In the current language, the notion of a "Grand Tourring Car"
has been distorted. It immediateky suggests a fast, racy automobile
for two passengers, with sometimes two additional cramped emergency
seats, stiffly sprung and with very little space for any decent luggage:
in other words a car in which almost all creature comfort is sacrificed to speed and handling.
Such a car may be fun to drive, specially if you have access to a rase
track, but it certainly does not live up to its "Grand Touring" label.
Grand Touring, touring in the grand manner,really means driving over long
9distances in the best possible comfort and safety, anywhere and
at any time,carring with you all the clothes and gear you will need in any season and situation for the duration of your journey.
A perfect driving position, good allround visibility and a nice,businesslike
instrumentation are also very important. That high performance is also required, specially in Europe and on the German Autobahn hardly needs
mentioning: I certainly don't want to lose my time on the way to a target
I have set myself and,above all , I want to enjoy my driving..
And remember, good acceleration not only is part of the
preasure of driving,it is also important as a safety factor which can get you and me out of troblein an emergency.