As I’m sure you know, the first recorded music you could buy came in the form
of a wax cylinder. Such things must have amazed the people in their frock
coats and their stovepipe hats, even though there were one or two problems.
Like, for instance, they melted if you left them in the sunshine or in a
warm room.
Oh, and they could not be duplicated. Yes, a performer could record his song
onto a cylinder that he could then sell. But if someone else wanted to buy
one, he’d have to perform his song all over again.
Also, because they turned at 120rpm, the song could only last for two minutes.
Which is why Pink Floyd could not be invented until the long-playing record
came along 15 years later.
Then we had to wait until the 1960s when William Lear, of Learjet fame,
developed the eight track and convinced Ford the players should be fitted in
Mustangs. And then it was another 10 years before smaller cassette tapes
took over. And you had to buy Dark Side of the Moon all over again.
Then after another 10 years had dawdled by, someone worked out that music
could be stored in a digital format, so we were given compact discs and
everything went berserk.
Today, you have a video iPod and a wafer-thin television set. You have a
portable satellite navigation system, Sky+, a digital camera, a widescreen
laptop, a rampant rabbit, automatic sprinklers on your lawn and a mobile
phone that plays Freebird when anyone calls.
I even have a coffee machine that is programmed to deliver a hardcore XXX slug
of caffeine in the morning, a more mellow blend in the afternoon and
homo-no-caff after six in the evening. How cool is that?
This dramatic and frenzied burst of activity has created a new type of person.
The gadget freak. And he is every bit as important to the world of
consumerism as the last great marketing invention: the teenager.
Of course, to keep him happy, many new and useless things were invented. The
home cinema. The La-z-boy electric recliner. The computerised barometer.
Along with phones that take pictures, cameras that access the internet and
even, I’m told, material that will be able to store and display information
from the internet. This means that if, for some reason, you don’t want to
read The Sunday Times in newspaper form, or on the computer, or the
television, or on your mobile phone, you can – and I’m not joking – read it
on your own trousers.
See the problem? Everything that can be stored as a one and a zero is already
stored. So now, in the absence of any new and exciting breakthrough, you’re
just being offered the same thing in a slightly different way. Usually
Danish.
I recently bought a magazine called Smart Life. Billed as the international
lifestyle technology bible, it is full of gadgets and gizmos that honestly
and truthfully make me dribble. I want to own every single thing in it.
Did you know, for instance, that you can now buy a lavatory roll dispenser
into which you plug your iPod so you can enjoy some four-four time while
doing your number twos.
Or that you can buy a MediaBox? According to the blurb, it is an HDD media
player with a 500GB capacity that can upscale the output from your PC to a
full-on 1080p HD. I have absolutely no idea what any of this means but it’s
silver and black and I want one very badly.
The colouring and the style of the thing are everything. We are so consumed by
the glowing LEDs and the flashing readouts and the smooth, clean look we
don’t really realise that everything in the whole magazine is stuff we’ve
seen before, redesigned by Scandinavians in polo-neck jumpers and offered on
the internet to idiots like me for £2,000.
No really. Having created the gadget freak with the concept that everything
can be turned into ones and noughts, we are now being offered what we
already have, only in brushed aluminium.
It’s the Bang & Olufsen way. Put some simple Philips technology in a
sleek black box and you can charge the earth. Which is why you are now being
asked to pay £64 for a smoke alarm, just because it’s Danish, and £534 for a
chair just because it was designed by a man called Arne.
It’s almost as though everyone in Denmark is employed to do nothing but think
of a sleek new mounting system for an iPod. And that, of course, brings me
on to the Volkswagen Phaeton.
I have written and raved about this car many times. And I see no reason why I
should not write and rave about it again this morning.
Partly this is because I’ve spent the past few weeks trying to find the
perfect large, comfortable car. And partly because I know the Phaeton is the
answer but no one seems to agree. The only person I know who has one is the
director-general of the BBC. And that’s a miserable 3 litre diesel.
The one I have here is, in essence, a Bentley Continental GT minus the
turbocharging and the chromed smooth-action ventilation knobs. It has the
same 6 litre W12 engine, the same four-wheel-drive system and the same
extraordinary attention to detail.
In a Phaeton, you could drive at 186mph all day, when it’s 122F outside, and
the air-conditioning would maintain a constant temperature of 71.6F. This is
guaranteed. Or rather it would be if the car wasn’t limited to 155mph.
It also has a dashboard that slides away to reveal the air vents and headlamp
washers that do one headlamp at a time – so as not to reduce visibility too
much.
