Masterpiece On Wheels

Newcastle Herald

Wednesday October 1, 2008

By BRENT DAVISON

CITROEN is a big user of the "Picasso" name with a number of its small people movers (Xantia, C4 and C3) bearing the name of the late, great artist. But what would be the result if Pablo Picasso had actually designed a car for Citroen?

That was the question asked by British car customiser Andy Saunders when he took a Citroen 2CV and created a car he calls Picasso's Citroen.

Using Picasso's Portrait of Dora Maar as his inspiration, Saunders altered every panel and removed all signs of symmetry, widening the body 152mm to the right, moving the boot off-centre, making the bonnet from 12 separate pieces, putting both headlights on one side and deliberately moving the grille and doors into positions which mean they no longer fit properly.

The off-beat paint job is influenced by two Picasso works, The 3 Musicians and Still Life on a Table.

Vespa to vroom

VESPA is less than a month off launching the biggest-capacity scooter in its 62-year history with the GTS Super set for release in late-October.

A variant of the GTS 250ie, the GTS Super runs a fuel-injected, liquid-cooled, 278cc, single-cylinder engine developing 10 per cent more torque than the 250ie's engine.

Vespa's sporty scooter features a chrome rear grab rail, vented rear panel, alloy wheels, twin-disc brakes, shock absorbers with adjustable pre-load and a full metal body.

Buyers will be able to choose from interesting options such as a colour-matched top box, chrome side protectors, a flyscreen, a windscreen, an alarm, a front mudguard protector and, in a quick bow to the past, a modern take on the old-fashioned lap rug.

Fastest-ever Maser

MASERATI will hit Sydney's Australian International Motor Show with one of its biggest guns with the "S" version of the car now in the country and ready for the show.

For those unimpressed with the "regular" GranTurismo's 298-kilowatt, 4.2-litre, the 'S' comes to market with a 323 kilowatt, 4.7-litre V8, a gearbox with electro-actuation, rear transaxle and enough wherewithal to thunder from 9 100kmh in a claimed 4.9 seconds and on to 295kmh, making it the fastest-ever production Maser.

New-age beetle

VOLKSWAGEN has revealed its sixth-generation Golf but at this stage is still referring to the evergreen GTI model as a concept until tomorrow's revelation of the car in France.

So what will we see on GTI Six? Try specially tuned springs, dampers and anti-roll bars and even adaptive chassis control with pneumatic dampers as an option.

Production versions will also have an electronic limited-slip differential, linked to what is described as a "very sophisticated" electronic stability program.

Expect power output to be up to around 155 kilowatts but with improved fuel economy and exhaust emissions.

VW says the turbo 2.0-litre will sprint from 0 100kmh in 7.2 seconds and top out at almost 240kmh. Production will start about May next year and the car could be here late next year.

© 2008 Newcastle Herald

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