The Brits have their GP of the F1 calendar this weekend
at Silverstone. Brought forward from the traditional mid-year date, the
weather could be a very complicating factor for the teams. Expect to see
many Team Managers looking anxiously at the skies as they try to read the
weather and predict the pattern of the elements. And, of course, can
Michael Schumacher make it 4 out of 4?
Join me “trackside” at Delaney’s Pub, 2nd Road,
in front of the big screen. From 6 p.m. I reckon, but check TV details.
Wot’s a Spocket?
Well according to Honda Cars (Thailand), their Spocket
concept car is an amalgamation of the words “Sports” and utility
“pocket”. Thank goodness they didn’t start from “Funky” little
“truck”!
Honda
Spocket
This little item was on display at the Bangkok
International Motor Show, and I must admit it did catch my eye with its
innovative styling and multi-purpose functions. They do say in good
engineering practice that form follows function, and that was certainly
true for this little beast. Boasting electric upswing doors and
eye-grabbing styling, the exciting feature of this vehicle was the pick-up
style rear cargo space. The roof of the cabin slides back to provide a
roof for the cargo end, leaving the occupants in an open sports car. The
rear tailgate also has an extension to make a ramp to get items into the
payload area. Ingenious!
The next dinky idea was the fact that the rear
passenger space bulkhead could fold and two more seats appeared to make it
a four person sporty car, rather than just a two seater.
The interior of the car also has an all-weather
interior. When it gets dirty, you just hose it out inside. Now that’s
truly a great idea, although I think the boy at work already uses this
method when cleaning our family Mira, with damp nether regions being a
common occurrence after he’s cleaned it.
Also on the Honda stand was the removable hardtop S2000
sporty car. At long last, it is listed for sale here. They will get you
one if you’d like to cough up 3,990,000 baht. Interestingly, it does not
look as good with the hardtop on, in contrast to many open sporty cars
that look so much better topless. Like some other things I could mention,
but won’t.
Honda also educated me as to what “CRV” stood for
on their stand. There on the CRV show car was the decal announcing
“Comfortable Runabout Vehicle”. This particular one had every
conceivable extra you wouldn’t want, from chrome plated number plate
holders to ridiculous wing mirrors. For 1,095,000 baht it’s yours.
Autotrivia Quiz
Last week, having been blown away by the Maserati 3200
GT at the Show, I asked what Maserati models did the brothers Maserati
produce in 1950? A right hoary old chestnut, that one! The correct answer
was that the Maserati brothers didn’t produce any Maserati’s in 1950
as they had already sold out to the Orsi group. The brothers Maser went on
to produce the Osca’s. So there!
Autotrivia
quiz car
So to this week’s question. Let’s stick with
Maserati. Look at the old photograph this week of the Maserati 250 F. For
the Automania FREE beer this week, be the first to fax 427 596 or email
[email protected] with the driver’s name. Want a clue? The photo
was taken in Germany! Best of luck, but it’s easy this week!
What’s in a name?
GeeEmm took “badge engineering” to new heights at
the Motor Show with the stand full of Chevrolets. “German” Chevvies
and “Australian” Chevvies!
Following a marketing decision, the Opel name for the
new Zafiras was dropped, and the car has been released here as a Chevrolet
Zafira, despite its German origins. These people movers were being
presented with a price tag of 1.09 million Baht, according to the friendly
sales personnel at the Show. The Chev badges look OK, even if they are a
little “misleading” to say the least.
The “Aussie” Chevrolet is called the Lumina,
otherwise known as the V6 Holden Calais down under. These sell for about
A$45,000 in Oz, but with the cost of importing them here, paying duty and
prising off the Holden badges and swapping them for Chev ones, the end
result is a whopping 2.4 million baht (around A$104,000) if you want to
stick one in your garage. Don’t expect to see many Chev Lumina’s
sauntering down Sukhumvit.
On another stand was a presumably “grey import”
Chevrolet Astro AWD. This giant people mover got my vote as the ugliest
machine at the Show. It has all the aerodynamics of a house brick. Bulky
and ungainly, it proudly proclaimed itself to be the “Sports Version”.
God knows what the standard version is like, but maybe it doesn’t get
the white-wall tyres. 2.19 million Baht for that baby whale, if you can
fit it in your street. I think GM here should have bought it, just to get
it out of the Show and away from people’s eyes.
Mind you, on the same stand was the Cadillac STS which
runs out at 4.95 million baht and I actually did like the look of the
scaled down Caddie, though American “purists” (is there one, I
wonder?) probably would disagree with me.
Hey Big Spender!
BMW brought out the ultimate 7 series for those with a
bank account that has at least baht 13, followed by six zero’s. Yes for
13 mill you get the L7, a factory stretch version of the normal 7. This
was actually a very pretty and well balanced looking motor car. Also on
the Bimmer stand was my Z3 2.8 all resplendent in red paint, as was the
test vehicle last year. The ache in the loins department returned
immediately! That was a great car, though my old mate John Weinthal who
has driven the M Roadster with over another 100 BHP on tap said that I’d
blow my brains out over an M. I think I probably would. BMW (Thailand) put
me on the list, please!
The new 3 series was also on display, a pleasant
looking “understated” vehicle. At 1.98 million, the price tag’s not
too understated though! The short-assed 316 was also on the BMW stand. For
me it still looks like a 3 series that was rammed up the rear by and 18
wheeler, or backed into a wall at 100 kph.
