Ten things we learned this week: April 15 2016 edition

When it comes to coupes, the Germans have a wealth of domestic metal to choose from. This a country that, like the States and, erm, France, is deeply patriotic when it comes to cars – buying home-grown stuff above all else. Which is why Ten Things was surprised to learn that in March, the newly Europed Ford Mustang outsold not just the Jaguar F-Type, Nissan 370Z and Porsche Cayman, but the Audi TT and mighty 911.

Granted, Ford’s European arm is more or less a German operation (its European HQ is in Cologne), but still, colour us impressed. 

To celebrate its centenary, BMW is set to star as the featured marque at this year’s Festival of Speed. As well as collaborating on the design of the big sculpture that traditionally occupies Lord March’s front lawn, BMW will bring with it heaps of old cars and bikes for your amusement. These include the 328 Touring Coupé ‘Superleggera’ that won the Mille Miglia in 1940, an M1 Procar, a BMW-engined McLaren F1 LM and the V12 LMR that won Le Mans in 1999.

The festival will take place from the 23^rd to the 26^th of June. 

This is not surprising. Hardcore Porsches are tricky and expensive things to get your hands on. If you miss out on a brand new one, a barely-used example will easily run you tens or often hundreds of thousands over list, and speculators – like this chap - sell their spots in line for way over market value. Cayman GT4s, which are £64k brand new, are up north of £100K. GT3 RSs are nudging £300K, more than twice what you’d have paid new. So we're not entirely shocked by this bloke's gall, more the scope of it. That's 918 money, after all.

The work of British artist Sir Peter Blake, this one-off multi-coloured Conti GT will be sold in aid of the Care2Save Charitable Trust at this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed.

You’ll have noticed that there are a lot of colours at work here. The doors & arches are ‘St Luke’s Blue’, the lower body British Racing Green and the radiator shell ‘Fuscia Pink’. The bright yellow bonnet is embellished with a hand-painted heart because, erm, just because. Inside, every seat is a different colour, and the steering wheel is trimmed in no fewer than four different hues of leather.

Beneath all the art is a Continental GT V8 S, which means slightly stiffened suspension, recalibrated steering and more power than the standard V8.  

Professional beard and Porsche curator Magnus Walker – who you can read about by clicking on these words – has joined forces with Hot Wheels to design a fleet of miniature Porsches, all of which we now want immensely.

The collection kicks off with a couple of 356s, which are available now, and they’ll be joined by a GT3 RS, 964 and 935 in the coming months.

Last week we reported that Charlize Theron had been signed up to star in a villainous role in the next Fast and Furious movie, no doubt delighting fans of the series and of Mad Max: Fury Road.

This week we bring you the news that Fast 8 has secured the theatrical services of another big Hollywood name: that of Clint Eastwood... ‘s 30-year-old son, Scott Eastwood. He'll join series regular Vin Diesel, pictured above.

Few details about the casting have been made public, but the actor said: “To me, the series is so much more than just a franchise. It’s a legacy. These great actors who have been in it together for so long have become a family. I absolutely can’t wait to join it.”

The latest film – the first of three currently in the pipeline – is set to premiere in April 2017.

Research by the University of Sheffield has concluded that five-time world champion Juan Manuel Fangio is the greatest driver in the history of the sport.

The study – which used statistical data to rank all of F1’s drivers – placed Fangio above Alain Prost and Fernando Alonso in second and third. Jim Clark was fourth, and Ayrton Senna fifth.

Dr Andrew Bell, of the Sheffield Methods Institute, said: “The question ‘who is the greatest F1 driver of all time’ is a difficult one to answer, because we don’t know the extent to which drivers do well because of their talent or because they are driving a good car.

“Our statistical model allows us to find a ranking and assess the relative importance of team and driver effects, and there are some surprising results.”

He isn’t kidding. According to the analysis, three-time world champion Niki Lauda doesn’t even make the top 100. Try arguing that one with your mates...

It’s safe to say that TG isn’t the G-Wiz’s biggest fan. So you can imagine the jubilation in the office when we heard that a replacement had arrived in the UK to put it out of its misery.

You’ll also be able to imagine how quickly those cheers died down when we found out that it’s being succeeded by this: a Mahindra e2o electric car with a range of 79 miles. Yep.

Priced from £12,995, it’s roughly six grand more expensive than the Renault Twizy, but is at least cheaper than established cars like the Nissan Leaf and Renault Zoe.

The e20 has a top speed of 63mph (and is fully certified for use on the M1) and is powered by a 42bhp motor that also delivers 67lb ft of immediately-accessible torque.

Tempted?

Thailand has adopted a new punishment for drink-drivers and repeat traffic offenders: community service in hospital morgues.

The rather macabre sentencing is aimed at sobering up people who decide to get behind the wheel drunk, by giving them a very graphic demonstration of what the outcome of their stupid decision could be.

It comes as Thailand – the country that holds the world’s second highest road death rate – enters its New Year holidays and more than two people die and 160 are injured on the roads every hour. Sheesh.