There’s more. It has the best seats fitted to any car, the interior is fitted
with a dehumidifier so the windows will not steam up no matter what you are
doing on them, and it has adjustable suspension that really does adjust.
Turn a knob one way and it’s like your coming home on a cloud. Turn it the
other and it feels like your hair’s on fire.
As a luxury car – as a machine for going quickly and comfortably in sepulchral
silence – the Phaeton is better than any of its rivals from Mercedes, Audi,
BMW, Jaguar and Maserati.
Of course, you may think that £74,000 is a lot of money for a Volkswagen and
you may be disinclined to spend that kind of money in a showroom full of men
in donkey jackets buying Polo vans. But the main reason you stay away is
because it looks so dreary.
This works well, of course, if you are the director-general of the BBC. You
want people to think you slipped into a donkey jacket and bought a Passat.
But most people, me included, need a bit more, I dunno, pizzazz and
zestiness.
We know that when Volkswagen gave this car to a Belgian and asked him to fit a
better-looking body, the result was the Bentley Continental. So what I
suggest is that VW now gives it to a Dane.
No really. If the Danes can make me want to refit my entire house with new
radiators because they look nice, and install an iPod cum bog roll
dispenser, I’m damn sure they could transform the excellent Phaeton basics
into the absolute must-have accessory.
Let me put it this way. You all want an Aston Martin, don’t you. You know it’s
made up of Jag and Ford bits but you don’t care. You want one because it
looks just so sleek and amazing. Right. And where was the designer of the V8
Vantage from? Well, let me put it this way. He’s called Henrik Fisker.
Vital statistics
Model Phaeton 6.0 W12 4Motion LWB
Engine 5998cc, 12 cylinders
Power 444bhp @ 6050rpm
Torque 413 lb ft @ 2750rpm
Transmission Five-speed automatic
Fuel 19.5mpg (combined cycle)
CO2 348g/km
Acceleration 0-62mph: 6.1sec
Top speed 155mph (limited)
Price £74,272
Verdict A supermodel in all but looks
Click here for the best deals on used Volkswagens
from Times
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It is the best built car in the world, bar none. Not a point and shoot darter by any means, but best put together and most sturdy driving machine. For those of you who really want to be green, don't worry so much about the vehicles, worry more about how many child seats you're putting into them.
dobos torte, Natcherly Corner, UK
What a great car, i run a chauffeur business and run two, 3.0 diesel and 3.2 petrol LWB LPG convert, don't sport them up to much VW they mite just start selling and then i will not be able to afford them.
Chris, Hook Norton,
I bought a v10 diesel 5 litre and was impressed with both performance and fuel economy. Contrary to most on here I think the interior quality is not up to Mercedes quality, for instance the door cards sound hollow and of inferior build to competitors.Back with Merc now couldnt afford VW losses
Nigel, Telford, UK
I agree with the Clarkson fellow, to me its the best built car in the world, I have had three and at the end of April I am being flown to Germany to collect my fourth from the factory, compliments of Mr VW naturally, and I cant wait, they're even giving me a secong night stay in Wolfsburg so that I can visit the VW Autostadt facility housing product from Bentley, Audi, VW< Seat and Skoda, miserable 3.0 diesel it maybe but I live in the Isle of Man so where can I drive at high speeds?
E Frost, Douglas, Isle of Man
Michael, we'll all get motor boats. Fast ones too.
Ahwar, Dubai, UAE
Mike, if the sea level rises 200 feet we'll all flee onto mountaintops and plateaus.... exactly where you'll need earth-killing offroaders. =)
Cheers.
Joe Moorman, Cleveland, Ohio
These cars are all prehistoric monsters. They damage the environment horribly, and I hope that they will soon be taxed out of existance, with the tax going to research less polluting forms of transport.
Where will we drive our cars, or grow our food, when the sea level has risen 200 feet?
Michael Sims, London,
Folks,
the (sales) failure of the phaeton says much about our society and ourselves. Never mind substance, it's all about looks & marketing fads...
Look at the (present) Mercedes S-Klasse & Phaeton and consider them for what they are : large limousine type cars....and you look at erotism (phaeton) vs. pornography (S-Klasse). The Phaeton rear, and especially C-Pillar lines are particularly timeless, sobre and "clean". The over-blown wheelarches of the S-Klasse are obscenes. Large limos aren't about speed and lateral-Gs...sports car are there for this...now of course, those who can't afford both buy a 7 Series that is neither nice, nor a real fun to drive, nor a good wafter. By being focused at what he was building : a fast way to get comfortably from A to B regardless of weather, road condition...shielded from the outer world and in total disregard for "the image" the car gives of it's owner, Piech's team built a truly great car for a gentry of clients from a lost world...
