Automotive

You’re Not Actually Riding Those Waves: An Analogy On Automated Cars

You’re Not Actually Riding Those Waves: An Analogy On Automated Cars Will automated cars take away the thrill and joy of driving?
What will happen to those who enjoy driving on their own?
Automoblog columnist Tony Borroz with a perspective.
Recently, I read and reviewed a very well done book on the future of automated cars and driving. While banging through the review, I had to examine my own thoughts on automation and what it means for me as a car enthuiast. Unsurprisingly, I’m not a big fan, but not completely opposed to it either. It’s just that, by and large, self-driving cars seem like an answer to a question that I (and many other gearheads) never asked.
Who Enjoys Driving Anyway?
90 percent of my beef with self-driving cars comes down to one instance. Some years back, I saw a press conference with some Google execs about their then-new autonomous car program. One of them, Brin or someone, I don’t recall who, said, “Seriously: Who actually enjoys driving a car?” And that, right there, is our problem specifically, and the greater “problem” that tech brings to the table with all of its disruptive “solutions.”
Tech’s biggest failing, circa 2019, is how they think they are solving problems; but they never grok to the fact they don’t fully understand a given problem. Take that quote: “Seriously: Who actually enjoys driving a car?” Obviously that was uttered by someone who didn’t enjoy driving a car. Ergo, since he didn’t enjoy it, why would anyone else? Well thanks for coming to my rescue, but I was doing just fine and, more to the point, I didn’t ask you to rescue me.
Here is my analogy as to why this is both philosophically and logically the wrong path to go down.
Photo: Hyundai Motor America.
Related: Do consumers really trust automated cars?
Automated Cars & Surfing Safaris
Imagine a tech guy – smart, rich, overworked, thinks he’s a Divine gift to the world – is finally forced to take a vacation after solid months of programming from his office in Mountain View or Redmond or Boston. For some reason, he goes to Hawaii. Someone takes him out to The North Shore and shows him what surfing is.
The picked a good day. Sunset is huge, Waimea might go off and Pipeline is firing, 16 to 18 feet and glassy. A wave comes up, a guy catches it, makes the drop, snaps it off the lip, comes back down for another bottom turn and boom!, hooks a rail and wipes out. He’s standing there, zinc sunscreen on his nose, Teva sandals with socks, every inch the haole nerd.
“Do they always fall like that?” asks the tech guy.
“Most of the time, yeah. It ain’t easy brah!” says the local taking him around.
Tech bro nerd guy then has a brainstorming session.
Catching Waves Via Smartphone
A year later, he comes back to The North Shore. This time with his new start-up in tow. They rent the Volcom House (money is no object). They have a roll-out party to end all parties. Kalua pork, three-finger poi, Kim Taylor Reece is taking pictures, they even get Jake Shimabukuro to play (because money is no object to tech bros). And then the big moment arrives: the big unveiling.
He pulls the covers back and shows off his new invention: The fully automatic surfboard!
He goes into his pitch. “Our new surfboard, the SrfRyder, is the world’s first fully-automated surfboard! With miniaturized water jet engines and ring gyroscope stabilization, catching and riding waves is just a tap on your smartphone away. Never again will you just miss a wave. Never again will you fall, mid-ride. You will be able to catch any wave you see and you will be able to ride any wave you catch. Using our Waterman smartphone app . . . blah blah blah . . .”
Last year, Hagerty began hosting a series of town hall discussions on the importance of driving. Autonomous vehicles and their impact on society was one of the first discussions, with Wayne Carini of Chasing Classic Cars and former General Motors Vice Chairman Bob Lutz as panelists.
Related: Americans still love driving, despite onset of automated cars.
Playing Versus Sitting On The Sidelines
Granted, this is just a story and an analogy. This would never happen. You know why this would never happen? Because if a machine is doing it for you, you are not surfing. And the whole point of surfing is not about traveling from the line up into the beach while standing up, no. The point of surfing is to surf. To catch a wave yourself and then ride it as you see fit, and to the best of your abilities. If a machine does it for you, you’re not a surfer, you’re merely floating. You’re not actually riding those waves.
Same with automated cars. You’re going but you’re not actually engaged in the joys and thrills of driving.
In Defense of Driving
And sure, one day there might be some tech bro standing on a beach, seeing a guy just getting worked after losing it at Pipe, and the tech bro might say to himself, “Seriously: Who actually enjoys surfing?” And that’s fine. He’s entitled to his opinion. But woe unto him if he ever were to make something like an automated surfboard. It completely misses the point of what a surfboard is.
And for some of us, driving is that way. I have no problem using a self-driving car the same way I have no problem with taking a cab or a bus. Just don’t force me to.
Tony Borroz has spent his entire life racing antique and sports cars. He is the author of Bricks & Bones: The Endearing Legacy and Nitty-Gritty Phenomenon of The Indy 500, available in paperback or Kindle format. Follow his work on Twitter: @TonyBorroz.
Photo: Volvo Car Group.

