Morgan Motor Cars has been run by Charles Morgan and his family for over 100 years, quite the testament to the products that they produce. The Beautifully British character that is deeply engrained into every one of these sports cars is one of charm. Success from the new 3 Wheeler model has spurred the business on as they look to the future, however, as it stands now this future does not include Charles Morgan.
Charles Morgan is no longer a member of the management team or the board of directors at Morgan Motor Cars, yet, he does remain a shareholder. The cause of Charles’ removal is being deliberately kept quiet according to a tweet from his wife Kiera: “A little mouse tells me that the bullying that is taking place at the factory is unreal. People are being gagged & threatened not to speak.” She also said “If you all knew the truth about the unfair removal of @charlesmorganuk your blood would go cold.” Charles Morgan has said that he is going to appeal the decision but has made no further comment. His Twitter account has stayed quiet, only retweeting other users opinions on his removal.
Whatever is going on it certainly isn’t very gentlemanly, and sure as hell not very British.
Robert Kubica is truly a very talented driver. His motorsport career propelled him to the very top and in Formula One this Polish star shone bright. It was said that Ferrari were on the cusp of signing him to drive for them before his terrible accident happened. Between Grand Prix Kubica enjoyed partaking in rally events and it turned out he was actually rather good! However, on one of these events he had a crash and part of a barrier pierced his car almost severing his forearm. He so far has not regained enough dexterity in his hand to drive an F1 car, but in the mean time he has been making waves in the world of rallying. Now it is his turn at the top.
Previously competing and winning in lower tiers, Rober Kubica will be armed with a top spec Citroen DS3 WRC car for Wales Rally GB. In the lesser WRC2 category he has won four rallies out of the six he has competed in and so he should feel confident in his abilities. What a remarkable man! After all he has been through his talent has prevailed and we wish Robert luck.
Wales Rally GB runs from 14th-17 November.
We love concept cars! Those things of fancy where manufacturers give their designers a clean sheet of paper and tell them to indulge themselves. The results are beautiful sculptures that excite us enthusiasts and gives the world an insight into future design. Alas, these statements of freedom very rarely make it into production, or if they do their designs are castrated to be made more “real world.” Our Citroen DS5 test car bucks that trend and has stayed very true to the designers conception. The result is a car that looks like no other…
Just look at this machine! It is a magnificent thing to behold with its long proud profile and beautifully intricate details. The sloping roofline, large grill as well as its deliberate creases and curves make it truly unique. It is like looking at a modern skyscraper such as London’s gherkin, it has a majesty about it. The longer you stare at it the more design features you find. Simply parking this car in a public place results in people taking a good look as they walk past.
The art continues as you slip inside the DS5’s masterfully crafted cabin. In my opinion the interior is truly class leading, and I don’t say that lightly, with aircraft inspired consoles narrated with aluminium standing tall amidst top quality upholstery. Each button is also aluminium and stand as little individual monuments. However, this mobile palace’s star attraction is its triple glass roof that is seductively revealed by electric blinds. There is vast amounts of space inside the DS5 and it can comfortably seat five adults, though that sloping roof line does restrict rear head room for those of the taller variety. The seats themselves are very supportive and the front ones are also heated with the drivers supporting a massage feature. This DS5 is the top specification model and sports other features such as heads up display, DAB radio (which in conjunction with the premium audio system is excellent), automatic lights and wipers, keyless entry as well as cruise control.
Pushing the starter button fires up the 2.0 litre 163BHP diesel engine and provokes the HUD to rise from the dashboard. Acceleration is brisk and dominated by the great torque of the diesel engine. There is no getting away from the fact that this is a BIG car and the reduced rear visibility, thanks to its styling, does make it a bit tricky to park even with parking sensors and a rear camera. On the move the DS5 is quiet and refined creating a very relaxing environment to settle down for a long journey. It is on the motorway where this car is most at home when you simply set the cruise control, activate your massaging seat and let this luxury limo do the work. Just how comfortable is it? Well, setting the dual zone climate control “just so” makes it about as snug as a warm bed on a winters day. The steering is light which makes maneuvering the car easy and the gear changes in this 6 speed manual were effortless. Though the tight streets of Bath and busy industrial town centre of Bristol were a bit of a squeeze at times, the tranquility of the cabin reduced my stress levels dramatically. Yet, the DS5 has an Achilles heel. For such a big luxurious car the suspension is quite stiff. Potholes do tend to send a loud thud through the interior and Britons battered surfaces sometimes make the car feel unsettled. Like I previously said, the motorway is where this car is at its best with that torquey diesel surging you along in comfort. Fuel economy wasn’t too bad with our combined testing producing 46MPG from this 2.0 litre model.
The Citroen DS5 is a car that must be applauded for staying so close to its initial concept car roots. Though at £29,085 it is stepping on the toes of cars such as the BMW 5 Series, the Germans do not give you a package that is unlike anything else. This car is for the extravert, those who want to be different and don’t intend to blend into the background. In the very true words of Steve Jobs “Here’s To The Crazy Ones. The misfits. The rebels. The trouble-makers. The round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. They’re not fond of rules, and they have no respect for the status-quo. You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify, or vilify them. About the only thing you can’t do is ignore them. Because they change things. They push the human race forward. And while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius. Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world – are the ones who DO.”