Inside Track: Motor Show

Daihatsu deserves more credit for trying

Wed, 08 Oct 2008 10:28:15 GMT

cj hubbard writes:

I don't think enough has been written about Daihatsu at this year's Paris Motor Show. For while Ford got all kinds of technicolour on the new Ka with somewhat dubious results, Daihatsu demonstrates a more stylish approach to customisation.

Ok. So this Materia is not an especially good example.

(And you can't even see the luminous pink fluffy seat and steering wheel covers clearly in these pictures. Nor the bright pink toy dog attached to the dashboard.)

But this Copen is awesome.

Go on the Godzilla!

Oh, and as is apparently something of a tradition (it did the same at Geneva), Daihatsu also rolled out a rather gangsta looking Materia - just in case the blue with pink polka dots wasn't macho enough, no doubt.

Love the pipes. Pretty sure all the kit on this car is available through the accessories catalogue, too.

Different, anyway.

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Links:

Road test: Daihatsu Materia 1.5

Credit crunch hits Teletubbies hard, rent pad to Peugeot

Gallery: new Ford Ka

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Credit crunch hits Teletubbies hard, rent pad to Peugeot

Wed, 08 Oct 2008 10:05:35 GMT

cj hubbard writes:

As Richard has already explained, we snuck into the Paris Motor Show press day early, and had a good look around. Rich also mentions the eco 308 display. Which from a wider angle looks like this:

I can't have been the only expecting Tinky Winky - or a least a bunny rabbit - to come popping out of that hole. Can I...?

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Links:

Early doors discoveries at Paris

Paris Motor Show @ MSN Cars

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Honda gives Paris a carpeting

Sat, 04 Oct 2008 17:15:31 GMT

Richard Aucock writes:

Lovely plush carpet greets tired feet on Honda’s stand. After walking (thudding?) along for 9hrs, this bouncy fluff was pure bliss.

Not if you’re part of the cleaning team, though.

Yes, that is a million strands of plush black carpet fibre, leaving a Hansel and Gretel-like trail of fluff all around the Honda stand. In complete contrast to the press conference, of course.

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Honda at the Paris Motor Show

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Early doors discoveries at Paris

Sat, 04 Oct 2008 17:09:36 GMT

Richard Aucock writes:

The weirdness of being at the show so early continued as CJ and I walked further around. Ever get the feeling that you’ve turned up just a little bit too early? We certainly did here.

A peek under those covers would have been a must, if it weren't for the security guy. Speaking of which, here's a trick: to get in for free, get there early We just walked in to one of the halls, press pass and credentials completely unchecked.

Thing is, this was but half an hour before doors opened. And, while the stands were there, on a detail level, it was carnage. Cables everywhere. More rolls of masking tape than (Dodgy) Phils Respray’s. Even a man on a tractor (yes, a man on a tractor. Sorry for the blur. I wasn’t quite expecting to be beeped by a man on a tractor).

Citroen had, by now, already done their magic vanishing act for us. But their brethren at Peugeot were a bit more lassaiz-faire about it all. Here’s the display for some eco 308. See what we mean?

Over the walkway was Renault, where things were at least a bit more organised. Even so, sat next to the beautiful Laguna Coupe...

... was this.

Its very own bag. Aww.

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Peugeot at the Paris Motor Show

Renault at the Paris Motor Show

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MSN Cars exclusive reveil at Paris!

Sat, 04 Oct 2008 16:57:37 GMT

Richard Aucock writes:

There was no risk of us missing anything at Paris. Both CJ and I commented at how “surprisingly dark” it was at 6.15am on press day morning. We were hopping, skipping and jumping to the show, so as to be among the very first there. And, lo.

