[THEME MUSIC]
MIKE SPINELLI: Hey, it's Mike Spinelli.
This is Road Testament.
I've got JF Musial here.
We're going to be talking about the Geneva Motor Show.
Some of the cars are starting to come out.
Pre-show--
the show starts May 6 for the press days?
JF MUSIAL: Yeah.
Well, no.
Not May 6, March 6.
MIKE SPINELLI: That's the other May.
JF MUSIAL: Yeah.
The other M.
MIKE SPINELLI: March, the other May.
Hit us up on @Drive on Twitter if you want to join the
conversation.
Let us know what you think and suggest stuff.
JF MUSIAL: Or yell at us.
MIKE SPINELLI: Or yell.
Yeah.
Because you do that, and it's cool.
[INAUDIBLE].
JF MUSIAL: So what's first?
MIKE SPINELLI: BMW M6, the new one.
JF MUSIAL: This is the third-generation M6, and it
has the 4.4 liter V8 twin turbo in it, right?
MIKE SPINELLI: Same as the M5 now, right?
JF MUSIAL: M5.
So it's--
MIKE SPINELLI: Tweaked a little.
JF MUSIAL: --560 560
horsepower, if I stand corrected.
Yes.
560.
552 in the US.
I gotta tell you, I hated the design of the old 6 Series,
and I think this is a massive leap forward for M6.
MIKE SPINELLI: It is, design-wise.
I always thought the last M6 was like the 1970 GTO of BMWs.
JF MUSIAL: Well they slapped the body kit on it, they put
the V10 motor in it, and the power train, kind of, eh.
Eh.
Transmission, eh.
MIKE SPINELLI: And suspension kind of--
JF MUSIAL: Meh.
Yeah.
MIKE SPINELLI: It was never their most tight, most spry.
It's a GT car, basically.
JF MUSIAL: Yes.
MIKE SPINELLI: So GT car.
And it was kind of weird with the V10.
It was sort of like the F1 design, the F1 mojo, I guess,
from the motor, but it was a GT car.
JF MUSIAL: But this is actually the most important
part of the car, the interior.
Now, we look at all the new sports cars out there--
M, AMG, RS, we'll get the RS4--
they just feel like body kits with new motors in them.
MIKE SPINELLI: Wow, you are cynical.
JF MUSIAL: Well, I'm being honest here.
But what BMW has done different with
the M6 is this interior.
And it really comes down to that steering wheel.
MIKE SPINELLI: Well, it's funny.
On a previous show, we were talking about steering wheels.
And I've got to say, BMW has figured out a way to make a
steering wheel cool and with the old hub, and not this
giant airbag receptacle, airbag device, whatever.
It just looks better.
JF MUSIAL: They have certain regulations they
have to abide by.
And the airbag regulations are getting so much more strict,
and the devices have to be so much bigger and so much more
cumbersome.
They designed a great steering wheel around a crappy airbag.
MIKE SPINELLI: And a lot of their other cars
have this now, too.
So this is cool.
JF MUSIAL: I love the design.
I love the way BMW interiors--
I've always said Audi interiors have been superior,
but I think BMW has come a long way in that department.
And I actually love the design of this
car, I love the interior.
It's cool.
MIKE SPINELLI: It's definitely on its game with the interior.
I always love BMW gauges, also.
But, again, the M6 was never my favorite BMW M car.
JF MUSIAL: Oh, good.
I agree.
MIKE SPINELLI: And so maybe we'll see when this thing
comes out if it's a little bit tighter, a little bit faster.
JF MUSIAL: We'll see.
MIKE SPINELLI: Cool.
Next.
Whoa.
Porsche Boxster.
All right.
So not a brand new car.
Some updates visually and also a little bit--
JF MUSIAL: The platform has changed substantially.
But the problem with Porsche has always been the Boxster
has been considered the entry-level secretary car.
MIKE SPINELLI: Don't say secretary car.
We don't say secretary anymore.
