Hong Kong: A motoring microcosm

 

 

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Driving in  Hong Kong means urban traffic.

© photo by soeperbaby, licence: Attribution

As I sit here tapping away under the bright lights of Hong Kong’s cityscape, with its laser show, spectacular five star hotels and twinkling LED lights of Porsche 911sPorsche 911Germany, 1963 > present6 series
327 versions
1064 photos
10 videos
and  Ferrari 458sFerrari 458 ItaliaItaly, 2009 > present14 versions
82 photos
8 videos
I can’t help but wonder how Hong Kong’s residents justify anything more powerful than a Mini CooperMINI (BMW) MINIGermany, 2001 > present3 series
123 versions
371 photos
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.

What we, as Europeans with our winding country roads, must accept is that for much of the world having a car with the balance and poise of PorschePorscheGermany, 1931 > present43 models
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or FerrariFerrariItaly, 1947 > present233 models
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’s latest creation is just not very relevant. The mouthpiece of Britain’s most colourful motoring show, Jeremy Clarkson, once pointed out that he was never going to plunge to the depths that his watch could go, but it is nice to know that it can do that anyway…and then (he failed to point out) show off to your friends about it!

I know that I am talking to a load of people here who are as enthused about the possibility of driving down an Alpine Pass as I am, but the spreading supercar phenomena is not about that…not to much of the rest of the world anyway.

Despite Hong Kong’s history, wealth and beauty it feels like its motoring culture has been left behind in many ways. Property in the city has increased in value so much that it would make even the most aggressive London property developer wince with a mixture of fear and foreboding about the bubble that must surely pop. That means that most people do not live in the spacious, high ceilinged apartments and town houses that London, Madrid and Paris residents have made their homes in. So, with a small space in central Hong Kong costing upwards of $10 million (£1 million) their luxury item is their car, not their house.

To understand this, we must delve into the Chinese psyche a little more. While it seems normal to invest the vast majority of one’s wealth into one’s abode, where we live, sleep, and importantly, entertain. The same is not true for the average Hong Konger. It is normal to eat out here, in the restaurants of Lan Kwai Fong, Happy Valley or on Lamma Island and to get to those (OK, not Lamma Island, I guess) one has to hop in one’s automobile. So, that is your status symbol, it’s what you’re most likely to be seen in.

So, with all these fancy cars around why do I say that Hong Kong’s motoring culture has been left behind? Because, I’m not sure that the people driving them actually understand what they’re driving. It’s all about marketing, not driving.

And, of course, this is true of most products. There are a discerning few who understand the nuances of fine wines, Cuban cigars or in this case the world’s finest automobiles. What I can forget, tied up in my own world, with friends who share the same passions, is that the rest of the world see a car as I see a nice wallet, or a piece of furniture…as long as it looks nice I’ll live with the other defects. Image, you see.

So, what are the brands of choice over here? Well, that is interesting too. In Europe we have got used to the Mercedes taxis that take us from the airport to the Frankfurt Motor Show, or even to the coastal resort where we spend our holidays, so the mystique of the three pointed star has all but disappeared. Head out here though and there aren’t so many tatty C 220 CDI’s or disheveled A-ClassMercedes-Benz A-ClassGermany, 1997 > present3 series
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and it is clear that MercedesMercedes-BenzGermany, 1924 > present197 models
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is still on top…BMWBMWGermany, 1918 > present87 models
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and AudiAudiGermany, 1909 > present83 models
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eat my dust is the message!

And, big engines still prevail. It is perfectly reasonable to consider an S600Mercedes-Benz S600 SedanGermany, 2009 > present4 photos
bi-turbo as a competitor to a Bentley Continental Flying SpurBentley Continental Flyin...United Kingdom, 2008 > present7 photos
…what’s even more laughable is that this is the last place on earth that 500-odd bhp will help you!

I wonder whether today’s supercars do better out here too. It wasn’t long ago that you could only order Ferrari’s latest creation with a manual gearbox, and then a clunky semi-automated unit by the mid-1990’s. On the basis that I don’t think I’ve seen one manual car since I’ve been out here double clutch units must be a revelation for those Ferrari 458 drivers I keep on seeing. I wonder what the numbers are?

And, plenty of these cars have Chinese number plates too. They are streaming over the border into this Special Economic Zone in their droves, flocking to the Louis Vuitton shops and emptying Prada of its contents, if you know where to look some of the expenditure will have your eyes out on stalks.

But there are some niceties too, as I was waiting for the bus earlier (not my favourite mode of transport I admit!) I was passed by not one but two Rolls RoyceRolls-RoyceUnited Kingdom, 1904 > present31 models
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’s, and I’m not talking about modern GhostsRolls-Royce GhostUnited Kingdom, 2010 > present15 versions
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or PhantomsRolls-Royce PhantomUnited Kingdom, 2003 > present2 series
16 versions
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. But older couples driven by their chauffeurs in Silver SpiritsRolls-Royce Silver SpiritUnited Kingdom, 1980 > 19984 series
8 versions
11 photos
that they’ve probably had since new. It feels like England ought to be, like each nationality that is packed into the shores is accentuating its identity, and loving every moment of it.

It’s an eye opener out here. You have England, Spain, Portugal and France on display as they used to be 50 years ago on a backdrop of the 21st century. Here the two can fight it out in a microcosm. I like the way it used to be, but I suspect we are going to see more of those Chinese number plates on Ferrari’s that may never exceed 80 mph. They will become the majority for all to see. And, you know what? While I will pretend to be disappointed it is probably a good thing. For every Ferrari 458 that doesn’t exceed 80mph there is a tonne of cash going into Maranello to fund the next project, and I’ll thrash that through the Alps.

What’s funny is they will still need people like me, because it is that image that’ll make the Chinese buyers part with their money. We may no longer be the economic powerhouse that we once were, but we still produce the fanciest, most complete cars, and that is what they’ll buy.

I look forward to seeing how it changes in my visits in years to come. In fact, I’ll be a bit worried if the proliferation of Chinese number plates diminishes now I come to think of it.