Arthur, Waterloo, belgium
I love my Phaeton! I have one of those "miserable" 3 litre diesel ones, but as I find that in the UK, driving at speeds of over 85 mph on a regular basis tends to lead to a no license situation in a shortish period of time. Also that given that diesel is now nearly £1.10 per litre, a lighter right foot means one can get 30 mph easily.
My first was a 2005 model but I have just taken delivery of my 2008 model loaded with all the extras. New, this was £40k with everything and just such good value. Half the price of the same BMW yet a truely lovely drive.
I am sure it will be worthless in 3 yeasrs time, but in the meantime I shall enjoy a wonderful hi tech luxury drive.
Robin Tracey, Guildford, Surrey, UK
You´re spot on Mr Clarkson.
That´s why Bang and Olufsen now work with Aston Martin...
Jesper, Copenhagen, Denmark
No Mr. Clarkson , we don't all want an Aston Martin ! As an unwitting spokesperson for the ' chavs' in both behaviour and taste , you've missed the point entirely . You're baffled by the Volkswagen Phaeton as it's not ' in yer face ' like it's BMW , Audi and Mercedes counterparts with all their " pizazz and zestiness ". I might even be tempted to add ' footballer's wives tackiness ' It's utterly discreet and the epitomy of good taste which used to be common currency here in UK in the luxury vehicle echelon . My , my , whoever thought that quality and refined good style would also fall victim to the ' Paris mob ' of the motoring world in UK 2007
Ted Brean, Canterbury,
I have a W-12 Phaeton and it has turned me into a car nut. It is far and away not only the best car I've ever owned, but the best car I've ever ridden in. And get this: Because the American consumer is badge-addled, I got mine used with 18,000 miles (which meant it was new enough for horseshoes) for $53,000. The equivalent used Mercedes S600 or BMW 760iL was $85,000 to $90,000, but the Phaeton is a better car.
And yeah, the suspension really does adjust. There are four modes: Girlfriend, Wife, Argument, and Divorced Lumberjack. There are two automatic transmission mode: Wicked Fast and F'in-A. When I'm on California Hwy. 1, I put it in F'in-A Divorced Lumberjack mode and leave motorcycles in the dust. As soon as it's out of warranty I'm going to remove the 130 mph speed governor, take it out to the middle of Nevada, and let 'er rip.
People who buy the common luxury badges don't know what they're missing. There is nothing like a Phaeton.
CW, Seattle, U.S.A.
Exactly, we Danes are the Italian of the 21. century, no, for all times, our people are god's finest creation! Greetings! Only in reviews one big brit tops them all...
Henrik Suhr, Kiel, Germany
Yes, Antonio, you're right. The Continental GT was designed by Raul Pires, a brazilian guy. But still I wonder, do Jeremy even care about what the hell "IS" Brazil anyway??
Alceu Colnaghi, Treviglio, Italy
One question Jeremy Clarkson.
Are you really so much older than me? I am 50, I went to school and was brought up in England and I have never used Fahrenheit in my whole life.
Why do you?
Peter Goddard, Epsom, England, EU
Why Jeremy Clarkson still insists the Bentley Continental GT was designed by a Belgium chap when actually, it was designed by a Brazilian chap called Raul Pires?
Antonio Kowalski, Manchester, UK
Dear Sir, (thats the way it should start when writing back to the times innit?)
The Phaeton is a very underrated car, here in Germany you can pick up a second hand one up for a relative snip.
An excellent piece of kit that was half designed by Audi anyway.
This was Mr Piechs assault on the luxury car market that was made without thinking of the logo. As a car designer being involved with the seats you deigned to mention, (i'm not worthy) I know that Audi actually had to find new ideas for the A8 because VW nicked them and told them to go do something else. Jeremy ols chap you really need to come to Ingolstadt and try some of the new stuff. The next A8 will also be something to outclass a Phaeton that is now rapidly aging.
Steve Thompson, Wellheim, Germany
Alex Johnson, and Bruce from Tring - I think that you may well be talking at a level way above what poor old Matthew of New York can understand.
Bruce, your punctuation was fine - any attempt at lessons in english, from an American is pretty laughable. He obviously fails to see that this is a medium for communication.
