Wednesday, January 30, 2008

Aston Martin V8 Zagato Vantage

A serious lack of discretion on Aston's part


Featured this week at Coys of Kensington - London's renowned and venerable automotive auction house - is the 1987 Aston Martin V8 Zagato Vantage.

I must say that this is one for the Aston Martin faithful. I am indeed surprised that this GT is not listed with the Rolls-Royce Camargue in Richard Porter's Crap Cars; see Amazon's link below ARCHIVES.

Astonishingly, Aston Martin aficionados paid as much as £450,000 (near 1980s] $1,000,000) to drive one of these relics of poor 80s style home.

While certainly fleet now and among the quickest then, the 0-60mph of less than six seconds does not best performance numbers of its 1980s competition from Lotus or Porsche.

Considering the price and the style, which reminds me of some 1980s Japanese sports thing (Mazda, Nissan, Toyota) again I have to express shock that anyone bought the car.

And are those hub caps?

Coys, comme d'habitude, has not listed the car's price. It ought to be a buy one Bentley, get one V8 Zagato Vantage for free.

Tap the link to learn more: Coys of Kensington

BMW's New 3-Series Coupé


I may have spoken too soon. I admit that I like this latest two door offering from BMW Chief Designer Chris Bangle's studios.

Fear not.

I haven't adjusted my opinions on Mr. Bangle's overall work. I still think it was a serious mistake for BMW to give that misguided individual the authority to cut up the whole of Munich's lineup.


That said, Mr. Bangle's team has wisely chosen to elongate what was traditionally a stubby car. Now, do not misunderstand me. I adore all BMW 3-series coupés (with the notable exception of the clumsy looking early 80s body style). Their cropped and purposefully compact stances always charm and delight.


The new change is just as pleasant. And as an added bonus the new car's lines are actually seem relatively congruent. There's splendid tension that keeps pressure and edge to the body's sheet metal from stem all the way to stern.

The design team that created the lovely predecessor two-door let go of the tension in the rear like an exhausted sailor losing the line of thespinnakerr in a heated race. The last car's boot was thus blandlyreminiscentt of a Honda Civic.

Luckily, this new machine is nothing but edge.

It must be part of some wonderful new scheme to transform BMW's coupé product segment into cars that look like serious sportscars (think Z4 hardtop) something that no contemporary BMW has ever really managed to do - though some might argue the rare Z8, 8-Series, and other mythical Bavarian masterpieces that show themselves as often as Big Foot.

Tap the link to take an official peak at the new driving machine from the car company that has a tendency to make the ultimate: BMW USA

Design Analysis: There's Change Afoot For The SL


The current body SL's days are likely to be numbered. It's likely that some time next year there will be talk of a replacement - or- at very least a significant refit.

The R230 SL has graced our roadways since 2001. Five years on, the roadster's design is the freshest and best of Mercedes-Benz's lineup.

However, the subtle changes in the lines surrounding the C-Class styled, connected-oval headlamps suggest that a triangular illuminating replacement akin to the current SLK is in the works.



I sincerely hope that the DaimlerChrysler design teams currently at work on this project refrain from copying too closely the SL's lesser sibling. The latter drop-top is rather garrish and the headlamps only add to the Japanese visual nature of the automobile's design.

What do I mean by Japanese exactly?

It can be defined by the lack of definition. There is no corner to the fender, but rather a meandering, oversized headlamp lense that seems to run up 1/3 the length of the hood.

Think Lexus ES350 and you'll get the picture.




Tap the link for more information on the current Mercedes-Benz SL: MBUSA

Russo-Baltique Impression


The imperial Russo-Baltique


Thank you "ShowGoer33" for sending Automobiles de Luxe this tip.

According to a recent press release in Global Auto Index, a long lost luxury marque is born again in the Russian Federation.

"On the eve of its 100th Anniversary, the Russian antique brand - the supplier of His Highness the Emperor's Court - is returning to the market of luxury and high-powered cars with this model."

Russo-Baltique's new grand tourer, known (dubiously) as the "Impression" is set for worldwide sale this year. I have a feeling that the company's customers are likely to consist mostly of Russia's current billionaire oligarchs. Afterall, it would take a Tsar's mint to buy one - the two door luxury car is being sold for 50,000,000 rubles ($1,800,000).

The Impression, which seems to draw inspiration from the 1930s Bugatti Atlantique, is, with its 555 bhp, bi-turbo V12, aiming squarely at the likes of the Veyron and the Continental GT.