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2018 Chevy Camaro ZL1 1LE Tops Forthcoming Lineup

2018 Chevy Camaro ZL1 1LE Tops Forthcoming Lineup

The Chevy Camaro ZL1 1LE, the Camaro for the hardcore track enthusiast, is configured accordingly from the factory and with unique options at the dealership. The Extreme Track Performance Package, for example, is expected to build upon the car’s already impressive performance attributes, including racing-inspired suspension, advanced aerodynamics, and Goodyear Eagle F1 Supercar 3R tires.
“In the long, storied history of Camaro performance, there’s never been another model that matches the capability of the ZL1 1LE,” said Steve Majoros, Chevrolet cars and crossovers Marketing Director.
Aerodynamics & Suspension
The 2018 Chevy Camaro ZL1 1LE is a treasure chest full of aerodynamic and suspension technology. To the aerodynamic points, a carbon fiber rear wing, air deflectors, and strategically placed dive planes on the front fascia produce downforce. The suspension is track-focused with Multimatic DSSV (Dynamic Suspension Spool Valve) dampers (front and rear) to provide control and stability. The front ride height is adjustable, along with the caster geometry; the rear stabilizer bar can be adjusted three different ways.
Both the aerodynamic and suspension setup serve to keep the ZL1 1LE planted and poised on the track. In fact, even Jeff Gordon entertained the thought of how it would handle and how fast it would go on a track.
Photo: Chevrolet.

Wheels & Weight
Chevy’s track machine rides on special lightweight forged aluminum wheels, which are an inch wider but an inch smaller in diameter, front and rear, than standard ZL1 wheels. The new Goodyear Eagle F1 Supercar 3R tires deliver a max lateral grip of 1.10g, while the overall footprint increases 10 percent over the ZL1.
The wheel-and-tire package now weighs about 3.3 pounds less per corner. The dampers, thinner rear glass, and a fixed-back seat contribute to an approximately 60-pound lower curb weight than a standard ZL1 Coupe.
Power & Performance
A GM supercharged LT4 engine powers the 2018 Chevy Camaro ZL1 1LE. The 650 horsepower engine is mated to a six-speed manual transmission featuring Active Rev Match; stopping comes courtesy of Brembo performance brakes.
Packages & Trim Levels
The 2018 Chevy Camaro lineup consists of LS, LT, SS, and ZL1, which are available in coupe or convertible. The performance-oriented 1LE package is offered on coupes only. The new ZL1 1LE Extreme Track Performance Package (order code A1Z) runs $7,500. The Redline Edition package, available on LS, LT, and SS, includes black front and rear bowtie emblems, red-accented grille, a decklid blackout graphic, dark-finish taillamps, black outside mirrors, and 20-inch black aluminum wheels with red accents, among other things.
SS models can add the 1LE package with the 2SS trim (late availability). Other niceties for 2018 include dual-zone automatic climate control, Bose premium stereo, heated/ventilated front seats, and a heated steering wheel. Expect to see the 2018 Camaro lineup at Chevy dealerships this summer.
Carl Anthony is Managing Editor of Automoblog and resides in Detroit, Michigan.
Photo: Chevrolet.
Photos & Source: Chevrolet.

