Any vehicle which can manage 313mpg has got to be a good thing, but the most interesting thing about the XL1 is where it was unveiled. I’ve never been to the Qatar Motor Show but I suspect it won’t be long before I’m heading to this tiny state in the Middle East. Just as it’s transformed itself from a British protectorate known only for pearl-fishing into a massively wealthy gas and oil-rich Arab Emirate, so another change is on the way. Most industry commentators expect Qatar to become an increasingly important player in the global automotive scene. The state is already a significant shareholder in VW – no doubt part of the reason why the XL1 debuted at the local motor show – and the German firm has announced plans for new a R&D centre within the Qatar Science Park. Just as these tiny countries are using their vast cash reserves to buy in global motorsport – Formula One, MotoGP, etc – so they are doing the same with the car industry and the associated circus that comes with it. Sadly, it means we will never see another British Motor Show. Why? Because the car makers won’t support it when places like Qatar are so much more glamorous and make it so cheap and easy for them.
No comments:
Post a Comment