We say executive assistant.
JF MUSIAL: This, though--
MIKE SPINELLI: I'm just saying.
It's the executive assistant's car.
JF MUSIAL: This thing looks badass.
MIKE SPINELLI: I love, first of all--
JF MUSIAL: It's got remnants of the Carrera GT.
It looks fantastic.
And everyone I speak to--
especially the back end.
Look at that back end.
They're adding this new design line to-- the 911 has that new
design element in the back.
It's a new line in the car.
Boxster now has it.
I love this--
MIKE SPINELLI: I also love the new font--
or the new old font.
The new old font looks good.
JF MUSIAL: But I think the car looks fantastic.
MIKE SPINELLI: Well the Boxster's a great car.
JF MUSIAL: Look-- want to know something?
One of the funnest cars I've ever driven in my entire life.
MIKE SPINELLI: It still is.
JF MUSIAL: Yeah.
MIKE SPINELLI: And yet, you malign it with the secretary's
car moniker.
JF MUSIAL: I don't think that.
I do not think that.
I'm just saying that that's the reputation that Porsche
has had to fight for a few generations.
I've loved the Boxster more so, than
actually, some other--
MIKE SPINELLI: Boxster S is a really, really
super fun car to drive.
This is--
JF MUSIAL: Awesome.
Awesome.
I cannot wait to drive this.
Hopefully, I'll drive it soon.
MIKE SPINELLI: Also love this new treatment over here.
[INAUDIBLE].
JF MUSIAL: And the best part about this whole situation is
the lack of lines.
They've eliminated the lines.
There's only the door and then the one line here, and then
this whole thing will pop--
it's awesome.
MIKE SPINELLI: Very Corvette.
I didn't want to-- just to--
JF MUSIAL: Well--
MIKE SPINELLI: Yeah, sorry.
I thought I'd blow your mind right there.
Next.
JF MUSIAL: Next up?
MIKE SPINELLI: Up next.
Wow, all right. (NASAL VOICE) So the Audi RS4--
JF MUSIAL: Thank you.
Thank you, Mike.
MIKE SPINELLI: Have they mentioned this
on AudiWorld yet?
JF MUSIAL: It's QuattroWorld now.
MIKE SPINELLI: Sorry, that's right.
Sorry, QuattroWorld.
JF MUSIAL: I got to tell you, it's no secret I've been a fan
of Audi for years.
I own an Audi.
I love RS models.
And when this came out, I loved them and
then I hated them.
MIKE SPINELLI: Really?
JF MUSIAL: I loved the fact that they introduced the car
as an Avant, because that's how the original B5 RS4 came
out-- as an Avant.
I like the fact that it's very aggressive, but it's nothing
different than what we've seen for the past three RS models.
The TPRS, the RS6--
there's nothing special about it.
It's got the honeycomb front grill, as expected--
MIKE SPINELLI: Wait, so you're talking design-wise?
It's just not doing it?
JF MUSIAL: Yeah.
And it's still the four-point that--
it's now a hand-built 4.2-liter V8.
MIKE SPINELLI: Well, they keep improving--
by the way, that's a great engine, and we're probably not
going to see that--
well, it will probably stick around in
some form for a while.
JF MUSIAL: True.
I love the fact that they released it as Avant.
Another cool feature, the back rotors are not
actually true circles.
MIKE SPINELLI: Did you see those?
JF MUSIAL: They're actually cut out.
MIKE SPINELLI: Yeah, the cut-out [INAUDIBLE].
JF MUSIAL: That's a cool design element.
MIKE SPINELLI: Is that for cooling?
Or is that a design element?
JF MUSIAL: That's more of a design element in the back.
MIKE SPINELLI: Well cause I can't--
Are you seeing the--
JF MUSIAL: The cut-outs.
It's not a pure circular--
MIKE SPINELLI: The rotor itself?
JF MUSIAL: Exactly, yeah.
MIKE SPINELLI: As an engineer, do you know that there's a--
or am I putting you on the spot?
