Inside Track: Industry Observation

Big asses: Renault says “non”, Ferrari says “bella!”

Thu, 09 Oct 2008 10:22:04 GMT

Dan Trent writes:
So Renault has abandoned its big booty look on the Megane, the new version unveiled at Paris adopting a much more conservative look. Does this mean no more ass-shaking adverts too? Shame.

Joking apart it still stands out today (fnarr, etc), and remains a brave piece of design in a fearsomely conservative sector of the market. But in an article on industry news site Headlineauto, Renault stylist Anthony Grade admitted of the previous Megane: “We took a few risks and ok, maybe a bit like a football team we need our backsides kicked by the manager every so often.” Perhaps an unfortunate analogy, but then he does seem to have a bit of a derrière fixation. He’s off to Lada as it happens – keep an eye on the Russian brand to see if its new models sprout similarly luxuriant booties.

Anyway, if Renault has decided to get all trim and banish big bums they’ve clearly handed the baton over to Ferrari. Just look at the new California if you were in any doubt. Kate Moss on top but J-Lo at the back, the Weeble-like proportions are the unfortunate consequence of needing to package both the folding metal roof and – doubtless - the inevitable requirement to carry golf clubs.

Dan

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Impreza scoop

Tue, 30 Sep 2008 09:57:31 GMT

Richard Aucock writes:

Ah, the Impreza Turbo driver. They’re a phenomenon in their own right. The attraction of a burbling flat four, four-square handling and a foot flat on the floor with total confidence in the car beneath has created communities, business – dammit, a way of life for thousands. We salute Imprezadom.

But it’s taken something of a hit recently. The new Impreza, for months, lacked any sort of whizz-bang-ness, while initial drives of the WRX were lukewarm to say the least. What every movement needs is sustainability to continue, and the way things were going, the Impreza Turbo looked as if it was edging towards classic status. Impreza Turbo drivers growing beards and buying sensible jumpers from M&S? Perish the thought.

But things are a-turning. We saw all those harder-core models at the British International Motor Show. All well and good. But, at the Paris show, there’s more. An Impreza diesel. A what? Yes, an Impreza that burns oil – and because it’s meant to, not because the turbo has gone pop due to the owner turning the boost pressure up to 98bar. It’s this that is going to make the model viable.

Think about it. The original sold well because it was understated, ferociously competent and quick enough. Not stupidly fast, but swifter than most things in real-world conditions, with the ability to use all its go. It was also something of a bargain, and pretty cheap to run, too. Great, in 1995.

But a decade or so on, things have changed. Fuel costs a fortune. Taxation systems mean thirsty engines are financial suicide. Consequently, diesels are everywhere. Particularly in the hands of foot-planted company drivers, who consistently exploit the searing, easily-accessible torque they possess. Today, the quickest thing on the road is often a BMW 320d or Passat TDI, even if the driver’s not trying. Performance car drivers have to work hard – and pay through the nose when they do.

Hence, the brilliance of the Impreza diesel. It’s as easy to summon the power as it is to lay it down onto the tarmac, which could well help it regain its crown as fastest real-world warrior. Fewer fuel stops mean drivers can do this more. The boxer layout means it retains all the offbeat character it’s always possessed. And overall costs means, once again, the Impreza could be the working man’s fast-car bargain it once was.

However, there is one reason above all why we reckon the Impreza diesel is going to be champ. Why, the very reason the original Turbo did so well (and why so many non-turbo Sports have holes cut in their 'hoods'). The company has confirmed... it is to have a whopping great air scoop on the bonnet.

OK, the pictures here are of the WRX petrol, but an insider admitted we shouldn’t be surprised if the diesel boasts much similarity. Roll on early 2009, we say…

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Links:

Notes from the road: new Impreza in the wild

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Tesla asks for MSN Cars help

Fri, 05 Sep 2008 12:02:49 GMT

Richard Aucock writes:

Where do you want revolutionary electric car maker Tesla’s London dealer to be? That’s the question posed by the company’s Marketing Manager, Aaron Platshon – who is open to all suggestions.

