This is a long overdue entry on Australian International Motor Show 2008, as is the proper and full name of the Sydney’s car exhibition.
Before I go to individual cars there are two important issues that need to be mentioned. Firstly, a lot of European car manufacturers decided not to exhibit their cars this year, some citing tough economic times and some in protest. In Europe, Frankfurt and Paris run their shows on alternative years and yet in Australia both Melbourne and Sydney have their shows every year despite representing less than 10% of the total European market. Personally I do not think companies like BMW and Mercedes for example, which pump large sums of money in Formula 1 would be short on cash to show of their latest cars.
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During seventies when the first major fuel crisis occurred many people switched their means of transport to motorcycles and scooters. They take far less fuel and are easier to park as they simply occupy less space. And in the city where most people travel to work by themselves it would make a perfect sense as opposite of bringing in your family sized sedan or 4WD (SUV).
With fuel prices setting new records now on weekly basis could this trend occur again? Well, if you look at this photograph of a long row of parked motorcycles you will know it has already started. Only few months ago you would see perhaps a third of these bikes in this particular location. more …
I have watched a very depressing program on the subject of fuels. Unlike the photographed here Solar Sailer catamaran which draws energy from the sun the subject matter was fuel for road transport. Everyone acknowledged the oil deposits are at their end and soon only the richest people will be able to use it for propulsion. Experts are predicting prices reaching $3.5 per litre in just next few years. At the same time alternative fuels such as Hydrogen and LPG are simply either not produced in high enough numbers or are meeting with public rejection as slow and poor substitute for current petrol based engines. Electric cars simply do not have the capacity to replace the car as they are limited to about 60km a day. Hybrid cars can travel for about 400km but their price is at least double for the same quality/size car in comparison to petrol based ones. The fuel crisis is here but the technology to replace it is not.
This vintage, 1912 Benz cabriolet, according to its owner, is the only example of this particular model in the world. The car was designed and manufactured by the inventor of gasoline combustion engine and first commercial manufacturer of cars – Karl Benz. It clearly features laurels logo used on Benz & Cie vehicles after 1909.
Do not confuse the Benz make with Mercedes-Benz, which as a company, was created 14 years later.
After stuffing rather badly my last post I’ve selected this rather easy to digest photograph of two extremes on the road. On one side there is top of the range BMW luxury car and on another a lady on what seems to be one of the smallest scooters I’ve ever seen on public roads.
