SKODA FABIA SUPER 2000

The emerging car maker that is Skoda has revealed their new rally car for international competition, the Fabia Super 2000. Based on the new Fabia hatchback (not sold here...yet), the Super 2000 marks the welcome return of the quintessential Czech group to the world rally stage. Skoda first dipped its toes into rallying back in 1999 with their first-gen Octavia, which ultimately turned into a full works outfit with the first Fabia WRC. Results were rather patchy, but there were several glimpses of promise, most notably in Safari 2001, Monaco 2002, and Australia 2005, where they were in serious contention for victory. This lack of consistency lead to VW foolishly pulling Skoda out of the WRC as a manufacturer, with all cars and parts remaining sold off to privateer teams. But as is so often the case with the suits at the control tower, they failed to recognize the invaluable contribution the sport did for their brand awareness. Of course, dominating on a Sunday afternoon gets buyers behind the wheel on Monday morning, but to be there is just as worthwhile. Toyota, Honda, and BMW aren't exactly running away with it in Formula One, but what the sport gives them back in coverage on a global scale is priceless. What better way to brand your cars than with an association to your brand's motor sport activity, your race cars, and all of that technical prowess and mastery that goes with it? So fast forward to 2008, and Skoda have realized their error of judgment.

The new Fabia Super 2000 is still relatively fresh, so you won't see it in competition for at least another 6 months or so. While testing is underway, Skoda will endeavor to hone the car to be accepted within both international and national rallying regulations. This means on top of the works team there will be a customer service arrangement, where Skoda will sell the Fabia Super 2000 to willing customer teams. This will enable the car to compete in different rally competitions throughout the globe, ultimately spreading awareness of both the car and the brand. It certainly looks the part, and when it gets the traditional green, back and white livery of the race team it will become the hero of the Skoda portfolio.

Along with touring cars, rallying is the closet link between motor sport and the cars you buy from the showroom. It's a shame more manufacturers aren't involved in WRC these days, as the Super 2000 regulations are quite cost effective.

VOLVO XC60 PRODUCTION LEAK

Don't you just love the internet? Thanks to some clever bugger Volvo's world premier of their new XC60 SUV at the Geneva Motor Show has been ruined by these leaked images of the production car. In one instant you can easily come to the conclusion that Volvo's new design DNA is bang on the money. This is one great looking car, or should that be SUV? Either way, the future looks to be bright for the Swedes. Thankfully they've kept close to the concept shown nearly 12 months ago, as the new angled snout, LED ru! nning lights, squeezed shoulder line, and dramatically tampered tail lights remain in all their glory. What's more, even in this horrific shade of gold the XC60 still looks the dogs bullocks. Why the hell would you pass one of these up for a BMW X3 or Land Rover Freelander 2. That's like saying 'No I won't go to David Jones, I'll stick to Target'.

Inside we can see the evolution of Volvo's trademark floating center console. Like the concept, the fascia of the console is now one piece, running all the way up to the air vents. Don't be too concerned by the Ikea-like birch seen here, for those of us with taste you will undoubtedly be able to stick to aluminum trim. Sat-Nav and info screens for the climate control and sound system are now higher up on the dash, closer to the driver's line of sight. All in all it continues Volvo's excellent track record on! high quality, stylish interiors that don't make you feel underdone. Those lovely, textured, soft touch plastics and brushed dials will worry Audi.

All in all, this bodes well for the upcoming S60 saloon, which will essentially be the compact executive version of the XC60. In recent years Volvo has beaten the Germans at their own game in many areas and this is surely set to continue with this new generation from the Swedish-cool car maker. If the dynamics manage to improve on the solid foundation of existing models, then that ought to prove all of those Volvo doubters wrong. If it doesn't then so be it. Let them buy their BMWs and Mercs. All they're buy! ing is an inferior car for more money...