“We need a London showroom, as it’s one of the world’s major markets,” Platshon told us. It’s a first-step for the brand, which will be launching here in May 2009; just as important as outlets in Hamburg or the Cote d’Azur, says Platshon.

But where? That’s what’s keeping Tesla’s man awake, particularly as the brand wants to own all its dealers outright, rather than franchise them. “We’re not about to go on a real-estate binge, but it needs to be well-placed for the short- to long-term. London is a very expensive place to buy property!”

South-East London has been pencilled in, but Platshon is not too keen on the sound of Park Lane. “I drove past it the other day – it’s a busy road; do you actually get chance to slow down and see the cars?” Where else, though? Any advice will be appreciated, as Tesla is all ears. Post your responses and we’ll make sure the top brass see them…

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First Drive: Tesla Roadster (2008 onwards)

Lotus Exige 270E Tri-fuel (2008 onwards model)

New Brit green supercar

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Ford sells a few...

Thu, 31 Jul 2008 10:58:54 GMT

Richard Aucock writes...

Sometimes, it takes just a quick e-mail to really put things into perspective. I’m currently researching a few pieces, for which I needed Ford’s annual sales figures. Which are thus: last year, the blue oval, in the UK, sold 956 cars – every single day. Nearly 40 people an hour signed on the dotted line to take delivery of a new Ford.

That’s more than a third of a million cars in total. Which really is staggering. Ford, not just Alesha Dixon, obviously has been singing about the fact…

And until the end of June this year, the company has sold another 185,324 models. Such numbers really do take some getting your head around (by the time you’ve finished watching, say, Eastenders, they’ll have shifted nearly 20 cars). As a huge chunk of those were Fiesta sales (102k in 2007, 51k so far this year), it underlines the fact that the most significant Brit debutant at the British International Motor Show, the one that will become a part of most people’s lives, may well have been Ford’s all-new supermini.

But it’s Focus sales that really opened our eyes. 118k in 07, nearly 62k thus far in 08 – of which, over 8000 were sub-120g/km CO2 1.6 TDCi variants. Indeed, sales of these Focus are 41 per cent up so far in 2008. Significance? They are, in many official’s eyes, low CO2 cars. They get a preferential rate for company car tax, almost enjoyed free Congestion Charge before Boris stopped it…*

No wonder the company is so proud of its calculation that a 2 per cent cut in Focus emissions gives more of a CO2 reduction than all the hybrids sold in the UK put together. When you look at the numbers involved, it’s not hard to see why such gains can have such an effect…

* And we know, the image is not of a TDCi Focus – but, you must admit, it’s a great shot of a Focus. Which is ‘jumping for joy’? Sorry…

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Links:

ECOnetic air conditioning day dreams

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Crossed-up Astra

Thu, 20 Mar 2008 14:58:00 GMT

Richard Aucock writes:

Car ads attract attention for all sorts of reasons. Yet it wasn’t the promise of four years free tic on virtually all Vauxhall’s models that grabbed me here. Despite the credit crunch making it seem an even more impressive offer.

No, it was the attitude of the Astra Sport Hatch in the image. Look at the front wheels. Look at the rear wheels. That guy behind the wheel, he’s crossed up! Yes, he seems to have caught up, but if that isn’t oversteer he’s tackling, I’ll eat my hat.

I can’t imagine what he’s done. Lifted off when he shouldn’t? Braked hard mid corner? Thing is, look in the background, and there’s what appears to be the apex of a corner. Lift off oversteer on the EXIT of a corner? My goodness, that really is some hand behind the wheel. Or, of course, someone to whom four years zero per cent APR will be of no use whatsoever, given that they’ll have binned it well before then…

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Links:

"...AND it hasn't got a trip computer!"

On test: Vauxhall Astra 1.6 Turbo Panoramic (2007)

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