evo 050

[Hooligan]

I have a bone to pick with Messrs. Barker and Meaden. For nigh-on 50 issues, they have tried to explain what "evoness" is. Fortunately, Russel Bulgin seemed to come up with a good definition early on (015) in that it refers to the way it drives: quality of information, fun factor, handling, etc.. They even go so far as to reprint that excerpt in 050 on page 120. This is no more than 5 pages after their so-called "50 Sexiest Cars of All Time".

Great. Now evo has become a design critic. No wonder cars like the Murcielago and Z8 made the top 10, and the Impreza P1 and 575M are nowhere to be seen. I wouldn't have minded this in something like "Design & Model" (some crap new magazine featuring sexy cars with women strewn about...). Of course, many of the listed cars would probably belong on a "Most evo" list anyway.

*sigh* All those great cars, and not a Caterham in sight.
"What was they thinkin'?"

 

[MildMatt]

I believe it was 'sexiest' cars.
An Impreza isn't sexy. A Mercielago is. Or at least, the design experts they asked thought so.

And one feature in 50 issues is hardly sellnig out.

 

[1X83Z]

Since when are Caterhams sexy? You're nuts.

 

[-Fred-]

Originally posted by M5Power
Since when are Caterhams sexy? You're nuts.

aren't you the one who thinks a Taurus is good looking?

at 13$ an issue, they can keep their evoness, thank you very much.

 

[1X83Z]

Originally posted by PunkRock


aren't you the one who thinks a Taurus is good looking?

The new ones.

 

[-Fred-]

Originally posted by M5Power


The new ones.

then i guess someone can find a Caterham attractive... and they are, in a way...

 

[1X83Z]

Well, I would never call either car 'sexy.'

 

[bigwhlkid]

what about the Yugo "the sexiest machine of all time". in my opinion the sexiest machine of all time would have to be a 69' roadrunner, or possibly a 67 mini cooper, maybe even a 59 eldorado "nothin beats the boat".

 

[Hooligan]

Originally posted by MildMatt
I believe it was 'sexiest' cars.
An Impreza isn't sexy. A Mercielago is. Or at least, the design experts they asked thought so.

That was the point I was trying to make: Why "sexiest" and not "most bestest evo-est" or something? No, this one feature doesn't make them a sellout, but it strikes me as odd that there are many cars on this list that wouldn't have been given a second look evo-wise.

 

[MildMatt]

Exactly, because they have Evo Car of the Year for that. This feature was solely for Sexiest car. Void of any reasoning concerning Evo-ness. Just looks. And stunning looks at that.

If a Caterham isn't one thing, it's sexy!

At only once every 50 issues, even a hardened Evo reader can't complain.

 

[Hooligan]

Originally posted by MildMatt
At only once every 50 issues, even a hardened Evo reader can't complain.

Yeaaahhh, I guess. It just seemed so...out of character. Whatever; it's just a car magazine.

 

[MildMatt]

I can see where you are coming from Hooligan, and yes, I can appreciate that it is a little "un-evo" but...there's no harm. As much as we'd like to judge cars on their evo-ness, you can't argue that most, if not all, judge a car on looks, or in this case "sex appeal." Besides, it was just an excuse to fill a few pages with some lovely looking cars. I get fed up of seeing Evos, and Imprezas, and Evos, and Imprezas, and then some more Evos every issues!

 

[Hooligan]

Originally posted by MildMatt
I can see where you are coming from Hooligan, and yes, I can appreciate that it is a little "un-evo" but...there's no harm. As much as we'd like to judge cars on their evo-ness, you can't argue that most, if not all, judge a car on looks, or in this case "sex appeal." Besides, it was just an excuse to fill a few pages with some lovely looking cars. I get fed up of seeing Evos, and Imprezas, and Evos, and Imprezas, and then some more Evos every issues!

Oo - oo! And Caterhams! Don't forget Caterhams!

I guess it makes sense now. Still, the Murcielago isn't a sexy car by any stretch of the imagination. Unless it's in reference to the wallet size of the owner.

Evo is stretching out a bit, though. The HP battle among the German automakers is creating some wonderfully useless cars. RS6, E55, SL55, Veyron, Cayenne...great stuff. I'd never want to own any of it (too powerful for everyday use, too heavy for track use), but spectacular feats of engineering nonetheless. I hope to see more, particularly from BMW.

