Mad About Cars

Fears that the British Motor Show will be axed due to the current economic climate have become apparent today as we continue on the slippy slope of rapid deterioration in the British Motor Industry. ..

Never before has this been a threat to the Motor Show but since its recent decline, it looks like the show might never return! Only if the economy picks up will it consider a re-launch…

But it’s not just us!

In Tokyo, they are also cancelling the show, whist in Detroit this 09′, Nissan, Land-Rover, Porsche and Ferrari were all absent!

It’s a shame we say, to see such a world-wide exhibition effected in this way. In recent years it’s been an impulsive magnet of public interest, but with manufacturers and world debuts dwindling, motor-shows across the globe especially ‘British’, due to the lack of home-grown UK manufacturers means there is nothing left to exhibit!

Our days are numbered!….

This is how the next generation C-Max will look! Yes its the Losis Max! The new concept car that will give us, especially ‘familys’ an idea of whats to come, if you live in a C-Max or a Focus, this is the future!!!….

As it makes its debut at the Geneva Motor Show, the model shows off a new front with a six-bar lower grille and long stretched back headlights. It has a split tail-gate much like the Skoda Superb, and a full length glass roof with spoiler! Other ailments include sliding rear doors, no B-pillars! and floating seats!

Well we sure want to see them!!!

The concept car, being smaller than the current C-Max, is purposed just to give a glance at what is in production. In actual fact, the full 5 seat specification will be available similar to the sporty concept version and for the first time ever – will be available in a seven seater trim too! ooohhhh!!!!

Herbie!!! The anthropomorphic Volkswagen Beetle! The main star for many years of childrens Disney motion pictures, starting from 1969. In the franchise, Herbie, the car has a mind of its own and is capable of driving itself, and is a majorly serious contender in any auto racing competition!

It’s famous racing stripes, Red, White and Blue glow from front to back bumper sporting its famous number ‘53′ on the hood, doors and engine lid…. the car actually wheelies!!!!

The Story……

Before being passed to Jim Douglas, Herbie was bought by a rich woman named Mrs Van Luit. It was for her maid, but following alot of problems the maid had, Herbie was returned the following day.

In ‘Herbie Rides Again,’ Jim goes to Europe and Tennessee goes to Tibet because his philosophy teacher gets sick so Herbie is placed in the care of Mrs Steinmetz, Tennessee’s aunt.

In ‘Herbie Goes To Monte Carlo’, Jim returns from Europe and puts Herbie in the fictional Trans-France Race, from Paris to Monte Carlo, Herbie falls in love with a Lancia Scorpion named Giselle.

In ‘Herbie Goes Bananas’, Herbie is passed to Jim’s nephew, Pete Stancheck, in Mexico. Herbie befriends an orphan named Paco, and together, they stop a gang of con artists from stealing ancient Inca gold.

Paco gives Herbie the nickname “Ocho”, the Spanish word for number 8, purportedly because the digits 5 and 3 in Herbie’s racing number, as 5 and 3 were added together (5+3=8). At the end of the film Paco says, “Five and three are eight, anyone knows that.”

Herbie then passed from owner to owner until he was bought by Maggie Payton in ‘Herbie Fully Loaded’.

Films

• The Love Bug – (1969)
• Herbie Rides Again – (1974)
• Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo – (1977)
• Herbie Goes Bananas – (1980)
• The Love Bug – (1997) made-for-TV movie
• Herbie; Fully Loaded – (2005)

Television series

• “Herbie the Matchmaker” — original air date: 17 March 1982 (also known as “The Love Bug”)
• “Herbie to the Rescue” — original air date: 24 March 1982
• “My House Is Your House” — original air date: 31 March 1982
• “Herbie, the Best Man” — original air date: 7 April 1982
• “Calling Doctor Herbie” — original air date: 14 April 1982

The success of the hit BBC drama/sitcom ‘Gavin and Stacey’ has seen the Citroen SaxoVTR play a starring role as the car of main character Gavin Shipman (Mathew Horne), and once again come back into the limelight. A popular sight on Britain’s roads the car’s cheap insurance and running costs have made it popular with young drivers since its launch, and it has gained something of a ‘boy racer’ reputation, a little unfortunate given the car’s impressive performance.

The Saxo VTR was first launched in late 1996, replacing the Citroen AX GT, which had been a modest seller. The VTR’s fresh, sporty looks, low insurance group and impressive performance (98bhp as standard) soon made it a hit, with young drivers taking advantage of the car’s low purchase price and running costs.

A facelifted version of the original VTR appeared in 1999, and in the following year the facelifted ‘Series 2’ version of the car was launched, featuring a revised frontal design and minor alterations to the engine.

The car continued until 2003, when it was succeeded by the Citroen C2 VTR.
Today, Saxo VTR models are a common sight on the roads, and with even the latest models now five years old, prices have tumbled with even the tidiest, most recent cars selling for little more than £3,000. With plenty of abused ‘boy racer’ cars about it is generally better to look for a tidy, well-maintained standard car than one that has seen extensive

Fifth Gear is one of Channel 5’s most popular programmes, having been broadcast since 2002. The show is an indirect successor to BBC’s Top Gear programme, whilst Top Gear was revamped and is more of an entertainment-style programme, Fifth Gear remains more of a factual, magazine-style show (although it does include some entertainment sections)

Many of the Fifth Gear presenters joined the show from the ‘old’ Top Gear, including Tiff Neddell (who is the show’s de facto main presenter), Quentin Wilson and Vicky Butler-Henderson, and for many years the show was also written and edited by former Top Gear editor Jon Bentley.

The show’s format is very similar to the ‘old’ Top Gear show; featuring magazine style features on new cars, road tests and articles about road safety. Notably, the show has staged road accidents under controlled conditions (with cars powered by remote control); to highlight how cars stand up to crashes.

Perhaps due to the show’s close resemblance to the ‘old’ Top Gear (prior to Top Gear’s extensive revamp), the two shows enjoy a small rivalry as the two major motoring shows on UK television. Whilst the Top Gear presenters dismiss Fifth Gear as a pale imitation, fans of Fifth Gear claim the show is a more creditable motoring show, arguing that Top Gear is now more of a light entertainment show.

Whilst Fifth Gear is not as popular with the general public as Top Gear, the show has nonetheless gained a large following and continues to be popular.