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by Dr. Iain Corness

The British Grand Prix

The Brits have their GP of the F1 calendar this weekend at Silverstone. Brought forward from the traditional mid-year date, the weather could be a very complicating factor for the teams. Expect to see many Team Managers looking anxiously at the skies as they try to read the weather and predict the pattern of the elements. And, of course, can Michael Schumacher make it 4 out of 4?

Join me “trackside” at Delaney’s Pub, 2nd Road, in front of the big screen. From 6 p.m. I reckon, but check TV details.

Wot’s a Spocket?

Well according to Honda Cars (Thailand), their Spocket concept car is an amalgamation of the words “Sports” and utility “pocket”. Thank goodness they didn’t start from “Funky” little “truck”!

Honda Spocket

This little item was on display at the Bangkok International Motor Show, and I must admit it did catch my eye with its innovative styling and multi-purpose functions. They do say in good engineering practice that form follows function, and that was certainly true for this little beast. Boasting electric upswing doors and eye-grabbing styling, the exciting feature of this vehicle was the pick-up style rear cargo space. The roof of the cabin slides back to provide a roof for the cargo end, leaving the occupants in an open sports car. The rear tailgate also has an extension to make a ramp to get items into the payload area. Ingenious!

The next dinky idea was the fact that the rear passenger space bulkhead could fold and two more seats appeared to make it a four person sporty car, rather than just a two seater.

The interior of the car also has an all-weather interior. When it gets dirty, you just hose it out inside. Now that’s truly a great idea, although I think the boy at work already uses this method when cleaning our family Mira, with damp nether regions being a common occurrence after he’s cleaned it.

Also on the Honda stand was the removable hardtop S2000 sporty car. At long last, it is listed for sale here. They will get you one if you’d like to cough up 3,990,000 baht. Interestingly, it does not look as good with the hardtop on, in contrast to many open sporty cars that look so much better topless. Like some other things I could mention, but won’t.

Honda also educated me as to what “CRV” stood for on their stand. There on the CRV show car was the decal announcing “Comfortable Runabout Vehicle”. This particular one had every conceivable extra you wouldn’t want, from chrome plated number plate holders to ridiculous wing mirrors. For 1,095,000 baht it’s yours.

Autotrivia Quiz

Last week, having been blown away by the Maserati 3200 GT at the Show, I asked what Maserati models did the brothers Maserati produce in 1950? A right hoary old chestnut, that one! The correct answer was that the Maserati brothers didn’t produce any Maserati’s in 1950 as they had already sold out to the Orsi group. The brothers Maser went on to produce the Osca’s. So there!

Autotrivia quiz car

So to this week’s question. Let’s stick with Maserati. Look at the old photograph this week of the Maserati 250 F. For the Automania FREE beer this week, be the first to fax 427 596 or email [email protected] with the driver’s name. Want a clue? The photo was taken in Germany! Best of luck, but it’s easy this week!

What’s in a name?

GeeEmm took “badge engineering” to new heights at the Motor Show with the stand full of Chevrolets. “German” Chevvies and “Australian” Chevvies!

Following a marketing decision, the Opel name for the new Zafiras was dropped, and the car has been released here as a Chevrolet Zafira, despite its German origins. These people movers were being presented with a price tag of 1.09 million Baht, according to the friendly sales personnel at the Show. The Chev badges look OK, even if they are a little “misleading” to say the least.

The “Aussie” Chevrolet is called the Lumina, otherwise known as the V6 Holden Calais down under. These sell for about A$45,000 in Oz, but with the cost of importing them here, paying duty and prising off the Holden badges and swapping them for Chev ones, the end result is a whopping 2.4 million baht (around A$104,000) if you want to stick one in your garage. Don’t expect to see many Chev Lumina’s sauntering down Sukhumvit.

On another stand was a presumably “grey import” Chevrolet Astro AWD. This giant people mover got my vote as the ugliest machine at the Show. It has all the aerodynamics of a house brick. Bulky and ungainly, it proudly proclaimed itself to be the “Sports Version”. God knows what the standard version is like, but maybe it doesn’t get the white-wall tyres. 2.19 million Baht for that baby whale, if you can fit it in your street. I think GM here should have bought it, just to get it out of the Show and away from people’s eyes.

Mind you, on the same stand was the Cadillac STS which runs out at 4.95 million baht and I actually did like the look of the scaled down Caddie, though American “purists” (is there one, I wonder?) probably would disagree with me.

Hey Big Spender!

BMW brought out the ultimate 7 series for those with a bank account that has at least baht 13, followed by six zero’s. Yes for 13 mill you get the L7, a factory stretch version of the normal 7. This was actually a very pretty and well balanced looking motor car. Also on the Bimmer stand was my Z3 2.8 all resplendent in red paint, as was the test vehicle last year. The ache in the loins department returned immediately! That was a great car, though my old mate John Weinthal who has driven the M Roadster with over another 100 BHP on tap said that I’d blow my brains out over an M. I think I probably would. BMW (Thailand) put me on the list, please!

The new 3 series was also on display, a pleasant looking “understated” vehicle. At 1.98 million, the price tag’s not too understated though! The short-assed 316 was also on the BMW stand. For me it still looks like a 3 series that was rammed up the rear by and 18 wheeler, or backed into a wall at 100 kph.

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Updated by Chinnaporn Sangwanlek, assisted by Boonsiri Suansuk.