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Detroit Event Aims To Connect Engineers Working On Vehicle Perception Technology

Detroit Event Aims To Connect Engineers Working On Vehicle Perception Technology

Next Monday in Detroit, Michigan, AutoSens will kick off a 4-day event dedicated to autonomous driving and vehicle perception technology. The occasion will serve as a meeting point for engineers, connecting them to one another in a setting that showcases the latest academic research, industrial R&D, and OEM insights.
AutoSens is not about marketing a certain product, but rather about getting to the core of the challenges facing autonomous technology. The idea is that engineers must first be connected before cars can be.
“What we want to create is a community catered to the engineers who are working on advanced driver assistance systems, and other solutions to autonomous vehicles that will be integrated over the coming years,” explained Robert Stead, Sense Media’s Managing Director, when we spoke with him in March.
Hands-On Experience
AutoSens is taking place at the M1 Concourse, an ideal location with its 1.5-mile racetrack and showroom facilities. On Tuesday, May 23rd, attendees can actually demo a fully autonomous vehicle, and speak to the engineers who designed and implemented the technology. It’s an opportunity to see how an autonomous car works and reacts, and better understand the practical applications of such technology.
Dataspeed has converted a Ford Fusion and Lincoln MKZ with a full array of sensor technology to run laps around the track. Paul Fleck, Dataspeed’s President, is on the distinguished panel of speakers, and will host a session on building an autonomous car on Thursday, May 25th.
Photo: Ford Motor Company.
Vital Resources
The panel of speakers is something worth its weight in gold for attendees. Each speaker is diverse in their experience with extensive backgrounds relating to autonomous driving, advanced driver assistance systems, and vehicle perception technology.
Speakers include Cary Bryczek, Principal Solutions Architect for Jama Software. Bryczek will share over 15 years of experience as an engineer in a workshop called Collaborative Approaches to Improving Traceability and Compliance, which will focus on how to improve product quality, decrease defects, and shorten delivery cycles. Phil Magney, Founder of Vision Systems Intelligence, will host a session on key component technology trends in the autonomous space; Thomas Wilson, Product Line Manager, NXP Semiconductors, will explain the role of and recent advancements with radar; and Joel Gibson, Vice President, Product Line and Program Management, Magna Electronics, will cover the technical challenges related to imagining technology.
“For engineers who are working in this space, it’s an opportunity to come and hear about some of the things that are happening,” Stead said. “AutoSens is meant to help them to understand what is going on in the wider industry.”
AutoSens roundtable discussion in Brussels, Belgium. Photo: Sense Media.

Info & Registration
AutoSens begins Monday, May 22nd at the M1 Concourse in Detroit and runs through May 25th. The event will feature 23 keynote-style presentations, multiple panel discussions, and extensive networking sessions. During the week, AutoSens will host 330 delegates, 45 speakers, 20 advisors, and 4 keynotes, with nearly 12 hours worth of networking opportunities.
A technology exhibition will have 30 displays; classic, sport, and exotic rides will also be displayed. On May 24th, attendees will be treated to the Vintage Evening Reception with food and drinks at the Henry Ford Museum. The evening consists of guided tours around Greenfield Village in Ford Model T cars.
For more information on AutoSens and to register, visit their website.
Carl Anthony is Managing Editor of Automoblog and resides in Detroit, Michigan.
Photo: Sense Media.
Photos & Source: Sense Media.

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Letter From The UK: Drive Of Our Life