The formidable Atlantique


Chances are the customer who would buy the Impression wouldn't be forced to make a choice between the three per se, but would just take the Impression as an addition to a collection of fine motorcars.

That said, there is a significant price gulf between the Impression and the hugely popular Bentley and the twice-as-powerful Bugatti. Plus, there is nothing that is particularly original to the company or the car's design save for the fact that it is a joint Russo-German venture.

Still, with plans to produce only 15 Impressions, I think that each and every Russo-Baltique will be able to make one

BMW Aims High

BMW's only antique classic?

BMW was a little out of its league this past weekend.

The Concorso D'Eleganza Villa d'Este held in Bella Italia was sponsored by the Bavarian automaker. And to be sure, few antique Bimmers (or contemporary models for that matter) win any category in vintage shows.

Last year the marque did manage one victory at the Concorso - a 1957 BMW 507 won the Tropheo del Presidente della FIVA.

What other BMW could have?

So, who were this year's winners? The usual suspects: Bugatti, Ferrari, Isotta Fraschini, Rolls-Royce, etc.

BMW is typically outgunned at the Concorso

BMW started making cars relatively late in the game (1929). Compared to Mercedes-Benz, the Munich manufacturer is as much an upstart in this category of cars as Lexus was to the contemporary luxury segment in 1990.

So in effect, BMW is pulling a Japanese move by insinuating that their cars are both classic and of long standing heritage by parking itself amongst ultra-distinguished company.

Now don't get me wrong. BMW is one of my all time favorites - they still produce some of the best cars ever (even if most of the contemporary lineup is sinfully ugly). And true, the company does now own Rolls-Royce.

But if BMW were to claim that it owns Rolls-Royce's history, it would be as ludicrous as Ford claiming that it had something to do with the E-Type's production.

It is with rare exception indeed that one can point to a classic BMW from the 50s or 60s and declare it to be as beautiful, collectible, or as desirable as an example from Jaguar or Mercedes-Benz of the same era.

I challenge you, dear reader, to disagree.

The Half Hearted Charge: Cadillac BLS

General Motors would really, truly like to see Cadillac succeed in Europe. Yet, much like Toyota's Lexus, the Europeans just aren't buying. Plus, GM seems inept in taking the appropriate measures to permit their luxury marque to succeed across the Pond.

Pourquoi?

It's not necessarily geo-politically sponsored anti-American sentiment (though that might be part of it, it's not the deciding factor) that stagnates sales. Besides, there are Humvees to be found in Paris and it's not ex-patriates who are behind the wheel.

Cadillac is operates under the stereotype there as it does here; the assumption being that Cadillac makes nothing but poorly built, overpriced, gas-guzzling, unwieldy land yachts. And if they were referring to Caddy's products five years ago, they'd be right.

But Cadillac has introduced a Europe only model, the new and compact BLS sedan to make amends. Sorry America, none for you, this is an EU special.

To support the point that this Cadillac speaks with a foreign accent, a gritty diesel powerplant is offered as an option. To add fuel to this strange fire, the BLS is yet another product of GM's platform and parts over-sharing. The small Caddy shares its platform with the Saab 9-3 and Opel Vectra.

I liken this to strange product as a cowboy from the old West trying to peddle whiskey in France by speaking English with a French accent.

This car is a most feeble effort on GM's part. They might as well have not even bothered. The interior is almost identical with that of the Saab 9-3's. The differences entre les deux are minor indeed. The most glaring examples being the Cadillac's external cupholders on the console and the ignition near the steering wheel.


So, if the Europeans are not driving Saab 9-3s off the lots at record pace, where is the incentive for them to take home the Saab 9-3 rebadged as a Cadillac? There really isn't any except - buy American?


Cadillac is still outgunned in Mercedes happy Europe. And until GM puts some real effort and money behind the European franchise, there really isn't any point.

Tap the link to learn more about the BLS: Cadillac-BLS

The Drive: BMW 740iL

The Ultimate Executive Sedan

Back in 1999, I had the privilege to spend four days or so with one black on black BMW 740iL. I recall my driving experience in what follows.

The sedan is jet black. Ink. Night. Gloss. It is mag-nificent.

The interior? A satiny glow comes from the immaculate black leather gloved cabin. The faint, marvelously tantalizing scent of BMW leather tickles my nostrils.

This is the consummate executive sedan. Not over done as was the 750iL. The 740iL was well priced ($69,000 give or take) and well powered (DOCH 4 valve, 4.4 Liter, 282bhp w/ 310 lb-ft torque @ 3900rpm).

