"Scrappage scheme" nonsense strikes again

In the style of scaremongering papers like the Daily Fail, weekly car magazine Auto Express has revealed the latest "blow" to the scrappage scheme. According to the magazine, they have discovered that..."Vehicle recylers have been selling powerplants from models ditched under the Scrappage Scheme via salvage outlets - effectively putting the polluting units back on the road"Unfortunately, the writer has somehow managed to miss the blindingly obvious point that engines with no car around them aren't going to do much damage to the evironment at all. In fact, a salvaged engine will do no more damage to the environment sitting on a shelf than a salvage...

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Honda CR-Z - video emerges

Continuing Tarmac's coverage of the Honda CR-Z, we felt it necessary to bring you the video that recently emerged from Honda about their pursuit of driving pleasure in the small hybrid.Some interesting points to note - Honda have apparently bought a MINI, a Volkswagen Scirocco and a Lotus Elise (coincidentally, all of which appear in Tarmac's top ten of the past ten years...) with which to benchmark the sporty CR-Z. They have also apparently brought prototypes to Europe throughout the development process in order to ensure the car handles well on a variety of surfaces.(Video: Honda, via Carsco...

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Tarmac's Top Ten 'Till 'Ten

Okay, so we're a little late on the bandwagon, but Tarmac has finally compiled it's list of the top ten cars of the last ten years. From 2000 until the end of 2009 there's been a seismic shift in the kind of cars available to the market, and about the attitudes towards the car that have influenced the characteristics people look for.Although Tarmac is by and large influenced by smaller and more efficient cars, the list reflects a diverse selection of cars that have all made a big impact on the automotive world over the last ten years. So, in no particular order...MINI CooperThe BMW Mini came in for some flak when it was released, much of it from...

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Honda CR-Z finally revealed in full

Having been the subject of brochure leaks and other sneak previews for many months now, Honda's hybrid CR-Z has finally been officially unveiled at the Detroit motor show.The production car, though less dramatic than the concept, still looks great and remains remarkably close to the original design. Sharing styling cues with both the first and second-generation Insight hybrids and the first two generations of CRX, Honda claims that the car will be great fun to drive despite its modest power output of 122bhp and 128lb/ft of torque (at a low 1000-1500rpm). All this is provided by a 1.5 litre VTEC four-cylinder with Honda's IMA (Integrated Motor...

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Past, present and future in advert form

If you've been watching prime-time TV recently you might well have noticed two particular car adverts that stand out from the usual dross (VW and Honda adverts excepted, as they're usually excellent). These adverts come from Renault and BMW, and both run along a similar theme - that cars are more than simply just transport - they're objects that have changed our lives for the better and continue to do so.How do you do that without sounding too cheesy? Get respected actors Patrick Stewart and Ewan McGregor (for BMW and Renault respectively) to do the voiceovers, give them an uplifting soundtrack ("Somewhere only we know" by Keane in Renault's case) and place as much emphasis on your past cars as you do on the ones you want to sell today.Car adverts are an awkward business. Volkswagen usually...

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Tommy Kaira hybrids

Japanese car tuning and manufacturing firm Tommy Kaira have now turned their attention to hybrids, it seems, in a break from their normal line of hot Nissans. In contrast to the wild GT-Rs, Skylines and Z-cars that usually benefit from Tommy Kaira's body and engine upgrades, the Toyota Prius 3 and Honda Insight might seem a little tame, but the big wheels, beefy exhausts and squat stance used rather suits the shape of each car - especially the Insight.Of course, one has to question the motive for performance tuning on hybrids. When manufacturers have spent so long perfecting aerodynamic shapes in wind tunnels and choosing low-rolling resistance...

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