Although it appeared to be a replacement for the MK 1 Golf based Scirocco coupe, VW was aiming the MK 2 based Carrado at higher targets. They were gunning for the wave of sophisticated Japanese coupes that arrived during the late 1980s, and the entry level Porsches that were proving so popular. The styling was [...]

The original Fire Bird had appeared in 1967, based on Chevrolet Camaro’s ‘F’ body, but interest in the car didn’t really begin to pick up the restyled 1970 versions were introduced. There were muscular looking cars, with fat arches curvy hips and huge implied machismo in their stance. Only one variant had the power to [...]

The 205, which was launched in 1983, became the definite small Euro hatchback over a 15 year production run that saw over 5 million examples sold. It is widely held that Peugeot management avoided the tricky business of replacing the 205 by simply avoiding the issue. Instead, it launched the tiny 106 City car in [...]

In the late 1990s, few people would have expected the conservative Opel to take an interest in producing a sleek, 2 seater sports car. Which is why when the Opel GT was previewed in 1996 as the XV/R concept car, the idea was not expected to go any further. Opel shocked the market when it [...]

Datsun (as Nissan was then called) established a fine reputation for its 1968 240Z coupe, especially in the USA. Its fine styling, exemplary reliability and punchy performance from the straight six engine meant it outsold the then dominant sports car rivals from Europe. Sadly, the subsequent 280 and 300Z replacements just fatter and less sporting. [...]

Nissan had built a considerable reputation with GT-R version of its Skyline coupe. The model became a world wide icon with the launch of the R32 version in 1989. It came to represent a Japanese car industry at its most intelligent and innovative. The 1993 Skyline and 1999 R34 Skylines built on this, but used [...]

When it was launched it was called the World’s most advance car by the Press. Rumors have it that the Skyline’s engineers had been told to out Porsche Porsche. The car was launched in Europe at the extremely challenging Nurburgring circuit in Germany. It was soon clear that Nissan had succeeded in producing the world’s [...]

Mercedes had long been synonymous with beautiful two seater roadster, starting with the classic, 1950s, gullwingned SL 300. The company’s SL range developed over the years into one of the most desirable up market models produced. However, the SL’s high end engineering also meant high end prices. As part of Mercedes’ 1990 dash for diversification, [...]

As old as it seems now, the Mercedes 190 was seen as a huge risk for the company because it had forged its reputation on building high end, high quality limos and sports cars. Mercedes engineers thought first turned to a smaller car in the wake of the 1973 oil crisis, which severely restricted supply [...]

Combine the ground breaking leap in technology of the 190 and the build quality and timeless styling of the SEC coupes, and you would still not have the measure of the impact that Mercedes all new SL made at its launch in 1989. The styling was extremely simple, yet suitable touches (especially around the shovel [...]