Happy New Year to you all from the PistonHeads team! Before we go any further we would like to thank everyone for their support and hope you continue to enjoy PistonHeads throughout 2008.
2007 was an interesting year for new metal and despite the ever tightening grip of speed cameras it proved performance cars show no sign of disappearing. Perhaps the highlight of the year for some was the Nissan GT-R, which offered Porsche 911 speed for little more than a Cayman. The technical specification of this car is mind-boggling, and for the £60,000 it is likely to cost here it is a bargain. It is more of a bargain however in Japan and the US where buyers are expected to pay almost half that. Perhaps the amazing amount of interest the car generated is also an indication that those who said people wouldn’t pay that money for a Nissan are wrong, and Japanese cars are moving up another notch.
Other interesting cars included the Jaguar XF, which, although displaying a more forward-thinking approach from the company, divided opinion on its looks. The Aston Martin DBS was also eagerly awaited, but some wondered if it was a step in the wrong direction for the ultimate Aston.
The Subaru Impreza managed to pull off the impossible, by actually looking worse than its predecessors. The company was trying to get away from the boy-racer image, pitching the now hatchback Scooby against cars like the Golf GTI. The WRX looked like a 10-year old Japanese hatchback, but it was hoped, like before, it would drive so well people would forget the looks. It did turn out to be a decent drive, and the more macho STI model, with flared wheel arches was well received, and at 25 grand for 300bhp it too seems great value for money.
2008 looks like it will be a good year for new cars, with cars like the Mercedes SL Black Series, the Audi RS6, VW Scirocco and Fiat 500 all hitting the streets. Obviously the first priority is the first ever PistonHeads show from January 11 to 13, which we expect to be huge. Then we will test drive the new four-door BMW M3, the new Focus ST and the Lotus Elise SC to kick off the year, followed by lots more interesting news and features.
Shed of the Week continues to be very popular, as does new feature ‘PH Heroes’, which always manages to split opinion!. Of course we always welcome your views on what you do and don’t like on the site so feel free to let us know.
Anyway I hope the hangovers aren't too bad after last night’s shenanigans, and you are looking forward to 2008 as much as we are.
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