Instead of a german GTI...?

The topic on hot hatches has been running hot (no pun intended) for the whole year so far. And it's going to get even hotter with a new hot hatch from France.

VW made the initials GTI famous with the Golf GTI in 1976. And eight years later the GTI badge got even more fame with the arrival of the Peugeot 205 GTi. Every car enthusiast with a budget had to have a go in a GTI because the biword for it was FUN. And now there are two new GTI's on the market. The VW Golf GTI mark VII and the Peugeot 208 GTi.

I'm more excited about the new 208 GTi because we know there's going to be a new GTI with a new Golf but it's always exciting when Peugeot makes a GTi even more so when the last one - the 207 - didn't have a GTi version. And since the one before that - the 206 GTi - didn't really stand up to the original 205 GTi. So what about the new one then? Firstly i have to say it looks great and kind of quirky. Which is just the right look for a hot french car. As for the engine. It has a 1.6 litre turbocharged engine developing 200 hp, which is just the right amount. It sure has gone a long way from the original 1.6 litre 105 hp naturally aspirated engine of the 205 GTi.

I sure hope this car has what it takes to take on the new hot VW Polo and it's other rivals, because I think it has the charm of an underdog.

I give you the Peugeot 208 GTi

Peugeot 208 GTi rear view

It looks like you're going to hit your left knee on the bottom of the steering wheel
every time you go for a gear change. I hope that's the case.

The GTi badge placed where it was on the original 205 GTi. Nice touch.

And the newest german GTI just for formalities

It's all pointless

Let us stick to the same theme as the previous post, which is ranting about pointless cars. So I give you the all new uninteresting BMW 3-series Gran Turismo or GT, which was revealed at the Geneva Motor Show earlier this month.

You might recognize that style of coupé/saloon design from the clumpy BMW 5-series GT. And let’s make something immediately clear, that design doesn't work with the 3-series either. BMW obviously just wanted to make a liftback version of the 3-series and indeed the 5-series and then call it something sporty like GT. Or then BMW just forgot about how to do a liftback version of a car. I don’t what the reason is for BMW making it, but it just isn't necessary. 

When the 5-series came out a couple of years ago they were everywhere. But now there just isn't as much of them on the road as when it first came to the show rooms. I suspect the same will happen to this car as well. A person who was going to buy an ordinary 3-series buys this instead and thinks it makes him special and people will finally be interested in him. But a year or so passes and he finally realises what a huge mistake he has made and buys an Audi A4 instead. And get this; the 3 GT actually has got a bigger boot than the 3-series estate by 25 litres. This then renders the 3-series Touring, pointless.

That backside looks far from delicious

And yes, it's a liftback

And here is the 5-series GT for observing the similarities

Why people, why?!

Today I saw a commercial on TV that really sparked anger within me. It was the commercial for the all new Renault Clio Sport Tourer.  And don’t be fooled by the word sport, it’s actually the estate version of the brand new Clio. It sparked fury because I don’t see the point of that car and still Renault is going to sell thousands of them hence it has no rivals except for the Seat Ibiza ST which also falls into the category of pointless cars. The problem lies in the people who buy them as well. Who thinks that it’s a great idea to put a considerable sum of money on a car that does the job of a normal estate but worse?  If all you want is a compact car that has a big boot get a Citroën C3 Picasso or an Opel Meriva for all I care. The Clio estate (I’m not saying Sport Tourer) has 430 litres luggage place, that’s 130 litres more than the hatchback Clio. And let’s be honest. The only reason you buy the estate Clio instead of the hatchback is for that lump of extra empty space hanging over the back wheels. Since there are countless cars that are cheaper, more practical and more reliable than the estate Clio it’s absolutely impossible to comprehend a person who buys one.

The second hand car market is full of cheap, practical and reliable cars that would do the job of a car so much better than the estate Clio. The only reason to buy one is that you haven’t tried anything else. And if you must have a Renault that’s an estate why not get the Megane Sport Tourer which is all the things the Clio estate isn't, except being a Renault of course.

