Essen Motor Show 2008 is a must see event for tuning fans, hobby tuners, engineers and trend setters from all over the world.

Despite the crisis, I could not observe any difference comparing to the former editions, as I noticed to L.A Motor Show. Even on the contrary! This edition seems even to be better organized and having a bigger attendance. A pleasant surprise on these tough times !

Everything is subject to tuning: from Mercedes to VW Golf, from Fiat Abarth Esseesse to Mitsubishi. It is astonishing how creative are the tuners. Brabus e.g. tuned an electric model from Tesla putting inside an imitation of the evacuation noises. Otherwise driving an electric car could be boring!

The tuning adds value and makes diferences comparing to the other cars. Car tuning is not cheap: the super chooper from the image above is a special product and costs 160 000 Euros.

If you hury up, you stil have the time to visit the EMS (Essen Motor Show) which is opened until 6th December.

To the Geneva Motor Show 2007 was presented the brand new Artega GT. This new producer keeps its promises and the Artega GT is going to come on the market very soon.

The Artega GT is very impressive sporty and has only two places, a serious concurent for Porsche Cayman, Audi TTs and BMW Z4!

This new born of the car industry looks good, and the producer says all the production for the next year is booked out. Really a good news on these days.

The length of the Artega GT is 4 meters, a little shorter than a VW Golf, and the width 1,88 meters, equal to a Mercedes S Klasse. The height is only 1,88 meters and the weight only 1100 kgs, due to the use of plastic body components.

The engine is a V6, 3,6 liters , equipped with the double clutch+gear from Volkswagen, delivering 220 kw/300 HP. The new Artega reaches 100 km/h within 5 seconds, and its maximum speed is 270 km/h.

There are no data about consumption and emissions. Keep in touch for the news to come.

The 2008 edition of Los Angeles Motor Show was not anymore opulent and glamorous. On the contrary, was a celebration on death bett for many exposants. Big difference to Paris Motor Show!

In many stands, as a spare measure, were missing the models and the discussion partners. It happened mostly to american Detroit 3 (GM, Ford, Chrysler).

The visitors weren’t so enthusiastic like in the years before. Something is changing in this branch, maybe the worst hit by the recession. This crisis will make many victims, believe me, it is obvious.

I could notice to this edition of the Los Angeles Motor Show some news:

-Nissan 370 Z, a star between the other exponates

-Mazda 3

-Ford Mustang facelift

-the new BMW 7 series

-the promising Mini E electric powered

-Toyota Lexus RX

-the new Ford Fusion, the most economic car in its class

-Infiniti cabrio

-many hybrid cars and SUVs

I will review all these models soon, and I hope to come with better news.

Ercole Spada, former BMW chefdesigner, is a legend of car designing. His son works also in the car industry and made interesting designs by Smart and Honda. They both founded the family entreprise Spadaconcept, which has some revoutionary ideas, obvious by the launching of the Spada Vetture Sport TS Codatronca.

First of all, we can observe all the cutting corners and edges of this body design. They are many, very different of what is in today in the car industry! Also to observe is the short tail ( Codatronca in italian) giving to the Spada vetture Sport TS Codatronca stability and maniability. Ercole Spada worked out something similar to the design of the Alfa Romeo BAT model.

The engine is very sportive and very strong, delivering 600 HP. Maximum speed is 340 km/h, and the price 320000 Euros.

There is a long time since we have waited. But we have waited for a good reason, and now our efforts have been payed. Finally, the new Porsche are coming! They are the new Porsche Roadster and the new Porsche Cayman S. They have the same platform, and the new Porsche Cayman S is a coupe derived from the Porsche Roadster.

The both new products from Porsche have a completeley new designed front and back side. The taillights are new designed and are based on LED technology.

The engines of the new Porsche Boxster and Porsche Cayman S are also completely new and more powerful than the predecessors. But also more economic! Let’s see the numbers: the new Porsche Boxster basis engine is a 2,9 l with 188 kw/255 HP; 8,9 l/100 km; 211 g CO2/km. The basic engine of the new Porsche Cayman S is a 195KW/ 265 HP.

The prices are not low, but usually for the luxury class: the new Porsche Boxster costs 46 000 Euros, and the new Porsche Cayman 49 900 Euros, while the Boxster S is 55 000 Euros and Cayman S 61 000 Euros.

Whether you agree or not, James Bond series were a huge succes. It was actually the alltime most succesfull movie, whether played by Roger Moore, Pierce Brosnan or Daniel Craig.

