August 30: Holland to Switzerland - taxi!

This is your typical European taxi stand, a row of beige Mercedes at the ready to whisk their happy customers hither and yon around the city. This pic was taken in Germany, but substitute any European city in any other country and you'll see the same thing. Cars that are considered only for the well off over here are common as dirt taxis across the pond. Different strokes, eh? But that is changing dramatically, based on what I saw on our recent trip abroad. There are barbarians at the gate, folks and dare we even think it, they come from the good ol' US of A. Sacrilege!

Now check out this picture of the arrivals area of the Amsterdam airport........

Surprise! A line of Tesla S and also X models (not visible) ready to quietly whisk their passengers into the city. Some things to consider.......the Benz taxi is a less costly commercial model, but the Tesla only comes one way - expensive. Also the Mercedes can operate 24 hours a day, non stop except for a fill up of diesel. The Tesla? Only twenty hours before needing a recharge. A good alternative? Good question, but someone has done the math, since there are fleets of these EV's everywhere.

Don't want to use a Tesla or the ubiquitous Benz in your taxi business? Then how about a more upscale Bimmer, like this new seven series........

No idea how this fits into a taxi company's budget. I guess this is to match the S Class Mercedes, that also have those taxi signs on the roof. This was taken in Zurich, a city which is dripping in money, based on the endless high end shops and of course, the cars. Does it surprise you then that along with the Tesla's and the Bimmers, there was also a fleet of these beauties........

Yes, this is a Maserati and in my book it tops any of these other high end rides as a quality taxi. And in case you think that this might be a one off, think again, as I said there were a fleet of them.

Yes sir, the taxi business is changing in Europe. Think we'll see any of these changes over here? Yellow New York Tesla taxis with maybe even a few Maserati's thrown into the mix? Doubtful, but time will tell. In the interim, don't get too excited when you see a Tesla and try to hail it for a ride.

Until next time.......

August 28: BMW - finally!

Count on BMW to conjure up some excruciatingly beautiful designs, such as the 6 series Gran Coupe and the new 8 series (actual) coupe, but also to do some just plain excruciating designs, such as the X6 of any vintage. Seriously, can you imagine how any designer could pen this monstrosity and feel good about themselves when it reached production........

A great road car and wicked fast with the M version, but whenever I see one today, it brings tears to my eyes and they ain't tears of joy. This car was based on the Z3 cabrio, which was a whole other matter of bad design........

A mousy looking front end with a way too short truncated rear end. Not a good look no matter how who designed it. Not a beauty queen, but by comparison to its predecessor, well maybe, I shouldn't be so harsh.......

Missing its doors? Not a chance, this is the way the Z1 came off the production line, so the Z3 looked like a fully finished super model when viewed side by side. To be honest, the doors did come with it, but like a Jeep (what BMW wants to be compared to a Jeep?) they could be removed.

It got better with the last Z3, but still not what a company like BMW could and should be putting on their showroom floors........

Again with that unusually short back end, making this car seem more cartoon like than necessary. Enough room for golf balls, but leave the clubs at home. Hey, what is this world, without opinions?

Finally! Last week at the Pebble Beach Concours BMW unveiled the next Z model, the newst Z4..........

And as you can see, those intrepid BMW designers finally got the proportions of their small sportscar right. No objections from this writer to this new design. What will be even more interesting is seeing the other car using the Z4 architecture. Surprise, it is the upcoming Toyota Supra, which is based on this new Z4. The race car has been shown, but not the street ready version. If it is anything like this very good looking new Z4, then hurray for all involved.

The entire line of past Bimmer sportsters and at last the new Z, that can add itself proudly to this auspicious, but sometimes suspect looking, group. Sanity reigns once again.

Until next time........

August 24: Holland to Switzerland - cars we don't got yet

Spending time in Europe is an eye opener for a car guy. Sure there are all sorts of cars, that we ain't ever going to see, like this stylish Renault Scenic (is it a van or an suv?).......

Attractive in Renault's quirky way, but other than general interest, who really cares, since the chances of this brand making a reappearance in North America is about the same as The Donald telling the truth. No, I'm wrong, as there is a better chance of Renault coming to our shores. But, I digress.

Whatever is bound for North America generally shows up on Europe's streets a few months or even a year earlier than we'll get it. A case in point is any VW Golf and the new for 2019 Mercedes CLS, of which I tried, but couldn't get a pic. Let's run thru a few that I did capture.

You a Buick fan? Might be, but probably not for this beauty, the Cascada.......