Letter From The UK: Drive Of Our Life

Great Britain is very much a place of mixed fortunes; much like America I imagine. Some privileged people live in trendy places like Islington in London, holidaying comfortably in their organic yurts with their organic children, Jocasta and Tristram. They eat organic foreign-sounding foods and drive an eco-conscious Prius because they believe what they are told, and want to help save the planet.
Sometimes they are right.
Other people in other places like powerful, brutish cars. They like to eat McJunk foods and generally couldn’t give a monkey’s pink butt about the environment because they think everything they are told by anyone official is a lie. Curiously, they are sometimes right too.
Silent Majority
The rest of us, the great silent majority or “plebs” as we are officially called here, can swing either way regarding the environment and much else. We want to help because it makes us feel less guilty, but we can’t be sure how much of the issues surrounding climate change are true and how much of it is whipped up by frenzied anti-car monomaniacs and vested interests. It is we, the huddled masses, the plebeians, who buy the everyday bread-and-butter cars that keep the automotive industry afloat.
Giving It Some Thought
I’ve been thinking about this, because at the time of writing, I am driving the latest version of the inoffensive Peugeot 2008 crossover, which is every bit an every-man motor. Also, I have just watched an old Top Gear (UK version) DVD where two aging fellows (who seem increasingly to be resembling a bickering old married couple) are seen roaring about the exquisitely beautiful Italian countryside in a selection of cars few people can actually afford.
I have been fortunate enough to have driven three of the cars featured and owned another, yet such delights are routinely out of sight for the average driver as we plunge on through the rain and murk of Britain; as the storm clouds gather for yet another governmental General Election this coming June. Meet the new boss; same as the old boss.
If you think about it, without the mainstream cars we routinely drive, there would be no supercars and no Top Gear or Grand Tour as we know them today. No motoring life at all. There would be no exotic car posters on the walls of small boys’ bedrooms (alongside Cheryl Tiegs in my case); no automotive dreaming, no wishful thinking. Cars, if they existed in any recognizable form at all, would be dull and uniform.
Peugeot 2008. Photo: DriveWrite Automotive.

Don’t Worry: Be Happy
This is why we should be grateful for the cars we can afford. The Peugeot 2008 I am currently driving isn’t particularly exciting, but it is at least better looking than many of the SUV/Crossover vehicles we are offered today. It has a lively and economical three-cylinder (1.2 liter) turbo-petrol engine, is made up of many quality parts, and has some pleasing and thoughtful attributes. Just like, in fact, most of the cars in reach of normal household budgets today. It is reasonably good to drive and can apply itself to many things with its versatility.
That’s the point. When you watch car shows or glamorous motoring events from far-flung locations it is important to remember that it isn’t real life. That car outside your home, mundane though it may be, is your ticket to ride. It is the freedom of the open road; it is the pleasure of loading the family up at short notice and going where you want to go when you want to go. Most modern cars are decent to drive and there is pleasure in doing a good, safe job behind the wheel. That’s enough isn’t it?
Geoff Maxted is a motoring writer, photographer, and author of our Letter From The UK series. Follow his work on Twitter: @DriveWrite
Peugeot 2008 interior layout. Photo: DriveWrite Automotive.
Cover Photo: Peter H.

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2018 BMW 2 Series: 3’s A Crowd

2018 BMW 2 Series: 3’s A Crowd

In 2014 there was a schism in the BMW world akin to Martin Luther and Pope Leo X: BMW introduced the new 2 Series and, without saying it, more or less plugged that into where the 3 Series was. The 3 Series was moving upmarket – getting bigger, more luxurious, fatter, in a word – and the 2 was more directly in line with where the 3 started.
This was seen by diehard fans of the Bavarian marque as a near insult. BMW 3 Series owners love the 3 Series the way William S. Burroughs loved heroin: completely and unerringly for the rest of their lives.
Three Fold
Yes, BMW still made M3 variants. Yes BMW was still capable of making 3 Series cars go down the Bahn very, very fast. But, BMW felt the initial lightness and agility of the 3 Series was slowly being lost to feature bloat. Feature bloat is what turns small cars into bigger cars in the relentless pursuit of keeping the customer happy. Look at where Honda’s Accord started out, and where it is now. The original Accord is about the size of a current Honda Civic. The same goes for VW’s Golf, which started out about the size of a VW Polo and is now the size of a Jetta, sans trunk.
So, BMW bit the bullet, cooked up a new model, and over the past few years, was able to quell the potential native uprising by both gentle explanation and by making a pretty darn good car out of the 2 Series. And really, the 2 Series is a 3 Series, only without all the burgeoning fat and size.
Refreshed Feel
The new, 2018 BMW 2 Series is a mid-cycle update, so what’s “new” here is down to that basic mid-cycle stuff: New color offerings, new wheels, updated interior design and materials, along with a “fresh look” for the LED headlamps and tail lamps. The overall exterior design hasn’t changed all that much. It still has that low-slung silhouette effect and stretched lines, but within the “compact proportions.” The new 2 Series has, however, a more striking front end.
It still has the classic BMW twin headlights along with the twin kidney grille, so even if you don’t see the badge, you know this is a BMW. Those twin headlights are now standard Bi-LED units that can throw a lot of photons down the Straße. If you want to go even further up the lighting food chain, adaptive LED headlights can also be spec’ed. On the 230i models, LED front fog lamps are standard, which is a nice touch.
The 2018 BMW 2 Series Coupe and Convertible come with an array of driver assistance systems, the latest-generation iDrive control technology, and an extensive range of connectivity features. Photo: BMW of North America, LLC.

