NEW CAR NET
Massimo Pini's Blog   Editor-in-Chief, Massimo Pini trained as an automotive designer before setting... Read more >
  Peugeot pushes 208 with some interactive ooh-la-la!
  by Massimo Pini 29 Feb 12 - 11:39

Posted in cars, driving, news 

Ever since the 205 was launched back in the early 1980s, Peugeot has been synonymous with building stylish and engaging small hatchbacks. Designed by Pininfarina, the 3-door version spawned the iconic 205 GTi ‘hot hatch’ which appeared first, powered by a 1.6-litre petrol engine and then later by a 1.9.

Fast forward past the 206 and 207 to the present day and we are about to see the wraps come off the latest Peugeot GTi - the 208 - at the Geneva Motor Show. Although badged as a concept, it looks pretty much production-ready and is sure to become the 208 range-topper in the not too distant future.

Peugeot is putting a lot of energy (and money) into promoting the new 208 to help ensure its success and I’ve recently learned (via ebuzzing) that part of this involves a new interactive film conceived around the notion: “Let your body drive”.

The film sees the protagonists playing out a modern interpretation of a classic French farce - but with a twist!

Peugeot invites you to 'Let Your Body Drive' to deal with sticky situations

During the film, you’re invited to decide what will happen next. The film progresses as a succession of scenarios in which the body and physical sensations are at the centre of the action.

Peugeot says that the 208 has been designed to be perfectly in tune with the driver’s body - enabling it to fully express itself, and this new interactive film is designed to illustrate the point.

If you fancy yourself as someone who is good at getting out of tricky (or even sticky, eugh!) situations, then why not put yourself to the test and have a go!

Check out the Peugeot 208 film at www.letyourbodydrive.com but if you’d like a taster first, then click here for the YouTube clip.

  • del.icio.us
  • Digg
  • Fark
  • NewsVine
  • Reddit
Pat Holliday's Blog   Pat Holliday mans the news desk at NEWCARNET.co.uk and takes... Read more >
  Volvo app sets sail
  by Pat Holliday 20 Oct 11 - 18:27

Posted in cars, news 

Sailing. What’s that all about eh? Little white triangles jostling amongst themselves. Ok, that is completely unfair to Britain’s Olympic sailors, even if they might admit the sentiment behind it.

This country has a superb record in competitive sailing disciplines yet the crewmen and crew women remain fairly obscure. This is, I suspect, due to a lack of coverage rather than public apathy.

Here’s where key sponsor Volvo comes in. Ahead of London 2012 it’s just released an app for iPhone and iPad with in depth info on Team GB. The free app is crammed full of images, videos and useful background on the sailing team.

It should now be a breeze (geddit?) to follow Nick Dempsey (windsurfing), Hannah Mills and Saskia Clark (470 class) and Ben Ainslie (Finn) – the latter already a triple gold medal winner across three previous Olympiads.

They - and the other classes of Team GB - have the potential for a serious medal haul in London 2012. Check out the Volvo app and see for yourself.

One commentator over-enthusiastically calls Ainslie “the greatest sailor since Nelson”, a confusing description since (a) I don’t recall Nelson racing around Portland Harbour for laughs and (b) Nelson only had one arm/eye so would’ve been in the Paralympic class.

See? I’m learning already.

  • del.icio.us
  • Digg
  • Fark
  • NewsVine
  • Reddit
Charis Whitcombe's Blog   Charis Whitcombe writes the She Drives section of NEWCARNET.co.uk, and... Read more >
  Foggy thinking
  by Charis Whitcombe 16 Mar 11 - 15:00

Posted in cars, driving 

Today it was foggy. On my 5-mile journey into our local town, I spotted seven cars without any lights on. Not even their sidelights. All seven of the lightless cars were dark-coloured SUVs being driven by women. Please, fellow females, don’t justify comments that all women drive likes prats, by driving like prats.

You might even want to sell the SUV and buy a cheaper car, and spend a small fraction of the cash you save on some advanced driving lessons. Your children would be safer. Other people’s children would be safer. If that’s asking too much, just turn your lights on in fog, eh?

  • del.icio.us
  • Digg
  • Fark
  • NewsVine
  • Reddit
Graham Whyte's Blog   Graham Whyte has been an automotive journalist for more than... Read more >
  A tale of two dogs
  by Graham Whyte 05 Nov 09 - 15:07

Posted in cars, driving 

One of our favoured tea stops when we are out filming is at Wisley in Surrey. The tea bar is located in a wooded area, and served by ample parking, arranged in bays.

Last week, there we were, sitting quietly at a picnic table, enjoying the autumn sunshine, when onto the grass drove a BMW X5, which stopped a few short feet from our table. I say ‘on the grass’ as distinct from ‘in one of the many empty parking bays’.

When the driver got out I politely pointed to the bays and asked if she wouldn’t mind using one of them, rather than park two tons of German mean-machine on the fragile chamomile- and clover-studded grass.

In reply, she suggested I do something physically impossible, then trounced off into the woods with her designer dog, which looked every bit as arrogant as its owner.

Incidentally, the BMW looked rather like the one in the photo I took at the time. I hope you can read the number.

  • del.icio.us
  • Digg
  • Fark
  • NewsVine
  • Reddit
  
<