It seems we were among the very first there. Much to the frustration of these chaps. A quick nose at the impressive-looking Citroen C3 Picasso, sir? Not…

… a…

… chance…

With nary a word uttered, nor a glance exchanged, the mini-MPV Citroen was re-veiled before our very eyes. I can safely say it was a first…

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Citroen Paris Motor Show photo gallery

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New Lamborghini: the Estoque

Wed, 01 Oct 2008 20:08:53 GMT

cj hubbard writes from Paris:

Ok, so we were actually supposed to go to the Volkswagen Group press event in Paris tonight, where this the new Lamborghini - concept - was to be unveiled for the first time for reals. But a combination of bad ferries, bad traffic, and bad parking meant we never made it.

So we can't yet give you our impressions of the new Lamborghini Estoque in the flesh. Instead, the photos will have to do the talking:

On first instinct it's a funny looking fellow...

But I suspect that in the metal, this massive new Lamborghini four-door - yep, guessed that one right - is going to look seriously dramatic.

It is only a concept at this stage, but the Porsche Panamera and the Aston Martin Rapide make it an almost certain production starter (what next? A new four-door Ferrari... Don't doubt it).

We'll save the full story for when we have seen it live, but in the meantime, I can tell you it's over five metres long (that's 16 feet), those rear wheels are 23-inches in diameter (jeez...), and Audi, I mean Lamborghini, is talking V10s - from the Gallardo LP 560-4 no less - a turbo V8 based off that V10, V8 hybrids, and even high-powered TDIs (note the use of the VW Group's turbodiesel initials. Well, it's not like VW hasn't got another home to find for this, or anything...).

More soon. And plenty more Paris Motor Show stuff tomorrow.

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Links:

4th Lamborghini teaser revealed

Rumour-mongering: new Lamborghini to steal Paris limelight

Road trip to the Paris show

First Drive: Audi Q7 V12 TDI

Paris Motor Show

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Road trip to the Paris show

Wed, 01 Oct 2008 18:08:45 GMT

Richard Aucock writes:

Today was travel to Paris Motor Show day, with the best of intentions for this evening. Makers like to throw pre-show bashes: Chevy, Toyota, Mazda – and an eight-marque VW extravaganza, which was a dead-cert attend in our humble eyes. So, it was up at 4.30am, blast to the office, meet CJ and scoot off.

In Peter’s long-term C5, full of fuel, with Europe-wide sat nav (but unable to toast up its heated seats. And missing an Aux socket. Ho hum).

We made Dover in record time – a good 90mins before our ferry. Ace. The lady put us on an early one, for a 9.30am sail. Even more ace. To the front of the queue we rocked, sat and waited.

And continued to sit and wait, while the 10.20am sailing came. And went. And... well, Heavens. Finally, we left, at about half 11. Discovered that ferries are, in places, deeply grim. Reached Calais. Then, floated, stationary, for a good hour, while waiting for a dock to become free! Argh!! And then some. Total time from supposed embarkation to leaving? Four hours. Even flying down the autoroute didn’t make up much time – because of this.

Which, in the real world, looks like this.

We've just made the hotel. Sadly, way after every pre-show bash had started (and, in some cases, finished). Thanks, P&O. Thanks, Paris peripherique. Still - lo! What's this! Round the corner from our hotel is salvation, that's what. We shall go to the Chevy ball after all! Sort of…

Here's to far more action at the show tomorrow. It's going to be super-exciting, believe us. And don't worry. We're literally just round the corner - with alarm clocks set for very early doors...

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4th Paris Lamborghini teaser revealed

Tue, 30 Sep 2008 14:15:20 GMT

cj hubbard writes:

So this is the fourth teaser photo for the mystery new Lamborghini that's set to be unveiled at the Paris Motor Show in about, oh, 32 hours time:

The thing looks wackier and wackier. Awesome.

And that vent? More evidence we've looking at a front-engined Lamb, I reckon...

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Links:

Rumour-mongering: new Lamborghini steals Paris limelight

Paris International Motor Show @ MSN Cars

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Rumour-mongering: new Lamborghini steals Paris limelight

Mon, 29 Sep 2008 16:27:41 GMT

cj hubbard writes:

In an awesome act of upstaging, Lamborghini is bringing a brand new car to the Paris Motor Show.

And unlike with the Ferrari California – which we’ve known details of for months – we have absolutely no idea what the new Lamborghini will be like.

