"Oh what a feeling!" (2o6's Yaris)

[cawimmer430]

Yes, if it wasn't for the badging, it could very easily be mistaken for a Chevy Citation. Much more beautiful than a Khamsin, Bora, or a Ghibli.

What was I thinking?

I like the Ghibli and Khamsin. The Bora I've always found ugly.

[ifcar]

Yes, if it wasn't for the badging, it could very easily be mistaken for a Chevy Citation. Much more beautiful than a Khamsin, Bora, or a Ghibli.

What was I thinking?

You forget that '80s General Motors Generica is Wimmer's favorite design scheme.

[Soup DeVille]

You forget that '80s General Motors Generica is Wimmer's favorite design scheme.

I don't forget, I just try to repress that knowledge because I find it disturbing.

[Raza]

The Maserati Biturbo is to me the most beautiful Maserati ever made. Just a simple, yet totally elegant and classy/lovely design. Just look at it! 



Auto Classic magazine promised me that if they ever have a Citroen SM or Maserati Biturbo owner in town, I'll be the photographer! 

 

Do you just love any car designed with a ruler?

[mzziaz]

I like the biturbo.

[2o6]

There's a reason why the E30 succeeded, and the Biturbo failed.

[cawimmer430]

You forget that '80s General Motors Generica is Wimmer's favorite design scheme.

If your parents gave you this baby for your birthday, would you say no? 




Actually I'm not a big fan of GM in the '80s. The only 1980s GM cars I think really looked awesome are:










And the Caprice Classic sedan/wagon which your parents will be giving you for your next birthday. Lucky bastard!!!

And I kind of think the Citation looked pretty cool to.

[cawimmer430]

 

Do you just love any car designed with a ruler?

Cars with straight lines can look awesome. The Biturbo and 1st gen. Lancia Delta are just a few of those cool cars that feature lots of straight lines.

But I generally love the Biturbo from a design point of view. A very elegant car. I recently saw a convertible Biturbo in Munich a few weeks ago. Looked awesome. 

[cawimmer430]

There's a reason why the E30 succeeded, and the Biturbo failed.

The Biturbo didn't fail. It actually sold very strongly because it was priced to be affordable. It was a "mass market Maserati" if you will.

Also, the problems of the Biturbo can be fixed and cured [permanently] with a modern overhaul. The weakspots are known and there are solutions to the problems that aren't even that expensive. The classic car magazine I shoot for has already done a report on that in the past and as I found out on Sunday from the chief editor, the two Biturbo owners who participated use them as reliable daily drivers. A Biturbo can be made reliable with a little investment and IMO that's a good thing. They're such sexy cars.

If they ever do a story on a Biturbo again I'll be called on to photograph them. Man I love that car. 



^Put a Yaris next to that and then talk about design!^ 

[SVT666]

I might be in the minority, but that's not awesome.  It looks like a Chrysler Lebaron with Maserati logo.

[Rupert]

If your parents gave you this baby for your birthday, would you say no? 

Yes, I absolutely would.

[cawimmer430]

I might be in the minority, but that's not awesome.  It looks like a Chrysler Lebaron with Maserati logo.

What about the latter versions of the Biturbo family?


Ghibli II




Maserati Shamal

[cawimmer430]

Yes, I absolutely would.

I think those are awesome. I grew up with those cars in the '80s watching...action movies.

But seriously, I think the '80s Caprice is a very elegant design. Simple, yet classy. Very elegant. I know people must think I am nuts, but I am honest about my feelings for those cars. 

[Rupert]

What about the latter versions of the Biturbo family?


Ghibli II




Maserati Shamal

Those cars are to the Biturbo what the 944 and 951 were to the 924.

[cawimmer430]

Those cars are to the Biturbo what the 944 and 951 were to the 924.

Yeah, pretty much. And they were also better built and more reliable than the original Biturbo. A client of mine has a blue Ghibli II which I hope to shoot soon.

[Rupert]

Well, I'd rather have a 924 than a Biturbo, I can tell you that.

[cawimmer430]

Well, I'd rather have a 924 than a Biturbo, I can tell you that.

Why own a 924 when you can own a 944? Which you already do!

