{"version":"1.1.0","producer":"fm.getcarcurious","layer":"official","episode":{"title":"Ronnie Pickering's Picasso","url":"http://getcarcurious.com/episodes/ronnie-pickering-s-picasso","audioUrl":"https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/5e9031b840f99ffd144483ab/e/6a41290f26d5a6687a3bc346/media.mp3","description":"Jonny and Richard fear for the survival of a car icon. Also in this episode, the origin of the name Urus, strange trousers at a music festival, car problems in hot weather, Fast & Furious at 25, memories of Millbrook proving ground, choosing where to live based on wind, car colour and insurance costs, and another cracking car plucked from Car & Classic. For early, ad-free episodes and extra content go to patreon.com/smithandsniffTo buy merch and tickets to live shows go to smithandsniff.comThis episode is sponsored by Car & Classic https://candc.li/uc1yqz  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information."},"annotations":[{"id":454951,"startTime":20.5,"endTime":60.0,"type":"car","title":"Lamborghini Urus","url":"/cars/lamborghini/urus","image":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/14/Geneva_International_Motor_Show_2018%2C_Le_Grand-Saconnex_%281X7A0035%29.jpg","quote":"Why did Lamborghini combine those two words to make the euro? And it's been staring at us in the face, but yet neither of us have clocked the fact that the euro is urinal and anus together. And he's right, isn't he? He's bloody right. Yes, he is right. This is the greatest deconstruction of a portmanteau since Fry and Laurie did dancer size. It combines the word dance with the word circumcise. But Eurus, yes, of course.","canonicalId":"car:lamborghini:urus","priority":0.6,"confidence":0.95,"source":"gemini-3.5-flash","data":{"explanation":"The Lamborghini Urus is a high-performance luxury crossover SUV powered by a front-mounted 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 engine. It is highly notable for being Lamborghini's first modern SUV, combining supercar-like performance and handling with everyday utility. The vehicle shares its platform with other high-end Volkswagen Group SUVs like the Porsche Cayenne and Bentley Bentayga.","simplifiedExplanation":"The Urus is a very fast, very expensive SUV made by the Italian supercar company Lamborghini. It looks aggressive, has a loud V8 engine, and is designed for people who want the speed of a supercar but need the space of a family SUV.","imageAttribution":"Matti Blume (CC BY-SA 4.0)","imageLicense":"CC BY-SA 4.0","imageSourceUrl":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Geneva_International_Motor_Show_2018,_Le_Grand-Saconnex_(1X7A0035).jpg"}},{"id":454952,"startTime":671.7,"endTime":718.7,"type":"car","title":"Citroën Xsara Picasso","quote":"And there was only one car in the Overspill car park and it was a Citroen Picasso. And it was the same color as the infamous Ronnie Pickering car, the guy that went viral on the internet for being threatening.","canonicalId":"car:citroën:xsara picasso","priority":0.9,"confidence":0.98,"source":"gemini-3.5-flash","data":{"explanation":"The Citroën Xsara Picasso is a compact multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) famous for its distinctive, egg-shaped styling and highly practical interior layout. It became a massive sales success in Europe during the early 2000s, offering flexible seating and family-focused utility. The car gained viral internet fame in the UK as the vehicle driven by Ronnie Pickering during a notorious road rage incident.","simplifiedExplanation":"This is a quirky, bubble-shaped family hatchback from the early 2000s made by the French company Citroën. It is famous in the UK for being the car driven in a funny viral video where an angry man repeatedly yells his own name, 'Ronnie Pickering', at a moped rider."}},{"id":454953,"startTime":1074.2,"endTime":1144.1,"type":"car","title":"Autobianchi A112 Abarth","image":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7a/1984_Autobianchi_A112_Abarth_Classic-Gala_2025_DSC_1057.jpg","quote":"Oh, yes, it's an Auto Bianchi A112. Yes. I love these. I do as well. Look at that. Yeah. Aww. Yeah. But also, it's got a black bonnet and alloys in the accepted sporty Italian car style. And that's because it's an our bath version. It's an our bath. Oh, sir. From 1985.","canonicalId":"car:autobianchi:a112 abarth","priority":0.85,"confidence":0.98,"source":"gemini-3.5-flash","data":{"explanation":"The Autobianchi A112 Abarth is a legendary hot hatch powered by a high-revving, front-mounted inline-four engine tuned by Abarth. It is celebrated as one of the definitive early Italian pocket rockets, offering an exceptional power-to-weight ratio and go-kart-like handling. It was highly popular in European amateur rallying and hill climb events throughout the 1970s and 1980s.","simplifiedExplanation":"This is a tiny, lightweight Italian hatchback from the 1970s and 