The 7 sits heavily (4,325 lbs) on a long wheelbase (120.9 inches). From stem to stern, the big sedan is 201 inches long – just three inches behind the mammoth W140 S-Class of the same genre. It’s well proportioned, though. Nothing seems too fat, or too skinny, it all seems right and tight.

Actually, one exception. The rear door looks a little too stretched. This being a LWB car, the 7 blesses the rear occupants with 42 inches of leg stretching room. But the roofline, the rear window, and the actual door have the appearance of being just disproportionate with the rest of the car.

The SWB is the proportionate choice. Just don’t expect nearly the same rear legroom.

There’s blessed tension to the design. The flared front wheel well “haunches”, the nostrils of the grille, the A-pillars, the C-pillars, the line of the trunk, all sharply defined, yet subtly smoothed. Vodka w/ Kahlua.

Approach.

There are obvious hallmarks of the predecessor (E32) 7-Series. What stellar pedigree.

Pull up on the door handle. The door opens, heavily, but smoothly.

Full waft of BMW leather scent. I swear it’s an aphrodisiac.

Sit.

The 16 way adjustable seat, isn’t actually all that comfortable. It seems thinly padded. It isn’t bad, it’s just not great at being anything else more than supportive.

That driver oriented cabin. The dash w/ GPS at the ready seems to point at me. I could spend hours just figuring out that system. But do I care to? Absolutely not.

Start the engine. It’s that “twill” sounding start up that so BMW; light yet refined. The V-8 idles softly and distantly. It’s a smooth sounding machine.

Take the burled walnut shifter in hand and then shift to D.

Forward we go. No drama, just smooth progression.

The four spoke, leather wrapped steering wheel feels so right in hand. The hub mounted controls are perfectly placed. The all important register is there – feeding me tarmac information from four Michelin MXV4 Plus signals.

The rearview mirrors stick out like oversize ears. They cover a lot of sightline behind me.

Time to cruise down the road. The 5-Speed ZF Automatic shifts seamlessly. It’s all so easy. The speed-sensitive steering is, again, perfect.

Slow for a moment.

Those brakes are right-now grabby. This machine is meant for performance.

Look ahead. Straight ahead. All clear and all smiles.

Right foot stomps go pedal to floor and…

The rear tyres chirp as I surge forward with a hushed, but vicious V-8 snarl. The DSC traction control intrudes, not audibly, but cuts the wheelspin and flash an admonishing hazard triangle at me from the center of the gauge display.

From naught to 60, takes an easy 7 seconds. Respectable time, but a little too casual in retrospect and when compared to the current 750Li’s sub-six second record. Still, the torque is there and it pushes the 2+ ton car with effective force.

Grab the wheel and find a corner and the big 7 takes to it with amazing aplomb. For such a big car, this machine handles its weight so very, very well. Better in fact than any other big sedan that I’ve ever driven. That includes the predecessor 740i. The confidence given to the driver is nothing short of impressive. The capability to go fast and push is on tap.

Considering that this 740iL rides on standard bilsteins and not self-levelers, it is an impressive geometric accomplishment by the Bavarians.

On the open highway, a high speed cruiser, this 7 most assuredly is. Past the century mark, the car’s Autobahn breeding shows itself with poised control of body movement, stability in lane change maneuvers, and calm assurance that there’s no better high speed cruiser.

The 7’s maximum sprint is limited to a wimpy 128 mph. Unfettered, I’m quite sure that the big Bimmer would be good for maxing out in excess of 140.

Along the happy way, a fellow enthusiast in an 80s Ford Mustang gives me a grin and thumbs up as we both charge the horizon.

Time to depart the highway and return home. Once again, around town the 7 is docile and so very civilized. As an every day commuter, the car works very well. Again, the 7’s actions are all executed in such a precise manner that everything feels so effortless.

To be sure, this is never, ever the old Caddy style of effortless. Highly adept and controlled ease of use is the better way of putting it.

Park the car. Step out. Turn around and marvel. The 740iL is one of the smoothest operating cars on the road. It’s sharper and more competent in its actions than the S-Class. It’s a looker too. Those lines are perfection. Ah, BMW before Chris Bangle.

This car will remain one of my all time favorites.

Your Favorite 90s Luxury Sedan



From Top to Bottom: Audi A8, BMW 7-Series, Cadillac Seville, Jaguar Vanden Plas, Lexus LS400, Mercedes-Benz S-Class

Which of these motorcars was the best looking luxury sedan in the 1990s?

