What is your favorite car in 2024?
La Hongqi Guoya. Discovered at the Mondial de l’Auto, it is astonishing for the accuracy of its proportions, its economy of means, its slight scent of another time. This refined expression of luxury contrasts radically with that of European manufacturers who no longer reign in the elegance segment.
Which car disappointed you?
The BMW X2. How could a brand that long set the tone in terms of style sink to this extent? With the X2 we hit rock bottom, with a grotesque profile, inept proportions, a ridiculous appearance…
The 2025 model you’re looking forward to?
The Renault Twingo. Even more than the Renault 5, the Twingo, already modern in its time, lends itself wonderfully to a contemporary reinterpretation.
In the auto news, what annoyed you the most?
SUV advertising. Advertising messages continue to present SUVs in the heart of the urban jungle, making onlookers believe that these heavy, aggressive, bulky and ugly vehicles constitute the ideal expression of the city car.
What does Anne Hidalgo’s departure inspire you?
The damage is doneand it will take years to repair it:
– so that pedestrians are no longer neglected and put in danger by willful cyclists,
– so that public transport and deliveries are more hampered by bicycles,
– so that cyclists renounce the full powers with which they were granted by the mayor of Paris,
– so that they no longer drive in the opposite direction to other vehicles and that they respect the signs (red lights),
– so that the historical face of Paris is restored with its “real”, circular and fluidifying historical squares,
– so that the pollution generated by the reduction in the number of traffic lanes is reduced.
The departure of Carlos Tavares: too bad or so much the better?
The attrition of power. He has long been known as a car enthusiast and is partly responsible for the rebirth of Alpine, but he has completely shifted his focus to giving top priority to profit. Where has the love of automobiles gone when we see what has been done (or not done) for the jewels of Stellantis: Alfa Romeo, Citroën, Dodge, Lancia, Maserati…
When will you go electric?
When the electric motors emit a harmonious melody. Spending a lot of time in the Corsican mountains, 80 km from the charging points, I don’t even think about it. On a more personal level, I delay as much as possible the frustration of no longer hearing the sound of a V8. We could have simply banned diesels with their truly detestable noises and smells.
Your car wish for 2025
May the automobile not lose its soul. May the rare brands that are not disowned, that have been able to prepare for the ecological transition with panache, with respect for their heritage, continue on their virtuous trajectory. I only see two that fit this equation: Porsche and Ferrari.