80s that was modified by Abarth (a famous tuning company) to be incredibly fast and fun to drive. It is highly prized by collectors for its sporty character and retro styling.","imageAttribution":"Alexander Migl (CC BY-SA 4.0)"}},{"id":454954,"startTime":1612.76,"endTime":1614.44,"type":"car","title":"Renault 5","url":"/cars/renault/5","image":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/30/1984_Renault_5_GTL_%2814932391847%29.jpg","quote":"No, windows. I drove the Renault 5 the other day. All the windows down.","canonicalId":"car:renault:5","priority":0.5,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gemini-3.5-flash","data":{"explanation":"The Renault 5 is a legendary French hatchback originally produced from 1972 to 1996, famous for its chic, space-efficient design and massive sales success in Europe. In 2024, Renault revived the nameplate as a retro-styled, fully electric city car (the Renault 5 E-Tech) that pays direct homage to the original's iconic shape. It is highly discussed for successfully blending nostalgic design with modern electric vehicle technology.","simplifiedExplanation":"The Renault 5 is a small, popular French hatchback first made in the 1970s as an affordable and practical city car. Renault recently brought the name back as a modern, all-electric car that looks very similar to the classic original.","imageAttribution":"Charlie from United Kingdom (CC BY 2.0)","imageLicense":"CC BY 2.0","imageSourceUrl":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:1984_Renault_5_GTL_(14932391847).jpg"}},{"id":454955,"startTime":1646.8,"endTime":1695.2,"type":"part","title":"quarter lights","url":"/glossary/quarter-lights","quote":"And the Beetle obviously doesn't have air conditioning. But it has quarter lights, Richard. Quarter lights, I know. See, in the absence of the air conditioning, which of course was not mainstream for many, many years, we relied on things like the peelback roof, the vinyl roof, the Webasto, as some would call it, and also the quarter windows or quarter lights. I do love them.","canonicalId":"part:quarter-lights","priority":0.6,"confidence":0.95,"source":"gemini-3.5-flash","data":{"explanation":"Quarter lights, also known as vent windows, are small triangular side windows found on older cars, typically positioned ahead of the main front door glass. They can be pivoted outward to scoop fresh air directly into the cabin or draw stale air out using a venturi effect. They largely disappeared from modern car designs due to aerodynamic efficiency, wind noise reduction, and the rise of air conditioning.","simplifiedExplanation":"These are the small, triangular windows found on the front doors of older cars that you can hinge open. They were used to let a nice breeze into the car before modern air conditioning became standard."}},{"id":454956,"startTime":2081.4,"endTime":2104.3,"type":"place","title":"Millbrook Proving Ground","url":"/glossary/millbrook-proving-ground","quote":"And last week, I was at Milbrook Proving Ground, which is called something else now. I think it's called UTAC now, but it's... What? Yeah, it's called something different. I'm just looking up. I'm pretty sure it's called UTAC. U, T, A, C. Like BlueTac, but without the BL. UTAC. Yeah, here we go. It's called UTAC. I still call it Milbrook Proving Ground.","canonicalId":"place:millbrook-proving-ground","priority":0.8,"confidence":0.98,"source":"gemini-3.5-flash","data":{"explanation":"Millbrook Proving Ground (now owned by UTAC) is a massive vehicle testing facility in Bedfordshire, England, featuring a famous 2-mile high-speed banked circular bowl, alpine handling routes, and off-road tracks. Built by General Motors in the late 1960s, it is widely used by automotive manufacturers for development, as well as by media for filming and stunt coordination.","simplifiedExplanation":"This is a huge, secret testing facility in England with various tracks, including a giant circular banked track where cars can drive at high speeds without turning the steering wheel. It is where car companies test secret new models and where movies like James Bond film car stunts."}},{"id":454957,"startTime":2119.94,"endTime":2122.1,"type":"car","title":"Mclaren F1","url":"/cars/mclaren/f1","image":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fc/NEC_Birmingham_1992_Car_Show_Mclaren.jpg","quote":"It's where Tiff Nadel, our Capaccio Jacketed friend, set the fastest average speed in a road car of 195 miles an hour in the McLaren F1. Yes. And it's where, in Casino Royale, the Bond film, there was that huge barrel roll that became a world record with the DBS.","canonicalId":"car:mclaren:f1","priority":0.6,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gemini-3.5-flash","data":{"explanation":"The McLaren F1 is a legendary supercar featuring a central driving position and a naturally aspirated BMW-sourced V12 engine. It is widely considered one of the