ALFA ROMEO 8C COMPETIZIONE

Alfa Romeo is returning to the United States with this, the 8C Competizione. A bit of a mouth full, but however you spit it out, you'll be referring to one seriously stunning car, even for Alfa Romeo. The first supercar Alfa's attempted in a long long time, the 8C Compe-you-know-what is essentially a re-bodied Maserati Gran Turismo. Both cars share the same chassis and engine, but feature their own bodies, interiors, and suspension and handling set ups! . We've all seen what Maserati came up with, and Alfa Romeo has certainly matched them for impact and desirability. But these two are chalk and cheese, especially in how they look.

The Alfa Romeo is an unashamedly retro take of a modern supercar. Ford did it with the GT, and with much success. Folks in the US seem to like their retro cars. Mustangs, Corvettes, GT Chargers, and many more past icons have re-appeared. While some are clearly a question of taste (they're all rubbish), the 8C has the substance. The design harks back to Alfa's glory days, when the Italians were synonymous with motor sport. The shape works very well , particularly in Alfa's preferred hue of red. The great thing about this car is its simplicity. There's no clutter, none of that Mercedes-like criss-cross of lines and flanks. It's just one simple, flowing shape that still manages to be as aggressive and identifiable as it needs to be. You get a bit of a headache looking at a Ferrari F430. It's so complex, and there's so much going on with the aero work on that car. Park this beside! it, and it's so much easier to understand while giving no street-cred away to the Ferrari. Those flared wheel arches and long, swooping bonnet are both perfectly proportioned and meaty in stance.

Inside has no real surprises. There's plenty of leather, carbon fibre, and engine related dials to qualify for a supercar. What is a revelation, though, is that the 8C is rear wheel drive, thanks to sharing the same chassis with the Maserati. However, while the Maserati is more focused on refinement, the 8C was focused as a more hard-edged drive. How they've executed t! hat is yet to be seen, but they'd have pulled off a massive achievement if the 8C is more enjoyable than the Gran Turismo, which is the best all-round Grand Tourer of the moment. If they've done it right, then the Alfa Romeo will offer a completely different focus than it's Italian cousin. They both have the same V8, the same basic platform, and the same Italian passion instilled in their pedigree. The only choice is, which one suits you more? The sophisticated yet utterly drop-dead-gorgeous allure of the Maserati, or the retro and in-your-face aggression of the Alfa Romeo.

If it were me I'd take the Gran Turismo, but there'll be plenty of people who'll batt for the other team, the yanks included. And it seems that's all Alfa Romeo is concerned about, as it's left-hand drive only. That's a real shame...

BMW 5-SERIES

If there was ever a car that deserved so much more than it was recognized for, it's this. The much talked about, and somehow much loathed, BMW 5-Series. Since its introduction in 2003, the current E60 5-Series has been subject to some of the most fierce and nasty criticism in modern automotive history. Much like the current 7-Series, which was released a year prior to the 5, the current generation of BMWs struck a cord in the conservative ranks of car design, with armchair critic after baboon motor journalist lining up to take pot shots over what they bark as being 'critical errors' and 'over-styled' themes and elements of a flawed design language. Trying to hard, contrived, cheap; you name it, it was said and is being said about the 5-Series. The horrible reality of it all is that when one has a little bit of design education, not to mention an open mind and a little bit of cultured taste, one can appreciate and wholeheartedly understand the bold, yet elegant, stance of the E60.

Admittedly the shape is pretty colour sensitive (lighter hues and metallic silvers are best), but then again what car isn't? Ferrari build cars in yellow these days, and my God they're ugly. Maserati take orders of Quattroportes in solid brown - an act that should be illegal. And 5-Series' can be built in ruby red or dark purple. Horrible colours that would destroy any car. So what's the biff? Just look at these pictures will you. View the 5-Series in a colour it was meant for and you can appreciate the complexity of it's shape. Silver is by far the best. At dawn or dusk, when the light hits the car from various angles, the crease lines, the shoulders, and the arches beautifully come to life. The aggressive headlights are fantastic, and give the nose a real lift over the sombre and unimaginative units on the previous saloon. The tail is another standout, with the jeweled rear lights a good evolution on the standard BMW look.