One of the classic car owners yesterday has a 924 S. He claims that he can do 200 km/h (125 mph) on the Autobahn all day and that his 924 S will only consume 12 L / 100 km (19.6 mpg). I find that very hard to believe.

http://www.carspin.net/forums/index.php?topic=27652.msg1739662#new

[Rupert]

Why have a Biturbo when you can have a Ghibli II?

125 is pretty optimistic, but it's within believable range.

[cawimmer430]

Why have a Biturbo when you can have a Ghibli II?

PWNED. 

I'd rather have a Biturbo, though. Looks simpler and better IMO. 

125 is pretty optimistic, but it's within believable range.

Well he has the 924 S and the German version might have different gear ratios that enable a top speed of 200 km/h (he said it was his top speed anyway). But the fuel consumption seems way to optimistic. When I'm blasting down the Autobahn at 200 km/h+ in my 1er it'll suck down gas at the rate like a Ford Excursion 6.8 V10 does while idling in traffic! 

[Rupert]

Yeah, sounds like he measured his mileage wrong.

[Soup DeVille]

I might be in the minority, but that's not awesome.  It looks like a Chrysler Lebaron with Maserati logo.

That's not fair.


This IS a Chrysler lebaron with a maserati logo, and it looks better.



The Lebaron those years was a decently good looking car though, but the TC was such a piece of ridiculous badge-engineering BS I can't look at one without getting the heebie jeebies.

[Soup DeVille]

What about the latter versions of the Biturbo family?

I actually like them a little better. I wouldn't mind having a Shamal actually, but I don't see it as a good design on its own merits. its interesting because it nails down a certain late '80s performance sedan look.

[Rupert]

Yeah, I agree with that. Actually, both of the last two posts.

[cawimmer430]

That's not fair.


This IS a Chrysler lebaron with a maserati logo, and it looks better.



The Lebaron those years was a decently good looking car though, but the TC was such a piece of ridiculous badge-engineering BS I can't look at one without getting the heebie jeebies.

And a Mitsubishi engine! 

I actually like them a little better. I wouldn't mind having a Shamal actually, but I don't see it as a good design on its own merits. its interesting because it nails down a certain late '80s performance sedan look.

When I was growing up in the late '80s and early '90s, I thought the Shamal was one of the hottest cars on the road. Nowadays I think the design is awful. I think they took the beautiful basic shape of the Biturbo and added on weight in the form of thick plastic.

The Biturbo remains my favorite. 

[cawimmer430]

Uh oh, there goes the quality! 

Toyota to build Yaris in France for North America



Toyota has already made it abundantly clear the company intends to scale back production in Japan in an attempt to combat the ever-strengthening Yen, and now it looks as if we know one of the ways the automaker plans to do so. Toyota has announced it will manufacture U.S. and Canadian-spec Yaris models in its Onnaing-Valenciennes facility in France. The plant has been producing the Yaris hatchback for European buyers since 2001, though this marks the first time in Toyota history that the automaker has built a vehicle in Europe and imported the model to the States.

North American-spec Yaris models differ slightly from their European counterparts. In addition to using different fascia designs front and rear, the NA model comes available with an automatic transmission and a market-specific 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine. There is some differentiation in safety equipment between the two models as well.

Japanese automakers have recently revealed that building cars in Japan and exporting them around the globe is quickly becoming a money-losing proposition. Honda has made it clear the company is seeking alternatives to producing models like the Fit and CR-Z in Japan due to the high costs associated with exporting the vehicles.



Link: http://www.autoblog.com/2012/06/25/toyota-to-build-yaris-in-france-for-north-america/

[nickdrinkwater]

We have 2 French-built Yarises, one of which has been owned since 2002, and both very reliable and tight. 

[cawimmer430]

We have 2 French-built Yarises, one of which has been owned since 2002, and both very reliable and tight. 

I was being sarcastic...

[nickdrinkwater]

I thought you were being serious -- you'd have a point since I think a lot of French cars feel cheap

[cawimmer430]

I thought you were being serious -- you'd have a point since I think a lot of French cars feel cheap

Those from the '80s and '90s maybe, not the new ones. Love the new Citroens and Peugeots I've sat in at the dealerships. When you close the doors they feel solid to.

[Raza]

I thought you were being serious -- you'd have a point since I think a lot of French cars feel cheap

French cars are the best.  Renaultsport.