One last old Skoda from #SMMT Test Day. This is the Favorit, introduced in 1987. The Favorit had a modern mainstream front-wheel drive layout with a transverse engine, heralding the end of the rear-engine era at Skoda. Later, under Volkswagen’s ownership, the Favorit would be modernised and revamped, losing some of its distinctive character in the process. It was also renamed as Felicia, recalling the 1950s model of that name I featured a few days ago
#SMMT
Here’s another historic Skoda from the recent #SMMT Test Day for journalists. This is the S 110 R, a representative of Skoda’s rear-engined era. It was produced between 1970 and 1980. With its two-door fastback coupé bodyshell, it was comparatively sporty by Skoda’s standards, and formed the basis of the company’s competition cars of the time.
Today, a second old Skoda from #SMMT Test Day. This is the Felicia convertible produced between 1959 and 1964, a relative of the original 1950s Octavia. Both the Felicia and Octavia nameplates would, of course, be revived for modern Skodas. Like yesterday’s 1203 van, the original Felicia and Octavia were front engine/rear drive. Note the ‘mirror image of normal’ gear shift pattern - that’s for real, not a misfitted gear knob or mirrored image.
A quick PS to the recent food/coffee truck photos from last month’s #SMMT Test Day for journalists. Here are three food/coffee trailers, two based on horse boxes, and a mini Airstream caravan used by the news agency Newspress.
Today, a fourth coffee/food van from the recent #SMMT Test Day for journalists - I had no idea this would be such a fertile subject. This is a Skoda 1203 van, introduced in 1968. Until I looked it up, I assumed that this was a rear-engined vehicle like Skoda’s cars of the time, but it is actually front engine/rear drive, and based on parts from earlier Skoda car models of that layout.
Today, a third vehicle being used as a coffee truck at this year’s #SMMT Test Day for journalists - the fourth generation Suzuki Jimny 4x4. *Everyone* wanted one of these incredibly cute vehicles when they first arrived in the UK in 2019 but the clamour now seems to have faded a bit.
Today, another French vehicle converted for use as a coffee/food truck, a Citroën H van. Like yesterday’s Peugeot J9, this one was in action at the recent #SMMT Test Day for journalists. (1/2)
After I posted yesterday’s Peugeot 202, I got into a conversation with @Ali about early front-wheel drive Peugeots. I mentioned the FWD J7 van, introduced in 1965, the same year as Peugeot’s first FWD car, the 204. This is a J9, an evolved version of the J7, which Peugeot UK hired in to supply coffees at the recent #SMMT Test Day for journalists. Peugeot produced the J9 until 1991 but it was made under licence in Turkey for far longer. (1/2)
The direct successor to yesterday’s Porsche 356 - and this one was popular with the Dutch and German police too - was the 912, which was basically a four-cylinder version of the 911. I was quite excited to see this 912 at the recent #SMMT Test Day, which turned out to be not quite what it seemed. This particular car is an electric conversion (see the black battery box under the raised engine cover). Beautifully executed. (1/2)
One more car from last week’s SMMT Test Day in Bedfordshire - the BMW i5 Touring estate. The i5 is the pure electric version of the 5 Series. I didn’t actually drive this one on the day, but I like its long, low, athletic appearance, which is all the more impressive when you bear in mind that it has 80+ kWh of batteries secreted about its bodywork, and it’s not on a pure EV platform.
Today, another car you’ve probably never heard of from the house of Chery - the Jaecoo J7 plug-in hybrid, on sale in the UK soon. The word Jaecoo is apparently a conflation of the German word for hunter - Jäger - and the English word ‘cool’. The claimed ‘electric-only’ range is 55 miles. Expect to see a lot more unfamiliar Chinese cars on our roads as unprecedented change in the automotive industry unfolds. Pic: SMMT Test Day, 2024.
Today, a car I’d never heard of before I saw it at yesterday’s SMMT Test Day at Millbrook - the Omoda E5 EV. It doesn’t really stand out from the crowd but it would be a mistake to underestimate it. Omoda is a brand of Jaguar Land Rover’s Chinese partner Chery, and Chery platforms will provide the basis for several of JLR’s forthcoming plug-in models. Apparently, there will also be an ICE version of this car.
Just a quick one today, from SMMT Test Day in Bedfordshire. This is the range extender version of Mazda’s MX-30 EV. The unique thing about this is that the range extender is a small rotary (Wankel) engine. Oh - that and the distinctive (presumably in the interests of sustainability) cork interior trim. Very nice vehicle, but a bit niche.
After yesterday’s Austin-inspired 1935 Datsun Type 14, we leap forward nine decades to the all-electric Nissan Ariya, snapped here at #SMMT Test Day North at Wetherby Racecourse this week. Nissan phased out the use of the Datsun brand for exports in 1986, although it was later revived for emerging markets. Here, the link is to the French, rather than the British motor industry - the Ariya and the #Renault Megane E-Tech Electric are sisters. #Datsun #Nissan #WeirdCarMastodon #davidsdailycar
More driving today at SMMT Test Day South in Hampshire. Most of the cars are out already - very popular event. #SMMTTestDay #SMMT
Name a Suzuki car manufactured in Britain. Does anything come to mind? Meet the Suzuki Swace, a rebadged version of the Toyota Corolla Touring Sports hybrid estate, built at Toyota’s plant in Burnaston in Derbyshire, and snapped here during SMMT Test Day North at Wetherby Racecourse yesterday. These, or at least the Toyota version, are popular with provincial British taxi firms. Tomorrow, another Japanese car with British connections. #Suzuki #Toyota #SMMT #WeirdCarMastodon #davidsdailycar
We begin this week's @motoringpodcast New Show with August's new car registration figures for the UK. A decent month. Finally. Comparable with the Before Times, too.
Amazingly, the UK Gov, with less than 120 days to go, hasn't told the car industry the Zero Emission Mandate rules!
You can hear about that and more, now.
#Podcast #AutomotiveNews #NewCarRegistrations #SMMT #Podcasting
To 👂 via streaming click 👉 https://www.motoringpodcast.com/episodes/2023/09/12/542-too-wet-to-light-man
To 👂 via Apple/Google click 👉 https://buff.ly/2ZvyyAo
Much of the cleverness embodied in yesterday’s Honda NSX in pursuit of performance was subsequently deployed in the interests of economy and efficiency in this, the first-generation Honda Insight launched in 1999. Aluminium construction, advanced aero, this car had the lot. Unusually for a hybrid, the Insight was initially sold as a manual. Pics: 2017 Millbrook Test Day for car journalists held by the UK Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. #Honda #SMMT #WeirdCarMastodon #davidsdailycar
Today, Honda’s first-generation mid-engined NSX, which was famously developed with input from the racing driver Ayrton Senna. The NSX was a showcase for several technologies, including aluminium construction. Another specialised Honda model with an aluminium body structure coming up tomorrow. Snapped at the 2013 Test Day for car journalists held by the UK Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders at Millbrook. #Honda #SMMT #WeirdCarMastodon #davidsdailycar
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