I’m correcting myself here. This year a good run on one day would probably be enough to cover all there is to see. It’s a bit disappointing I have to say. A lot fewer cars than usual and a lot more software vendors among the trade exhibitors. Quite a few brands haven’t bothered showing up and most have relatively smaller displays and models represented.
Current: BMW 530e M-Sport - '17, BMW 630i Sport auto - '07, BMW 325i Coupe - '93, BMW Z4 2.5si Auto - '07, '90 BMW 316i Lux.
Previous: BMW 328i Coupe - '96, BMW 530i SE auto - '07, BMW 530i Sport auto - '02, BMW 318i SE Touring - '07, BMW 330Ci Sport - '04, BMW 520d SE - '11, BMW 523i SE - '00, BMW 328i SE Touring - '00, BMW 523i SE - '97, BMW 323i SE - '98, 330Ci - '00, 325i Coupe - '93, 318Ci - '01, 316iSE - '98, 325iSE 2dr - '91, 320i Conv - '91, 325i Coupe - '92, 320i 2dr - '91.
So at the moment there seems to be common trends of declining financial performance of car manufacturers, greater importance being attached to climate issues by most sections of society and consequently a rapidly increasing sentiment against the combustion engine, and maybe (going by some people's experience of the Frankfurt motor show) a sense of people just being less interested in cars in general than they used to be. And to top it all off, BMW's designers appear to have all lost their minds.
Not a great time to be a car enthusiast really is it.
Last edited by CitizenKane; 13-09-19 at 17:17.
I watched a bit of a slide show on one trade stand that quoted some research that said the market will be 40/30/30% divided between full EV/hybrid of any kind/ICE. That suggests that there will still be quite a proportion of ICE in to the future.
What would worry me is that the investment in technology, battery, platform for ICE engined cars will diminish significantly. As the electric/hybrid tech develops and comes to market it probably means we are within 3-4 years of peak ICE technology development.
The cost of development of the electric platforms mean development sharing between manufacturers which probably means less diversity and probably a further round of consolidation in vendors, if not brands.
Current: BMW 530e M-Sport - '17, BMW 630i Sport auto - '07, BMW 325i Coupe - '93, BMW Z4 2.5si Auto - '07, '90 BMW 316i Lux.
Previous: BMW 328i Coupe - '96, BMW 530i SE auto - '07, BMW 530i Sport auto - '02, BMW 318i SE Touring - '07, BMW 330Ci Sport - '04, BMW 520d SE - '11, BMW 523i SE - '00, BMW 328i SE Touring - '00, BMW 523i SE - '97, BMW 323i SE - '98, 330Ci - '00, 325i Coupe - '93, 318Ci - '01, 316iSE - '98, 325iSE 2dr - '91, 320i Conv - '91, 325i Coupe - '92, 320i 2dr - '91.
I don't remember a time when things weren't getting worse for car enthusiasts to be honest.
It's been a consistent downward trend for a long time.
It's pretty depressing. Part of the fun of performance cars (to me) is that they're supposed to be "dangerous", impractical, not everyone should be able to drive them, or own them, you should be making some sort of sacrifice to have one which in itself sets you apart from the average joe in their HIDEOUS Nissan Tida.
Soon, the electric "Nissan Tidas" of the world will be as quick or quicker than performance ICE cars. The diesel phenomenon already bridged quite a bit of the gap between "normal car" and "performance car". At least in a straight line.
Soon ICE sports cars will be considered irrelevant by 99.9% of people - even Mo is already converted The 0.1% can go on about the driving experience and the noise (which is already being taken away by WLTP if nothing else) as much as we want but it'll be pi$$ing in the wind.
Not to mention how "anti-social" it's becoming to own or drive a sports car or big engined car, motor tax, brexit which will soon deprive us of UK cars unless you're willing to pay through the nose. It's the perfect storm.
I think I'm nearly ready to throw in the towel...
Current: BMW 530e M-Sport - '17, BMW 630i Sport auto - '07, BMW 325i Coupe - '93, BMW Z4 2.5si Auto - '07, '90 BMW 316i Lux.
Previous: BMW 328i Coupe - '96, BMW 530i SE auto - '07, BMW 530i Sport auto - '02, BMW 318i SE Touring - '07, BMW 330Ci Sport - '04, BMW 520d SE - '11, BMW 523i SE - '00, BMW 328i SE Touring - '00, BMW 523i SE - '97, BMW 323i SE - '98, 330Ci - '00, 325i Coupe - '93, 318Ci - '01, 316iSE - '98, 325iSE 2dr - '91, 320i Conv - '91, 325i Coupe - '92, 320i 2dr - '91.