Colors & Wheels
The three new exterior colors – a dark Mediterranean Blue Metallic, a lighter Seaside Blue Metallic, and Sunset Orange – are available for both the Coupe and Convertible. Added to the pre-existing colors, buyers now have 11 to choose from.
The range of alloy wheels has also grown. The 230i comes standard with a 17-inch Double-Spoke wheel while the M240i features an 18-inch M Double-Spoke rim as standard. If you go with the M Sport package, the 230i is equipped with either 18-inch M Light-Alloy Double-Spoke wheels, M Ferric Grey Metallic wheels, or 18- inch Double-Spoke wheels with all-season tires. Both the gearhead-centric Track Handling Package and the M Sport Package have optional 18-inch Alloy Ferric Grey wheels.
Graphic: BMW of North America, LLC.
Interior Treatments
The inside has gotten a rather nice freshening along with a completely redesigned instrument panel. The 2018 BMW 2 Series comes standard with the Sport Line interior treatment, which can be specified Black with red contrast stitching if so desired. You can also choose between SensaTec fabric, available in Black and Oyster, and all models can now be ordered with Dakota Leather seats in Cognac. The Luxury Line adds Fineline Stream Wood Trim with Pearl Chrome highlights or Fineline Pure Wood Trim with Pear Chrome highlight. There are five different leather offerings, Aluminum interior strips, and Fineline wood accents.
The redesigned instrument panel features a center stack housing the radio and climate control panels. The cup holders (everso important to the American market) are located in the center storage compartment concealed by a sliding lid. The glove compartment blends in nicely and the air conditioning vents have been redesigned for additional room.
The 2018 BMW 2 Series Coupe and Convertible have an intricate suspension design for a lower center of gravity and a near 50:50 weight distribution. The suspension is aluminum intensive and includes a double-joint spring strut front axle with anti-roll bars and a five-link rear axle. The overall suspension design is meant to increase the ride and handling capabilities of the 2 Series. Photo: BMW of North America, LLC.

Power & Performance
Now, about that “M” in BMW. The 2018 BMW 2 Series Coupe and Convertible come in two models: The 230i and M240i. The 4-banger in the 230i produces 248 horsepower while the M Performance model gets a 6-cylinder plant that cranks out 335 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque. We here at 1 Automoblog Towers highly recommend getting M240i with the big six. With the 6-speed manual, the M240i Coupe hits 60 in 4.6 seconds; 4.4 seconds with the 8-speed Steptronic Sport transmission.
The 8-speed Steptronic Sport transmission actually splits the difference between an automatic and a manual fairly well. Still, if you want to truly choose your own cogs, the 6-speed manual gearbox is available. Also available is xDrive, BMW’s all-wheel drive system, which offers optimum power transfer and better traction. XDrive will mitigate any potential oversteer/understeer situations.
So, the real question, especially among BMW aficionados, is whether the 2 Series can replace the 3 as the light, fun, chuckable playmate of the lineup. I will leave divining that answer up to those who insist a sedan can be just as much fun as a true sports car.
Tony Borroz has spent his entire life racing antique and sports cars. He means well, even if he has a bias towards lighter, agile cars rather than big engine muscle cars or family sedans.
2018 BMW 2 Series Gallery

Photos & Source: BMW of North America, LLC.