List from best (1) to worst (5) and please explain the reasoning behind each of your choices. I have a feeling that I know which will rank number one on most people's lists.

Driving Tip: Let There Be Light!


Pursued by kidnappers intent on killing him, Roger Thornhill (Cary Grant) intoxicated, attempts to flee his captors by speeding down the twisting, cliff-sided lanes of what is supposed to be the Hudson River in a Mercedes-Benz 300SC cabriolet.


Alfred Hitchcock's camera captures the blurred vision that one in Mr. Thornhill's hopelessly drunk state must have. Lanes blend, sharp corrections of the wheel must be made - and always at the last second, the character fights for consciousness. This scene from North by Northwest must be one of the most thrilling in cinematic history.

This past weekend, I couldn't help but feel a little bit empathetic for Mr. Thornhill. In the more than 600 miles that I've driven in the last few days, many of them were covered in the wee hours of the morning. I, too, found myself fighting for consciousness while driving at velocity.

This brings me to the point that sleep deprivation can be extremely dangerous and probably not unlike driving while intoxicated. The best thing to do if one is driving long miles in the middle of a long night is to find a secure location to stop and rest. If that isn't possible, I've found a new trick which may help.

Light.

I was surfing the internet - as I'm prone to do - and happened upon a jet lag study that was sponsored by British Airways. The test results of more than 1,000 participants showed that exposure to light during portions of the day send the appropriate signals to the brain's bio-clock to stay awake despite time zone differences telling one otherwise.

When one is exposed to dark, the converse is also true.

So, when one sits for long periods in a dark car, staring out upon a dark highway, it's all too easy to nod off.

I decided to put the study's results to the test and turned on the interior lighting. True, there was distracting glare, but I found myself much more alert than I had been while driving in the dark.

The difference was night and day (no pun intended).

Therefore, should you, dear reader, find yourself fighting off the Sandman who's been trying to make inopportune appointments, try turning on a light.

Tap the link to learn the specifics of the Edinburgh Sleep Centre's BA sponsored study: BBC

New York Auto Show: Audi

Audi's display was crammed into the southwest corner of the main level. Along with neighbor Jaguar, the showcase suffered from relatively poor traffic.

And as if that were not bad enough, the poor feng shui of their locale was such that the afternoon's rainshowers leaked through onto the Audis and show goers below.

And to add to that...

Their newest model, the latest TT which was to officially debut at the New York Auto Show, was hidden in the furthest corner on a rotating platform - blocked from immediate view by their other offerings.


Comme c'est bizarre.

I can report that the new TT was only slightly more engaging to witness in person than on computer screen. It has aggressive lines - far more so than the predecessor - which seem to try and make the statement that the TT is now in sportscar territory and no longer just a poser/dashing boulevardier.

I prefer the original.

As for the others. Having now sat in both the new A6 and the new A8, I can say decisively that the A8 has my vote. This would not have been the case in the predecessor model range of the late 90s/early 00s. That A6 won my approval.

Admittedly, in my haste to take down notes from the driver's seat, I marked the A8's headliner with my pen. Mia culpa. Some Scotch Guard should take that right out.

All in all, Audis display was there, but no show stopper.

New York Auto Show: Bentley

Premiere: Bentley Continental GTC

Bentley fared better in terms of overall interest and traffic than did parent company Audi. That said, unless you had an appointment to view one of the three penned in models on display, the Bentley stage was strictly off limits to the hoi polloi.

The breath-takingly gorgeous and new Bentley Continental GTC (drop-top) premiered at the New York Auto Show. Bentley has mastered quite a coup in establishing itself as a tour de force.


Sporting elegance from any angle

The latest rendition of the Continental is sure to find its way on the sunny lanes of California and Florida. They've taken all the sure and right lines of the Continental and made them blend sinuously into a cloth-top convertible. The sporty stance of the hard top is maintained, but the elegance of a drop-top is assured at the same time. It is quite the feat.

The folks at Bentley must have had the thoughts of Spring and drop-top cruising on the mind for their second and greatest display was the new Bentley Azure Convertible.

I had to revisit the car at least four times. It's that beautiful.

Here again, Bentley took the original and made it even better by keeping the classic lines but transitioning them gracefully to a more updated, contemporary look - take note Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz.