 

[MildMatt]

Interesting point of view.
I think the new Lamborghini is very sexy. It's almost a perfect shape. Very nice. But then, everything is subjective
I'd have to agree with you about the Cayenne. Although I've read some reports praising it's off-roaqd capabilities, I see it as a very clever "thing" by Porsche. There is a big market for suvs, and Porsche have mearly joined the race, albeit with a stupidly powerful one. Possibly a test best for a turbo'd V8 911? Who knows.

I'd love a RS6. I'd be tough to use it on a track, and it'd certanly attract attention, but it is effortless powerful. A great motorway car, or A road tourer. Shame that most of them will end up never going over 3,000rpm.

Now, if they did a stripped out Estate RS6....

 

[GilesGuthrie]

I read the survey, and thought it interesting. As a design statement of "sexy" cars, I think they were quite right, although I for one regard the sexiness of the E-type as massively over-rated. Anyway, the winning car, the Lamborghini Miura, is definitely both a style statement and a living incarnation of evo-ness, given its origins and its place in the timeline.

 

[Hooligan]

Originally posted by MildMatt
Interesting point of view.
I think the new Lamborghini is very sexy. It's almost a perfect shape. Very nice. But then, everything is subjective
I'd have to agree with you about the Cayenne. Although I've read some reports praising it's off-roaqd capabilities, I see it as a very clever "thing" by Porsche. There is a big market for suvs, and Porsche have mearly joined the race, albeit with a stupidly powerful one. Possibly a test best for a turbo'd V8 911? Who knows.

I'm starting to understand the Cayenne. Porsche doesn't really care about it. It's not that they won't do their usual job on it, but they're using it as easy money to fund more things like the Carrera GT. Sounds like a plan to me....

 

[1X83Z]

Originally posted by Hooligan


I'm starting to understand the Cayenne. Porsche doesn't really care about it. It's not that they won't do their usual job on it, but they're using it as easy money to fund more things like the Carrera GT. Sounds like a plan to me....

I see you're reading your Brit magazines.

Was I not saying this from the beginning?

Probably not.

But I understood the brilliance of the move.

Not to say Porsche doesn't care at all about the Cayenne - frankly, I think the public's quite unaware about it. Once people start learning about the car, I think it has the potential to break Porsche, depending on their reaction.

 

[Hooligan]

Originally posted by M5Power
I see you're reading your Brit magazines.
Was I not saying this from the beginning?
Probably not.
But I understood the brilliance of the move.

Not to say Porsche doesn't care at all about the Cayenne - frankly, I think the public's quite unaware about it. Once people start learning about the car, I think it has the potential to break Porsche, depending on their reaction.

No, I think you did actually mention it. I also remember thinking Porsche was making money hand over fist anyway. But now I see that while they make a lot of money per car, they don't make enough to fund their own R&D...at least not to the level they need.

When this thing reaches showrooms, I fully expect waiting lists longer than for the Hummer H2. I sort of look forward to seeing one, too. Photos always add 30 pounds anyway. Forgetting it's a Porsche (and maybe its looks), it seems like a truly awesome vehicle.

 

[1X83Z]

Originally posted by Hooligan


No, I think you did actually mention it. I also remember thinking Porsche was making money hand over fist anyway. But now I see that while they make a lot of money per car, they don't make enough to fund their own R&D...at least not to the level they need.

Yeah - unless they want an owner company (and I assume they very much don't) they'd need a third product to make more money - they can't live off two low-volume products forever.

When this thing reaches showrooms, I fully expect waiting lists longer than for the Hummer H2. I sort of look forward to seeing one, too. Photos always add 30 pounds anyway. Forgetting it's a Porsche (and maybe its looks), it seems like a truly awesome vehicle.

Pictures still make it look fairly good - I don't know what all that bull was a few months ago about the fact that it looks worse than an Aztek; I knew then it'd look at least somewhat good. You can't sell something like that at all if it's not at least fairly good-looking.

 

[Hooligan]

Originally posted by M5Power
Yeah - unless they want an owner company (and I assume they very much don't) they'd need a third product to make more money - they can't live off two low-volume products forever.

Porsche has always been owned by VW/Audi. It was a partnership in the beginning, and grew into a massive conglomerate of auto brands. There's still full family control, but Porsche can lean on VAG any time they want. Makes factory-sharing with the Touraeg much easier.