Alex, don't mention WW2 to an American, they still seem to think that they helped us win it! He probably isn't even quite sure where Europe is.
I think we should recognise though that the US has given us such cultural and literary treats as Eminem and George W Bush. Oh, as for cars let's not forget the Edsel.
Ha ha ha.
Adam Gray, St Albans,
Shhh Jeremy, do not tell everyone!
Farrukh, Woking, UK
This car rocks man. It really is a great looking vehicle (especially from the rear)...and it looks better than the current S Class in appearance (which has lost some of its force in the flair department in my opinion). The Phaeton is traditionally shaped, it's big and bold, and it seems as though it really doesn't try to be somebody else.
So if YOU are attractive enough, then the label on the front and back shouldn't hamper you from buying this over a Mercedes or a BM.
Aleks, Beograd, SRB
Jeremy Clarkson has opinions like everybody else, he will say things as they come into his mind and he is funny and light hearted. He is funny and very creative. His columns read a story, they have a certain grumpiness of a 40 something who is ranting and raving but in a funny way.
How come you people get upset about a car? A car is a mode of transport which offers you some luxuries. If a car is something which offends people and gets them irate and violent then you need to have a serious look at your sexual prowess. How many people believe you are better or worse than most because your car is expensive? In most cases they are company cars which don't belong to you so....
Just read and enjoy, Jeremy Clarkson is only giving his opinion and in no way shape or form is telling you to buy a car!
If this offends you, then get a life.
James Bolm, Bala, Wales
Guys, we don't read JC's column to gather data - we read it to gather opinions. Specifically from an extremely opinionated person who's opinion usually runs contrary to the popular grain. I myself read it to see what completely odd topic starts the top of the column that eventually meanders down to cars and finally makes sense. And by that yardstick, this one is one of the best.
Shantanu, Austin, TX
Gary wins by 50k!
joe, london,
Stop putting "No really." in your articles. No really.
Paul B, London, UK
What is the exact reason to review a more or less outgoing model again and again? I see that Mr. Clarkson has some sort of sweet spot for this...thing. But this column is more and more about big German cars or something that once was British.
On the other hand...could be worse. There could be a review of an Epica ;)
By the way, i could buy about 100 of my used Golfs for the Phaeton-price, so what´s 15 Chevys...
Martin, Vienna, Austria
Seventy five thousand pounds for a VW? Are they mad? Doesn't VW supposedly stand for "The peoples car"?
A vast section of the "people" doesn't have 75 grand to spend on a house, much less a car.
If you was to give 75 grand to any normal Joe on the street, they would not buy a car from a manufacturer perceived as a 'bread and butter' marque.
VW will never sell this car in huge volumes simply because the majority of people with money see the badge for what it is.
VW should stick to what they do best, strong reliable affordable cars. The badge just does not carry the prestige, it never will all the while it serves the lower end of the market.
Prestige marques are just that, they deal in exclusivity with no compromise. Do you think we'll ever see Aston produce an affordable super mini? Yeah, that'll be the day.
Jeremy, please don't talk about you on the loo doing number twos.. I read this column whilst eating my lunch! It is nasty enough thought at the best of times :)
Mike P, Dover, Kent
Why do some people regard everything that Jeremy says with such seriousness ? He has an outrageous sense of humour, perhaps its just a bit too strong for some people. Lighten up, and don't believe all these stories about the world ending next week, exclamation mark.
Phil de Buquet, Newport, England
I find it difficult to believe that the Phaeton is better than an S-Class, 7-Series, A8, XJ etc. I haven't found a single review which suggests this, until now. I'm sorry Jezza but I have to disagree here. I'm sure it is brilliantly engineered (and I appreciate that a-lot even if you don't usually drive at 186mph all day, with a temperature of 122F outside and the air-con keeping a constant internal temperature of 71.6F), but it's still not as good as the others (except maybe the Lexus LS, which falls behind in various key areas) - even when excluding looks and pizzazz. It is very close to the class best I admit, but it still has some way to go.
Chris Galea, Naxxar, Malta
really like these too, the thinging mans car, lots of masterly understatement and an excellent second hand buy. Shame they weigh 2-2.5 tonnes which is a lot to lug around if you can't afford the W12. Still secretly want one though...
gavin sullivan, cardiff, UK
The Russians make better rifles; the Italians make better F1 cars; the French make better trains; the Americans make better managers; the Finns make better mobile phones; the South Africans produce better rugby players; the British build better bridges; the Saudis make better customers; the Indians produce better software engineers; the cheapest production costs are found in China at the moment; etc, etc. So what Jeremy Clarkson, so what?
francis apaloo, Blackburn, lancashire
Berny, because decaf coffee is gay, like veggie bacon, seafood or quiche.
