D r ive Column as much as a facial expression which
only read all about why we felt this way
simply shouts “Vulgar, selfish pigs!”
next month, when the new 3 MPS takes
without saying to much as a word.
on some stiff competition, in the new MINI Cooper S JCW, and VWs iconic
They’re right, of course, in a way. Pay-
Mk6 incarnation of the GTi.
ing that price in fuel bills for that little outright performance isn’t sensible at
And finally, the R8 V10. Nothing and no-
all. But is it really necessary to react as
body was spared this ruthlessly sculpt-
if we’ve just retracted the cooling rods
ed assault on our artistic senses. Guys
but manually cranked output around to
gawped at the richly layered V10 and
160% at Koeberg? We weren’t actual-
over-300km/h potential of the thing, la-
ly, actively punching baby penguins in
dies by what really should be consid-
their little beaked faces or anything.
ered the shape of supercar modernity, and every one rich, poor, young and
Then the new Mazda 3 MPS arrived,
old – and yes even those same stern
a car which split our office down the
greenies who hated the Lumina – were
middle with polar opposite opinions.
just sucked in by the obvious passion
The sort of discussions which cannot
of the thing.
be brought to a compromise, where no middle-ground exists. And the dividing
Which leads us to conclude that the
line appeared to be pure gender. The
most beautiful car in the world is, like
ladies adored this thing, the handsome
any question of beauty, an entirely per-
new face and tricksy red “flip” paint-
sonal decision. You either “get” a look,
job gaining it the accolades “cutie” and
a shape, or you don’t. Which is why so
“baby”. They instantly thought it should
many motoring manufacturers survive
take the podium in any group test it
after all – everyone has different tastes,
might take place in.
needs, and wants in their cars. And you
The guys had to disagree though. While
fall for those cars that provide just the
we were similarly enamoured of her
right mix of these elements which, in
looks, her underlying engineering was
your uniqueness as a perfect, most
our problem, and we couldn’t get past
value.
this knowledge to enjoy the handsome exterior once again. I’m afraid you can 74
Russell DRIVE M AGAZINE DECEM BER 2009