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Volvo Partners With Google To Introduce Android Tech For Future Models

Volvo Partners With Google To Introduce Android Tech For Future Models

Android technology is coming to future Volvo models; the Gothenburg, Sweden automaker has partnered with the Mountain View, California tech company for a new venture. According to Volvo, the partnership is meant to bring about the “next generation of award-winning in-car infotainment and connectivity.”
New Volvos will offer a broader selection of apps and services through the Android operating system. Expect to see it within two years.
“We’re thrilled to partner with Volvo to bring Android into their next generation connected cars,” said Patrick Brady, Vice President of Android Engineering at Google.
Meaningful Interactions
The partnership is meant to enhance how Volvo owners interact with their cars. The forthcoming connectivity system is expected to offer a catalog of apps, developed by either Google, Volvo, or other third party companies. Many of the apps will focus on connected and predictive services as it relates to the car.
“We are making an important strategic step with the Google partnership,” commented Henrik Green, Senior Vice President Research & Development, Volvo Car Group. “Google’s platform and services will enhance the user experience by enabling more personalization possibilities, while Android will offer increased flexibility from a development perspective.”
Photo: Volvo Car Group.
Changing Trends
The partnership reflects the growing desire for drivers to be connected to their vehicles, and how automotive and tech companies are working to bridge that gap. With an Android operating system, Volvo customers will see a much more responsive, flexible, and personal in-car infotainment offering. According to Volvo, partnerships such as this one with Google are a necessity for the automotive industry.
“This partnership gives us the opportunity to deliver a more seamless experience to Volvo drivers through a full-featured infotainment platform and rich ecosystem of Android applications and Google services,” Brady said.
Photo: Volvo Car Group.

Future Vision
Volvo is positioning themselves as one of the most forward-thinking, most innovative automakers – and certinately the most vocal. Volvo has petitioned world governments to embrace autonomous driving, promised an electric variant for every vehicle in their lineup, and climate-neutral manufacturing operations by 2025. Volvo Cars President and Chief Executive Officer, Håkan Samuelsson again highlighted the importance of sustainability at an event just last week.
Now this partnership with Google that promises a better ownership experience for Volvo customers. More details will be announced at Google’s annual tech show, Google I/O on Wednesday.
“With the advent of Android we will embrace a rich ecosystem while keeping our iconic Volvo user interface,” Green said. “We will offer hundreds of popular apps and the best integrated experience in this broad, connected environment.”
Carl Anthony is Managing Editor of Automoblog and resides in Detroit, Michigan.
Photos & Source: Volvo Car Group.

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Automoblog Book Garage: The Complete Book of Camaro

Automoblog Book Garage: The Complete Book of Camaro

Every so often (daily), Danielle and I talk (have long conversations) about the “dream cars” we will one day own. While there are a few (many) on the list, living in Detroit gives us an inherent affinity for American muscle. Which is why the Chevrolet Camaro, especially the first generation, always appears on our list.
Given Danielle grew up in the shop of her family’s Michigan-based trucking company, it’s probably not at all surprising.
Family & Future
Her family built an honorable legacy in a rural Michigan community that may well have disappeared without them. This was seen recently at her grandmother’s funeral as memories were recalled and stories were shared. For Danielle and many others who gravitate towards the Camaro, it’s about what the car represents; it’s about what that slice of American Iron truly means. For some, it’s honest work. For others, family and faith. And for others, it’s just simply the thrill of hearing the engine rev. But whatever the reasons, becasue the legacy of such cars live forever, as long as we are attached to them in some way, we can too.

Lasting Legacy
The Complete Book of Camaro: Every Model Since 1967 chronicles the Camaro’s journey, beginning with the original “Panther” concept. Literally every model since 1967 is featured, complete with beautiful photos and detailed technical specifications. The Complete Book of Camaro shows the early pony car wars with Ford and how the second generation became instantly recognizable with unique styling. The book dives into the muscle car renaissance of the 1980s and how the Camaro continued into the 90s, then uncharted waters.
No matter how many times I think I’ve seen the Camaro, I’ve never quite seen it like this.
Author
David Newhardt is one of the top automotive writers and photographers today. He has provided photography for best-selling Motorbooks titles like Muscle: America’s Legendary Performance Cars, Corvette: Fifty Years, Mustang: Forty Years, Mopar Muscle: Fifty Years, and Shelby Mustang: Racer for the Street.
The Complete Book of Camaro: Every Model Since 1967 is available through Amazon and Motorbooks.
The Complete Book of Camaro Gallery

Another excellent book is Camaro: Fifty Years of Chevy Performance, which we featured recently in our Book Garage series.

