Caterham Seven 485R: Radical Roadster

Romantics are hardly ever credible. They project their passion on others and indulge in the most exhausting forms of proselytism. They expect their infatuation to be infectious, no matter how quirky or eccentric it is. The Caterham Seven is a car for romantics, a concept born in 1957 and which hasn’t much changed since, but romantics got that one right. Driving pleasure at the wheel of this tiny, cramped car is immense, even though you get to enjoy every sample of animal, vegetal or mineral matter that can exist on roads. Everything about the Caterham Seven 485R is playful, from the lively 2 liter Ford engine to the divine gearbox command, not to mention thoroughly serious performance. Agility on twisty roads is diabolical, the experience intense, without comparison. Everything except occupant protection, nearly as problematic as on a motorbike. Our road test.

McLaren 650S Spider

The automotive centerpoint of Switzerland lies in the quiet village of Andermatt. This is where the two loops of an 8 formed by six of the most gorgeous alpine passes cross. This year, our plan to take a car worthy of such roads was brought to fruition. A great car, monumental roads and favorable weather in an otherwise rotten summer. Driving a car such as the Mclaren 650S on such passes and through such scenery reaches high on the scale of memorable automotive experiences. Driven in a spyder, they are further magnified. The sun, the fresh air, the sound reverberating on granite, a glorious communion of man, machine and nature. The blistering performance of the McLaren 650S is awe inspiring. The abundance of torque reigns supreme, and the benign chassis gives confidence to tap deep into it. This journey was a glorious reminder that Switzerland remains a paradise for supercars. A unique network of scenic roads. People respectful of luxury automobiles. Low crime. A paradise in spite of Via Sicura. Our road test.

Audi Virtual Cockpit

Presented at CES 2014 and launched first on the 3rd generation Audi TT & TTS, the Audi Virtual Cockpit pioneers a new era in the interface between drivers and automobiles. Seven years after the launch of the first iPhone and the beginning of the connected revolution, it was time that car interfaces enter the digital world, and Audi leads that movement. In digital matters, the strength of platforms separate winners from loosers, and Audi’s displays great potential. Connectivity modes with the internet are versatile and configurable. Content provision through third party services will allow to continuously broaden functionality. The navigation of rich content from the steering wheel or the center console raises challenges, but natural speech recognition and touchpad entry simplify operations. The Audi Virtual Cockpit is the new reference in interfaces, thoses that get to experience it will not look back. Our test of the new TTS Coupe in Andalousia.

Road tests and articles published in 2014

Links

Forum topic – library of road tests – Asphalte car videos