Search the Community

[extract] In March this year, Peugeot showcased a concept version of the 208 GTI at the Geneva Motor Show. The car was heavily inspired by the legendary 205 GTi of the 1980s and early 1990s. After receiving some positive reactions towards it, Peugeot has decided to give the 208 GTi the go-ahead for production. The production version of the car will be shown off at the Paris Motor Show this year in September. Power will come from Peugeot S.A.

It's confirmed. Cars, or more specifically hatchbacks are getting their design cues from sneakers or basketball shoes. Kia recently decided to unveil the Track'star Concept car at the upcoming Chicago Motor Show and that blunt front end, a steeply raked windscreen and chopped off rear hatchback coupled with a funky, garish, bright, shocking, loud (your choice) colour scheme and a basketball high-cut sneaker is what it reminds me of. It's true. Just take a look at the photo of a basketball sneaker above and you can see the comparison. it has the same lines - snub front, the steep shoelace eyelet tabs and that bright colour scheme is exactly like the Kia Track'star above. And then you realise that this must be extremely correct as Kia named the car Track'star. There is a shoe based theme going on here. But one must note that I think the first sneaker-like hot hatch isn't the Kia Track'star mentioned above. That falls to the Citroen DS3 Racing. The DS3 Racing really went the sports shoe way first. Take a look at the colour scheme and the very 'in-your-face' graphics and decals on the roof and just in front of the rear arches. Even Clarkson (yes, that chap from TopGear) mentioned that the Citroen was like a pair of Air Jordans. One might also argue that the BMW Mini Cooper S is the first sneaker car. But I have to say that it isn't as e with even the one with the Union Jack pattern on the roof (or whatever pattern) is actually similar to the original from the 1960s. The high-cut colourful basketball sneaker like the one popularised by Michael Jordan or Michael J. Fox in Back To The Future wasn't invented yet. So it is this new crop of cars that have actually made the sports sneaker-hot hatch styling come to fruit. What next for the future of car design? I actually have no idea but the future looks bright and very sports shoe-like for the moment.

Although the market is being increasingly flooded by super-minis these days, the super-mini giant is still the Mini.. ironically. There hasn't been much competition until recently with the launch of the new Fiat 500 and the Audi A1. Now though, theres a new challenger creeping up its back. And its no German Eurobox, its a French Citroen! The DS3 has just been let loose not too long ago and I'm going bonkers over it because I think its such a cute little car and with such a cool yet modern yet retro design all balled up into one lump of fantastic metal. It stands out from the crowd, setting itself apart from the boring and pretentious looking Audi A1 and trumps the re-invented Mini and Fiat 500 by miles. As with the Mini, there are many customization options which we can choose from which is a great thing, though of course the idea comes from the Mini, but who cares really? Since when did car companies have independent brains? Funny thing really, the DS3 shares the same engine as the Mini and yet somehow it feels like a happier place to be. The interior as expected, can be customized to your liking and colour combinations, definitely a hit with the ladies and maybe some guys.. and the Citroen can accommodate up to 5 people instead of 4 in the Mini. As for the powerplant, the 1.6l which produces a decent 118hp which is enough to get around Singapore roads comfortably. With its low emissions, this car is green and tree friendly and its fuel consumption is meager as well. The price is where it starts to hurt a little bit, at 94k, it will make you dig deeper into your pockets but at least you know you'll be owning something thats quite awesome..