Bruno Strong, Sussex, UK
I drive a Phaeton W12 every day and love it. Everyone else can have their Mercs, BMWs and Jags. Jeremy's got it right.
Logan, Dallas, Texas, USA
Matthew, NY: Bruce does have the Phaeton. "Q car" means it's disguised. WW2 reference. So, he has a hidden Bentley, which is why he feels smug. And while my own writing style is far from perfect, I do know that whenever one is thinking about using an exclamation mark, one should think again.
Alex Johnson, London, UK
There are plenty of new cars to write about, why do you keep on writing about cars that are used people in their 50's or some funky sports cars that we'll only see from some distance-or even maybe not..
I keep on checking every Sunday or Monday with great excitement and I'm starting to get bored. Please come back to earth..
Goksin, Brussels, Belgium
Matthew from New York, you seemed to have totally missed the point. I didn't buy a Bentley, i have a Phaeton because i value the engineering behind it not the badge on the front. If you read the article it is making the same point. VW do not even actively try and market the Phaeton here since it is such a hard sell compared to the mainstream German luxury brands. Few people will take the trouble to repeatedly explain to family and friends exactly what a Phaeton is, let alone why they drive one. I go to bed knowing that i defied the marketing machine to buy a car which is not marketed, not the conventional choice, but was designed and made by engineers and appreciated by other engineers. On a side note, pedantry is, i have no doubt, an exciting hobby, but the internet is not a good home for it.
bruce, tring, UK
I laughed to a point of reaching near death when i read the comment about the Chevy. 40mpg AND 170mph? It sounds about as ridiculous as toilet paper with built in LCD Screens. Sure, its possible. If its either a diesel sports car, some sort of super-hybrid or just a well engineered vehicle... although i know none.
Especially coming from Chevrolet, i know it can't be great.
Andrew K., Vancouver, Canada
Why laud, appraise or diss the cars? With the sclerotic state of the road network policed by a group of frustrated witch burners hell bent on pedestrianizing the world, searching for a good car is like swimmers talking about their lap times while someone's pouring human excrement, engine oil and sharks into the pool.
Ralph Clatterbang, Hong Kong,
When the pinacle of automotive achievement is viewed as a washer that does one headlight at a time, the moment has come for the reviewer to slip into a Bath Chair , designed in stainless by a Dane to be pulled by 4 Corgis .
Tom Norton, Male' , Maldives
"I bought a Chevrolet Epica. It costs a miserable 15.000 pounds, does 40 mpg, and can do 170 mph."
40 Mpg? Yeah maybe.
170 Mph? No it doesn't.
"it is better fionished than the VW and certainly doesnt look liker a pasat."
No it isn't. And the correct name is PASSAT.
"For 75 goungs you can have 5 of these."
Goungs??? What is a Goung??? Why would anyone in their right mind who can afford a Phaeton W12 would prefer to buy five Epicas instead?
Antonio Kowalski, Manchester, UK
JC has obviously inhaled too many petrol fumes and his brain cells are being reduced.
Every time I see a gadget for which I feel a desire creeping on, I ask myself three questions
1. do I really really need it?
2. will I be able to understand and actually make use of even 25% of what it is supposed to do? 3. would my money earn some interest in the bank?
4. Could I have a holiday for the price?
Actually 4 questions
Of course it may be that JC has more money than he knows what to do with.
arthur, sidcup, uk
I cannot imagine a more absorbing dinner party than to have Bernard Ratigan from Leicester and Matthew of New York come to my home as guests.
I read Jeremy Clarkson's article twice more trying to find the reference to homosexuality which so irritated Bernard ( Is it the coffee Bernie? ) , and looked up " de minimis" in case I missed the point of using English , such as the word " minimal".
One can only be grateful that this dinner will never occur.The conversation ( after sufficient wine ) would , I'm sure , be the perfect antidote to insomnia .
Gordon Fulthorpe, Dundas, Ontario, Canada
I bought a Chevrolet Epica. It costs a miserable 15.000 pounds, does 40 mpg, and can do 170 mph. it is better fionished than the VW and certainly doesnt look liker a pasat. For 75 goungs you can have 5 of these.
Pedro Santamaria, Granada, Spain
£534 for a chair designed by a man called Arne? That must be the base model...
