Et tu, Tiff? Fifth Gear presenter Tiff Needell, in a roundabout twist of fatalist logic, has the temerity to suggest that automakers voluntarily adopt a maximum horsepower limit. His argument is a classically defensive one: willingly give up a little bit before the opposing forces -- who want everyone to drive Priuses -- force everyone to give up a lot.

Regardless of what you think of that tactic, the real problem is when Tiff (of all people!) starts saying that cars have enough horsepower as is, bringing up the same points that are used by the people he's trying to thwart. "Today's motors have more than enough performance. Developing models with even more could do more harm than good with the accompanying bad publicity." Tiff? Is that really you? As if it could get worse, he then cites the Vauxhall Corsa VXR and Renaultsport Clio 197 as all we really need: "All have less than 200 bhp, but are more thrilling to drive than some supercars from a couple of decades ago. [They] can rocket from 0-60 in under seven seconds, which means they're easily fast enough for most people."

A couple of decades ago? Seven seconds? Most people? And it only goes downhill from there. You can check out the entire piece for yourself, but be warned it's not a fun Memorial Day read. When bastions of the enthusiast press start sounding like Comintern double agents, you know it's gotten really crazy.

[Source: Auto Express]