When you think about it there is probably no justifiable reason for we English to be banging on about saint’s day observance. We have hardly hung onto much of what made us great.
The Irish are still kings of world porter and stout production, the Welsh are still lambing with the best of them and Scotland still exports huge numbers of Chancellors of the Exchequer.
We, on the back of knowing more about being able to stand around a brazier slagging off Margaret Thatcher than actually building cars that worked, awoke on St George’s day with Ford owning Jaguar, Aston Martin and Land Rover, BMW owning Rolls- Royce, Volkswagen owning Bentley, Proton- yes Proton - owning Lotus
Oh, hang on. we have got London Taxis International in Coventry.
Surprisingly, this month has seen the launch of a new UK car maker. But don’t spill your gravy.
Firstly an event called the Sexy Green Car Show at the Eden Project is hardly likely to block all roads to Cornwall. Second Axon Automotive may be boasting the greenest petrol car since the Ox cart but it is based on the Caterham 7 with bits taken off.
Which as far as I can see makes it a nudist.
There’s not much to the Caterham as it is but Axon plans to take away the roof and windscreen and make the body out of recycled carbon fibre fishing rods.
The result will be fast and economical with a device to encourage drivers to change gear according to revs and not speed.
Rejoice for it could just be that we are about to lead the automotive world. In go-cart production.
To be fair Axon has some previous in getting good consumption out of a Caterham. In the 2006 Shell Eco-marathon 131mpg was achieved. Which is nicer than being slapped with a cod.
Next year Axon will be launching what it describes as an ‘affordable’ hatchback along the same lines. With a roof I hope.
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