The only details we have so far are three closely cropped teaser images. Almost unbelievably in this day and age, the new Lamborghini hasn’t even been caught testing by spy photographers. Which may mean its nothing more than a design concept at this stage, similar to the modernised Miura of 2006 (below).

But whatever the new Lamborghini actually is, the limited amount of information available so far gives us the perfect opportunity for a bit of idle speculation.

So let’s take a look at the evidence, and see what we’ve got:

Three pictures.

The first to emerge, showing what appears to be a geometrically over-designed tailpipe and carbon-fibre diffuser, came with the caption: “It’s not just a new Lamborghini. It’s a new world.”

The second, showing a front wheel and an Italian Tricoloured vent, amusingly asked: “Not yet seen THE Italian car?”

Take THAT, Ferrari.

Anyways, finally, the third and most recent image is of the rear taillight, showing what appears to a bootlid shutline, and suggested: “A new Lamborghini. The elegant realisation of technical potential.”

What on earth does it all mean? Can Lamborghini really be building… a four-door saloon?

Wait. A Lamborghini four-door?

The general consensus is: absolutely, yes. Much like Aston Martin with the Rapide and Porsche with the Panamera, Lamborghini is looking to increase its brand appeal into other sectors of the market. A saloon could potentially double the marque’s sales – although whether that would be a good thing is open to debate.

What makes us think the mystery car is a saloon? The wheel shot implies a front-engine layout – why else would that slightly unsubtle Italian flag (what is this, the Fiat 500 supercar?) vent be there? Then there’s the taillight image with the bootlid shutline. If there’s a boot, where’s the engine?

At the front. Obviously. But without a side-profile and a door count it could still be a coupe, right? Sure, and if we dig a little deeper, as far back as 2004 Lamborghini was hinting at plans for a four-seat 2+2. Even then it was scheduled to arrive in 2009.

Which makes us all a bit stupid for not realising this thing was going to arrive in concept form sometime this year.

To confuse things further, though, it could always be an SUV – perhaps code-named LM005, and a follow on to Lamborghini’s notorious LM002. But given the current environmental/economic climate, we don’t think so.

Urus, Lagartijo, or Estoque?

Given the opportunity to bet, for us it’s still a four-door saloon. But what will it be called – and on what will it be based? Well, Lamborghini is part of the Volkswagen Group, so could draw on the Bentley GT platform, perhaps. And with Porsche slowly upping its stake in VW, what about the Panamera?

We think it’s far more likely Lamborghini will go lightweight, and borrow the all-aluminium, all-wheel drive Audi A8 platform – either the current one, or the next generation which is soon due. In fact, if you go back to those early 2+2 discussions, this seems to have been exactly the plan.

What’s more, while a number of speculators are suggesting the new car will be labelled Urus, those early plans refer to the name Lagartijo. This would make more sense under current Lamborghini naming conventions, as Rafael Molina Sánchez “Lagartijo” was a bullfighter, who supposedly spared the legendary bull “Murcielago”…

What’s more, early sketches of a two-door, four-seat “Lagartijo” – by Lamborghini-endorsed design student Emily Sawamura – have similar details to the official teaser images Lamborghini has shown us.

The overall styling is expected to be part Reventón, part Espada. Engines could be anything from V8s to V12, probably mounted behind the front wheels. All-wheel drive is assured.

The Murciélago-based Lamborghini Reventón.

Lamborghini's other four-seater, the Espada, built 1968-1978.

Just to throw further confusion into the mix, since this was originally written on Friday, another potential name has emerged from the Italian underground: Estoque.

This is the name given to the sword used to kill the bull during a bullfight. Perhaps leading the cynical to suggest: is Lamborghini's apparent desire to build a four-door (or, at least, four-seat) model an act of self-destruction...

Stay tuned for more details, as we’ll know all on the evening of October 1.

