26 Jun 09
The new Ariel Atom 500
Which other car manufacturer do you respect and why?
Anyone who gets a car on the road deserves respect and hats off to the big manufacturers operating in such difficult times at the moment. Honda, who supply our engines, have an enormous amount of respect from us, but not just in their brilliant technical ability. Even as a large manufacturer they operate in an honest, ethical and very moral way. It is very personal with them, whether as individuals or as a company and perhaps that sits with our outlook too.
What's the key automotive trend for the future?
My personal view of the distant future, although a bit depressing in some respects, is that driving as we know it will eventually be restricted to tracks and off road. Driving on the road even now is becoming tedious and doubtless governments will want to try and control us more and more, so the Ford of the future is likely to be a guided 'product' legislated into dumbness. In 50 years, maybe less, it could be that there are very few cars that you can actually 'drive' but you can count on an Ariel being one of them. It's what the Atom was designed for so I'm sure there will still be Atoms being driven in 2050.
A passion for Defenders
The car you would most want to own?
Probably a Ferrari 275 GTB 4 to look at: beautiful, unrepeatable and the pinnacle of its day. Doubtless the reality of driving one today might be a bit disappointing and physical 'ownership' isn't important to me. My ideal personal dream vehicle, aside from an Ariel of course, would be a V12 Land Rover Defender.
The car you would least want to own?
I'm not snobbish about vehicles but most production cars leave me pretty cold, perhaps call them missed opportunities. There are some pretty bizarre OAP cars appearing at the moment, which make walking seem like an attractive proposition, but if it stops and goes then it has a place for someone somewhere. Historically the Austin Allegro Estate has a special place though...
What car do you own and why did you choose it?
We have an eclectic mix of cars, none of which can comfortably seat more than two people, but I suppose my heart lies in my old Land Rover Defender, described as the Pikey Banger - the anti-christ of the shiny new car. Defenders aren't status symbols - you can be a hill farmer or the Queen (well I can't) and although Land Rover has lost the plot a bit lately with the Defender, they are honest, classless vehicles that deliver what they promise with no frills or pretence. Let's just hope Land Rover don't muck it up altogether if and when they design the new one. It should be the power tool of the automotive world so let's hope they use the opportunity.
