Best gin for the buck: Plymouth, or Boodles. Junípero if you want to buy 'murican (San Francisco, made by the good people who bring us Anchor Steam).

/bartender mode,

and back to the masked Honda: Clearly Honda's tape artists did everything in their power to make it look more like a Prius than it actually does. This is camouflage, remember? I'd imagine that they're looking for a shape which screams "hybrid" without looking quite so Priusesque.

If one should drive something so wasteful, at least make it something which gives the driver something in return (like this, or an M5) rather than an Escalade or similar POS. Plus, I can see around a Charger.

There was just an article in the NYT about how the people switching to small cars are spending more than ever on options. The Mini is naturally the #1 in the options game ($18K entry level, may be optioned up to over $40K for the convertible) but most people who switch "down" to something smaller still want the creature comforts and decent design that they are now used to. Can't see GM doing anything for that market...

Maybe in five years they will respond with a Cadillac Aveo?

"No a little lower, oh yeah, faster, yes, that's it... mmmm... thanks, Iran..."

For his next trick he will swap a heavily tuned BMC A-series into an old Honda Civic.

And yes, always allow faster traffic to pass. And always give slower traffic a safe opportunity to get out of your way. Do unto others and all that.

That looks pretty vicious. I'd sport it, if it had a loud enough exhaust.

Suffolk red with magnolia interior, with red piping. Yech. The late eighties were not good to us.

Top speed is becoming a rather useless feature; viz. the Veyron which is only so fast because it is sucked along by a black hole of pointlessness. At least the Bug looks good outside of the Teatro alla Scala during Milan fashion week.

I think all teh internet hate is due to the fact that we've seen this thing so many many times before, from the Vector to the Monte Carlo via the Cizeta and countless others, best forgotten.

Gimme a 1st gen Elise any day.

I figure laws are of tertiary importance, primary is to not endanger/inconvenience anyone else and secondary is how quick one can get where one is going. Luckily, NYC cops usually seem to feel the same way.

This is the one I had. Of course, I pronounced it "Eeshi Gooffee" rather than Iso Grifo. It was my favorite toy as a wee youngster.

When Pininfarina tried to recycle the (coupé) design for the RR Camargue, things didn't turn out quite so good.

I would love any of these, but the Visa Chrono or the R12 Gordini probably tingle me the most. If I could have any French car, I'd go for a Talbot Tagora Presidentiale. Or maybe not.

I'm beginning to like the fact that we can't edit our posts, it makes me (occasionally) think twice before posting. Except for this time, sorry about the apparent threadjack attempt.

That said, I'd gladly give my left nut for a Sagaris. Will I still get to pick my own colour?

But if one was to place two facelifted designs of today next to each other it would be impossible for anyone but the initiate to tell which one was the newer one. Anything goes, the only parameters which are still developing are various crash safety laws, coupled with certain technological developments. Hence all that "geometric" claptrap.

Cars are uglier than ever, swollen and chunky and no-necked. 250 GT Lusso FTW!

As for the Prius, I always liked the looks of the first-gen but feel that they lost it on the second one. As for building one that looks like a normal car, it's not working so well for the Civic and Camry hybrids. Most Prius shoppers are sheep and want everyone to be able to tell that they are sheep trotting in the correct direction.

I also always liked the look of these (Renault Vesta):

To me functionality always looks good; the more single-minded the design the better.

"Add lightness" should be the mantra for all.