The result in the new Azure's case is that Bentley designers replaced some of the sinuous nature of the old car with more tautened lines on the new (there are also fewer lines, it should be noted). The result is both elegant and fresh.

The third car was the Phaeton-in-disguise Continental Flying Spur saloon. Needless to say it did not capture the interest of most who were too busy star-gazzing at the two convertibles.

As for their display; British racing green background and a little private sitting cubby for those invitees who wished to have the outside world gawk at them like goldfish in a bowl.

Indiscrete to say the least.

The fishbowl display

Furthermore, the Bentleys on display were set far back from the fence - no touching! Here Bentley could have taken a lesson from Maybach; also protected from the public, but fenced in closely such that a more discerning view could be had.

Still, Bentley's prime locale next to Ferrari and Maserati (with Porsche near by) assured the company's offerings much deserved attention. And of all the desirable motorcars at the show, the Bentleys were - with little exception - the finest.

New York Auto Show: BMW


The Z4

BMW has a large showcase at the New York Auto Show. Most of the Bavarian giant's offerings are accessible to the public - save - the premiering Z4 coupé.

Z4 partitioned

I am reminded of the time when I visited a BMW showroom in Vancouver not long after the Z3 roadster debuted in the Bond film Goldeneye.

The polite sales staff explained to me that eventhough I was with a client who was having his own 740i serviced, they could not permit me to sit in the locked roadster due to the fact that someone stole the gear shift knob earlier in the week.

Instead, I was directed to experience the unlocked 750iL (CDN $160K car v. CDN $45K car).

Go figure.

The new Z4 coupé, set in blue, is a visual treat eventhough it is clearly a product on Chris Bangle. The lines seem to work for the hardtop where they did not work for the roadster. This seems to be the inverse of what was true for the old Z3 - it worked as a drop-top only.


The car's lines work here

Other than the two-door, the usual suspects were all there - X3, X5, 5-Series, 6-Series, 750i, 760Li, etc., plus an F1 BMW racer.

Interestingly, BMW also had a previous generation 5-Series on display - as part of their Certified Pre-Owned presentation.


Not just new cars on display

T'was a good looking car that garnered as much of the public's interest as the current 5 managed.


Still looks good.

BMW's showcase was one of the most popular - likely due to the fact that people could touch, sit in, and feel the cars. I was particularly enamored with the 3-Series convertible, less so with the better appointed, but still garrish 6-Series drop top.


Mon favouri


The X5 had curiously beefy door handles - and beefy everything else for that matter. The X3 was well appointed for being a cheaper version of the X5.

No skimping on the details for the X3

On both SUVs (or is SAV to follow BMW sprechen), the panaroma glass rooves were nice details that are easy to appreciate - that Spring fever again.

All in all, my Bavarian experience at the New York Auto Show was satisfying. It is clear that eventhough most of BMW's styling has been compromised, their quality of craftsmanship and materials has not - which is nice to see and feel.

Thank You Prizes


As a thank you to this site's dedicated readers, I shall give away five, 1 1/2' x 3' Porsche Cayman S posters from the New York Auto Show. If I had my druthers, I'd give five of the real thing away.

Originally, I was going to do a puzzle and award the posters as prizes - but I shall be more direct with my thanks.

I can send them unsigned or signed by yours truly - and only true fans will ask for signed copies (just kidding).

For those interested, e-mail me at mullinerpark@yahoo.com with your postal address. You may count on me to be entirely discrete with your details and for anonymous bloggers, you need not include your real name, but please indicate your screen name.

If and when I've given away the last poster, I shall write so in comments.

Again, thank you.

New York Auto Show: Buick & Cadillac


Buick has come a great long way since the year 2003. Anything and everything the GM subsidiary made before then and after the 1950s was just pensioner-friendly garbage. The same was relatively true for Cadillac, though the 90s weren't bad per se, they just weren't good for America's premier luxury marque.

At the New York Auto Show, both brands shined with fresh product, laced with polished bright work, aimed squarely at the Japanese competition (Toyota's display was diagonally across from Cadillac's).

The GM floor, which encompassed an enormous amount of space on the main level North of the luxury marques but South of Ford enjoyed a healthy amount of foot traffic. The cars on offer at Buick and Caddy could take some credit for this interest.

That said, there were no lines to get into the Buick Lucerne or LaCrosse sedans. Frankly, I really couldn't tell what the major difference between the two cars was except for external cosmetic differences on the nose and tail sections.