That's all right.
JF MUSIAL: Yeah.
I don't know what the engineers at English
[INAUDIBLE] are thinking.
But anyway, it's cool, but--
MIKE SPINELLI: It's only the rear rotors, by the way.
It's not the front rotors.
JF MUSIAL: When this car came out, it had such a stance
because it was so different.
It was so unique and different.
MIKE SPINELLI: Now by the way, I just want to mention that
the Avant is one of those cars that only automotive
journalists and enthusiasts love in America--
JF MUSIAL: But there's a reason for it.
MIKE SPINELLI: Well I know, but we're never going to see
this car here.
Not this one.
We're never going to see the new Avant in America.
We're just not.
They don't sell--
JF MUSIAL: I know.
MIKE SPINELLI: And anyway, we complain, and we've said this
to BMW people and Audi people, and they're just like, look.
Buy the damn thing.
We would put it out in America if more than one or two
people bought it.
So I'm just saying.
JF MUSIAL: So the reasons for an Avant, if you don't know,
is that it has better weight distribution.
The thing about this car that's unique-- and actually I
was reading up about it-- it has the same center diff as, I
think, the Gallardo had when it was initially released.
So it can put up to 85% of the power to the rear wheels when
you need it, which is very cool.
Or 70% to the front wheels.
So that's a very cool--
I love the Quattro system, how far it's developed, and where
it can put the power when it needs it.
MIKE SPINELLI: They spend a ton of time on their
differential stuff, trying to get it to perform like a true
rear-wheel drive car.
JF MUSIAL: Yeah.
MIKE SPINELLI: But also, they moved the motor back a little
bit, too, in this generation, right?
JF MUSIAL: Of course.
MIKE SPINELLI: So it's not as nose-heavy.
It is more neutral than the previous one.
I'm sure the RS is going to be awesome.
JF MUSIAL: But this car has the same footprint as the
original RS6.
It's a huge car.
MIKE SPINELLI: They keep getting bigger.
JF MUSIAL: Bigger, bigger, bigger.
What's next, Josh?
This is all you.
MIKE SPINELLI: This is all me.
Mazda Takeri.
This actually was shown first in Japan in November.
But I just wanted to throw this up there, because this, I
think, is going to be in Geneva.
But Mazda is sort of like an orphan company right now.
They used to be strongly a part of Ford.
Now, it's much more--
JF MUSIAL: For an orphan, they're doing quite well with
their design.
MIKE SPINELLI: I've got to say-- well, they really,
really need the new 6 to stand out in the design.
JF MUSIAL: And it most certainly does stand out, but
you know damn well that it will not look like that in
production form, or anything like it.
MIKE SPINELLI: Probably not.
Yeah, you're not--
JF MUSIAL: Because Mazda is very good at producing amazing
concept cars.
Their concept cars are awesome.
MIKE SPINELLI: Yes.
JF MUSIAL: And then when it goes to production, it's, oh.
MIKE SPINELLI: But the Mazda 6, the previous generation,
the generation out now, has been this forgotten car.
JF MUSIAL: Yeah.
MIKE SPINELLI: And I kind of feel bad for it.
I see one or two on the road once in a while.
I just feel so bad for the thing.
JF MUSIAL: I drove one across country, you know that?
MIKE SPINELLI: You did?
JF MUSIAL: Yeah.
A Mazda 6 rental car.
And it was not a fun experience.
MIKE SPINELLI: I just feel bad for the car.
I just would love to see them show a little bit more
savoir-faire, as it were.
JF MUSIAL: What's next?
Yes, yes, yes.
MIKE SPINELLI: Morgan.
JF MUSIAL: Morgan Plus 8.
MIKE SPINELLI: By the way, is that Corey Feldman driving?
Oh, you're too young to actually know who Corey
Feldman is?
You've got to be kidding me.
That's totally Corey Feldman driving.
JF MUSIAL: So why do we like Morgan?
