What is happening at EVO magazine?
Discussion
ECOTY 2019 video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_7piye1Who
t together in the near future.This year's eCoty has led to my 2nd (and final) unsubscribe from EVO. Its remarkable how far this magazine has lost its way and become a corporate feeling, sterile periodical.
Years ago - if you'd have told the writers they were doing eCoty at a private racetrack, cars arriving in transporters after a night in a 5* hotel - I suspect they'd have scoffed or thought Lord Harry had lost his head.
For sure it's left me cold. The whole eCoty piece this year felt like an over managed car launch event.
Where was the grisly breakfast, car park filled with amazed locals and journalists who felt they'd won the lottery - followed by the empassioned dissection of each car's performance. Heroes dethroned and arguments over bacon sandwiches. The Evo triangle ruthlessly showing how pristine track heroes fall apart on the best of British Black tarmac.
The prose used to draw you in. You could smell the cigarette smoke at pit stops and wish you were one of the years-long friends finding themselves testing amazing cars in wind, rain and the grey gloom.
Nope. Not any more.
To the makers of Evo: Chop the production budget by a minimum of 75%. Force the journos to be creative with less. If they can't then rotate the staff until you've got a crew who genuinely remember what it's like to drive a supercar for the 1st time and aren't so jaded that it's just another manufacturer event at the Paul Ricard.
As for this month: I didn't feel a thing. The thrill of driving this is not.
Years ago - if you'd have told the writers they were doing eCoty at a private racetrack, cars arriving in transporters after a night in a 5* hotel - I suspect they'd have scoffed or thought Lord Harry had lost his head.
For sure it's left me cold. The whole eCoty piece this year felt like an over managed car launch event.
Where was the grisly breakfast, car park filled with amazed locals and journalists who felt they'd won the lottery - followed by the empassioned dissection of each car's performance. Heroes dethroned and arguments over bacon sandwiches. The Evo triangle ruthlessly showing how pristine track heroes fall apart on the best of British Black tarmac.
The prose used to draw you in. You could smell the cigarette smoke at pit stops and wish you were one of the years-long friends finding themselves testing amazing cars in wind, rain and the grey gloom.
Nope. Not any more.
To the makers of Evo: Chop the production budget by a minimum of 75%. Force the journos to be creative with less. If they can't then rotate the staff until you've got a crew who genuinely remember what it's like to drive a supercar for the 1st time and aren't so jaded that it's just another manufacturer event at the Paul Ricard.
As for this month: I didn't feel a thing. The thrill of driving this is not.
Smifffy said:
This year's eCoty has led to my 2nd (and final) unsubscribe from EVO. Its remarkable how far this magazine has lost its way and become a corporate feeling, sterile periodical.
Years ago - if you'd have told the writers they were doing eCoty at a private racetrack, cars arriving in transporters after a night in a 5* hotel - I suspect they'd have scoffed or thought Lord Harry had lost his head.
For sure it's left me cold. The whole eCoty piece this year felt like an over managed car launch event.
Where was the grisly breakfast, car park filled with amazed locals and journalists who felt they'd won the lottery - followed by the empassioned dissection of each car's performance. Heroes dethroned and arguments over bacon sandwiches. The Evo triangle ruthlessly showing how pristine track heroes fall apart on the best of British Black tarmac.
The prose used to draw you in. You could smell the cigarette smoke at pit stops and wish you were one of the years-long friends finding themselves testing amazing cars in wind, rain and the grey gloom.
Nope. Not any more.
To the makers of Evo: Chop the production budget by a minimum of 75%. Force the journos to be creative with less. If they can't then rotate the staff until you've got a crew who genuinely remember what it's like to drive a supercar for the 1st time and aren't so jaded that it's just another manufacturer event at the Paul Ricard.
As for this month: I didn't feel a thing. The thrill of driving this is not.
Christ, pretty harsh. It's not the first eCoty that's been held abroad - as far back as 2001, they were jaunting around Italy and had a test track with a much bigger selection of cars including a Zonda. There's been plenty held abroad since then. It's a massive step back to form from when the 720S wonYears ago - if you'd have told the writers they were doing eCoty at a private racetrack, cars arriving in transporters after a night in a 5* hotel - I suspect they'd have scoffed or thought Lord Harry had lost his head.