They were both the plushest Buicks I had ever experienced, the interior's leather and plastics had a distinctly Lexus-like feel. I couldn't help but think that these cars were made to be ES350 competition.

In fact, they both felt like American ES350s, which is to say good, but not as good as the original. I wonder what they would be like to drive...


The theme at Cadillac was large vehicles with large horsepower. Cadillac made a big show of the new Escalade; a much cleaned up version of its old GMC based truck. I picked up a brochure and moved on.

What captured my interest was the STS-V. What a hot rod!



Cubist design, bulging hood, this car looks like an Autobahn stormer with an all-American big bloc V8 to power its way.

Inside, the bird's eye maple trim was a class coup for Cadillac which for years has managed to make anything look like the cheap.



Just thinking of the old Fleetwood Brougham's faux-wood paneling gives me shivers.

The wheels on this car are sharp and provide a delightfully curved exit to the squareness of the rest of the body. I like this sedan. It's the best offering that Caddy's made in years. I should arrange a test drive...


All in all a good showing for Buick and Cadillac. Aside from the STS-V, there was little there that I would contemplate driving home.

New York Auto Show Trends: Green v. Power


Which banque would you put your money in? The institution that sets a conservative and conservationist tone for an unnerving future of uncertainty? Or, the financial house that throws caution to the wind and invests in as many dot-com firms as possible?

I cannot help but feel that the production trends of many of the automakers at the New York Auto Show are more than slightly out of touch with the geo-political/economic reality in which we face and therefore are of the latter classification.

In fairness, there are actually three groups.

The 1928 flappers who take the to-hell-with-the-consequences-increase-the-horsepower attitude:
Audi, BMW, Cadillac, Chrysler, Dodge, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Maserati, Ferrari, Bentley, Maybach



The sit on the fencers who try to appeal to everyone by offering horsepower next to hybrids: Ford, GM (i.e. Saturn, GMC, etc.)

And the way of the future greens, focusing on energy efficient solutions: Toyota, Saab (though it's part of GM), Honda

Of course, the 1928 flappers cater mostly to the well to do, of whom most wouldn't care if gas prices were $5 per gallon (Heaven forefend). And both Ford and GM realize the precariousness of putting money and effort behind hot rods and SUVs, but can't seem to help themselves because they remain popular.

But, if Toyota and Honda were to get their way with advanced, energy saving technologies, then surely we'd all be driving around in remote controlled pods one day - right? Quite possibly. There were a few designs from Toyota that looked a little too anti-enthusiast-pod-of-the-future for my tastes.


But then again, Toyota's Lexus division is working hard trying to blend performance with energy saving technology to interesting effect. I shall opine more on this in the Lexus post.


It is fundamentally important to note that the function of the automobile, first and foremost, is as a time travel device to get us from A to B. If that role cannot be met due to dire circumstances (i.e., gas shortages) any car 12bhp or 1,000bhp is resigned to being ultimately useless. I applaud Lexus' efforts to meet both the demands of the enthusiasts and the green demands that the uncertain future of energy consumption and availability necessitates.

New York Auto Show: Chrysler & Dodge



Large and in charge is Dodge. The Dodge Challenger made its showing at the New York Auto Show- to much acclaim. There were queues to line up and have a company photo taken of you and your significant other posing in front of the red-blooded hot rod.


Beefy tyres, beefy profile that kicks back to the 1970s and the Dukes of Hazard. Strongly retro design, though interior appointments seem quite fresh - there's purple back lighting in the door inserts.


You can just smell the oil, burnt rubber, and brakes.

I would like to drive one. I hope they build it and soon.

Walk over to near-by Chrysler and yet another buzz is stirring the crowd - The Poor Man's Phantom - Chrysler Imperial. The car's mass truly lives up to its name. Much like the Phantom, the Imperial has much imagination behind it; replete with "suicide doors". Though Chrysler's designer have consistantly insisted that the car takes its cues from 1940s Chryslers, they have shyly admitted some connection with the Rolls.


Here again, nothing specifically new - the Rolls is already on the street - but I do hope that Chrysler builds the car anyway. The Imperial reminds me of a Japanese take on a Rolls-Royce (Toyota has built luxury tanks to resemble Silver Spurs in the past for the Japanese market).


Consider the Chrysler 300M; it may be a Bentley Arnage knock-off, but that doesn't mean that it's not an enjoyable car to look at or even drive (which I did recently - I shall provide a full report).


Chrysler and Dodge certainly produced more eye catchers at this show than did Germanic cousin Mercedes-Benz.