From previous episodes…

Posted by Car Magazine MotorPlay under News

…I was saying how the Euro NCAP tests have started to be as relevant as carrying a 9mm in Afghanistan. And as if the whole world was trying to proove me right, two more cars have received the maximum amount of stars since yesterday. I’m talking about Alfa MiTo and Vauxhall Insignia. Were you having any fears they wouldn’t? Because I could have even bet my cat on it.

NCAPacitated

Posted by Car Magazine MotorPlay under Renault

This whole NCAP story is starting to look like a joke. I apologise to all the people who own a Renault for saying this in relation to the new Megane, but I assure them it’s got nothing to do with the car or the brand.

The new Renault Megane received, obviously, 5 stars in the NCAP tests, and I’m sure it’s a very safe car. Maybe even the safest, as the numbers show it (37 points out of 37). But the thing is, the stars are no longer enough to separate between the cars, because more and more get the full five stars. So now the focus switches on the points. Well, it seems Renault were the first to top that as well, so I’m sure others will follow. What’s next?

I’ll tell you what - nobody will give a damn about Euro NCAP anymore. It’s time for a change.

The doors issue

Posted by Car Magazine MotorPlay under Porsche

I know what you think. It looks like a Porsche Cayenne taken out from under a huge boulder. But hell, that’s exactly what the Cayenne needed to look like a proper Porsche. Granted, it still has four doors which is about as Porsche-specific as a diesel engine. But, sadly or not, there’s a Porsche diesel coming out and the Cayenne with all its four doors has been around for quite a while.

Now, it’s Panamera’s turn. No more doubts, it’s coming out. It will arrive in showrooms late next summer, so we have time to get used to the idea.

The Future is Wet

Posted by Car Magazine MotorPlay under Honda

(and so will be my dreams tonight, I may add)

Do we really need any more reasons to feel bad about not living in L.A.? I’ll tell you. No. They have bright sunny weather, a warm ocean and everything related to girls that goes with the two. They have writings on the hills and a Governor who some actually think is part robot.

And now, if you live there and do something specials that only the people at Honda know what it is, you might even get to drive a Honda Clarity FCX. Now, if you bothered to go to the LA Show, you might have also caught a glimpse of a new concept car from the Japanese manufacturer that brought you ASIMO.

They say it’s a supercar, and although I’m not sure what sets a supercar apart from a sports car, I’ve always felt that the Japanese can’t quite produce the kind of supercars the Europeans can. Perhaps it’s just that I tend to link the title of supercar with the likes of Ferrari and Lamborghini and look at the Japanese supercars as if they were some madly fast sports cars, and nothing more.

This new Honda supercar concept makes no difference. It’s called the FC Sport and it looks as though something has gone terribly wrong with the world, but in a good way. I know, it doesn’t make any sense, but neither does this new design lesson from Honda: it looks so unerringly stunning that I’m sure nobody will ever buy a different car. Not to mention a different supercar.

And yes, the `FC` stands for Fuel Cell, so this will not only be the most SF car this world - and probably others - has ever seen, but it will also be the greenest. I hope it will. 

The new Lexus Ibiza

Posted by Car Magazine MotorPlay under News

Is it just me or has this resemblance between cars of different brands has gone too far? I know it’s not easy to be new and fresh when it comes to creativity of any sort, be it automotive design or writing a book, but it surely can’t be that har either. Just look at this new Lexus RX 450h, the latest offspring of the only hybrid SUV on sale in Europe and then scroll down and take a peek at the new Ibiza also.

If I were a designer for Seat and I was asked to come up with an SUV based on the Ibiza, chances are I would have come up with the new Lexus RX 450h. And that’s just wrong. But that aside, Lexus claims that this new hybrid will have a fuel consumption of just 34,9mpg. So it doesn’t just have the front part of the Ibiza, it also has its same apetite for petrol. What it doesn’t have, though, is its price. Not even times 3. When it will hit the dealers in summer, it will cost 36,273 pounds. 

The celebrations carry on

Posted by Car Magazine MotorPlay under News

Ferrari continues the celebrations for their 16th Constructor’s title in F1 by releasing a special edition of the Ferrari Scuderia Spider. Sure, Massa would have rather liked the idea of them (Ferrari) baking a cake for his first Championship title, but it wasn’t to be. Still, this 510bhp Scuderia Spider should be enough to make him forget about that little, black and nasty thing from McLaren.