For sure it's left me cold. The whole eCoty piece this year felt like an over managed car launch event.
Where was the grisly breakfast, car park filled with amazed locals and journalists who felt they'd won the lottery - followed by the empassioned dissection of each car's performance. Heroes dethroned and arguments over bacon sandwiches. The Evo triangle ruthlessly showing how pristine track heroes fall apart on the best of British Black tarmac.
The prose used to draw you in. You could smell the cigarette smoke at pit stops and wish you were one of the years-long friends finding themselves testing amazing cars in wind, rain and the grey gloom.
Nope. Not any more.
To the makers of Evo: Chop the production budget by a minimum of 75%. Force the journos to be creative with less. If they can't then rotate the staff until you've got a crew who genuinely remember what it's like to drive a supercar for the 1st time and aren't so jaded that it's just another manufacturer event at the Paul Ricard.
As for this month: I didn't feel a thing. The thrill of driving this is not.
trackdemon said:
Smifffy said:
This year's eCoty has led to my 2nd (and final) unsubscribe from EVO. Its remarkable how far this magazine has lost its way and become a corporate feeling, sterile periodical.
Years ago - if you'd have told the writers they were doing eCoty at a private racetrack, cars arriving in transporters after a night in a 5* hotel - I suspect they'd have scoffed or thought Lord Harry had lost his head.
For sure it's left me cold. The whole eCoty piece this year felt like an over managed car launch event.
Where was the grisly breakfast, car park filled with amazed locals and journalists who felt they'd won the lottery - followed by the empassioned dissection of each car's performance. Heroes dethroned and arguments over bacon sandwiches. The Evo triangle ruthlessly showing how pristine track heroes fall apart on the best of British Black tarmac.
The prose used to draw you in. You could smell the cigarette smoke at pit stops and wish you were one of the years-long friends finding themselves testing amazing cars in wind, rain and the grey gloom.
Nope. Not any more.
To the makers of Evo: Chop the production budget by a minimum of 75%. Force the journos to be creative with less. If they can't then rotate the staff until you've got a crew who genuinely remember what it's like to drive a supercar for the 1st time and aren't so jaded that it's just another manufacturer event at the Paul Ricard.
As for this month: I didn't feel a thing. The thrill of driving this is not.
Christ, pretty harsh. It's not the first eCoty that's been held abroad - as far back as 2001, they were jaunting around Italy and had a test track with a much bigger selection of cars including a Zonda. There's been plenty held abroad since then. It's a massive step back to form from when the 720S wonYears ago - if you'd have told the writers they were doing eCoty at a private racetrack, cars arriving in transporters after a night in a 5* hotel - I suspect they'd have scoffed or thought Lord Harry had lost his head.
For sure it's left me cold. The whole eCoty piece this year felt like an over managed car launch event.
Where was the grisly breakfast, car park filled with amazed locals and journalists who felt they'd won the lottery - followed by the empassioned dissection of each car's performance. Heroes dethroned and arguments over bacon sandwiches. The Evo triangle ruthlessly showing how pristine track heroes fall apart on the best of British Black tarmac.
The prose used to draw you in. You could smell the cigarette smoke at pit stops and wish you were one of the years-long friends finding themselves testing amazing cars in wind, rain and the grey gloom.
Nope. Not any more.
To the makers of Evo: Chop the production budget by a minimum of 75%. Force the journos to be creative with less. If they can't then rotate the staff until you've got a crew who genuinely remember what it's like to drive a supercar for the 1st time and aren't so jaded that it's just another manufacturer event at the Paul Ricard.
As for this month: I didn't feel a thing. The thrill of driving this is not.
The latest ECOTY issue was my last straw which is sad having after buying every issue from day 1.
There is now more interesting content in a weekly like Autocar. Owning a five star car used to feel somehow meaningful. Now it is irrelevant. Like many others have said Modern Classics has filled the gap. Subscription cancelled.
