Paris show, the chemistry of uncertainty
Panic is probably too strong a word for the atmosphere at the Mondiale de l’Automobile in Paris this year, but to say that it was pervaded by fear and uncertainty on the part of industry [...]
CCS Detroit, Ford T vestita di futuro
Cento anni fa, il 27 settembre 1908, la prima Ford Model T usciva dallo stabilimento di Piquette, nei pressi di Detroit, aprendo la strada alla produzione in serie grazie alla neonata tecnica della catena di [...]
Detroit 2008
Yes, there were more than fifty new products on display at the 2008 North American International Auto show, but that does not mean it was a benchmark show; it was in fact perhaps the least [...]
Detroit 2009, panic and hope
It may be extreme to say that the overall mood at the Detroit show — the North American International Auto Show, to give it the full pretentious name — was sheer panic, but that is [...]
Frankfurt, teutonic gigantism and Fiat fun
Visiting the great IAA motor show at Frankfurt is hard work. The Frankfurt Messe fairgrounds site is too big, individual halls are too big, German cars themselves are often overblown, oversized, and over-powered. The whole [...]
I limiti della nostalgia
Come la maggior parte delle persone che conoscevano la nuova Cinquecento quando era un elemento corrente di produzione e le strade di Torino ne erano piene, ero affascinato dalla piccola vettura. Il mio giudizio e [...]
L’Europa è ancora leader
A Ginevra sono stati presentati circa sessanta nuovi modelli, la maggior parte dei quali abilmente disegnati in uno stile generico, in modo che possano adattarsi al maggior numero di mercati. Ciò era prevedibile, vista la [...]
Soul-less beauties
Robert Cumberford returns to the last Detroit motor show to analyse more specifically three concept cars taken to North America by the Toyota Group, the Acura Advanced sports car, the Toyota DT-HS and the Lexus [...]
Detroit responds
In the wake of the Detroit auto show, Robert Cumberford takes the opportunity to paint a picture of the state of the United States car industry. A picture which, in view of the crisis in [...]
Detailing the details
Recently I had the chance to examine and drive the latest Lexus, the top-of-range LS 460, in both standard and long wheelbase version. Of the many carefully wrought details that impressed me were the beautifully [...]