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Had Ferrari pulled the wraps off a sensational, all-new, £80,000 supercar at the Geneva Motor Show earlier this month, the good people of the automotive world would have been ecstatic. They would have been expressing deep respect for Italy's most famous company. If sister firm Maserati did the unthinkable and steamed in with a more modest but similar-looking motor for £50,000-£60,000 at precisely the same time, the feelgood factor would have been so great that everyone from the peasants to the Pope would be dancing in the streets.

By Mike Rutherford

15th March 2005

Yet these companies achieved no such thing at the Swiss expo; both brands had an unusually quiet Geneva. Unlike the Brits, or to be more precise Aston Martin and stablemate Jaguar, which are currently the only double-act on the planet capable of giving the Italians a proper run for their money. Sure, Porsche has a go and to a lesser extent so does Mercedes, BMW and Lamborghini. But currently, these are all stand-alone companies which don't have partners capable of building supercars of their own. That may change if Merc's other half, Chrysler, sells the ME Four-Twelve and Lambo's sidekick Audi produces the long-awaited Le Mans quattro coup΃©. For now, though, there are only two supercar families: Ferrari/Maserati and Aston Martin/Jaguar.

Yes, the leaping cat is in with the elite once again - or it will be when it puts its ALC (Aluminium Lightweight Coup΃©) into production wearing an XK8 badge. As far as I can tell, this car has only one fault - it doesn't photograph well. Looking at it in print, I was underwhelmed. Then I saw the Jag on display in Geneva and fell in love with it.

I warn you now; when you check it out at a dealership, possibly as early as January next year, either make sure you're carrying a briefcase full of notes, or have a word with your bank manager in advance, because you will be tempted to buy. It's that good - a supercar for the price of a bloated VW Passat going by the name of Phaeton.

Alternatively, for an extra ΂£20,000-΂£30,000, the even classier-looking Aston Martin V8 Vantage is yours. Again, this is a vehicle best seen in the metal, and like every Ferrari, it's one of the world's most desirable cars. What's more, it undercuts the least expensive prancing horse model, the entry-level 360 Modena, by ΂£25,000.

Although it goes without saying that I wouldn't turn down the chance of having a Ferrari, the feeling I get from friends in their mid-thirties or older is that it's more tasteful to be driving a subtle, metallic silver Jaguar or Aston Martin than a bright red Ferrari.

Well done to the Italians for setting the standard. A big slap on the back to the two workforces of the West Midlands where the Vantage and XK8 supercars will be built. And thanks to Ford for converting the once deeply troubled Aston Martin and Jaguar into world leaders once again. The Brits are back where they belong: at the top.

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