Steve Cropley: Mustang fever will survive 2030 petrol ban
V8 Mustang coupé or electric Mustang SUV? Cropley can’t decide
Don't scoff at the car industry's new tech and electrified look - EVs will still deliver thrills
In this week's automotive adventures, Steve gives a positive take on the UK's 2030 ICE ban, chooses between two Mustangs, ponders the greenness of classic cars and more.
*Monday*
How long is nine years? Normally, you would call it a very long time indeed, but I reckon the years from 2021 to 2030 will flash by as we accelerate towards the date after which we now know new diesel and petrol cars will become extinct. Weirdly, I don’t feel downhearted. On one hand, it’s shocking to think that brand-new automotive descendants of cars we’ve called great for decades will soon be summarily outlawed. But I’m already excited at seeing the new-tech, new-look cars that the industry is rushing to create, along with the innovative charging solutions that are bound to emerge. I’m sure that tomorrow’s products will be better than today’s; they always have been.
As one who doesn’t much mind the authorities knowing where I am, I don’t even feel bad about eye-in-the-sky road pricing as a way of replacing the lost £40 billion in diesel and petrol taxes. I mean, what else were they going to do? My one fear is for financial policy over the next nine years: will our lawmakers speed the petrol-to-electric transition by sticking the boot into the former or by making the latter dramatically more attractive? I’m hoping for inducements rather than threats, but that’s not always how governments work.
*Tuesday*
We were talking, the Steering Committee and I, about the cars we should buy – old ground in a new context. Better get that Ford Mustang Bullitt you’re always boring on about, said she, but I must confess that I would feel as excited about owning a Mustang Mach-E as a V8 Mustang right now. If I had to choose, I wouldn’t know which way to jump – and I won’t until someone whose opinion I trust gets to grips with the electric model. Which reminds me again (as Autocar passes its 5500th road test) about the importance to car society of testing; it’s a 93-year-old story type that gains in relevance all the time.
*Wednesday*
It’s probably no accident that the Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs has revealed its annual killer statistics about the size and influence of its membership, given that old-car ownership might be in the firing line in the bold new tomorrow. Yet the figures are reassuring. The UK has more than 1.5 million historic vehicles, supporting 4000 businesses that employ 34,000 people and generate £7.2bn per year. There are now 700,000 enthusiasts (40% more than in 2016), so the lobby is vast and growing vaster.
Do such big numbers imply that classics generate lots of pollution and congestion? Not at all. More than 50% of classic vehicles are on SORN, the entire fleet accounts for a minuscule 0.2% of the national annual mileage and more than a third of owners are already contributing to a carbon reduction scheme or keen to give it as go. Important guidance for legislators and unfocused do-gooders: lovers of old cars aren’t the enemy and never will be.
*Friday*
One of a hack’s pleasures is hearing erudite car lovers talk about their favourite cars, something that happened a lot during my recent meeting with McLaren Automotive boss Mike Flewitt, whose appreciation of all cars, and especially classic Lotuses, is well known.
We were talking about the importance of pure driving pleasure compared with “mere metrics” – in other words, performance against a stopwatch. “Above a certain threshold, I don’t much care how fast our cars are from zero to 200mph,” Flewitt declared. “I just want it to be the most exciting driver’s car we can make. After all, when you lap a circuit, you have no idea of your time until someone tells you. But you certainly know if you enjoyed it.”
*And another thing...*
Some genius at Silverstone has come up with the heart-warming Christmas idea of setting up a laser-light show around the circuit and charging families £35 to drive the track slowly through it in their traffic-jammer, enjoying the display. It’s called Lapland – another piece of brilliance. Slots are filling fast, so book online now.
*READ MORE*
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