New Mercedes SL Is Here

In the past few weeks more and more spyshots of the new Steve-Mobile kept coming up, and now it's finally here. I personally think it's not as pretty as it's predecessor, but it definitely isn't ugly. Although in dimensions it's become wider and longer, it's said that it weighs 140Kgs less than the previous one. For now there will be two models, the 350 and the 500, the 500 being the top model. With a big fat V8 under that big fat hood, it'll hit 60 in under five seconds and the speed is limited to 250 (I always keep wondering why those Germans do that...) It comes with all kinds of new safety systems with tacky names of which you'll be happy that they're there, but I won't bother you with them. It'll be available next year from €93000 onwards, so you better start saving up.

Portable Paper-Hanging

Remember that artsy car in my first post about the Tokyo Motor Show? It's called the Fun-Vii, and I genuinely think Toyota's people were either drunk or redecorating their houses when they designed it. Or both.

The car allows you to choose any picture as its side, making it very customizable. The interior is adaptable as well, with color changing dash, seats, everything.  The sides of the car are made of OLED panels. It's a new feat, based on the technology used in smartphone screens (Like Samsung AMOLED) but a little more advanced. They've made them transparent (!) from the inside, because you don't want to run over anyone's feet while admiring your own car's sides. Also, there is an inbuilt projector for watching movies and playing games on the windshield of your car. Not while driving, of course.

I think it's unbelievable what automotive manufacturers come up with these days. It's like they are fighting for the weirdest designs. (And they probably actually are.) As far as I'm concerned, they're taking this funky car thing a little far but hey, as I said earlier, concept cars are fun regardless of how credible they are. And that is, after all, what the Tokyo Motor show is about. Fun and technology.

Bridgestone Devises Airless Wheels

Tokyo Motor Show 2011

Japanese company Bridgestone has come up with a set of extremely durable tires. They include plastic springs, which suspend the wheel without air being needed. As a result you won't ever have to be afraid of holes in your tires. Think of the possibilities! You'll never get caught in police spike strips, allowing you to vanish into thin air.

Daihatsu Pico

Tokyo Motor Show 2011

Automotive companies are always on the lookout for new technological feats. Sometimes with very serious and interesting intentions, sometimes just for fun. Not being very active in Europe anymore, it is interesting to see what this brand from the far east (or far far west, just as well) has come up with. In this case, not only the car but also the chance that it'll ever go into production is pico. As you can tell from the picture, this concept car is really in that concept stadium in which they use funky colors and weird designs. I mean, could you imagine this driving on the street right now? No, maybe in twenty years or so.


Nevertheless, what we're looking at here definitely is a funny little concept-car. The most interesting feature is the fact that it has an LED-illuminated bar all around it to interact with pedestrians. Through the use of colors and symbols (no idea what it says, probably something that sounds like sushi), it can warn people around the car that they are walking too closely, or it can illustrate that the car is going at an unsafe rate of speed. The bar turns red then. If all is well, the LED bar will stay green. There's other colours as well for all kinds of situations. The idea is that commuting in a small car in cities like Tokyo, with a lot of pedestrians, will become safer. 

The car has two seats, so you'll be able to take a colleague along to work. There are no seatbelts, but I guess they aren't needed because the top speed isn't much more than that of a scooter. The drive comes from an electric motor, with enough battery for 30 miles of driving. That should be enough in and around the city. There's just one thing that bothers me: they did forget a pair of full doors. But hey, at least it keeps your head cool and that's good for work.

Tokyo Motor Show 2011

The Tokyo Motor Show 2011 is in full effect, and I'm there to witness all the new things companies have come up with. There's lot's of new and crazy stuff, so stay stuned!

Hessing's Financial Troubles

Hessing is probably the most famous Dutch car dealer. Filled with brands as Lamborghini, Maserati, Bentley, Rolls-Royce and even the curious Bugatti, their beautiful glass building along the A2 near Utrecht never fails to impress. What does fail to impress, is Hessing's financial state. The supercar-grocer appears to be in financial troubles. Center of the problem is an investment in expensive real estate that isn't pulling off very well.

Artist Impression

Frits Hessing, the director, has invested 10 million Euros of lended money into the development of Park Bloeyendael. As you might guess from the name, it will be a luxurious residential area. The houses would be priced from about 800.000 Euros up. That's about four new Bentleys per house, I‘m just saying. The thing is, neither the construction nor the sales are near expectations which brings, as you understand, quite some trouble along. The loan cannot be paid, and the bank, Alcredis, isn’t planning on helping. 

Why won't they help? There are two reasons: 1. They're not obliged to. 2. Alcredis is owned by some Mr. Louwman. For those of you unfamiliar with him: he’s Hessing’s competitor, namely the importer of other expensive car brands and also the Dutch importer for Toyota. They aren’t exactly the best friends. Now tell me, don't you think that it’s S-T-U-P-I-D to get into financial debts with one of your rivals? I do, but apparently Mr. Hessing thought differently. 

Bailiffs have confiscated all the cars, which implies that Hessing isn’t allowed to sell them. However, they will remain in the showroom. Hessing has until April next year to fulfill his debt. The odds are, if Hessing fails to refund the loan, his company will be declared bankrupt. Let us all pray that it won’t get that bad, and that we'll still be able to catch a glimpse of all that beauty situated along the A2 next year.

Toyota GT86 and Subaru BRZ

Rumour has it that Mrs. Toyota and Mr. Subaru spent some adulterate time last year, and you know what that results in. I must say, the twins they produced sure are two lovely little babies. Meet the Toyota GT86 and the Subaru BRZ. Both featuring a 2.0 liter boxer-engine, the Soobie looks less naughty than its sibling. However, a more tough version will probably follow in the shape of the BRZ STI.