David Pook

@AndrewxMontague @VinceCharming69 Used to be the case but now these systems are mandatory, so doesn’t apply to this one.

@VinceCharming69 @PookyD81 I think the NCAP ratings are because Dacia doesn’t spend money on a myriad of electronic devices designed to prevent an accident- many of which get switched off by owners. You’ll be as safe in a crash in one of these as most other cars. Someone please correct me if I’m wrong

Not many need more than what this has to offer. Crushingly competent at everything.

Someone point out they’ve run their April fool article nine days too early.

Surely the biggest growth industry at the moment is those companies that supply temporary traffic lights?

Update on this car that I’ve been doing the dampers for. The Agama N2 made its debut today at the first national championship eBuggy round where 17yr old Erik piloted it to a clean sweep of pole, fastest lap and the win against world A finalist pro RC driver competition. He was consistently 0.5 second a lap and more ahead of the next fastest and the winning margins were massive. And it’s just the start.

Helping develop the suspension on this. It’s still just a car, only smaller.

Sun’s out, roof’s off (yes I know it isn’t in this photo)

Very much enjoyed this Singer DLST video. Especially how good the chassis is. youtu.be/eQPYXqm9ZlI?si…

Genuinely good race. Lewis can still drive. Will the naysayers tone it down a bit?

Recent visits to Southern Italy, France, USA, and now in Spain. Common theme, phone locks onto 5G and stays there. WhatsApp video, Teams, socials, all just work. Simply cannot do this in the UK, it barely works.

@Timoldland This has only happened very recently, they’ve pushed Alpine as an EV only brand for two years and only at the release of these pics has the Director said ‘er yes an engine will fit’.

@PookyD81 I thought they’ve said it’s going to be EV and ICE. So not an EV platform, but a common body with different subframes.

More thoughts on this. It’s an A110 update. The platform is all new, new suspension layout obvious, but take that away and it’s hard to spot BIW differences. It just happens to have big block of electric gubbins where the current engine and fuel tank etc. is. So not an EV platform at all?

@Archiblomdo Everything can be made better, standard car had its limitations and definitely wouldn’t cope with extra weight of EV

@PookyD81 silly question, but why change the suspension when everybody was in awe of precisely that?

Obviously I have downloaded these pics in hi-res to study the platform and suspension vs current A110, and jump to the conclusion that an ICE version is pretty easy and planned.

This is a slight conundrum as the A110 is key to my business yet I can honestly say I have little intention of buying an EV version, and then especially so if there will be a future ICE variant. Alpine need to confirm asap what the exact plan looks like as promise of future ICE means they will sell even less EVs, which was already a hard sell.

@Andrew_Frankel I think it was last week or week before I saw a car with a flat space saver! Couldn’t even make it home!

Poor old family retainer has had two of these in 24 hours. Both potholes that could not be seen until it was too late. Absolute joke.

@cherishedstorag @AutoPap When talking EVs you’re not allowed to say the word depreciation or residuals, these are to be ignored in running cost calculations. They don’t exist. La la la la la.

@PookyD81 @AutoPap I’m aware of that but the UP uses barely any fuel and my 7 year old GTI sold last year for the exact same price it was new in 2018. Yrs zero depreciation in 7 year and 32,000 miles.

Worked out this car is saving me approx £350 a month on petrol.

@cherishedstorag @AutoPap If you charge at home overnight on an EV tariff then yes it is significantly cheaper.

@AutoPap Is this actually cheaper to run and own than an UP GTI?

Been making a mental list of pointless things today: Packaging tape with the words ‘Fragile’ on it Miniature Dachshunds Motorway service napkins Coasters that stick to the bottom of your glass Keir Starmer

Gosh this thing is special.