Steve Cropley: Polestar’s sporty suspension is an acquired taste Car News

Isn’t it strange how quickly and how much your opinions about a car can change? Such thoughts flooded my mind after spending time in Matt Prior’s long-term Polestar 2, a £60,000 twin-motor complete edition.

The problem was that when we first drove this car with its optional £5,000 Öhlins sports suspension, early reviewers – including myself – complained loudly and for a long time about its uncomfortable ride. The bump was evident again when I started riding Prior’s Polestar, but the further I went the more I began to appreciate the impeccable body control, supreme body stiffness (manifesting itself in quiet shock absorption at an impact) and the complete lack of pitching – a particularly infuriating flaw with many current EV rivals.

The excellence of this car was cemented when the steering committee and I returned from a 400 mile drive and agreed, as we headed towards our drive, that its unique combination of exquisitely sculpted seats, “Durable” seat grip and a taut ride made it an extremely comfortable car for long journeys. For me, moreover, that £5,000 suspension would now be a must.

Tuesday

World Rally Championship star Elfyn Evans proved his all-around good guy status by performing at this year’s CAT Awards (i.e. Car Aftermarket Trader, part of the same stable as Autocar) as a special guest.

Toyota’s factory driver wowed us all with factual stories about motorsport’s toughest coal face. Despite having a rally star father, he had it tough, driving for free at one point to retain his place at the top of the WRC tree.

His humility seems completely at odds with his otherworldly riding skills, which have led him to a world title ace in each of the past two years and earned him a famous victory in Finland. He had a rough start to the year, as he amusingly confessed, but you’d be a fool to dismiss it.

Wednesday

It’s a bad idea to listen to the sound of your own voice too often, but this was my annual opportunity to give some practical advice to aspiring automotive journalists taking Coventry University’s specialist masters course. We talked about workload, writing style, and relationships with employers. This training has put more than 100 graduates in our profession since its creation 16 years ago, and some of them are now stars.

I also spoke with the university’s transportation design cohort. I particularly appreciated explaining to them that, despite what they may have heard in the press, contact with hacks can help propel their careers. Design is a primary area where the wrong people are often credited for their great work. Telling the truth to journalists helps a lot.

Friday

Wandering the cafes in our town, I spotted a Suzuki Jimny whose enduring good looks filled me with regret—again—that you can now only buy a retail version. Local dealers could sell three times more than they can get, I’m told, but Suzuki seems so fascinated by the explosion in demand in Japan that adapting the car to European laws isn’t everything. just not a priority.

I’ve always known Suzuki had a very different take on the norm (I remember particularly enjoying David and Goliath’s fight with the Volkswagen Group), but it seems tragic that the Brits can’t buy a new Jimny if they don’t. they want .

In particular, this styling makes me realize the power of straight lines in vehicle design and the joy of perfect proportions – which is why I hope Japanese demand for Jimny will dwindle one of these days, encouraging Suzuki to notice the demand from its export markets.

And something else

Rover is back! At least it’s on the moon. Images of the Flex Rover, a ‘lunar Caterham’ designed by California’s Astrolab, were taken last week – proving that in the skies, at least, neither good weight distribution nor a small frontal area matter. ‘importance…