Electel Blogspot

One label for this post is "First and Last," but the subject actually is "Last and First."  In this case, the final pre- World War 2 Aston Martins and the postwar models when David Brown assumed ownership of the firm.  General Aston Martin background is here , that of the postwar "DB1" (a retroactive designation) is here , and for the 1950-vintage DB2,  here . Aside from modernized styling, postwar Astons featured the "A" form grille design that the marque has continued with detail variation until this day.  But even that feature had prewar origin in the form of a prototype/concept car, the Aston Martin Atom that was first displayed in 1940. Gallery 1938 15/98 Sports Tourer - Bonhams photo An example of the last prewar Aston.  Styling is 1933-ish, but still prevalent in late-1930s England.  The grille design was abandoned following this model's end of production. 1939-1940 Aston Martin Atom prototype/concept - Bonhams photo The idea was to ex...

Ford Ireland is requesting the Government to extend the current VAT reduction to the end of March, writes Trish Whelan . Head of Ford Ireland, John Manning, says: “In this very tough environment, we need all the help we can get to boost vehicle sales and the continuation of the VAT reduction would be a great asset in this regard.”  The standard rate of Irish VAT was temporarily reduced from 23pc to 21pc for a six-month period from 1 September 2020 to 28 February 2021. Since 1987 when the year-based car registration system was introduced, January has consistently been the busiest month for new car sales in Ireland. Not so this year, as the latest Government Covid-19 restrictions will curtail the normal business activities of car dealers across the country for at least the first four weeks of January and perhaps for even longer into February. John Manning supports the Government moves to curtain the spread of the virus. “It will be really tough on our business as new car sales will ...

Due to numerous Covid-19 lockdowns throughout the past year and uncertainty over Brexit, new car registrations for 2020 finished at just 88,324 units which is a 25pc drop on 2019 (117,109), writes Trish Whelan . Statistics released from the Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI) also show New Light Commercial Vehicle (LDV) registrations in 2020 saw a decrease of 14.2pc (21,732) compared to 2019 (25,336) while New Heavy Commercial Vehicle registrations (HGV) saw a decrease of 22.3pc (2,066) in comparison to 2019 (2,659). Imported Used Cars saw 79,969 registrations in 2020, a decrease of 29.8pc on 2019 (113,926). Sales of electric vehicles (EVs) are on the increase with 4,013 new vehicles registered last year in comparison to 3,444 in 2019. Other stats of note show a changing market place in 2020. Diesel accounted for 43.29pc; petrol 36.91pc, hybrid 11.86pc, electric 4.54pc and Plug-In Hybrid 2.78pc. Diesel remains the most popular engine type while hybrid, electric and plug-in hyb...

Volkswagen Group Ireland retail dealerships will, for the most part, operate a 'Click & Collect' service for new car buyers during the period of the Level 5 restrictions, writes Brian Byrne . The Group's brands include Volkswagen Passenger Cars, Audi, Skoda, SEAT and Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles. In a statement today, VGI says the retailers can accommodate most customer’s individual wishes, with the safety of both retailer staff and customer alike of paramount importance. "With Ireland at a crucial and significant juncture in the fight against COVID-19, Volkswagen Group and its network of dealers have worked tirelessly to ensure that all services, whether essential maintenance or click and collect vehicle orders are provided in accordance with government guidelines."  

In 2005 I was car-shopping and briefly considered the Pontiac Grand Prix .  Didn't get around to test-driving one, perhaps because I was driving an Oldsmobile Intrigue and wasn't very interested in buying a similar car.  The car I eventually bought was a Chrysler 300. But there was one thing about the Pontiac that caught my eye.  It was the sculpting on the hood and front end.  Attractive and subtle.  Almost too delicate for the Pontiac's 1960-1980 image as a performance car.  Which might have been a factor in the brand's demise -- it wasn't macho enough for macho buyers. The hood and frontal detailing is so subtle that I found it difficult to locate images that do the sculpting justice.  One needs to actually view a car.  But take a look below and you might get a hint of the reality. Gallery Front quarter view of a 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix.  Ever since 1961 Pontiacs featured a two-segment grille.  The version here has a shield-like outli...

By 1990 General Motors was on its path from industry dominance to bankruptcy.  Ford's aerodynamically influenced 1986 Taurus was a marketing success that required a response from GM.  That response was in the form of its new W Platform .  Coupes appeared for the 1988 model year, sedans following for 1990. The present post deals with the sedans.  These were the Chevrolet Lumina , Pontiac Grand Prix , Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme and Buick Regal . Shamed by the lookalike 1982 A Body line, GM made an effort to have W Body cars for each brand look distinctive.  Some details are discussed below. Gallery Chevrolet Lumina Euro I owned one of these during my time as demographic forecast supplier to GM.  The basic Lumina had a different grille and no trunk lid spoiler. Pontiac Grand Prix This car had a slightly higher beltline and six-window passenger greenhouse.  Rear door cutlines differ. Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme The basic body here is similar to the Lumin...

