Inflight Magazine of Brussels Airlines

Drive

Lisa Curtiss looks at what’s hot at the Paris Motorshow, drives the hyped RCZ and finds out which car is the Alfisti’s all-time favourite

Style over substance

Peugeot’s RCZ doesn’t quite cut it where it counts

Taking on the popular Audi TT isn’t for the faint-hearted, but Peugeot’s game. Cheekily mimicking the TT’s famous low-slung curves, its entry petrol model the RCZ undercuts the TT’s price by around €7,000 – but is it anywhere near as good?

The 1.6 petrol engine tested is relatively punchy, yet slower in a sprint than you’d expect, compromised by super-long gearing. There’s adequate grip, the steering is reasonably well weighted and the ride will please most, but ultimately it just doesn’t involve. As with the hyped but lukewarm-to- drive 207 GTi, the RCZ fails to really sparkle like its hot looks shout it should.

If these kind of curvaceous coupés are your thing, you’d be better off saving your money for the TT (or better still, the TT RS) – or go Japanese and opt for the excellent and thoroughly handsome Nissan 370Z.

The alpha Alfa

Fans choose Giulia GTAm as their Romeo

To celebrate Alfa Romeo’s centenary year, Alfa fans and owners – known as ‘Alfisti’ – were asked to vote for their favourite model from the 70 launched since 1910. Voters then submitted photos of their beloved vehicles to the alfacentenary.co.uk website to create a unique piece of mosaic artwork.

With 20.4% of the overall tally, the Alfa Giulia GTAm snatched the top spot, just beating the beautiful 8C Competizione supercar to the chequered flag. The Spider Duetto, which famously starred with Dustin Hoffman in the The Graduate, finished third, proving that the Alfa classics still have their charms.

Paris goes Pop

Kia’s new model is talk of motor show

Among the key crowd pleasers at this month’s Paris Motor Show will be Kia’s funky new ‘Pop’. A three-metre long, ultra-compact and quirky three-seater, the Pop boasts zero emissions and is designed for city-dwelling greenies. It features a panoramic glass roof revealing a purple with chrome trim interior, which has a front bench for two and an additional seat in the rear, and possibly Bond-esque gullwing doors given the position of the door handles. No prices or dates have been announced, but the electric concept shows Kia’s commitment to sustainable motoring with style.

The Paris Motor Show is open to the public from 2-17 October at the Porte de Versailles expo centre. Other key models will include Audi’s A7, Land Rover’s Evoque, Mercedes’ CLS and the Bentley Continental GT.

New-season stars

Rumours abound for 2011 F1 hot seats

We’ve not even reached the last race of the season, and already the annual Formula One race seat merry-go-round has well and truly begun. Latest pit-lane rumours place the currently rallying Kimi Raikkonen with Renault next year alongside Robert Kubica, and highly rated GP2 racer Pastor Maldonado in one of the Sauber seats. Jules Bianchi, another front-running GP2 driver, who has a development contract with Ferrari, is apparently also in the frame for an F1 seat, but the team remains a secret.

OCT DATES

1-3 October FIA World Rally Championship, Rallye de France, Alsace
8-10 October Formula One Japanese Grand Prix, Suzuka Circuit
22-24 October Formula One Korean Grand Prix, Yeongam
22-24 October FIA World Rally Championship, Rally de Espana, Costa Daurada

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