Only 499 of them will be made, which make this fastest open top Ferrari ever built pretty exclusive. Which, I’m sure, is exactly the point. It will come in a limited range of colours, but the customization options will be vast, so that no two Spider 16Ms will be the same. Unless the Ferrari clients have very limited imagination, that is. Price? I don’t know, but if you’re not a regular Ferrari buyer, I don’t think you’ll be able to get your paws on one of these.

Caterham by Dicky Johnson

Posted by Car Magazine MotorPlay under Entertainment, News

Yup, if you know anyone with that name, tell him to go to www.splitwheel.com and he could become part of the next Caterham model. Internet users from all over the world can get involved in the development of this next Caterham, from deciding between a regular engine or a hybrid setup, to choosing the size of the ashtray. Well, I know it’s a Caterham, but I also know how many people smoke…

Just think for a moment. You can be a complete idiot who knows his own name and your vote can count. That’s the beauty of democracy. So if you notice that the Caterham you’ve just bought has wheels that are not exactly what people would describe as round, or that the car only goes backwards, you’ll know who to blame. Ermm, no, actually you won’t.

How to deal with Mr. Frost

Posted by Car Magazine MotorPlay under News

The IAM (Institute of Advanced Motorists) is telling us what to do when the water puring from the sky turns solid. It may not be funny but it will help some of the younger motorists and reminde those more experienced what not to forget (quote):

• Prepare the vehicle for winter early.  In autumn have the anti freeze checked, replace damaged wiper blades, stock up on de-icer, add a frost inhibitor to the screen wash and buy a window scraper and two cloths: one to clear condensation and dirt from the inside windows and one to clean lights and exterior windows
• Check that the windscreen wipers are off when leaving the vehicle the night before to avoid damaging the wiper motor and blades when the engine is started the next day
• Use external temperature gauges, if the vehicle has them.  An indicated temperature of 3°C means that extremely slippery conditions are possible
• Remember that ice on the windscreen could mean ice on the carriageway at some points, especially side roads
• Observe other road users reactions to conditions ahead as a pre-warning of what is to come

Stopping distances will increase in frosty or wet weather.  Stay focused, look further ahead than usual and allow for the extra time needed to stop by increasing the gap ahead.

Where the road surface is likely to be slippery, stay in the highest gear possible to minimise the risk of wheel spin.  Consider setting off in second gear, releasing the clutch and accelerating very gently.

If the vehicles front end begins to lose grip, a front wheel skid will begin.  Reduce acceleration, consider disengaging the clutch and steer smoothly.  If the vehicle goes into a rear wheel skid, lift off the accelerator, consider de-clutching and steer into the skid.

Always ensure windows, lights and mirrors are clear of dirt and ice before setting off.

Mad-ness

Posted by Car Magazine MotorPlay under Entertainment, Motorsport, News

Nail biting? Bone biting? You choose. I, myself, chose to simply stare in disbelief. That Vettel guy who I praised a few GPs back for his first win (start to finish, that is), got in front of Lewis barely inside the last lap and pushed him back to the 6th place. That is, one place further back than he should’ve been.

Not a problem, I said to myself. He’ll fight back hard and he’ll dispose of this Vettel, no doubt about it. But as the seconds passed and the distance to the finish shrunk, Lewis didn’t seem like he wanted to fight for that position, or like he was able to do it. Massa finished first, so it was either fifth for Hamilton or nothing at all. Well, if you can call the silvery second spot nothing at all.

At the moment, I must admit I had no idea what happened. Vettel crossed the line and Hamilotn followed shortly. The Ferrari team was jubilant. But hey, so was that chick from the Pussycat Dolls, who was sitting inside the McLaren paddock. “My God,” I said to myself, “isn’t she stupid. She’s clueless about what happened.” But, it turns out once again that I tend to judge beautiful women too hard and that she was right and I were wrong.

Yup, by some cruel twist of faith, both Hamilton and Vettel passed Glock during that last lap, so they finished fifth and fourth, respectively. But, my God, wasn’t Felipe Massa great?! I mean we led the race from start to finish, and when he realised it was all for nothing he took it like a man. Well yes, he cried, but in my opinion that - somehow - made him even more of a man. It was really touching the way the crowd cheered for him, and if you hate Massa then you’re a twat.

I don’t know who deserved to win it the most. I don’t care. Actually, when it’s this tight, it’s hard to tell. Thing is that it was by far the best season in a very (too) long time, and F1 has just won itself a new fan. And Massa too. If hamilton won’t win it next season, I sincerely hope it will be Massa.