#BrownCarGuy – News, Views & Reviews!
2024 has been a crazy year for the car world – it’s been madder than an Uber driver on an airport run during peak London rush hour, nastier than a two-day-old petrol station tuna sandwich, and more confused than a glitchy driverless Tesla trying to find its way out of a car park.
It’s not every day you hear two automotive giants like Honda and Nissan mentioned in the same sentence with the word “merger.” But that’s exactly what’s happening, according to a report from Nikkei. Two of Japan’s biggest car manufacturers are reportedly in preliminary talks to join forces, and if this goes ahead, it could be one of the biggest shake-ups the car industry has seen in decades.
There’s been a lot of chatter about Nissan lately. Doom-laden headlines about financial turmoil, production cuts, and whispers of collapse have been doing the rounds. Some are even saying that the legendary Japanese automaker, the one responsible for icons like the GT-R, Z cars, and the mighty Patrol, could disappear within the next 12 months. That’s a big claim. Could this really be the end for Nissan? Well, not so fast.
Jaguar. The name itself purrs with sophistication, elegance, and a dash of roguish charm. But recently, the big cat has been making waves – not for its legendary heritage, but for a rebrand and concept car so bold it’s got everyone scratching their heads like a puzzled moggy. Is this the future of luxury motoring, or has Jaguar strayed too far from the tree? And is ‘making waves’ just another way of saying ‘drowning’ with no hope of rescue?
After months of mounting pressure, the government has confirmed a rethink of the Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Mandate—a policy that has left the car industry in turmoil.
Jaguar has taken what many might call a… er… extraordinary decision – and that’s putting it politely! The once-proud purring cat of British motoring has decided to slink away into the shadows for a while, taking a ‘sabbatical’ until at least 2026. While doing so, it’s exploring its sexuality, applying makeup, dressing in a tutu, and practising pouting for selfies.
Some people dream of driving exotic cars. Others dream of writing about them. And then there’s Shafiq Abidin, who’s managed to land one of the coolest jobs, In The World – Top Gear staff writer. But the journey from a student interviewing me during Covid to being a year-in to one of the most coveted car jobs out there, has not been without challenges and disappointments. It almost never happened, but this young talent fought for his goals, pushing past cultural expectations, imposter syndrome, and countless rejections to make it happen. His story? It’s as inspiring as it is relatable.
As a motoring journalist and avid tech enthusiast, I’ve find myself fascinated and captivated by the evolution of AI and robotic technology and, of course, its impact on our lives. Chiefly in the context of being a car guy, it raises an additional concern for me – where does it leave the now relatively humble automobile if we have a super-intelligent all-singing, all-dancing robot to do all our bidding, and essentially eliminate our need to even leave the house?
Picture it: rows of gleaming chrome, that nostalgic smell of petrol and leather, and the unmistakable chatter of classic car fans, congregating around an open bonnet outdoing each other with facts and trivia. It’s the NEC Classic Motor Show, a slice of paradise for any petrolhead. But as Ralph Hosier and I walked the halls this year, an unsettling thought crept in – could we be witnessing the last breaths of classic car culture as we know it?
When we talk about the future of motoring, sustainable fuels spark some serious debate. Are they genuinely viable alternatives, or just a faux “green-washed” stepping stone? Recently, I had the chance to catch up with David Richardson of Coryton and Sustain at the St James Motoring Spectacle. We tackled the key questions and concerns that both EV fans and petrolheads have raised, looking into the feasibility, practicality, and cost of sustainable fuels for everyday use and classic car preservation. Let’s break down the conversation and see where sustainable fuels stand in today’s petrol-versus-EV-versus-biofuel world.
