The original Toyota Aygo is a very good car.  The original was produced on a common platform with Peugeot (the 107) and Citroen (the C1) and released back in 2005.  It is safe (with a 4 star NCAP rating), comfortable and economical.  It won’t win any speed awards but for the price you pay it’s a fantastic little motor with a zingy 1.0 litre engine with power being sent to the front wheels.

The Toyota Aygo Crazy however is something else entirely.  It is, in fact, almost exactly the opposite of the standard car.  This special is heavily modified (aside from what you can see).  Rather than rear seats, the engine has been positioned into the mid-point of the vehicle, giving you a rather odd (but useful) shelf.  More importantly, putting the engine there really allows you to feel and hear everything that’s going on.  This is good.  What’s better is the engine itself.

The car is powered by a 1.8 litre VVT-i turbocharged engine, meaning that it should be very happy to freely rev up and provide you with that power quite quickly.  This is the same unit that powers the Celica and MR2, along with various Lotus vehicles.  What about performance though when this unit is uprated to 200BHP?

It doesn’t just look quick, it is quick.  Whilst in a standard Aygo you’ll be suffering a yawn-inducing 14 seconds plus to 60, in this one-off special, you’ll race there in less than six seconds.  Impressive from something the size of a roller-skate I’m sure you’ll agree.  Not only that but you’ll be able to charge all the way up to 127MPH.

So how come the car can be so damn quick?  Well, a curb weight of only 1050kg ensures that you should get the handling to match.  That trick Tein suspension that’s also an addition may well help with any screeching tyre issues you might have.  Nimble though?  You bet.

As with a number of these special one-offs, there are some things that seem to move backwards rather than forwards.  What I’m referring to here is the fact that you get no ABS, no traction control and no power steering.  Granted, some of this will be down to the weight-saving necessity of a car like this, but no ABS?  Not fond of a car without that I must say.

The interior has been given a far more racy slant, with a roll cage, bucket seats and safety harnesses.  Of course, for the exterior and driving dynamics you get your Brembo brakes too (as well as insane spoiler, ridiculous wheel arches, dodgy scrawl style decals etc etc).

Do I like the Toyota Aygo?  No.  Not at all.  It’s too lairy.  Too in your face.  Worse though, I’m not quite sure why Toyota bothered.  At least when Renault did their crazy V6 Clio they were sensible enough to make more than one.  Hell, I’ve even had the fortune to see one on the road.  In a bizarre sort of way this just serves to emphasise how boring Toyota can be.

Granted, this car is not for me.  I don’t like it.  However, I’d bet a few quid that plenty of people out there do.  It is in a way a ‘real’ hot hatch.  Something to make your girlfriend scream in – quite literally as it does three wheels around a corner.  As a one off though, odd.  You might even say Crazy…

In case you just can’t decide which fuel you want to use, perhaps the new Lotus Exige 270E Tri-Fuel is going to be your sort of thing. It has a top speed of 158mph and charges from zero to 60 in 3.9 seconds, yet manages to chuck out less of the black stuff than most standard hatchbacks. How’s that work then?

This amazing little car can run on normal petrol, bio-ethanol or methanol – you choose the fuel. Given the current climate, I doubt many will choose normal petrol though. Amazingly, the two biofuels can be added to a part-petrol mix to make this one of the most environmentally friendly sports cars around.

So, is this really a development then? Well yes, of course. Not least because in the current climate, if you’re not driving something a little more friendly than a standard 2.0 litre petrol you’re not exactly going to fit in with the Joneses. Not only that, but climate change is, like it or not, a fact.

Whether you want to debate it is due to cars or not however remains a separate issue. Granted, this car is not a going to change the planet. But, and I use a big BUT here, it does show that traditional sports car manufacturers are actually considering their product and their customers. People are interested in doing their bit, whether that’s switching to a small diesel or a bio-fuel powered sports car. Nonetheless, this car is special.

This car is special because it is a Lotus Exige. If you’ve never been on a Lotus experience day, I can wholeheartedly recommend it. Why? Lotus makes simply fantastic cars. The Exige is, without a doubt, the pinnacle of the hard work that goes into one of their creations. It is the perfect pocket rocket whether you’re a track day star or a sports car enthusiast. It has a mix of raw power matched with very light weight (875kgs) making it a superb undiluted sports car.

How does it handle? Well, give it a few revs and you’ll see what the fuss is about. It will simply launch forwards, taking your head with it. Push on hard and at 6,000 rpm the VVT engine will open up for a boost of power. This is matched to a lovely slick, quick-shift gearbox. You won’t be left wanting in that regard.

The car itself is simply a dream – the steering is sharp, with a nicely weighted feel. You’ll get almost completely flat cornering, though if you want to have fun that’s possible too. The miles of grip the car provides will give you a lot of reassurance if you don’t happen to be the next Lewis Hamilton. It’s not all dreams of power though, given that you’ll find the frustrations of the car are evident in a lack of space and not-that-great visibility. Nonetheless, it is an amazing feat of engineering.

