For anyone with a family these days, transport is a problem. Even a single
toddler seems to require enough support equipment to mount an amphibious attack
on the Normandy beaches. Fitting that equipment into a normal hatchback is just
possible, but for anyone into breeding in a big way the transport options get
expensive.
That's why we've seen the plethora of horrific MPV's and SUV's emerge in this
politically correct age of uninspiring family motoring. In days of old parents
heading out to the hills would hurl their children into the back of a capacious
estate car along with a pack lunch and a cricket bat to entertain or punish
little Jonny as appropriate.
Estate cars don't exist any more of course. If you need to transport a few
twigs to the local dump (sorry, environmental recycling centre) these days then
you either use your BMW 'touring' or your MPV/estate. Mercedes don't do estate
cars any more, Alfa have 'Touring' cars and Lexus make 'Sportcrosses' which
sound more like state of the art Lacrosse equipment.
There is hope yet though. At the Detroit show Dodge have displayed the Magnum
SRT-8. It's a man's car, with a brutish name and brutal power. A 430bhp,
supercharged 5.7 litre V8 drives the rear wheels only in deference to the
fashion for unnecessary four wheel drive. A low slung, muscular body, tinted
windows and 20 inch wheels add to its menacing look.
Whilst the Dodge Magnum SRT-8 is a concept vehicle, it provides a strong hint
at the first version of Chrysler Group's next-generation of rear-wheel drive
"LX" vehicles. A production version similar to the Dodge Magnum SRT-8
concept vehicle will go on sale in 2004 under the Magnum name.
Nothing this side of a hearse would have such presence on the school run!
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