It’s A Great Time To Be Into Cars Even In Petrol's Twilight Years
We hold our hands up over any accusations of malcontent when it comes to the end of the petrol era. We’re at the beginning of it, and we’ve penned our fair share of objections and complaints. We’ve also attacked new anti-engine rules where they’ll have no effect other than to annoy drivers.
Perhaps it’s the post-new year glow that comes during that lovely crossover period where you’re hitting the gym again and feeling fitter than you have for a while, but still stuffing your face full of leftover chocolate, savouries and, if you’re old enough, beer. But whatever the reason, we’re feeling more optimistic at CT Towers this week.
Right now is a great time to be a car guy or girl. We’re embarking on a period of change that will be so rapid and so complete that to be within it will feel a way that hasn’t been felt since the 1950s. Back then, car ownership was going through the roof after the post-war shackles of austerity began to fall away. Where cars had been an expensive privilege, they had started to appear everywhere.
Youngsters everywhere would sit on pavements and car-spot, testing their knowledge of each new model. Every passing Imp and Anglia was another step on a voyage of discovery that, in many cases, sparked a lifelong love of – or at least fondness for – the humble automobile. Today we stand on the brink of a similar era.
Sure, cars as a concept are old news. Their existence alone is far from enough to interest young people in the age of Fortnite and Deliveroo. The impact will be much more subtle, but just as long-lasting. Soon, car-savvy parents will be able to start EV-spotting with their kids as uptake accelerates. There’ll be in-car games of ‘spot the Taycan’ or similar. Anyone who wants to see will be able to watch how the number of EVs increases, driving towards a new automotive landscape.
And yet that’s not the only reason for optimism in 2019. Aston Martin is edging closer to a full reveal of the Valkyrie insanity-wagon. We already know it sounds a lot like an old F1 car and we absolutely can’t wait for more. We know that the German giants are all getting into electric cars in a big way, and we know that Tesla isn’t simply going to lie down and let them take its sales. The bar is surely going to get raised again and again from right now.
The petrol age isn’t dying without a fight, either. As the other Matt wrote earlier this week, the rather desirable likes of the Taycan and Honda Urban EV are joined by the new Supra, a mid-engined Corvette, a new BMW M3 and much more. A six-cylinder Porsche Cayman GT4 (effectively previewed by the Clubsport racer pictured above) should arrive this year and the hot hatch market is awash with more outrageous talent than a Russian circus.
While we’re among the worst of the moaners when it comes to losing normal aspiration, big engines, three-door hatchbacks and cylinders, we also see that there’s still a lot to be excited about. Bring on 2019.
Comments
It’s makes sense but the problem is most people can’t afford the new cars that are supposedly “cheaper to run, tax and insure” so it’s pretty much going to usual diesel/petrol for most people but they’ll have to pay double the fuel,tax, congestion and other charges.
Alot of people lease new cars, so the difference between say a fiesta and an EV will be marginal. However i still see your point for alot of people.
Finland in nutshell
Good thing I live in america where I dont have to pay those lmao
I had a Brit friend of mine sit me down and thoroughly explain congestion charges and other sorts of “red tape” as I called it.
Took him a good 15 minutes and my jaw was on the floor the whole time. The fact there are still folks out there modding their +20 year old cars with all that… red tape… what an effort! Definitely takes true passion to commit to that!
Gas cars are never going to fully diaappear either…and I doubt that much is going to stop those who really want to drive them, much like the horse, they never fully disappeared and there are a large number of people still using them
I agree, but probably most likely biofuel. There will still be a place for people who want to drive cars for enjoyment, or possibly in situations where maximum energy density is required.
I hope that too, but ICE cars need fuel, horses don’t
I think you mean Honda Urban EV rather than Urvan EV
Stop saying that EV’s will replace ICE cars. Nobody has even made a good, road legal EV yet.
Sales seem to argue against your last point…
I don’t remember this being 2006.
No matter how you look at it, the Teslas were the start of EVs actually being normal(Ish) cars.
If that’s too “gimmicky” for you,there’s the Chevy Bolt and Audi E-tron which both outside and inside are the exact same as their ICE brothers.
So your point is horribly invalid
A good EV can be subjective, fine, but ‘road legal’?
Negative
Tesla are great cars, have you ever driven one …?
And after the twilight, and brief darkness the Dawn of a new age of car-fandom
Unless autonomous cars completely destory all legality of driving…ill probably have killed myself at that point
I am scared of the future of cars. I just want petrol cars to survive. I am fine with EV’s being available but i also want petrol cars to be produced. At least for performance models.
The way I see it, the more people using electric cars, the more fuel for me. Also, if people do start buying into electric cars, the used car market (and therefore the parts market) for gas vehicles will explode.
We aren’t at the peak yet tho. The peak is when everything goes crazy
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