There is now more interesting content in a weekly like Autocar. Owning a five star car used to feel somehow meaningful. Now it is irrelevant. Like many others have said Modern Classics has filled the gap. Subscription cancelled.
Crippo said:
I stopped reading EVO when they started advertising watches, it was around the time cars got less interesting. They just became too technical and electronic. Somehow it was all about numbers and show rather then feel and passion.
same here I like cars not watches!I don't ever buy annual COTY issue nowadays
thegreenhell said:
ECOTY 2019 video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_7piye1Who
That is the first online content that Evo produce that I have ever looked at.... What a noise that Jag produces, think it would be my coty simply for that!
Wasn't the A35 launched in 2018 and the Jag (with wing) in 2016/17? Seems an odd line up.
Edit: A45 it is then, silly me.
I've just subscribed to the mag at £36 for the year. Seems a bargain at that price even if I can't smell the tobacco. I agree with the idea of cutting the production budget and hiring journalists who have a talent for describing the character of the cars rather than regurgitating press launch bobbins.
Edit: A45 it is then, silly me.
I've just subscribed to the mag at £36 for the year. Seems a bargain at that price even if I can't smell the tobacco. I agree with the idea of cutting the production budget and hiring journalists who have a talent for describing the character of the cars rather than regurgitating press launch bobbins.
Edited by Hitch on Saturday 4th January 13:51
Isn't the problem that (and I hope at least some of you will agree) there is virtually nothing to write about any more? The day of the car as we have known it is coming to an end (unless someone someday realises that hydrogen is the future) and most issues/comparisons/ reviews/ whatever have been done to death. I wrote classic articles for years, and in the end there is only so much one can say about performance/economy/handling - unless we get into the boring boring talk of values and what is the best buy. I now subscribe to not one magazine, although an article was recently written about one of my cars and the result was a load of his imagination. It was nothing like the truth, and was purely written to titillate the readers. I once was present when a D-type was tested by a magazine which had a green cover, changed to red and then back again. It talked of handling on the limit, the ease of opposite locking, the howl of the engine as it came on cam; wonderful reading. Except it never happened. They weren't allowed to drive it so I towed it around the circuit with a Toyota Previa. The tow rope was airbrushed out of course.
Smifffy said:
This year's eCoty has led to my 2nd (and final) unsubscribe from EVO. Its remarkable how far this magazine has lost its way and become a corporate feeling, sterile periodical.
Years ago - if you'd have told the writers they were doing eCoty at a private racetrack, cars arriving in transporters after a night in a 5* hotel - I suspect they'd have scoffed or thought Lord Harry had lost his head.
For sure it's left me cold. The whole eCoty piece this year felt like an over managed car launch event.
Where was the grisly breakfast, car park filled with amazed locals and journalists who felt they'd won the lottery - followed by the empassioned dissection of each car's performance. Heroes dethroned and arguments over bacon sandwiches. The Evo triangle ruthlessly showing how pristine track heroes fall apart on the best of British Black tarmac.
The prose used to draw you in. You could smell the cigarette smoke at pit stops and wish you were one of the years-long friends finding themselves testing amazing cars in wind, rain and the grey gloom.
Nope. Not any more.
To the makers of Evo: Chop the production budget by a minimum of 75%. Force the journos to be creative with less. If they can't then rotate the staff until you've got a crew who genuinely remember what it's like to drive a supercar for the 1st time and aren't so jaded that it's just another manufacturer event at the Paul Ricard.
As for this month: I didn't feel a thing. The thrill of driving this is not.
I disagree and agree at the same time.Years ago - if you'd have told the writers they were doing eCoty at a private racetrack, cars arriving in transporters after a night in a 5* hotel - I suspect they'd have scoffed or thought Lord Harry had lost his head.
For sure it's left me cold. The whole eCoty piece this year felt like an over managed car launch event.
Where was the grisly breakfast, car park filled with amazed locals and journalists who felt they'd won the lottery - followed by the empassioned dissection of each car's performance. Heroes dethroned and arguments over bacon sandwiches. The Evo triangle ruthlessly showing how pristine track heroes fall apart on the best of British Black tarmac.