A very important side of the huge succes of these movies were represented by the cars droven by James Bond. With a few exceptions, the cars were made in England, being very sporty and very gadgety, with many hidden weapons. A dream for any car driver, I guess. Hard to say why all these cars were mainly english, maybe due to the tradition of craftmanship.

The first James Bond movie brought 40 years ago the England’s most succesful car: an Aston Martin!

It was a fantastic Aston Martin, and it was really a star in that movie. Even today, 40 years ago, it means a lot for every car lover or car fan.

The newest and coolest James Bond car is that one from Casino Royale 2006: also an Aston Martin, but a luxury V12 ( James Bond was not an environmentalist).

Between these two extremes, there were some intermediate phases : a V8 Aston Martin and a Lotus Esprit.

Beside these fabulous english cars, James Bond drove a few BMW and a Toyota. But not only! He did not drive only one car in a movie, and he had also total special cars ( sinking, flying etc.)

I will continue my review about James Bond cars. Keep in touch for the next series. And maybe we shall analyse too the Bond girls!

The crisis hits everywhere. The news are not the best, not even pink. They are black, and bed. Nevertheless, I heard also an optimisthic prognosis: the crisis will last one year long only. But how many victims will it make during this year? I hope you all will survive, we must do it at any price!

But shortly the news:

1. U.S. government tries to save the Detroit 3 (GM, Chrysler, Ford) with a bailout law. It will cost much, but the collapse of anyone of these big Detroit 3 will mean much more losses.

2. Mexico car sales in october gone down 14,3 % comparing to october 2007. It is the worst month for domestic sales since a decade.

3. GM’s european division Opel is in major difficulty and will be supported by the German government.

4. World sales in october went under 11 millions units, meaning the lowest level since march 1983 when sales were crushed by soaring oil prices. And it was 25 years ago.

In the compact class VW Golf has a serious competitor: the new Renault Megane. Which is actually Renault Megane III, I mean the third generation of Renault Megane.

The new Renault Megane will be available in two versions: with three, respectively 5 doors.

First on the market will come the five doors version, starting from 28 November at a starting price of 16 900 euro. The three doors version will appear in January 2009 at prices starting with 19800 euro. Both versions will have serial 6 airbags, ESP, servodirection, climatization, CD with MP3. Tha car is rounder and 9 cm longer.

The motorization for the new renault Megane is very wide: 3 gas engines and three diesel versions!

The gas versions are:

-1,6 l; 74 kw/100 HP

-1,6 l; 81 kw/110 HP

-1,8 l turbo with 132 kw/180 HP

The Diesel version:

- 1,5 l; 66 kw/90 HP

-1,9 l ; 96kw/130 HP

-2,0 l; 118 kw/160 HP

The most economic of these engines has a consumtion of 4,5 l/100 km and the CO2 emissions of 118 g/km. The most speedy Renault Megane reaches 230 km/h.

The numbers are convincing, wait and see the market succes.

Car manufacturing industry is in a deep structure crisis. The motives are well known: the banks don’t give easy credits anymore, lack of innovation, expensive oil etc.

The car industry is not the only one experiencing such problems. But for this industry to move forward, I have some solutions:

1. Diminishing prices to the half and redesigning all models.

2.Do not forget one basic thing, which any media and publicity newcomer is aware of: sex can sell anything! There are more sexy girls and carboobs needed in show rooms throughout the world, at the motor shows etc.

I reacted already in this direction, and I collected some carboobs able to sell better any car, from Ferrari to Smart. Any male will be delighted by these carboobs and will open generously his wallet for buying cars. Thus, he will not ask any embarassing question about environment protection, leasing conditions etc. A girl can do much more with her bottom than a man with his head.

Near such iresistible models and carboobs, any car would also become iresistible. The stocks will be quickly sold out, and an unprecedental economic growth will finally start!

Do you agree with my propositions? Which carboobs are your favorites? Which cars can you recognize in those pictures, near the carboobs?

Honda Civic was, and still is a succesful car, despite the deep crisis of the car industry.

When you reach a certain age, you might need a facelift ( ask the women if they agree with that). It is even the situation of Honda Civic.

And the japanese reacted promptly and efficiently: they brought to the markets the new Honda Civic, which is actually a facelift of the old Honda Civic.

As you can see in the photo, the changing refers to redesigning the plastic surfaces and tail lights. The models are further with three or five doors, and appeared a new engine:

1,4 l gas, 74 kw/100 HP, 5,9 l/100km, 140 g CO2/100km

Also brand new is the serial fitting of an wheel air checking system

The start price for the 5 doors models is 16790 euros.