Ian W. Gibson, Lyngby, Denmark
Bruce Harper, Stafford
Thanks for your clarifying comments. I will know better in future.
Bernard Ratigan, Leicester,
Bruce, you buy a bentley and claim that people who have BMWs and Mercs are marketing victims? Why do you go to bed smug, if you have not been pursuaded by marketing people that you are a superior sub-species? Sadly, you're not. Your education is so de minimis that you don't understand punctuation: "Dignity" should have quotation marks around it, and "look it up" should end with an exclamation mark.
You are a marketing victim with no education.
matthew, New York, USA
Jeremy I must write to give some heartening news which when you realise it will of course just confirm what you know already that Jesus really did walk in England's green and pleasant land. I suffer from the same gadget addiction that a lot of men do and I indulged myself in some fine Bang & Olufsen hifi which when subsequently I found out was designed by none other then a British guy called David Lewis only served to reinforce my love of our great nation. As I sit here in Stockholm I work for a swedish company who are so proud of their scandivaian design heritage that I have hardly got the courage to tell them that their core product was designed by a British bloke in a Marks and Sparks anorak called Mr Clarke from Hampshire. Then again ...!
Gavin Archery, stockholm, sweden
The current BMW range looks ghastly (z4 excepted) but VW should just take the car and call it a baby Rolls and charge twice the money. as for Italian design; it's great but there is no substance afterwards, the shoes fall apart, the cars rot, need I say more
Peter German, St helier,
The B&O reference is wrong - I once got a massive public ear-bashing from a friend of mine who use to work for B&O about how it's not Philips stuff inside. She claimed that she'd also been told by a senior Toshiba manager that it was Toshiba kit inside. Apparently it's neither, but she wouldn't say what's really in it.
Johannes Kepler, antibes,
I am now off to Ebay to buy the fabulous 5.0 V10 Diesel model witk 18k miles on the clock for £25k !!
Gary, Cheshire,
it look sensational from behind. Kinda like a maserati ghibli. And that ain't danish. And all that engineering ain't italian either. You gotta hand it to zee germans jeremy.
muzo, istanbul,
Once again, brilliantly written stuff, So true about the gadgets, they are the best thing ever. Can you imagine life without them!!!
I love the way that the article always brings out the pc brigade, tree huggers, gays etc and forces them to write in.......
Bernard Ratigan from Leicester - if you don't like humour read gay times. No-one wrote in when Jeremy wrote about old peoples ears no anti ageist brigade then! Just a joke Bernard Ratigan from Leicester, not an insult
Bruce Harper, Stafford,
bernard, get over yourself,it was a jokeyou big poof (another joke, can't beleive I have to caveat my joke)
aidy, london,
Jeremy Clarkson is a poet...does he know it? No he really is a poet, and that's why he can be so grumpy. I mean this sincerely.
Christopher Oldham, Southwell, England
Jeremy - Come to Romania. V12 Phaetons are pretty common here & have been for a long time. Also Government is considering 160 khp limit - what for nobody here knows - cars still travel through the capital at half the speed of light...
Richard, Bucharest, Romania
Why the insult to gay people?
Bernard Ratigan, Leicester,
Just watched an American show listing the "must have" cars of all time. McLaren F1, Rolls Phantom and something called a Ceyliss or some nonesense. All bored until the Ferrari featured and then one wept at the sheer beauty. Italian design (even if British - ish assisted) not only knocks all others into a cocked hat but in suggesting Danish design is beautiful is like comparing a Mongolian sheep herding drone with Pavarotti's Una Furtiva Lagrima on a big night out at the Met. Next we'll be asked to believe that La Corbusier (Chuck Gris to his friends) knew how to design buildings that people actually liked to look at and that Everton and Bolton play attractive football.
Paul Smith, Hong Kong,
Didn't you know? The "D" in design is short for Danish! LOL.
Gerald B, Aarhus, Denmark
Thank you for the nice comments about the Danes.
Henrik Fisker.
Henri Fisker, Newport Beach, USA/California
Couldn't agree more, best car i have ever owned. It is a car for people that know what engineering actually means from an engineers point of view. Unfortunately VW UK haven't a clue what to do with it, and 95% of the driving population haven't a clue what it is. I don't give a damn. I park a Q car Bentley in my drive at night and go to bed smug. They can leave their BMWs and Mercs in the rain (all silver naturally) and know they are marketing victims. My wife says it looks better than a Beemer and i agree. Dignity people, look it up.
Bruce , Tring, UK