Confessions of an Automationeer, Part 43: Automania and European Observations

Confessions of an Automationeer, Part 43: Automania and European Observations

It's been a few weeks since I went on vacation to Central Europe - first to Budapest, then to Vienna (with a few hours spent in Salzburg for good measure), before heading back to Budapest. During that time, I took note of how the automotive landscape looked like in those countries - a fitting place to do so considering that the VW Group has a manufacturing plant in Hungary, as do several other carmakers such as Suzuki. Ultimately, there were several facts about it which left me intrigued. So here they are, in no particular order.

First, most European customers still believe that passenger cars (usually small hatchbacks or mid-sized sedans and wagons) are as popular as ever, even though crossover sales are still increasing. In fact, Austria's best-selling car, the VW Golf, is a small hatchback, albeit one available with a dizzying array of trims and powertrains; I saw countless examples of its various. A recent CSR round (which came immediately before the most recent one, in fact) reminded me of one of the reasons why such small cars are so popular: they are commonly used as first cars, and also procured in large quantities by driving schools for use in their fleets. My entry for that particular round, the Hanson Heron, was exactly that - a small, economical and affordable hatchback which could also serve as an ideal family car.

Two trims of the Hanson Heron: the 1.8Ti (above, blue) and 2.0Ti (below, white)

Second, European car buyers tend to be more adventurous when selecting exterior colors. This explains why many of the cars I saw were brightly colored, with eye-catching reds, oranges, yellows, greens, blues and even purples of varying shades and finishes. Conservative monochrome shades - whites, silvers, grays and blacks - were present, but more rarely seen than in other markets, hence my preference to select bright colors when designing a car in Automation unless it does not suit the car's era or market sector.

Third, the streets of Vienna were filled with all manner of premium cars, from luxury sedans and SUVs to sports cars and supercars. In part this is explained by its citizens being quite wealthy, and more willing to spend it on a car which suits their tastes, now that the late-00s recession is now a distant memory. I also found many examples of such high-end cars in Budapest, although they were somewhat rarer over there. In fact, the only kind of premium car I never found while on vacations was the most prestigious one of all - the multi-million-dollar ultra-high-performance hypercar.

Fourth, the available grades of gasoline in Austria and Hungary are restricted to 95RON premium unleaded and 98RON super unleaded. The latter fuel type is less readily available, however (especially in Hungary), and more expensive. Regardless, both of them tend to have a lower sulfur content than 91RON regular unleaded, which is still in use in some countries. Owners of electric vehicles have nothing to fear, however. Vienna and Budapest, like many other European cities, have a large number of EV charging stations, although the sheer cost of such an extensive EV-friendly infrastructure generally makes it more difficult to implement in developing countries. Besides, if the electricity is generated primarily from fossil fuels instead of renewable energy sources, what's the point of an EV charging network anyway?

Before concluding this post, I would like to tell you that I found an example of a board game very reminiscent of Automation during my brief visit to Salzburg. It was called Automania - a fitting name for a car-themed game. Up to four players can compete to be in control of the largest car manufacturer in the world by expanding and upgrading their factories, while hiring specialists to help them accomplish their plans. Also, much like Automation, they can tailor their products to suit the desires of the game's markets - although unlike Automation, there are only two markets in Automania. In addition, players are able to develop either low-cost, mass-market cars, or more expensive, higher-end products. Ultimately, though, the player who makes the most profits over the course of the game wins.

That concludes my retrospective on the motoring-related observations I made during my first-ever visit to Continental Europe. Given that I have just mentioned CSR75, however, it would be remiss not to dedicate the next post to it. Until then, see you next time, and happy motoring.