The prose used to draw you in. You could smell the cigarette smoke at pit stops and wish you were one of the years-long friends finding themselves testing amazing cars in wind, rain and the grey gloom.
Nope. Not any more.
To the makers of Evo: Chop the production budget by a minimum of 75%. Force the journos to be creative with less. If they can't then rotate the staff until you've got a crew who genuinely remember what it's like to drive a supercar for the 1st time and aren't so jaded that it's just another manufacturer event at the Paul Ricard.
As for this month: I didn't feel a thing. The thrill of driving this is not.
I read car magazines for some escapism. So I'm perfectly happy with Evo using Ascari. You don't have to suffer for art. But it's because of that I want escapist cars. At least one of the new Ferraris launched last year, A Lotus, and Aston Martin. The choice here was full of cars which were amazing despite being a hatchback, saloon or with an ash frame. I want to read about things which are no-compromise. And if it's an exercise in looking across all kinds of different genres of car where is the 0-60 in 2.9 Model 3 Performance?
I also know that when I do get to drive things which magazines have strong views on I feel differently. I love the Alfa 4c and the Focus RS. The Renaultsport offerings leave me cold and I find most 911s bland.
We all know what makes the driveiest car - lightweight, low CoG, too much power, two doors, two seats and the engine in the middle. Only one car in the line up had that and so it comes as no surprise when it wins.
lowdrag said:
Isn't the problem that (and I hope at least some of you will agree) there is virtually nothing to write about any more? The day of the car as we have known it is coming to an end (unless someone someday realises that hydrogen is the future) and most issues/comparisons/ reviews/ whatever have been done to death. I wrote classic articles for years, and in the end there is only so much one can say about performance/economy/handling - unless we get into the boring boring talk of values and what is the best buy. I now subscribe to not one magazine, although an article was recently written about one of my cars and the result was a load of his imagination. It was nothing like the truth, and was purely written to titillate the readers. I once was present when a D-type was tested by a magazine which had a green cover, changed to red and then back again. It talked of handling on the limit, the ease of opposite locking, the howl of the engine as it came on cam; wonderful reading. Except it never happened. They weren't allowed to drive it so I towed it around the circuit with a Toyota Previa. The tow rope was airbrushed out of course.
The industry is going through more change than ever before, there's tons to talk about. If doing a feature with a car, it doesn't have to be just about the limit handling and noise - paint a picture, tell a story. ICE cars are going to be around for a long time yet, so whilst recreational driving will shrink and shift, it's not going to just disappear.What you mention about proxy writing isn't that rare sadly - circumstances can be tricky. I've heard of stuff like the D Type story before, and whilst it's a shame, if the writer is a properly experienced journo he can put you behind the wheel of that car drawing from years of experiences and miles in the same car. We'd all rather it was authentic of course (this goes for the photography too - I hate shots edited to look like a drift shot when it's obviously be done in photoshop) but whilst the values of these things continue upwards (and with the Mark Hales situation probably fresh in the minds of many) a slow trundle followed by photoshop & creative writing might become more prevalent in the high value classic arena.
Just re-booting this thread to ask the question - where is the current issue? By my reckoning it was due in the shops this Weds (the EVO website suggests subs were to be posted out on 2/1/20) but I cant find it any where in the usual retail outlets.... . following all our criticism last month, has it finally succumbed to magazine fatigue and the cancellation of subscriptions.....?
greenarrow said:
Just re-booting this thread to ask the question - where is the current issue? By my reckoning it was due in the shops this Weds (the EVO website suggests subs were to be posted out on 2/1/20) but I cant find it any where in the usual retail outlets.... . following all our criticism last month, has it finally succumbed to magazine fatigue and the cancellation of subscriptions.....?
I haven’t received mine.itcaptainslow said:
greenarrow said:
Just re-booting this thread to ask the question - where is the current issue? By my reckoning it was due in the shops this Weds (the EVO website suggests subs were to be posted out on 2/1/20) but I cant find it any where in the usual retail outlets.... . following all our criticism last month, has it finally succumbed to magazine fatigue and the cancellation of subscriptions.....?
I haven’t received mine.Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff