It’s not often we’re truly wowed by automotive photography – we really live in a time of image saturation, and thus (to a certain degree), desensitization – but here are two recent examples that really made us stop and linger— probably precisely because the car has been de-emphasized in favor of the larger surroundings (and in one of the examples is nothing but a bit player— hardly anything ‘automotive’ about the image at all).
Fascinating images of a fascinating place (Hong Kong), and a lesson to anyone wanting to take compelling car photos (put the telephoto or zoom lens down and take several steps back).
Image credits: www.isphoto.lv (top), xavibarca (bottom)
Odd bedfellows, but all nice drivers in their own right. If this doesn’t look like a fun outing, we don’t know what does! Bonus points to all three for wearing matching colors 😉
Images by MCB guest contributor Skorj (he of the 10,000 RPM S800— incidentally, the one that we, too, would choose) and general correspondent of all things Japanese.
Ford Focus ST
We know we’ve sworn off new cars for good, but if we had to, we’d be foolish not to give the Ford Fiesta ST or the GTI-vanquishing Ford Focus ST a hard look if we were shopping in one of these segments. The Fiesta in particular, with a healthy 197 hp and 214 lb-ft of torque to move around all of ~2600 lbs (nice), sounds especially enticing. Power-to-weight ratio, anyone?
Ford Fiesta ST
With these offerings, along with its cornerstone Mustang franchise (which has probably never been better as a driver’s car than it is now), we have to wonder:
In any case, what a sea change from the turds we knew and loathed from the ‘Have you driven a Ford lately?’ era— the ones that are firmly (and irrevocably— or so we thought) rooted into our consciousness, despite the best straight-faced efforts of Sir Jackie Stewart:
One more look at the (Euro) Focus ST:
We honestly never thought we’d ever see such a day— shocking doesn’t even begin to describe it. Bravo, Ford— please stand up and take a bow. You deserve it.
Love. Also an excuse to post some Blondie.
Anyone care to identify the car? We’re thinking 1967 Camaro.
(Image: Bob Gruen)
In the EU, no one would think twice about this price tag. Some things are better over here.
However, it’s very pretty in the not-available-Stateside Minzgrün (though not enough to get us to sign on the dotted line).
The a la carte menu is extensive: European buyers can check-box a GTD well past this test car’s 41,727 euros (more than $52,000) sticker (source).
We’re so glad we’ve developed a taste for used cars, even with all the imperfections they entail and attention they so invariably demand. After all, for the cost of a new [non-US] Golf, you can get _______________ (fill in your own blank :)).
One of the rare moments we here in the States have something to rub in:
Compared to:
(As of this writing, $1.00 USD = €0.77 = £0.62 = $0.96 AUD)
Sounds good to us— much more appealing than the paddle-shifted AWD version. Would we buy one (even if we could)? Probably not. Modern Lamborghinis (and, for that matter, Ferraris) have never fully captured our imagination, nice though they may be. But if they did, and if we had to, then this would be the one to buy.
But do carry plenty of closed alcoholic beverage containers in the back of your M Coupe as frequently as possible. You’ve got a big ‘ol boot— use it and use it often 🙂
Motoring Con Brio 