Cars you didn't know existed until very recently.

[Metal Guru]

9 hours ago, sdkrc said:

I thought modern BMWs  were ugly.

[bunglebus]

15 hours ago, Missy Charm said:

Used to be a few of those knocking about Essex

There's one in Hutton I see regularly outside a house, so you could say I pass Wind

[bunglebus]

A Deepal?

[Metal Guru]

2 hours ago, bunglebus said:

A Deepal?

Oh, that’s different! 

[grogee]

New one on me. They want £20k for it 

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202506163566589 

[FakeConcern]

7 minutes ago, grogee said:

New one on me. They want £20k for it 

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202506163566589 

I saw quite a few of these in Switzerland last week, but never got a pic of one.

[delux]

Saw one in the Netherlands...

Half expected a big ladybird to appear and eat it!

[Remspoor]

43 minutes ago, grogee said:

New one on me. They want £20k for it 

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202506163566589 

Loads of YT influencers ding their share of promoting them 

Seen one used on a TV show. It was difficult to get two tall adults in it.

[grogee]

With the greatest of respect, they look fucking rubbish. 

[Remspoor]

2 minutes ago, grogee said:

With the greatest of respect, they look fucking rubbish. 

English are so polite. Say i as it is:They are over priced fucking rubbish.  

With no apologies or grovelling respect.

[Snake Charmer]

Have they added a force field from the USS Enterprise so your face is not the crumple zone as per the Isetta? Top marks for keeping tbe Isetta side window line.

[High Jetter]

Not built in Brighton 

[Remspoor]

Ford Fiesta Classic in  India (with a boot)

https://www.indiandrives.com/ford-fiesta-classic-in-india-review/

[bunglebus]

[Muniphobia]

2 hours ago, bunglebus said:

I hope that is called the Thames Barrier because it looks like there is a some Thames trying to escape through the front

[RoadworkUK]

Just to restore the galactic shite balance, here's a Microlino and a Proton Jumbuck in close proximity outside my local Co-Op.

 

[martc]

On 21/07/2025 at 22:28, bunglebus said:

A Deepal?

That'll be the Changan Deepal. on it's way to the UK very soon (to former Ford dealers perhaps?) according to Auto Express and others (https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/new-changan-deepal-s07).

They don't look that bad at all and are full of all the usual Chinese goodies as standard https://www.changaneurope.com/uk/ They have an R&D dept in Birmingham (see here https://www.changanuk.com/ )and a design bureau in Italy.

 

[Bear]

23 minutes ago, martc said:

That'll be the Changan Deepal. on it's way to the UK very soon (to former Ford dealers perhaps?) 

The "I can't believe it's not a Puma!"

[Bear]

1 hour ago, RoadworkUK said:

Just to restore the galactic shite balance, here's a Microlino and a Proton Jumbuck in close proximity outside my local Co-Op.

 

It looks longer than an original Smart?

[grogee]

10 hours ago, Remspoor said:

Ford Fiesta Classic in  India (with a boot)

https://www.indiandrives.com/ford-fiesta-classic-in-india-review/

The earlier Fiesta for India was called the Ikon, and I worked on it - testing locally produced suspension components (on a rig). 

Weird spec included keep-fit windows up front, electric in the rear. Because in India, if you could afford a car, you could afford someone to drive it for you. 

Also 1.8 IDI "power" with no emissions equipment. Feel the clag

[Dyslexic Viking]

10 minutes ago, grogee said:

Also 1.8 IDI "power" with no emissions equipment. Feel the clag

 

Lucky bastards.

[Remspoor]

On 22/07/2025 at 23:09, Snake Charmer said:

Have they added a force field from the USS Enterprise so your face is not the crumple zone as per the Isetta? Top marks for keeping tbe Isetta side window line.

Same with any miro car. No crash testing, no safety requirements.

[Remspoor]

16 hours ago, Bear said:

It looks longer than an original Smart?

It looks like it is not.

https://www.carsized.com/en/cars/compare/micro-microlino-2022-microcar-vs-smart-fortwo-2014-3-door-hatchback/

[catsinthewelder]

They also have a mk1 Smart fourtwo on there which is 2.5M long compared to the 2.519M Microlino (if I'm reading it right).

[Lord Sterling]

On 14/07/2025 at 11:34, cms206 said:

One (well, three) from last night - the BYD E6Y. Possibly the only ones in the UK?

Spotted 3 of these in Brussels way back in 2013 (?)  I do have a photo and I'll have to dig them out. They were parked at Gare Du Midi station in the taxi rank, but locked up, still with plastic on the seats and no numberplates from what I remember. 

On 04/07/2025 at 22:38, bunglebus said:

Spotted something like this on the M1 heading north yesterday. But it was shaped like a Lincoln Navigator. Clearly something Chinese, unfortunately no photo due to being on the move on the motorway. 

I feel that we are going to see more random Chinese vehicles over here as everyone wants something 'unique' and modern looking.

[martc]

Motorbikes you didn't know existed until very recently....

The MZ 250 RS and RSJ. I am a massive MZ fan but had no idea about these, they're were made in Brazil by FBM around 1984.  Someone in the styling dept very much had a Kawasaki brochure on their desk. There's an MZ 250 ETZ under here although the bodywork is unique to this.

https://www.motosclassicas80.com.br/2021/09/02/mz250-rsj/

I'm guessing this 'luft system' has something to do with forced air cooling due to Brazil's climate. However Egyptian and Turkish built MZ's didn't need this, so I think it's more show than go. As it's fitted to the RSJ variant only, and the RSJ has go faster matte black components, I suspect it's the sporty version.

Disc brake and instrumentation are standard MZ issue, as is the fully enclosed chain, as is the black silencer (chrome on the RS).

The RS version.

And this is an ETZ for comparison. I had one, it was good what with it's auto-lube, disc brake and 12v electrics  but not quite as characterful as the Supa 5 it replaced.

 

[Spottedlaurel]

Saw this oddity a few days ago, certainly a new one to me:

 

Devalliet Mugello, as this is a 375F apparently it's powered by a 308 GTi engine and there's a lesser version with the 208 GTi's 1.2. They make 15 a year and have been in production since 2021. More here: https://www.devalliet.fr/ and on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Devalliet_Mugello

[artdjones]

On 25/07/2025 at 09:35, Lord Sterling said:

I feel that we are going to see more random Chinese vehicles over here as everyone wants something 'unique' and modern looking.

That's until insurance goes through the roof for them because parts are unobtainable, meaning a write off for a broken bumper.

[Lord Sterling]

7 minutes ago, artdjones said:

That's until insurance goes through the roof for them because parts are unobtainable, meaning a write off for a broken bumper.

But remember, the Chinese have large industries of making pretty much anything. I doubt parts will be that difficult to come by given there are plentiful industries chomping at the bit to make spare parts as well as others making less quality copies.

[artdjones]

31 minutes ago, Lord Sterling said:

But remember, the Chinese have large industries of making pretty much anything. I doubt parts will be that difficult to come by given there are plentiful industries chomping at the bit to make spare parts as well as others making less quality copies.

They may make some parts, but body panels are very expensive to tool up for.

There's been lots of problems with MG crash repairs, with panels on back order, then taking months to come by sea. And MG are a massive market car with a dealer network. So anything out of the ordinary will be even more difficult.