It's been selling or at least been available for purchase in the US for the past year, but not in Canada. Doubt that anyone south of the border has ever seen one. But one which will be more plentiful will be a version of this Opel Insignia.........

Being a wagon fan, I love it, but since wagons sell in North America like fried monkey brains, we (at least the US) will get a raised all wheel drive version, so folks will think they are behind the wheel of a rip snortin' suv. Go figure. Either this way or the AWD version, it is a beautiful car and representative of the many great looking station wagons available across the Atlantic. Further proof required? Ok, here's a Mercedes that has been around over there for a few years and never fails to get my longing look, whenever I see one......

Unless I was a lottery winner or was getting hush money from the US pres, this would be beyond my financial grasp, but this CLS sport wagon is always lovely to behold. Say what you will about Benz, but they sure know how design a gorgeous station wagon.

Back to reality and what we will see shortly.........

Recognize this brand new taxi seen in Basel? Get used to it (well, maybe not as a taxi), because it will be coming our way shortly. This is the 2019 VW Arteon, which replaces the slow selling CC. The Arteon is named after.........what? What exactly is an "arteon"? Another of those, where did it come from dumb names. Good looking though. Will it sell. See the CC's results, please (and maybe add a couple more).

Cue up the next big thing from Audi, the Q2........

 Put a star beside this one, as I think it will be a real winner. Count the pluses......it's great looking. It's an suv. It will be priced in the $30k range. And it's an Audi. Recipe for success in my mind. Seen in Amsterdam, but lots roaming around Germany and Switzerland as well. Only negative? The next and similarly styled Q3 could prove to be its competition.

Now here's a bit of a heart breaker..........

 This Q2 look alike, is the VW T-Roc. Obviously the same committee naming the Arteon was asked to come up with something equally catchy for this new model. The sad part is that the T-Roc is not planned for our shores anytime soon. One would think, that with all North America's salivating over anything faintly resembling an suv, that this one would have shown up here long before the Arteon. Don't know what those great minds are thinking.

And of course, you are all wondering if the Aixiam will ever show up over here.......

Breathe a sign of relief as there is no chance. Put it in the same category as the Renault above.

Ah, Europe. Nothing beats those pastry and chocolate shops. And for me, your car guy, nothing beats spotting those soon or never to be seen here cars. Stay tuned for more car shots from my holiday over the coming couple of weeks.

Until next time.......

August 21: Flattery and imitation

Tesla seems to be in all sorts of trouble these days or at the very least there are storm clouds on the horizon and blowing in fast. Competition, which had been minimal is getting stronger literally every day. And with the recent questionable comments from Mr Musk, a lot of prospects are going to be headed for the established brands' new EV's. Why go with the "questionable" when you can buy from the established brands and get the added prestige of driving a Porsche or a Mercedes or a Jag?

Or maybe a lesser brand is more to your choosing? Something with a touch less cache', but still with the ability to bring a Tesla to its knees with its attention grabbing factor. This is where that old saw about imitation being the sincerest form of flattery comes in. This is the new, or relatively new Microlino EV.........

Wandering around Zurich, Switzerland last week, in amongst the very high end rolling stock, I came across this micro Microlino. Made by the Swiss company Tazzari, it is a modern day knock off of the 1950's BMW Isetta micro car. Small in size, but huge in character, this tiny urban dweller might not breed fear in Elon Musk, but it shows that EV's come in all shapes and sizes, so Tesla's unique proposition is becoming less unique.

How well does it imitate that vintage BMW? A picture is worth......well, you know the old saying......

There's that strange steering wheel on the door deal, that made the original so, well, strange. A carbon copy in every way, except for its minuscule carbon foot print or any kind of foot print. Park it front in or sideways, the choice is yours with the Microlino, a car that makes the Smart look like a limo. Think about the joy it could bring to your local 'hood, knowing that you are saving the planet, while providing more parking space for those others with normal sized cars.

Tazzari? I'd never heard of them either, but they aren't strangers to the EV market, having other models in their electric range. But the others are originals, copying only the traditional box design......

Zero City

Zero Space

Obviously the City is the local runabout, while the Space is for those folks who need the extra room a panel van like design will give them. Folks who feel it's necessary to carry some things, like a wallet, with them on their outings.

But back to the darling little Microlino. Multiple colour choices to brighten anyone's day........

.......and the ability to cost you almost nothing, while doing your best for mankind. Maybe Elon Musk might be worried about his electric future, but a Microlino owner will be confident of theirs.

Until next time.......