MIKE SPINELLI: Why do we like Morgan?
Because first of all, Charles Morgan is a nutbag in the best
way you possibly could be.
JF MUSIAL: Yes.
Agreed.
MIKE SPINELLI: And that is that he's taking the best of
old cars, the raw experience, and using modern technology.
And he's really, really into using the latest technology,
the latest engineering stuff, too.
JF MUSIAL: Well this still uses the old BMW motor, the
old M5 block.
I still do believe it's got the 4.8-liter V8, 390
horsepower, and it's described as a true driver's car.
MIKE SPINELLI: Right.
But--
JF MUSIAL: What Morgan isn't a driver's car?
You never see your mother buy a Morgan and say, I just want
to go around town.
MIKE SPINELLI: If my mother bought a Morgan, I would run
for the hills.
JF MUSIAL: It's got 23 miles per gallon combined, 4.5
seconds to 60, and 155 miles an hour.
In that.
MIKE SPINELLI: In that.
That's pretty cool.
JF MUSIAL: Can you imagine that wind screen at
155 miles per hour?
MIKE SPINELLI: But here's another thing.
This is like another cultural icon from Britain that we are
never going to really see here.
There are some that are legal in America.
JF MUSIAL: Yes, some.
MIKE SPINELLI: But it's really super British.
You can't get more British than this.
You drive around America in one of these--
JF MUSIAL: You're cool.
MIKE SPINELLI: Well you're cool, but people might look at
you a little strange.
JF MUSIAL: What's next?
MIKE SPINELLI: Next.
Oh, what the hell?
JF MUSIAL: This is a leaked patent sketch, rather,
rendering from--
MIKE SPINELLI: Oh, it's my eyesight.
Wait a minute.
Let me back up a little bit.
JF MUSIAL: This is an Infiniti, right?
Or a Nissan slash Infinity.
MIKE SPINELLI: It's a Nissan slash Infiniti.
It's the Emerge-E, which, when you put this in--
JF MUSIAL: Wait, go back.
This design element right here is so badass.
I love that.
That's Alfa Romeo 4C line right there.
MIKE SPINELLI: Yeah, exactly.
That is.
JF MUSIAL: And that's so cool how the--
awesome design.
I think Infiniti has been top notch in the past few years of
really stepping their game up.
Their investment into Red Bull Racing was a [BLEEP]
great move, and their concepts have been looking better and
better every auto show.
MIKE SPINELLI: It's very true.
And it's the Emerge-- now again, with the stupid names.
Emerge-E.
JF MUSIAL: Hold on.
Look at the notes Mike has, and then look at my notes.
I have to point out the fact that--
MIKE SPINELLI: Everything is here.
It's--
JF MUSIAL: OK.
Are you lost in those four lines?
No, but I didn't write down the Emerge-E, where when you
put this thing in water, and you drink it,
you won't get sick.
JF MUSIAL: Oh, really?
Emergen-C.
MIKE SPINELLI: Oh, sorry.
JF MUSIAL: You're good.
MIKE SPINELLI: I'm a dick, sorry.
JF MUSIAL: Keep going through those shots.
It's a cool design.
MIKE SPINELLI: It's an interesting design.
By the way, these are just the patent sketches, and that's
why they look so weird.
JF MUSIAL: Well they look like the renderings for that car,
but this is the design of the car.
MIKE SPINELLI: Right, and this is what they send to the
patent office.
By the way--
JF MUSIAL: Awesome, awesome, awesome,
awesome, awesome, awesome.
MIKE SPINELLI: Now, interesting--
let's just put it this way.
1.2 liter gas engine?
JF MUSIAL: Yeah.
MIKE SPINELLI: With a hybrid system electric motor also.
JF MUSIAL: Yeah.
MIKE SPINELLI: So the cool thing to do when you're an
auto maker right now is to do a hybrid sports car.
And this is their version.
JF MUSIAL: It's awesome.