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Links:

Paris Motor Show coverage

Aston Rapide and Porsche Panamera 'ring showdown

Official: hybrid drive for Porsche Panamera

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A different kind of Motor Show experience: Deep Purple

Thu, 07 Aug 2008 08:27:30 GMT

cj hubbard writes:

This time last week my ears were just starting to recover from a rather different kind of British International Motor Show experience. Completely out of the blue, Harmon Kardon had been in touch, asking if we wanted to attend Wednesday night's Motor Show Music Festival act. Which just happened to be Deep Purple.

These guys aren't exactly spring rockers any more - in fact, only three of the original members are still playing as the band, as far as I could tell. But as a chance to enjoy the Motor Show's purpose built stadium for something other than a twenty minute Honda advert, it simply wasn't to be missed.

And to be fair, the show was excellent - all the old favourites, some songs I didn't recognise at all, and awesome lead guitar from more recent draftee Steve Morse. The miniature stadium was absolutely packed, and we had a great view from our seated position. I've never seen a band play anywhere that's had aircraft landing over the top of the stage before (the organisers can thank London City Airport for that).

Of course, it wasn't an entirely charitable gesture on Harman Kardon's behalf. It's got something in the works that I can't quite tell you about just yet, and it wanted to run the concept by us.

Since I don't drink and am generally quite hard to impress, I can tell you with sober sincerity that this forthcoming project is genuinely very cool. So cool, in fact, I can't believe no-one's thought of it already. Look out for an official announcement soon.

Speaking of Harman Kardon, I hadn't quite realised the extent of its audio domain - it's like the hifi equivalent of the Volkswagen Group. Audio brands within its portfolio include JBL, Infinity, Mark Levinson, Becker, and Lexicon - which is what you'll find in current Rolls-Royces (and many professional recording studios). And as well as hifi, it makes all sorts of other on-board electrical systems; unbranded and unnoticed but essential to modern motoring life.

Anyways, cheers to the folks who invited me along.

If you didn't manage to catch any of the music at this year's Motor Show, based on my experience it's well worth keeping in mind for 2010.

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Links:

Complete British International Motor Show coverage

Harman Kardon

Deep Purple

Steve Morse

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Not so Zoom Zoom now...

Mon, 28 Jul 2008 11:25:56 GMT

Dan Trent writes:

I thought I’d done alright on the Zoom Zoom Challenge. Emerging blinking into the sunshine after a couple of days in our windowless (but thankfully air conditioned) motor show nerve centre, the Mazda driving event was a welcome break and I have to admit returning to our office somewhat full of myself. Pride before a fall? Well, my time wasn’t just beaten, it was destroyed. And by one of our own too – Paul Musselle from our friends at the video production company. That’s his voice on the video top 10s, by the way.

Anyway, I should have guessed from the size of his grin he’d bettered my 20:57sec. I expected a couple of tenths maybe but when he broke the news he’d done a 19:68 I was distraught. Nearly a whole second!

Desperately looking for excuses I interrogated him on how he’d managed it. And, thankfully, he let slip his secret. Now, punters on the event are required by the rules to short-shift into second gear just a few metres over the startline – probably to stop people launching themselves into the nearby Victoria Dock. But because Paul was there filming and therefore not officially participating he was allowed to redline it in first before shifting up. There’s a few tenths without even trying!

Oh, then there’s the fact Paul’s had a fair amount of race experience too. Excellent, those excuses just keep piling on up…

There’s now an online leaderboard so if you’ve had a go yourself make sure you drop by to see how you’re doing. It’s based on your overall score (including ‘Zoom Zoom Attitude’) and doesn’t include lap times but you can at least see if you’re in with a shout of winning a Mazda 2 for the year. I was at least on the front page of the results on Friday but it since the weekend I’ve dropped to 50th. Hmm. Probably the fact there’s more rubber down on the course means times are tumbling. Yes, that’ll be it. I knew I should have worn my wannabe racing driver bootees too, those thick soled boots I was wearing must have robbed me of valuable pedal feel and therefore at least half a second or so.

Now I think about it my press pass is still valid … maybe I need to go back and have another go.