I think that shows why I like the Lotus Exige 270E so much. Yes, it’s a Lotus Exige. But it’s better. It gives you all that the standard car offers, then adds a big dollop of ‘yes, we do care’ on top. If you buy one – after it has been showcased at the Co-operative Sexy Green Car Show in Cornwall on 23-31st May – you’ll be the envy of just about anyone on the road, let alone the race track.

If the points above haven’t convinced you of the fact, let me just spell it out to you. The Lotus Exige (especially in this powered up, more environmentally friendly form) is a symbol. It represents all that’s right about driving – control, power and manoeuvrability. Best of all, you’ll never get bored driving it. So, let’s all give some respect to the clever folks at Hethel.

Do you know someone who bangs on and on about how modern cars or rubbish?  Or how about the bloke in the pub who claims that his old Triumph TR-7 is better than anything else on the road?  It always interests me when this sort of argument crops up - not least because I think they are wrong but also because nostalgia has a place and you should be aware that is all it is.

Modern cars are wonderful, wonderful creations.  They are, almost without a doubt, better than anything else we’ve produced historically.  In every area I’m going to look at, you’ll see that not only should you be pleased with your modern car - whether it’s an Aston Martin or a Kia - and you should understand that it is a technological and engineering marvel.

Safety
In years gone by, a crash was bad news.  Far worse news than these days, where you’re more likely to be crying over a scratched bumper than you are anything else.  Back in 1970, 7,500 people were killed in road accidents.  In the year 2000, there were less than 4,000 even though there was more than double the amount of cars on the road.

Granted, anyone killed on HM’s highways is a tragedy, but these days cars are without a doubt much, much safer than previously.  Air bags, Safety cells, crumpling single-use bumpers and 3 point safety belts all work hard to help us reach B just the same way as we left A.

Technology
Driving has been made much easier due to a number of new technologies that have been pushed to the forefront of design.  These include ABS and traction control - two race-style developments that mean handling a car is easier.  It can also help you out in a tight spot and stop an accident happening in the first place.

Modern technologies have also made it possible to set up a car to have impressive dynamics at any given speed - such developments include the F1-inspired paddle shift and double clutch technology to handle lots of power.

Materials
The horrendous ‘plastic dash’ not withstanding in very cheap small cars, generally speaking the materials used these days are more sophisticated.  Whether this is the use of lightweight aluminium sub-frames carbon fibre roofs it is clear that modern advances have helped to make a modern vehicle lighter, better handling and prettier.

Exterior
Modern cars aren’t just designed by an engineer - a marketing team also designs them.  Whilst for some that might sound like a nightmare, for others it is very clearly a dream come true.  The reason for this is that there is literally something out there for everyone - whatever your need, style or choice.  Granted there are a lot of bland cars out there, but with everything from the Aston Martin DBS to the Fiat 500 you are certainly spoilt for choice.

A complaint of a certain generation tends to be that new cars have no ’soul’.  Well, whilst your retro-mobile is cool, my BMW M3 offers absolutely wild performance and style in the same package.  It also stops me from looking like I’ve reached a mid-life crisis early.

Comfort/Entertainment
These days we’re doing more and more miles in our cars - something which manufacturers are keenly aware of.  So much so that many motors are now set up to be an almost home from home, with DVD players, cooled gloveboxes for food, cubbyholes for toys and above all space.  None of this would be available in an unmolested oldsmobile and you won’t enjoy the bumpy or too-hard ride in one of those either.

Power/Efficiency
In years gone by, cars were lighter.  They were far less safe as well, as we also covered.  These days, cars are heavier, but they get much bigger engines.  This is fine though, because they emit far fewer gasses on the whole to pollute the planet with.  Not only that, but diesels are far more planet-friendly and a lot less noisy too.

Conclusion
It’s clear from the points above that you’ll find a lot more joy out of investing in a modern motor than a true ‘oldie’, even if it’s what you’d call a modern classic.  With those in mind, here’s a list of the modern cars that I think we should salute as some of the best of their type:
Ferrari F430, Porsche Boxster, BMW 3-series (saloon), Fiat 500, Lotus Elise, Mazda RX-8, VW Golf.

I’ll look at some of the above in further detail in the near future to let you know just why they are so good.

It’s amazing to think that it was way back in 1948 when Colin Chapman built the first Lotus racing car, his talent was so, that he could only be considered to be a pioneer in automotive engineering, this has been proved with the Lotus Formula One team which had such success for many seasons. It has to be said that he was a bit chancer and would take any opportunity to get one up on all of the other teams at the races.

But it was the road cars that really got the company name out there, these cars were innovative and designed with style and elegance. The Elan and Europa being the models that really set Lotus on the road to success.

But there were problems that affected the company in the later years, which in a way actually proved that Colin Chapman was a real person and not some machine set on making money. In celebration of the car and the man, there is to be a landmark event held at the Lotus Headquarters in Hethel, England on 14th September 2008 and will be opened by Hazel and Clive Chapman.

An invitation is extended to all to join Lotus on 14th September 2008 for a day’s celebrations and with it the chance to experience the majesty of the marque and be part of Lotus’ tomorrow.

Source [Auto Spectator]