MIKE SPINELLI: But I would love to see Nissan go up
against Acura with the new NSX thing.
It's the same basic principle.
JF MUSIAL: Same principle.
The Jaguar CX75--
that's a great competitor to that.
It's very cool.
MIKE SPINELLI: So are we entering a kind of
renaissance--
a ren-ay-sance--
JF MUSIAL: Ooh,.
I like what you did there.
MIKE SPINELLI: Of --of hybrid super cars?
JF MUSIAL: I think we are.
MIKE SPINELLI: I think we might be.
JF MUSIAL: Audi e-tron.
MIKE SPINELLI: Yeah, Audi e-tron.
JF MUSIAL: The BMW 8.
JF MUSIAL: Yeah.
Exactly.
JF MUSIAL: Very cool.
What's next, Joshua?
MIKE SPINELLI: What the heck?
JF MUSIAL: This is a Mule.
Thank you to World Car Fans for the spy shot.
This is the Ferrari 620 Mule, which is
expected to be revealed--
MIKE SPINELLI: Is that the real name, the Mule?
JF MUSIAL: Yes.
MIKE SPINELLI: The 620 Mule?
JF MUSIAL: It carries drugs, yes.
MIKE SPINELLI: In its tail pipe?
JF MUSIAL: So it's the 620.
It's a replacement to the 599.
The thing about this car is, of course, it's going to have
a bigger engine displacement--
620 as opposed to 599.
I don't think it's going to be that much different in terms
of design, other than the front end looking a
lot like the 458.
From what we've seen from spy shots, the back end looks a
lot like the 599.
Did I take your breath away right there?
MIKE SPINELLI: Well, no.
Perhaps the pinnacle of the GT motoring at this point, right
now [INAUDIBLE].
JF MUSIAL: You almost had the nerdy voice in there.
MIKE SPINELLI: (NASAL VOICE) Well, I was
trying to keep it away.
JF MUSIAL: So you can actually start seeing the
458 front end there.
That's becoming a design [INAUDIBLE].
MIKE SPINELLI: I've got to say--
can I just say one thing?
I actually hate looking at spy shots now.
JF MUSIAL: Why?
MIKE SPINELLI: I just am so tired of looking at spy shots.
Because they come out, and you look at it, and you're like,
oh yeah, they put a bunch of horse blankets on it to make
sure that we don't know what it looks like.
JF MUSIAL: Well, that's their job.
MIKE SPINELLI: And then we like to speculate--
maybe I'm just exhausted today.
I'm just tired.
Look.
The 599 is BMW's--
oh, BMW.
Jesus.
JF MUSIAL: You're good.
MIKE SPINELLI: The 599 is Ferrari's V12--
JF MUSIAL: Monster.
MIKE SPINELLI: Monster.
The pinnacle of its V12 line.
JF MUSIAL: I suspect the 620 will include a lot of
technology that we'll start seeing in the new Enzo
replacement.
MIKE SPINELLI: That's what I'm waiting to see.
JF MUSIAL: Yeah.
So there will be some kind of KERS slash hybrid technology
in this car, I suspect.
MIKE SPINELLI: Like the FF, but not like the FF.
You mean more of a KERS kind of regenerative braking--
JF MUSIAL: Regenerative braking.
Trickle down technology from F1.
MIKE SPINELLI: From F1, yeah.
JF MUSIAL: Who the F knows, because at this point, we
[INAUDIBLE].
[INTERPOSING VOICES]
MIKE SPINELLI: Who the F knows, Ferrari?
JF MUSIAL: What's next?
Are we done?
Yeah.
We're done.
MIKE SPINELLI: Wow.
We're done.
JF MUSIAL: Thank you.
MIKE SPINELLI: Hit us up @Drive on Twitter, as we said,
or just leave the comments below.
And let us know what you think of these cars.
JF MUSIAL: I like your shirt, by the way.
MIKE SPINELLI: Thanks.
You know Seamus O'Hoonigan?
[THEME MUSIC]