Question of the Day: Do We Still Like Supercars?
BBC America's version of Top Gear is a mixed blessing. I'm not happy how they edit the episodes– like removing the Cock-O-Meter sequence entirely from the M3, AMG C63, RS4 comparo (if Americans hear the word "cock" we'll drop dead). So I've spent six months of my life watching every single second of Top Gear on YouTube. Only now BBC shows 'em in high def. My point? Last night I watched the episode featuring Jezza making love to the Ascari A10. In case you haven't heard, the manic, shed-built Ascari can hit 60 mph in 2.8 seconds (that's faster than a Veyron), weighs less than 3000 pounds and de-perched the Koeniggsegg CCX from atop of the fastest Top Gear lap time board. And I couldn't have cared less. Am I getting old? Are there just too damn many of them these days? Or is Mike Bumbeck right: supercars are for people who can't drive?
Cleanup driver for Team Black Metal V8olvo.
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Oh who am I kidding? If I ever hit the right asset level, I'm buying a Murci. And sneaking an RS4 Avant in through Canada.
I'm just tired of the formula. Any jackass with a big enough trust fund can mix and match some ludicrously overpowered V8/V12 supercar, style it to look like a cross between a Tesla Roadster and a Noble, claim they're going to dethrone the Veyron, and kludge out a few copies. What takes considerably more talent and finesse is a supercar that breaks the mold - an ultra-light diesel like the VW EcoRacer, an electric like the Tesla, a hybrid, a rally car. I'm excited about the Tesla. I'd lust after something in the mold of the old Group B rally cars. I'd love to see a truly raw, flared, winged WRC homologation special. But a big engine stuck in the middle of a swoopy car that looks like a talented 12 year old drew it in his math notebook? Tired and done. The world's moving on.
The real supercars are not featured in most car magazines. Look at Formula1 for real supercars. There is nothing like hearing the engine hit 20k+ rpms going down the straight and watching the drivers pull 3+ G's in the corners.
I think part of the definition of a Supercar is that it simply isn't practical to drive on the road. Me, I'd go for the more practical; BMW M3 not M1, Porsche 911 not 959...