4-Bangers Aus

Yeah, with the demise of EV Duracell cars, it wouldn’t take long for Mercedes to notice that their other pet Green project wasn’t too popular with their client base:

Mercedes-AMG is transitioning away from the four-cylinder plug-in hybrid powertrain and back towards the inline-six and V-8 powertrains more traditionally associated with the brand. That isn’t to say that AMG had a change of heart concerning the merits of the four-cylinder powertrain, but rather that the automaker is responding to customer criticisms. “Technically, the four-cylinder is one of the most advanced drivetrains available in a production car. It’s also right up there on performance. But despite this, it failed to resonate with our traditional customers. We’ve recognized that.” 

“Failed to resonate”, as in WTF do you idiots think you’re doing?”

Yeah, forgive us if Merc fans don’t care about the gee-whiz technology when it replaces the brilliant engines that have served Mercedes since the 1920s.  And the same driver skepticism that accompanied the stupid EV-only diktat  would apply no less to the plug-in hybrids too.

I couldn’t be bothered to look up the numbers, but I bet the technology R&D costs for both Green projects will have run to the billions of dollars:  all wasted.

And just add to that the cost of bringing nuclear power generators back on line after the most un-German-like panic following the Fukushima disaster, which was caused by a tsunami — last time I checked, the likelihood of the same affecting the German nukes was.. what? oh yes, zero — and which took place halfway around the world.

Yeah, that Green eco-thing is really working out well for the Krauts, isn’t it?

Conversation In A Car

I admit that I could listen to Jay Leno and James May talk about cars and such all day.  And that it takes place mostly in a Triumph TR6 makes it all the better.  (By the way, Jay’s take on the Ford Model T is wonderful.)

Should you want one properly restored, here are three options:  1972 / 1973 / 1974

I like the Racing Green one, but I’d happily drive any of them.

And from the comments, I think that “Our Man In Jay Leno’s Garage” is an inspired idea.  Make it happen, you guys.

Generation Divide

If ever you wanted to see how different generations operate, take a look at these two pictures of actors (Sean Connery in 1964, and Thomas Brodie-Sangster in 2024) both taken when they were 34 years old.

The 1964 man played James Bond, effortlessly.  The 2024 man couldn’t play Bond if he tried.

Nice Car, Once You Get It Started.

Harry Metcalf takes a Ferrari 296 out for a spin.  And once he has it started (see around the 7-minute mark), he loves it.  But… hybrid, battery, hassle, tiny gas tank, blah blah blah.

So he wouldn’t want to buy one.  And at close to a half-million dollars, one is entitled to be fussy about all the inconveniences.

No thanks.  Call me old-fashioned (and some people have), but when I get into a car, I want to start the damn thing (preferably with a key), and get on the road.

It’s kinda sad when a Ferrari is no longer a lottery dream car.