In 1947 SAAB ( Svesnska Aeroplan AB ), builder of military aircraft, was exploring entering the automobile market.  The initial result was the prototype that some people nowadays call the UrSaab .  (In Germany and some parts of Europe probably including Sweden, the prefix "Ur" is sometimes applied to the earliest example of something.  The word Ur is the name of what some anthropologists claimed was the world's oldest city.) A series of prototypes were built, details edging towards the first production model, the Saab 92 that reached the Swedish market in 1950. Below are images of that car and another prototype along with two earlier cars with similar rear styling details.  Because Saab built aircraft and had a wind tunnel, it is no surprise that the new car was tested to enhance aerodynamic efficiency.  Whether or not the other streamlined examples actually influenced Saab designers is belong the scope of my source materials.  That said, I hope you might ...

My e-book on automobile styling argues that there hasn't been much evolution in the appearance of sedans since about 1950.  Yes, technology has improved in terms of metal stamping, autoglass forming, headlamp structure and other fields related to how cars look.  And there has been increased attention since the early 1980s regarding improved aerodynamic efficiency as a means of reducing fuel consumption.  But the dominant factor is fashion. Automobile styling fashions come, go, and occasionally return. A case regarding the return of a style is the design of the 2010-vintage Jaguar XJ model.  It took me a while to make the connection, but it finally dawned on me that the XJ can be considered a modern version of the "step-down" Hudson of the 1948-1954 model years. Let's take a look: Here are the cars in profile, the XJ above, the Hudson below.  Both designs might be called "almost-fastback," where the top gradually curves downward and meets the lower body sligh...

Applegreen , Ireland’s leading motorway retailer, will treat customers to a complimentary hot beverage this Christmas, courtesy of the company’s popular ‘Rewards’ app. Anyone who downloads and registers on the app is entitled to the complimentary hot beverage at any participating Applegreen store and will also be in with a chance to win a year’s supply of free fuel in 2021. The Applegreen Rewards app offers customers rich offers including products for 50c, Coffee Club and Car Wash Club. “Driving over Christmas can be stressful," says Applegreen COO, Joe Barrett. "So we invite all our customers to download the Applegreen Rewards app this festive season and revive themselves with a delicious, complimentary coffee at any of our participating Applegreen stores located around Ireland." Anyone who downloads and registers on the app will also automatically be entered into a draw to win free fuel for 2021. "We will be picking 125 winners. This season is all about givin...

The BMW 507 produced 1956-1959 is widely considered a design classic, especially in the context of its time.  Its Wikipedia entry is here .  It was styled by Albrecht Graf von Schlitz genannt von Goertz von Wrisberg, or in shorter, English terms, Count Albrecht von Goertz (1914-2006) -- Wikipedia entry here . Wikipedia notes that it was hoped that the 507 would sell well, but in fact only 252 were ever built. About 40 years later a Chris Bangle design team (Henrik Fisker in charge of the exterior) did what Wikipedia ( here ) calls a "styling exercise intended to evoke and celebrate" the 507.  A show car followed  in 1997 and production began in 2000, continuing into 2003.  Total produced was 5703. Below are comparative images of the 507 and Z8. Gallery 1959 BMW 507, Bonhams auction photo.  Its styling theme is typical 1950s sports car: Flowing fenderline with upkick at the rear, hood lower than the front fenders but with a higher cowl.  The c...

A quartet of electric vans from the PSA Group have been selected as the International Van of the Year 2021 by a jury from 24 countries, writes Brian Byrne . They are the Peugeot e-Expert, Citroën ë-Dispatch (the Jumpy nameplate used in Europe), Opel Vivaro-e, and Vauxhall Vivaro-e. They have a range of up to 330kms in their extended range versions, which was a significant factor in their win. The vans are designed around the EMP2 multi- energy platform to offer zero emission mobility for the passenger car as well as LCV markets. The electric vans are due in Ireland during the first half of 2021.  

A new augmented reality head-up display to be made available by Volkswagen in its ID.3 and upcoming ID.4 electric cars will be a first for the technology in the compact car segment, writes Brian Byrne . The system adds a new layer to the familiar 'near-range' information from head-up, where speed and other details are visible at a 'float' distance of around three metres. The enhanced system adds a larger 'window' visualised at about 10 metres ahead, and wider, where symbols such as turning arrows from the navigation system appear to be pointing directly at the turn. As the car gets closer, the arrows get bigger, but fade in definition so as not to obscure normal visibility. The larger window also shows information from the driver assist systems, such as lane boundaries and close-vehicle identification. The new system will be available first in the ID.4 as part of an enhanced infotainment package option.