More Bangkok International Motor Show
Hyundai
Veloster
Mitsuoka
Hyundai is showing a resurgence of this
marque. Hyundai has been scoring very well in the quality
stakes overseas and the ‘Veloster’ concept car looked every
bit the part of a boy racer’s dream. The twin tail pipe
treatment coming through the rear bumper was particularly
appealing.
Nobody could leave the motor show without almost puking at
the Mitsuoka stand. This Japanese company makes ‘copy
Bentleys’ on a Nissan platform, complete with upright
radiator grille and it is hideous.
However, nobody (not even Ssanyong) could come up with
something as ugly as the Mitsuoka Orochi. Wild swooping
lines leading down to a bonnet with portholes on each side
and a smiling lips grille. I am told that ‘Orochi’ in
Japanese means “I am about to vomit”. More motor show next
week plus Thomas the Tank engine. No joke!
Orochi
Songkran warning
I admit that I do not like Songkran. The
‘fun’ out of being assaulted with freezing cold water
dampened many years ago. However, there are a few rules to
be followed during this silly season.
First, always lock your car doors and do not unlock them for
any reason. Otherwise revelers will happily pull your door
open and throw a bucketful of water into your lap.
Second, do not wind down the car windows for any reason, no
matter how appealing the young lady who is trying to get you
to do it. The end result is another bucket of water in your
lap.
Third, the streets are alive, not with the sound of music,
but with the roar of motorcyclists well under the influence,
and who will not be wearing a helmet. Since around 85
percent of fatalities over Songkran are indicated as having
alcohol as one factor, and falling from a speeding
motorcycle as the other factor, there is a clear message for
everyone. Don’t ride motorcycles over Songkran, for any
reason. Cars are much safer, but do not be surprised if you
are hit by a motorcycle whose rider is several sheets to the
wind.
Fourth, Songkran will be over by Monday 21, so stay indoors
till then.
Happy Songkran!
Autotrivia Quiz
Last week I asked who was the first to construct and
race a Grand Prix car bearing his own name? And it was not
Jack Brabham! The correct answer was Felice Nazzaro in the
1914 French Grand Prix.
So to this week. One driver attempted to qualify for the
1949 Indy 500 in a car that was 35 years old. What was the
car?
For the Automania FREE beer this week, be the first correct
answer to email [email protected]
Good luck!
Car of the year – here
and there
The Thailand Car of the Year awards were given
out during the motor show, and it seemed a case of every
player wins a prize. Toyota got five gongs, Mazda,
Mercedes-Benz and Chevrolet three each and a couple for
Mitsubishi, Volvo, BMW, Nissan and Ford and just one for
Honda. With so many “winners” I believe it gets confusing,
and some of the classes take a bit of imagination to believe
they are ‘different’. For example, there was the 2WD pick-up
under 3,200 cc, the Raised 2WD pickup under 2,500 cc, the
4WD pickup under 3,200 cc, the 2WD pickup under 2,500 cc and
the 4WD pickup under 2,500 cc. See what I mean? However, of
interest was the fact that diesels featured strongly, with
the BMW 520d, the Volvo XC 90 D5 and the Ford Focus 2.0 TDCi
winning their respective classes.
WCOTY
winner Mazda2
The World Car of the Year awards were also given out at the
end of March. These awards began in 2005 when the Audi A6
triumphed, followed by the BMW 3-Series in 2006 and the
Lexus LS460 last year. This year the top three contenders
for 2008 World Car of the Year title were the Ford Mondeo,
the Mercedes-Benz C-Class and the Mazda2, which became the
first compact car to win the award. Remarkably, the Audi R8
took out two of the main gongs, Car Design of the Year and
Performance Car of the Year, but didn’t make the main event.
The 2008 World Green Car of the Year was the BMW 118d
The Mazda2 was chosen from an initial entry list of 39
entries nominated by 47 World Car jurors from 24 countries
throughout the world appointed on the basis of his or her
expertise, experience, credibility, and influence.
WCOTY jurors observed that, “This fresh Mazda compact is
completely new; particularly on the outside. The two-door
sportier look was recently unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show
and reviews around the world have been primarily one big
‘thumbs up’. Consumers will be drawn to the new Mazda
compact because of its very appealing looks and high levels
of standard equipment for the price.”
“The all-new Mazda2 is exceeding our highest expectations,
demonstrating it can compete and win against the best
compact cars in any market in the world and is earning
glowing praise at home and globally, having also won a
number Car of the Year awards around the globe, including
Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Greece, New Zealand, and the RJC
Car of the Year award in Japan,” said Dan Morris, Mazda’s
senior managing executive officer in charge of Marketing,
Sales and Customer Service. “This is wonderful recognition
which Mazda2 car owners and Mazda employees alike can
celebrate worldwide.”
Unfortunately, we will not be getting the two door hatch, as
the new assembly line out at the AAT plant is for the five
door variant. It is still a car worth waiting for. I know I
am, though the Ford Fiesta on the same platform must also be
looked at. Scheduled date for release of the Mazda2 is end
of 2009, and the Ford Fiesta beginning of 2010.
Another electrifying
concept
Another electrifying concept has been released in
America, following on from the Chevrolet Volt. This time it
is the Dodge Zeo, which is even better looking than the
Chevrolet.
Dodge Zeo
The Dodge Zeo concept is an all-American
non-polluting muscle car. The Zeo produces 268 horsepower
for a 0-100 kph time just under 6 seconds, and its
lithium-based battery pack gets a range of up to 400 km.
Despite the influx of hybrids, it looks as if the big car
makers are catching on to battery-electric cars as the way
of the future.
Oil companies have a vested interest in pushing hydrogen
fuel cells as the next generation auto fuel, due to the fact
that hydrogen, like petrol, requires a distribution and
dealership network that the oil companies are excellently
positioned to provide. However, electric battery cars do not
need a fuel reticulation system, as you have the electricity
already in your own home.
Volvo
C30 plug-in
As development continues, it is becoming clear that plug-in
battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) are far more efficient
energy users than fuel cell cars - and that the latest
generations of lithium battery technology are delivering
excellent range, greatly improved safety and even very quick
charging times - breaking down the last few remaining
barriers to their commercialization. Of course, the cost
barrier is still a problem, with cutting-edge batteries
still doubling the price of even the most high-end car
designs, but once they are being produced in any serious
numbers, that will change.
Chrysler’s Dodge Zeo concept uses a single electric engine
to power the rear wheels, and it’s built to satisfy the
demanding sports car lover as much as the greenie
tree-hugger.
This use of one engine bucks the current trend of two or
four in-wheel electric motors, such as the plug-in C30 Volvo
at the Bangkok International Motor Show, but single engine
propulsion has been the norm for many decades.
Unfortunately, the Zeo is unlikely to go into production in
its current form; while the nice curved windscreen/sunroof
looks fantastic on the prototype, it’s far from a practical
design for a road car. The final look of the concept is
quite stunning – the front guards look a little Mazda RX8,
but the rear view is fabulous.
With Chrysler having gone through a fairly rough period,
after Mercedes-Benz cut the apron strings, and now owned by
a venture capital company, I hope that cars like the Dodge
Zeo can be brought to the marketplace quickly. It was one of
the stars of the Detroit Auto Show, and the market is more
than ready for electric commuters, and a muscle car would
fill a huge marketplace gap.