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Letter From The UK: How To Confuse British Drivers

Letter From The UK: How To Confuse British Drivers Wales is a small country that forms part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain. Like most nations, they have their own customs and traditions. In the case of Wales they also have their own language: Welsh. Once, this tongue almost died out thanks to the ubiquity of English, but, more recently, it has had a major resurgence.
This has reached the point now where the language is widely spoken. It is part of national pride and why not?
Sign of The Times
The language is now so widely accepted the Welsh government declared all road and other official signs and symbols should appear in both Welsh and English. This, as you can imagine, was a major undertaking, much like duplicating road signage in the USA to both American English and wind-talking Navajo.
Fine for those indigenous peoples but what about we UK tourists? This is where the system falls down because the British on holiday are not noted for their common sense, or willingness to join in with local traditions and customs.
Thus, in Wales, signs to places are duplicated and by the time a car travelling at, say, 50 mph has reached the sign, the driver is confused by the mix of languages. With British drivers this is not difficult. This is why they fall easy prey to the Welsh police who are also known as “Heddlu.”
By the time the erring driver has worked it out, they are, in UK parlance, nicked by the cops.
Heddlu is the Welsh-language word for police, meaning “keeper of peace.”
And Europe Is Even Worse
On continental Europe they, like you Americans, drive on the right-hand side of the road. This has always been incomprehensible to British drivers. You can hear this conversation in a British registered car anywhere in Europe:
“Look darling, look! Foreigners! Why are they all on the wrong side of the road? And why are they all shaking their fists at us? Don’t they like us?”
Well, broadly speaking, no. It was bad enough before Brexit. Now we are the lepers of the European Union.
The French police actively target UK drivers for example. It’s a sport for them. This is because we Brits are left baffled when driving around Europe, as four in five unfortunates struggle to correctly identify foreign road signs whilst motoring abroad. On these strange foreign highways they also insist on using something called a “kilometer” instead of a “mile,” and they wonder why we seem to be speeding.
I ask you, is that fair? After all our dashboard dials are calibrated in miles. 50 is 50 isn’t it?

Turn Left, Right?
They have such odd rules. The Italians, for example, have something called indirect turns. It works like this: you, the driver, are on the right-hand side of the road but want to turn left; but in certain circumstances and in certain towns and cities, you must first turn right, go around a whole block, and then traverse the route you just came up on to finally get on the left-hand side!
I mean, does that make any sense at all?
The fact is, the majority of Brits abroad admit to having little to no understanding of foreign regulations and road signs, and few conduct any research into a foreign country’s Highway Regulations before driving on the roads. This is the British way and it probably stems from the time when we ruled the world. “Let them adapt to us,” is our mantra.
And we wonder why they don’t like us.

Language Barriers
Traditionally, when we take vacations in foreign countries, rather than take the trouble to learn the language we prefer to say what we want in English, ONLY LOUDER.
This writer, to his public shame but secret pleasure, very many years ago, was arrested with others while skinny-dipping by night in Lake Geneva. It is a well known fact that Swiss police have no sense of humour. In truth, Swiss authority generally is pretty uptight, especially where cars and drivers are concerned, so without ceremony we were duly marched off to spend the night in the cells.
It is probably a good thing the UK is leaving the European Union (although the latest news is that the issue will be fudged – more on that next time with the emphasis on a shock to the automotive industry).
As an island nation we have our own ideas about how things should be done. Is it any wonder we get confused?
Geoff Maxted is a motoring writer, photographer, and author of our Letter From The UK series. Follow his work on Twitter: @DriveWrite

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If Motorcycle Manufacturers Made Cars: A Sneak Peek!