In the meantime keep an eye out for Paul’s Zoom Zoom Challenge video, coming soon as part of our wall to wall motor show coverage!

Dan

Zoom Zoom Challenge leaderboard

Zoom Zoom Challenge blog

The MSN Cars motor show HQ

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Best in show - Dan's vote!

Fri, 25 Jul 2008 08:44:28 GMT

Pics by Matt Farrington-Smith

Dan Trent writes:

OK, here's the verdict you've really been waiting for. I'd like to think. Now camping out in the boot is one way of making sure you are first in queue for a drive but here I am in the Renault Megane R26.R, the super hardcore take on the R26 - already one of my favourite cars as it stands. There are lots of impressive stats but for me the £22,960 pricetag is one of the most impressive - amazing considering the car's potential.

Another favourite of mine is this - the Aspid. The first time I walked past it I gave it a quick glance and thought 'eugh!' but CJ convinced me to take a second look after getting very excited by the double disc brake system. Yes, we really are that geeky... Anyway, once the shock of the looks subsided I started delving deeper and the combination of Caterham performance and dynamics, amazing build quality and astonishing technology had me stunned. And then I heard about the sub-3sec 0-62 time.

Check out the interior too and the neat F1 style steering wheel with all the controls and dials incorporated into one unit. And if you go to a track you can even download telemetry from a previous lap by a pro driver and it will flash up braking points on the steering wheel for you. Seriously cool. As is the air suspension system, supercharged Honda engine, wing-like doors - OK, I'll shut up now.

Then the Lotus Evora. I'm still not totally sold on the looks but after spending a bit more time on the Lotus stand and chatting with a super keen product guy I'm coming round to it. And whatever you think about the outside just look at the interior.

Now that's unlike any Lotus that's gone before. I'm hoping that from behind the wheel it lives up to the promise - I can't wait to find out.

Farbio is another car I've got a bit of a soft spot for, this white supercharged GTS looking especially beguiling. And it seems my inclusion of Farbio boss Chris Marsh in an earlier blog has been getting him some attention too. Sorry Chris!

So there you go. A bit of a speed freak's guide to the show but you can read about the green cars elsewhere on the site!

Dan

Megane R26 roadtest

IFR Aspid full story

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Car fans flock to the motor show

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 16:56:58 GMT

Dan Trent writes:

After two days in our air conditioned retreat at the British International Motor Show ExCeL is starting to feel like a home from home. And while the relative peace and quiet of the press day on Tuesday was handy for getting round the cars and catching up on the industry goss, now the show is open to the public the atmosphere is really building. And this isn't even the first proper public day - tickets for today's 'VIP preview day' costing quite a bit more.

It's not hard to see which stands are causing all the fuss either. Nissan's GT-R has a constant throng around it, the adjacent simulators the closest most showgoers are going to get to driving the thing - even those who've actually paid a deposit. Patriotic pride seems to be sending a lot of people Jaguar's way too.

The Ford stand is also getting the crowds too, the Fiesta proving very popular and the dramatic Focus RS drawing lots of star struck fast Ford fans. Alfa Romeo's stand is also very well attended, though we suspect it's not just the cars proving popular here...

We'll be expecting another surge soon too, as workers from nearby Canary Wharf - and central London itself - hop on the DLR and take advantage of the cheap 'after work' ticket price of just £5. With the doors open til 9pm there's no reason not to!

Dan

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Can you beat our Zoom Zoom challenge time?

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 12:56:31 GMT

Dan Trent writes:

Greetings again from the motor show! And a challenge for anyone else heading down: I've escaped our busy event mission control and been down to the Mazda Zoom Zoom challenge. Anyone who came two years ago will know the format - jump in a Mazda, try and set the fastest time possible around a tight little course without incurring any time penalties for crossing white lines or cutting corners and the best time wins a car for a year. Cool!

Your time isn't the only thing you're judged on though. You're also given points for your 'Zoom Zoom attitude' whatever that might be...

