The Alpine A110 Tackling a Bad Orb

60 years after the Alpine A110 was introduced to the world, the current iteration continues a proud tradition. A drive in the modern-day A110 has long since been high up on my wish list, and it just so happened that an Alpine Blue specimen of the recently facelifted model range was made available for a day of exploration near Frankfurt. Continue reading “The Alpine A110 Tackling a Bad Orb”

DB, the 11th of its Name. A Bit of Aston Martin Heraldry

The picturesque Eifel area in western Germany is well worth a visit. Not only because there are lots of lovely views and interesting old villages, but also because it is home to one of the world’s most famous race tracks, namely the Nürburgring, and especially its old Nordschleife section. And, as I picked up an elegant, dark blue Aston Martin DB11 V8 at the AMR performance centre right next to the ‘Ring, I thought to myself that it would have been nice to take it for a few laps. Didn’t happen, though. Continue reading “DB, the 11th of its Name. A Bit of Aston Martin Heraldry”

The New Porsche 911 (and some) Rocks

The 8th generation of the Porsche 911 has been let loose on the streets, and I thought it would be good fun to give it a go, especially with the recent experience from the 911 Carrera T fresh in mind. Porsche themselves call the new 911 a “Timeless Machine“, and seeing how they have worked on perfecting the somewhat unexpected concept of a rear-engined sports car for more than 50 years, that’s in fact not such a silly expression. The design and silhouette of the 911 are long since household elements of the high performance sections of car history. Continue reading “The New Porsche 911 (and some) Rocks”

Enjoying MR’s Lamborghini Terzo Millennio Scale Model

I remember it vividly; it was a sparkling red Lamborghini Countach scale model and I was ten years old, and all I wanted in this world at that very moment was that very model car. This is my earliest memory of what has become a rather pronounced interest for cars, and a good scale model car still gives me lots of enjoyment. Thus, I was thrilled to find the new 1:18 Lamborghini Terzo Millennio finished on my last visit to MR Collection Models. Since the Terzo Millennio was never meant for production and doesn’t have an interior, this scale model offers a unique insight into Lamborghini’s design ideas. Continue reading “Enjoying MR’s Lamborghini Terzo Millennio Scale Model”

A Bit of Local Touristing in the Porsche 911 Carrera T

The bright red 911 Carrera T started without hesitation, and I rolled out of the Stavanger dealership and into an overcast February morning. The ease of driving this car was immediately apparent, and the thought of this 911 as a daily driver soon followed. Porsche launched the Carrera T as a “less is more” option in the spirit of the 1968 911T, and it has received warm words from many a journalist. In Porsche terms, T stands for Touring, so I thought it would be nice to do some local touring and touristing. Continue reading “A Bit of Local Touristing in the Porsche 911 Carrera T”

The Fabulous World of Marcello Gandini at the Museo Nazionale dell’Automobile in Turin

Marcello Gandini, who celebrated his 80th birthday last fall, has made one of the most significant impacts on car design during his more than 60 years long quest for the best design, be it for extreme super cars or for practical city cars. Oh, and he has drawn helicopters, trucks, sake glasses and a villa too, so it would be fair to say that he thinks outside the box. Continue reading “The Fabulous World of Marcello Gandini at the Museo Nazionale dell’Automobile in Turin”

Aston Martin Vantage – Sports Car With a View

In the series of enticing cars, Aston Martin last year reached the facelift of the Vantage, and there was no shortage of curves or sportiness. However, did they go one too far on that iconic grille shape? Go big or go home, the Americans say, but could this work in the English tradition? The answer is to be found, as so many times before, in the right half of the brain of the beholder. I was genuinely looking forward to trying out the new Vantage, although I wasn’t convinced that the design was my cup of tea, as I arrived in Geneva to borrow the keys to a deep red specimen for a week. Continue reading “Aston Martin Vantage – Sports Car With a View”

When You Prefer Bringing the Living Room Along – Driving the Bentley Bentayga W12

In one of the many interesting departments in Motorworld Stuttgart, I found it – finished in a powerful Dragon Red II and with 22 inch black rims. There is no doubt that the Bentley Bentayga is a solid chunk of car, with just over five meters from snout to hedge and 222 cm in width. The three meter wheelbase is only one Louis Vuitton bag shorter than the entire length of the Fiat Panda I parked next to later on the journey. Continue reading “When You Prefer Bringing the Living Room Along – Driving the Bentley Bentayga W12”

ATS, You Say?

Lago Maggiore, sun and a light breeze. The Italian spring offers 17 most welcome degrees. I find myself behind the wheel of the ATS GT – the only one of its kind – being the first motoring writer driving it. Just an hour earlier I was warmly welcomed by Daniele Maritan, the man behind the second act in the history of ATS. Continue reading “ATS, You Say?”

Who’s Up For Some Danish? Zenvo, That Is

A bleak February afternoon was to become very colourful as I parked outside the Zenvo factory in Præstø, an hour’s drive south of Copenhagen. Throughout Zenvo’s eleven years, they have presented cars in a wide variety of colours, ranging from modest brown to striking turquoise, and their design language has always been recognizable as an original look. From the first ST1 model, Zenvo have moved on to the TS1, the race-spec TSR, and now with the the Geneva launch of the TSR-S, the model range counts three cars. But let’s first return to February, where PR man Peter Van Rooy welcomed me into his office for a quick chat. Continue reading “Who’s Up For Some Danish? Zenvo, That Is”