Posted by Car Magazine MotorPlay under News

The guys at Caddy realized that no matter how many records 50 Cent sold, they couldn’t make do just with the Escalade. So it was time for something smaller. It must have been extremely hard for them, but in 2004 they came up with the SRX crossover. Now, in 2008, they’ll unveil it’s next generation, and until they do that they’ve given us a quick glimpse at what it will look like.

Small? Well, it looks to me as if it’s more of an SUV than most of the SUVs. Not exactly what I would call a crossover, unless we’re talking about a crossover between an Escalade and something marginally smaller. Still, it’s a step forward and although it’s as discrete as a Tomahawk missile, it’s stealthy compared to the Escalade. We’ll talk more once we’ll see it in flesh.

Spyker & the Concours d’Elegance

Posted by Car Magazine MotorPlay under Entertainment

There’s something about the Dutch, and I don’t mean all the green grass or the red parts of the town. Nor the tulips, nor the wooden shoes. I’m talking about the cars they make. They’re obnoxious. They make you want to do bad things. Not the kind of things you would do in a Ferrari, though, like cornering at 100mph, but really, really bad things. Like honking the hornas an old lady crosses the street in front of you. Or revving the engine just for the fun of it while waiting at a street light. Or calling a Police Officer a donkey.

Maybe it’s all that metal on the dash or that orange leather trim you can buy your car in. I don’t know and I don’t care, all I know is that there comes a time when you want to honk at old ladies and when that happens, this is the car to be in.

Stragely, considering the above, the Spyker Aileron concept is currently exhibited at the Concours d’Elegance in Pebble Beach, California. Nobody said you can’t be elegant and obnoxios at the same time, though, so it’s not such a big surprise, really. And the soon-to-be-launched-in-late-2008 Aileron is not alone. There are other Spyker cars there, like the Spyder or the Laviolette (I think I’ll name my daughter that). So if you’ll find yourself in California between 13 and 17 August, after you stalk Brad Pitt’s house for a day or two, drop by Pebble Beach to have a look at the Spyker Aileron too.

Chevrolet punches Judy. Or something…

Posted by Car Magazine MotorPlay under Chevrolet

So you’re on the beach, doing nothing, lying face up and roasting at the sun. Well, not really roasting, but that’s what you like to think. You lift your head to see what’s going on around you, only to see a Chevrolet Captiva slowly passing you by, as if there was nothing more natural in the world. You get up thinking there’s a moron who needs to be told exactly what he is, and you’re the man to do it.

Well, it turns up you were looking at the wrong side of the car. Sticking from the left rear door is a red and white striped booth, which looks just like a Punch & Judy mini theatre. Well, maybe because that’s just what it is. It seems British parents pay more and more in order to keep their families entertained while at the seaside, so somebody at Chevrolet came up with the idea of a free moving Punch & Judy show to help bring back memories for the parents and plant new ones into the minds of the kids. And if one or two of the parents will want to buy a Chevrolet Captiva afterwards, all the better.

What is this car? Really?

Posted by Car Magazine MotorPlay under Audi, News

I’ll tell you what it is -it’s a Hell of a car. Or Heaven. You shouldn’t think too much about it as you might start to wonder whether something like this is really necessary - a saloon with supercar performances. Of course it is, don’t be silly. Anything that is capable of supercar performances is necessary.

And this new RS 6 with its twin turbo V10 is capable of an output of 572bhp between 6.250 and 6.700 and (this is the really good part) a max torque figure of 480lb-ft available from 1.500rpm up until 6.250rpm. No, don’t go to the Audi official site, these figures are correct.

Yup, sitting there in your suit, laptop on the back seat and talking business via bluetooth car-kit, you can go from 0 to 62mph in 4,5 seconds. And if you really want to start blabbering on the phone, you can keep going until you reach 174mph. If you’re ever late at work or at a meeting, this car is the shortest way, not some unknown backalley. Remember this.

Some words on beauty

Posted by Car Magazine MotorPlay under News

Hearing about a new Aston Martin is the same as hearing about the Queen having a new baby, only a lot more exciting. I have no idea what this brand has that others don’t, but it clearly has a lot of it. Because every time I see an Aston, I get the type of reaction I would probably I get if my eyes were ever to cross with Jessica Alba’s. It’s just not a car like any other.
Now, there’s a new one on the way. It will only be available for a lucky few (I can barely refrain myself from throwing all kinds of curse words at those filthy rich bastards) but we will still get the chance to catch a glimpse at one of it passing by, once in a while. And mark that day on the calendar and celebrate every year.

It’s name is One-77. For now, hopefully. And it’s going to be what every supercar should be: beautiful, exclusive and fast.

Ford Ka is on its way

Posted by Car Magazine MotorPlay under News

Ford has announced that it will present the new Ka during the forthcoming Paris Motor Show, in October. I can hardly restrain my enthusiasm, and I think it shows. Now go tell your younger sister who’s just got her driving licence you’ve found the right car for her.

Toyota’s Robot

Posted by Car Magazine MotorPlay under News

It’s called the Winglet and I’ve got nothing against that, but I do have something against it being named `a robot`. I mean, can it wave to the public and conduct an orchestra? No. Then, form where I stand, it’s not a robot.

It is, though, a personal transportation device which might pose a threat to Segway. It’s a lot smaller and lighter and more elegant. It comes in three sizes, S(mall), M(edium) and L(arge), just like your tshirt. It will carry you around for 10km (M and L) or 5km (S) before it will start crying for some electricity. Oh, no, actually it won’t cry, because it’s not really a robot, it will simply blink an LED at you.