So after a short wait in the sunshine I got my one sighting laps and two timed laps, one in an MX-5 and one in a Mazda 2. And they went OK, with a 20:57 in the MX-5 and 21:07 in the 2. But the big question is, can you do better?

Head on down to the Zoom Zoom challenge, have go for yourself and let us know how you get on. The gauntlet is thrown!

Dan

MSN Cars' motor show mission control

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Lots Of Talk, Unexpectedly Subdued

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 14:43:59 GMT

Dan Trent writes:

Well, the press conference for the unveiling of the first all-new Lotus in 13 years was certainly one of the best attended thus far. But the response has been … a little subdued. It didn’t get off to a great start, everyone standing round in awkward silence after a big build up and hearing a hissed “push the big red button…” from backstage before the covers actually came off. Oops.

And when the sheet finally pulled back the response was less ‘Ooooh!’ than ‘Hmmm…’ This was repeated when the car’s official name was announced as, wait for it, um, hang on … I seem to have forgotten. Oh yes, the clearly memorable ‘Evora’. Consensus seems to be they should have stuck with the working title of Project Eagle. Further scepticism greeted the boast that this really is a 2+2. 2+2 what exactly? Not fully grown people, that’s for sure. When we’re allowed closer access to the, um … oh yes, Evora … we’ll be able to make a better assessment but it looks like rear seat accommodation will be distinctly cosy.

Scanning the crowd I spotted one man taking more interest than most in the new Lotus – Farbio boss Chris Marsh (apologies for the fuzzy photo). Given that the Evora (yes!) has a comparable spec (namely, a transverse V6 engine) as the Farbio GTS and be similarly priced too you can be sure he’ll be scrutinising it closely. Of course, the Farbio is already on sale and Marsh is showing a new supercharged version at the show so probably isn’t too worried. Yet.

The proof will be in the driving of course and we’ll look forward to getting behind the wheel of the Evora as soon as possible. Away from the motor show hype and out on the open road the car’s 300bhp Toyota V6 is sure to more than compensate for any doubts about the styling… And we’re assured the braking is out of this world too.

One more thing – all the talk of lightweight minimalism clearly didn’t weigh heavily on the mind of whoever recruited the show girls on the Lotus stand. It’s not quite TVR with its naked ladies from back in the ~~good~~ bad old days of the motor show but let’s just say they probably wouldn’t fit with the Colin Chapman ethos…

Dan

Farbio GTS first drive

Farbio GTS video

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Closer to Insignia...

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 13:11:14 GMT

Getting a closer look at Insignia on the Vauxhall stand wasn’t hard, as they seem to have hundreds of them. My goodness, it’s a real wow car. Impressively ‘different’ to look at, the much-chatted about side feature line is cool, but what’s most outstanding for me is the slinky rear. It’s got curves and profile, this car: I even ventured to CJ during the press conference that I prefer the saloon to the hatch…

What’s great to see, though, is that base models are no less impressive than all the top spec ones that litter the press material. Tucked around the back of the stand was this, a run of the mill Exclusiv Nav model. The sort of thing thousands of fleet drivers will soon be blipping the flipper key of at service stations around the country.

Pretty tidy, huh? Even better, the interior is just as sparkly as the top-end cars, which isn’t something that’s always the case. All the buttons, all the displays, all the flashier details – they’re present and correct. And if you’re thinking, ah, but it has sat nav as standard – how representative is that?, rest assured. The vast majority of them will do – because I reckon Exclusiv Nav models will follow current logic and minimise the premium for sat nav to around £600 or so. Making it a fleet-list cert.

Just one thing. Getting into the back, I didn’t quite find the Mondeo-challenging space I was promised – legroom isn’t as scarily vast as in the Ford. What’s more, leaning back, my head touched the rooflining – in both saloon and hatch. As this is a gripe of the current car, I’m mischievously wagering Vauxhall’s test drivers are just that bit shorter than me… but it’s still a bit of a surprise, even if the pay-off is that deliciously plunging, curvaceous C-pillar feature. We’ll see when we get it outdoors. Oh, and another one: not sure that this car will be making it all that far off the stand…

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