Our consumer world is increasingly becoming a globalized pabulum. Pedestrian zones have become internationally interchangeable, apart from a few details. Even in the auto industry there is this egalitarianism, as more and more manufacturers rely on models for as many markets as possible. And yet, some regions still require very special cars that are withheld from others. We present five mobile phones that could enrich the streetscape in this country.
One of these Kopfverdreher comes from Australia and hears on the German ears somewhat curious name Ute. Meant is a curious mixture of Pickup and sports sedan. In Down Under, this vehicle segment has been named Utility. Ute is just the short form. In its hottest stage of development, the Holden Ute can mobilize torque from a six-liter V8 over 540 PS and almost 700 Newtonmeter torque to move the maximum of one ton of cargo. Ute has not lost his way to Germany. However, there have already been examples of how they turned a few laps at the Nürburgring. No wonder, because the Holden Ute has been officially distributed as a Vauxhall Maloo R8 LSA in the UK for some time. As a right-hand drive, of course.
Another pick-up icon, another continent: Raptor is the all-wheel monster from Ford. More specifically, F-150 Raptor. Even this huge vice offers a particularly attractive mix of utility and sportiness. With mighty 450 PS you can scare the Hochbeiner through the Pampa, as if it is paved. Clearly a macho car for show-offs. But those who drive with this monster truck on a local Aldiparkplatz has leased the attention of the bystanders for themselves. Impossible is the Raptor dream, because there are some importers who dare to offer it in Germany.
A dwarf from Honda is carved out of completely different wood. S660 is the name of the still fresh roadster that competes in the so popular Kei Car class in Japan. In the Land of the Rising Sun, the tax system favors dwarf-sized models with a maximum 660 cc displacement. From a European perspective, this minimalism sometimes drives strange, but also as in the case of the S660 fascinating flowers. The two-seater mini-roadster has a 0,7-liter petrol engine, which allows even a little driving pleasure with 64 PS. But above all you could attract attention with this Liliput exotics in Germany. And then the micro-racer would not even be expensive: Around 15.000 Euro you have to pay the equivalent for the S660 in Japan. For a roadster, a really low price. However, the cost of importing to Germany, including individual purchase, is likely to consume a significantly higher sum.
More expensive and more exclusive is the Mitsuoka Roadster, also from Japan. Mitsuoka is also a very special Nippon phenomenon. It is a small series manufacturer that offers sumptuous Baroque models that are somewhat whimsically similar to historic British cars. Said Roadster, for example, remotely resembles the Jaguar XK 120 from the 1950er years. Perhaps, on the third look, however, you can see that a very modern base is under its sweeping metal skin: A Mazda MX-5 hides under the body of Mitsuoka drastically modified. For a good year, the Roadster is even in the UK for the equivalent of 75.000 Euro. In the meantime, Mitsuoka UK also offers almost new-use copies for around 45.000 Euro. However, as a right-hand drive, of course.
Also modified beyond recognition in Moscow is also a good friend. The body shop Bilenkin transforms the 2005 and 2013-built BMW 3er Coupé into a visually radically different retro mobile with a very special look and feel. While the exterior optics evoke memories of the 60er icon Volvo P 1800, the interior fascinates with a radical Baroque restyling that blends various stylistic elements in a shrill and somehow intriguing way, even though the technology offers contemporary standards. The Russians have presented their conversions 2015 in Dubai, which also illustrates how it is about the possibilities to get a Bilenkin to Germany: Good, if one is willing to invest a sum that should appear at least Otto Normal as absurdly high. (Mario Hommen / SP-X)