Not hating the car, hating the concept

It does look okay though

And the cars I recommend instead of the Renault Clio estate.

The sensible Opel Meriva

 The funky Citroën C3 Picasso

 Geneva Motor Show goodness

Now that we have dealt with the awe inspiring supercars of the Geneva Motor Show, let's start talking about the luxurious, sporty and even affordable cars from Geneva.


Let's start off with the new and hopefully improved Chevrolet Corvette Stingray or the C7 if you prefer. And yes, the Stingray name is back. In Geneva Chevy showed the convertible version of it and I have to say it looks good and possibly even better for a middle-aged man. The coupé version was revealed at the Detroit Motor Show a few months ago and it was an instant hit. Now that the roof has disappeared in the boot hasn't made it less desirable. The only issue I have with it so far is that I think it resembles a bit too much a Ferrari which is no surprise since Chevrolet has a joint venture with Fiat, who happens to own a little company called Ferrari. 

Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Convertible

Chevrolet Corvette Stingray coupé

No metal roof origami here

To cover for the luxurious part of the motor show in Geneva Rolls Royce showed up with its new Wraith. It's basically a Ghost underneath but with a coupé body on top. It also has the same 6.6 litre twin turbo V12 BMW engine as the Ghost but obviously fiddled with to give out 624 horsepower. It's a huge coupé with a massive engine which indicates that the Wraith is more built for the driver than the other modern Rolls Royce's so far. But don't by any means mistake this for a posh Bentley Continental GT.

Rolls Royce Wraith

Yes the door opens backwards

The much anticipated production ready Alfa Romeo 4C also made its debut in Geneva. It's a new small sports car from a manufacturer that should know what they're doing. The numbers at least sound promising. It has a turbocharged 1.8 litre engine putting out a respectable 240 hp. And all that goes to the back wheels. It's light too, Alfa claim it weighs less than 1000 kg which is impressive these days. So the new 4C touches all the right sports car buttons and it looks great. Is it a possible Audi TT beater?

Alfa Romeo 4C

The women were all over it, that's good

Stylish interior but hopefully not cramped

Holy supercars

Geneva Motor Show has been the topic of the week for any car enthusiast in the world. And what a supercar fest it has been.
A new Ferrari, McLaren, Lamborghini, and many many more exciting and possibly important cars have been revealed in the Geneva Motor Show. But first the supercars.

Ferrari LaFerrari or the Ferrari F70 or if you want, the new Enzo. It is as exclusive as the Enzo but more powerful and high tech. It has a 6.3 litre V12 developing an astounding 790 horsepower and to add to that it also has a 160 hp electric motor to help the LaFerrari go from 0-100 kph in under three seconds. I personally see no point in putting that electric motor in there, but at least it lowers the CO2-emissions and the fuel consumption. Which is very important in some cars.

Ferrari LaFerrari

McLaren showed us the P1. It's another technological masterpiece from the british manufacturer. As the new Ferrari the P1 also has a powerful electric motor to help the 3.8 litre twin turbo V8 in the power departement. They combined deliver a very competitive 903 horsepower. The P1 also has KERS and DRS (i expect you to now what they are) as in Formula1. Everything about this car is F1 that and F1 this.

Production ready McLaren P1 in Geneva

The almost production ready P1 at the Paris Motor Show

As for the new Lamborghini Venenon, it's an other very expensive very exclusive Lamborghini as the Aventador J. They have made three Venenons for three rich people and one as a concept and that's it. It's a mad Aventador with a lot of carbonfibre addons. The engine is from the Aventador but tweeked to deliver around 740 horsepower.Or actually I could say the output is one million horsepower and you would still believe me, right?

Lamborghini Veneno

Lamborghini Aventador pictures

Quite possibly my favorite lambo. Why? Well, have you seen it? Oh my god.
And did you hear? They are making a roadster version. Can't wait for that one, it will be epic.
690bhp
0-60mph: 2.9 s
Top Speed: 219 mph (349 kmh)

Look at those doors!

Lamborghini Aventador  LP700-4