It's as unfortunate as it is predictable that so many people don't get the E60. What a great looking car actually looks like greatly differs from person to person, but what must be understood is what makes a great design, regardless of whether you like it aesthetically or not. It's doubtful that many people would call the Guggenheim in New York breathtakingly gorgeous, but we all acknowledge it for it's architectural brilliance. The Bangle 5-Series is comparable in many ways. It's not common, and it certainly isn't a simple form. But it is a masterpiece and an example in conviction of a challenging design. In it's element, in it's right colour, this is a landmark car, and should be a classic. Yet we've got many self-qualified idiots who, because they can't compute the design in their own little heads, write the car off completely. Forget anything about it being the best executive car dynamically, mechanically, and in build quality. Who cares, when you don't 'get' a design... Look at the caliber of people who have given the 5 a thumbs down. Clarkson - who thinks that anything German (and thus anything that will challenge the weakness of the British auto industry) is rubbish - is one. Wheels magazine is another. The very bunch who think that the 'it is so plain it could have been drawn by a 3-year-old' VE Commodore is beautiful. If you're narrow minded, or living in a world where new age, contemporary design is 'weird', then so be it.

BMW should be applauded for clothing a superb chassis in such a revolutionary design for this segment. Who cares if everyone doesn't get it. They don't need to. To be at the very pinnacle of design, you need to challenge. The E60 5-Series does, and for what it's worth I think it's stunning. If they water the next one down to please everyone, we'll get a compromise. Look what happened to the new 3-Series....

VW TIGUAN

Meet the Tiguan. A new compact SUV from the oh so exciting folks over at VW. Based on the Golf platform, the Tiguan will give VW it's first foray into one of Australia's most popular and fastest growing car segments. There will be two distinctly different version of the Tiguan, with one being more focused for pretend off-road work, while the other will be more of a CBD poser. It hasn't been decided yet if Australia will get both versions, with the more off-road orientated one having a shorter front overhang for what VW thinks will enable it to tackle steep inclines better. To be honest though, if you tried to do any serious off-road action in either one then you better take out life insurance. After all, the Tiguan is a cross-over, an SUV, not a 4WD. If you want to go bush bashing consider a Freelander 2. This is just all talk. But even then, it's not even really that either...

While it must be said that there is much more effort visible in terms if detailing, such as the chrome grill and Eos-like headlights, the overall shape of the thing is as predictably boring as it's Golf sister. For the love of God Volkswagen, take some Valium or something, because you need to start learning how to style cars sooner rather than later. Once the whole 'It's a VW so it's reliable and classy' thing starts to wear off, people will see these cars for what they really are. Thoroughly competent, superbly engineered, but as mind numbingly boring as a coma. Take the interior, for instance. Does Volkswagen think that a bunch of circular vents will fool us into thinking this is a groovy dashboard? It might for some fools, but from where I'm standing it looks like it's come from a bus, or perhaps VW's commercial department.

Reliability will surely be top notch, but what's new? And how many of VW's competitors struggle in this department anymore? The point is, the competition has caught up to Volkswagen in this regard, and have now well and truly surpassed the Germans in terms of desirability, style, and in many instances, interior quality. Take the all conquering Golf. One very sound ownership proposition, but incredibly dangerous as you will fall asleep at the wheel, such is the lack of excitement. Now Fiat, Peugeot, Ford Europe, Audi, Volvo, and Alfa Romeo all build more interesting cars, and none of them fall apart anymore. They've all either reached Golf levels of reliability and performance, or improve on that level altogether. What's more, Skoda are now using VW technology to build cars with personality. It seems that many VWs are now positioned to take on Toyota rather than fellow prestigious badges from the Continent. If this is the case, then cars like the Tiguan suit their purpose perfectly. It's reliable, has some superb engines, and will be relatively cheap to buy and own. Just don't ask for anything over that, as you won't get it.

Compare the Tiguan to a RAV4 or CRV and it makes sense. Compare it to other upcoming European counterparts and it really makes no sense at all. Unless you're desperate not to be noticed of course.