Changing Gears - They say you get more rigid as you grow older. But I think perhaps the opposite is true!

They say you get more rigid as you grow older. But I think perhaps the opposite is true! In truth, you become more mature and acutely aware of your own limited understanding of the universe. But, before we get too philosophical, perhaps I ought to be more specific. You see, I used to have a very adolescent view of what I wanted in a car – the steering should be hydraulic, even unassisted if possible, the suspension should be as firm as can be, the gearbox manual, and the engine naturally aspirated. Attributes that are clearly more suited to a weekend toy rather than an everyday runabout. And traits that would be near impossible to come by in any showroom today. And so, against all odds, I’m smitten by one of the cars featured in this issue – the 5-door Mini Cooper SD. The first time I drove the new generation Mini was well over a decade ago. All things considered it went well – my sister-in-law, who was a rear seat passenger at the time, has never been in a car with me behind the wheel since. That car did have hydraulic steering, a manual gearbox, firm suspension, and a naturally aspirated petrol engine – so it ticked most of the boxes. The new Cooper SD, on the other hand, has a turbocharged diesel motor, electric steering, a flappy paddle gearbox, and dynamic suspension that’s been toned down so as to not extract your fillings on the way to the shops. But it still works. Nay – it works even better! With each new generation, electric steering continues to improve and feel more natural. The new-age turbo-diesels are unmatched for drivability and efficiency, and the flappy paddles respond so much quicker and smoother than you’d ever be able to do as your brain tries to sync engine revs with gear ratios and match that with hand-and-feet movement. The new Mini is less Bull Terrier, and more Beagle – it’s still keen to play catch, but it won’t take a chunk out of your leg in the process. Technology, then, is no longer the devil in disguise – it truly is the enabler. Another feature in this issue that unequivocally demonstrates this is the piece on the Audi RS5 TDI Concept. Not only is this an RS model that has a twin-turbo diesel under the bonnet, but it also has Audi’s electric turbo technology that’s expected to make it into production in the next couple of years. Essentially, it consists of an additional turbo that’s spun electronically to 70,000rpm in 250 milliseconds to ensure that you suffer from no traditional turbo lag whatsoever. Not only does it result it immediate response, but also greater fuel efficiency. So, there, I can justify my renewed worldview by attributing it not to the greying of my beard but to the advancements in technology – which not only make the driving experience easier and more efficient, but keep the fun alive as well...