Aero float

PITSTOP

There have been cars inspired by aircraft before, but never has the resemblance been this close. Saab's latest concept car, the Aero X, created quite a stir at the Geneva Motor Show and with good reason too. You see, this Saab might look normal but there is nothing so normal about it. For starters, to get in you need to open the canopy.

That's right, the entire roof along with the doors swings up to allow you to get in. Once inside, it's like you are facing an ice sculpture " the dials are made out of acrylic. Saab says that the theme here is simplicity and that to start the Aero X you press a button that's within a computer mouse-like object on the centre console. This, by the way, also doubles up as the gear selector and a canopy control. Simple? For fighter pilots maybe.

Then there are no wipers either. Instead, the windscreen is coated with a hydrophobic material that clears the water. However, powering the Aero X is a rather conventional 2800cc V6 that puts out 400 bhp.

Its twin-turbos help it to put in a 0 to 100 kph time that's in the region of 5 seconds. Saab says that the Aero X rightfully explores their aircraft heritage and provides a source of inspiration for future Saabs. Well, as long as we don't have to take flying lessons to drive it, that's fine by us.

<font color="#000099>Simply the best?

Ladies and gentlemen, the jury is out. From an initial entry of 27 new cars from all over the world, a list of the top three contenders for the second World Car of the Year awards has just been announced. The Audi A6 won this title last year and this time, either the BMW 3 Series, the Mazda MX-5 or the Porsche Cayman S will be its successor.

The jury of 46 international automotive journalists considered a variety of parameters and then individually reviewed, evaluated and voted for the World Car of the Year entrants by secret ballot. No wonder then that all these cars are rear-wheel driven and are engineered to be fun to drive.

Anyway the 2006 World Car of the Year will be declared on Thursday, April 13, 2006 during a press conference at the New York International Auto Show. In addition to the WCOTY, there is also an award for a World Car Design of the Year, a World Green Car and a World Performance Car of the Year. To follow the World Car of the Year awards, you can log on to www.wcoty.com