If Motorcycle Manufacturers Made Cars: A Sneak Peek! Japanese car maker Honda started out by crafting motorcycles in 1949, and the company is still regarded as the world’s largest motorcycle manufacturer today. Unbeknownst to many, Honda made automotive piston rings for Toyota before shifting their attention to motorized two-wheeled bicycles.
And the rest, as they say, is history.
This is a great example of a motorcycle manufacturer who decided to make cars. But what if Aprilia, Ducati, and other iconic motorcycle brands shifted their attention to the crazy world of automotive manufacturing?
Our friends at Jennings Harley-Davidson came up with a design study on what would happen if motorcycle manufacturers made cars. Just what would a Harley-Davidson or Triumph car would look like? Feast your eyes on what could (or should) have been.
Aprilia
Taking inspiration from the Aprilia Dorsoduro 900 supermotard and RSV4 sport bike, this Aprilia off-road buggy is screaming for action! And as we all know, nothing is more fun than blasting over sand dunes behind the wheel of a sports buggy. In true Italian tradition, this Aprilia car is as stylish as the Carabinieri with a splash of ruggedness thrown in the mix.
Andiamo!

Kawasaki
This sporting rendition of a Kawasaki vehicle resembles the love child of a Lamborghini Aventador and KTM X-Bow after a night of cocktails, cheese, and binge-watching the entire Fast and the Furious franchise. We particularly like the hunkered down look of the front end and the contrasting matte gray paint job with alien green detailing.
The rear spoiler is a bit overdone to be quite honest but the windshield looks enough to block the wind from ruining your selfie as you drive.

Harley-Davidson
This Harley-Davidson hot rod means business. It has the facial expression of a Ford Model T but with larger and wider wheel arches for a more aggressive look. No hot rod or rat rod is complete without a large, stonking motor in the front, massive headers and exhausts on the side, and the curvaceous rump of a 1967 Corvette Stingray convertible.
We also like the tall windscreen that is pretty similar to the one found on the Harley-Davidson Road King and Road Glide Ultra.

Triumph
English motorcycle builder Triumph is best known for the Bonnie or Bonneville which was first sold in 1959. And since the Bonnie was named after the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, this rendition is clearly derived from the aggressive design of classic muscle cars.
The front end is a cross between the fascia of a 69 Ford Mustang Boss 429 and 69 Chevrolet Camaro. Equipped with a lowered stance and chunky, low-profile tires with an all-terrain tread design (does this type of tire exist?), this Triumph car is primed and ready to break speed records.

Vespa
This Vespa car is a love-it or hate-it affair. While we did find the front styling to be a bit troubling, everything from the A-pillar backwards is undeniably a Vespa. Also undeniable is the marriage between the Volkswagen Beetle and Citroen DS. If you squint hard and ignore the obvious front styling, you will also see a hint of Porsche 911 Targa in there.
Quite interesting, this car.
But if Vespa is kind enough to shoehorn a turbocharged flat-six motor in the rear end, this could turn out to be an exciting and roofless driving experience.

Ducati
Ducati, Lamborghini, and Audi are essentially under the same umbrella. This exquisite rendition of a Ducati track machine looks like an Ariel Atom on steroids. It seems to have inherited the track-biased, pushrod suspension of the Lamborghini Aventador too. We’re not exactly sure if the height of the windscreen is enough to prevent incoming air from distorting your mug as you pile on the speed, however.
But with slick tires and a pair of massive exhausts screaming at the back of your head, this Ducati vehicle is slated to deliver a raw and unadulterated driving experience.

Vice Versa
The Jennings Harley-Davidson team went the other way too, giving us a glimpse of what would happen if car brands made motorcycles. Jennings Harley-Davidson is part of the Jennings Motor Group family, which was established in 1911. If you want to experience Harley-Davidson motorcycles, the Jennings Harley-Davidson crew in Gateshead and Leeds are always available.
Alvin Reyes is the Associate Editor of Automoblog. He studied civil aviation, aeronautics, and accountancy in his younger years and is still very much smitten to his former Lancer GSR and Galant SS. He also likes fried chicken, music, and herbal medicine.

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