greatest automotive engineering achievements of all time, holding the record for the world's fastest naturally aspirated production car with a top speed of 240.1 mph. Only 106 units were produced between 1992 and 1998.","simplifiedExplanation":"The McLaren F1 is one of the most famous and valuable supercars ever built. It has three seats, with the driver sitting right in the middle of the car, and it was the fastest car in the world during the 1990s.","imageAttribution":"Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 2.0","imageLicense":"CC BY 2.0","imageSourceUrl":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:NEC_Birmingham_1992_Car_Show_Mclaren.jpg"}},{"id":454958,"startTime":2425.4,"endTime":2430.0,"type":"car","title":"Volkswagen Phaeton","url":"/cars/volkswagen/phaeton","image":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4a/2010_Volkswagen_Phaeton_W12%2C_Techno-Classica_2025%2C_Essen_%28P1045897%29.jpg","quote":"I did regale the story about Jason Plato with cruise control on in the Faton and climbing out of the driving seat and sitting in the back at 150. That wasn't funny. I remember how unfunny that was at the time.","canonicalId":"car:volkswagen:phaeton","priority":0.6,"confidence":0.9,"source":"gemini-3.5-flash","data":{"explanation":"The Volkswagen Phaeton is a full-size luxury sedan engineered under the obsessive direction of Ferdinand Piëch to compete directly with the Mercedes-Benz S-Class. It is famous for its over-engineered chassis, complex W12 engine option, and advanced climate control systems, though it suffered from slow sales due to its mainstream VW badge. It shared its platform and assembly techniques with Bentley models of the era.","simplifiedExplanation":"The Phaeton was an incredibly luxury sedan built by Volkswagen to prove they could make a car as good as a Bentley or Mercedes. It was packed with high-tech features but looked like a giant Passat, meaning very few people bought one.","imageAttribution":"Matti Blume (CC BY-SA)","imageLicense":"CC BY-SA","imageSourceUrl":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:2010_Volkswagen_Phaeton_W12,_Techno-Classica_2025,_Essen_(P1045897).jpg"}},{"id":454959,"startTime":2712.84,"endTime":2715.16,"type":"car","title":"Jaguar XJ220","url":"/cars/jaguar/xj220","image":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/32/1992_Jaguar_XJ220_Sports_%2843944898604%29.jpg","quote":"Because I remember the story. You know, Martin Brundle lapped the XJ220 at Nardo in the south of Italy to try and get it beyond its claim 220 mile an hour top speed, I think.","canonicalId":"car:jaguar:xj220","priority":0.7,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gemini-3.5-flash","data":{"explanation":"The Jaguar XJ220 is a mid-engine supercar powered by a twin-turbocharged V6 engine derived from Group C racing. It briefly held the title of the world's fastest production car, reaching a top speed of 212.3 mph in 1992. Despite its performance, it was controversial at launch because Jaguar switched from a promised V12 engine and all-wheel-drive system to a V6 and rear-wheel drive.","simplifiedExplanation":"This is a sleek, ultra-rare supercar from the early 1990s made by Jaguar. It was incredibly fast and wide, but many buyers were upset because Jaguar promised a V12 engine and delivered a twin-turbo V6 instead.","imageAttribution":"Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 2.0","imageLicense":"CC BY 2.0","imageSourceUrl":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:1992_Jaguar_XJ220_Sports_(43944898604).jpg"}},{"id":454960,"startTime":2820.3,"endTime":2822.84,"type":"car","title":"Renault Sport","url":"/cars/renault/sport-spider","image":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/04/2002_Renault_Sport_Spider_%2889664%29.jpg","quote":"...for the first fan to come around. And there was a Renault Sport McGann going round, which was at that point not a...","canonicalId":"car:renault:sport spider","priority":0.5,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gemini-3.5-flash","data":{"explanation":"The Renault Sport Spider is a low-volume, mid-engined roadster produced by Renault's performance division between 1996 and 1999. Built on an aluminum chassis with lightweight plastic bodywork, it was designed as a purist's sports car, famously lacking a roof, side windows, and, in early versions, even a windshield. It served as a promotional vehicle for Renault Sport and remains a rare, highly collectible track-day toy.","simplifiedExplanation":"The Renault Sport Spider is a rare, lightweight two-seat sports car made by the French company Renault in the late 1990s. It was built purely for fast, fun driving and did not have a roof, side windows, or even a front windshield on early models.","imageAttribution":"Calreyn88 (CC BY-SA 4.0)","imageLicense":"CC BY-SA 4.0","imageSourceUrl":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:2002_Renault_Sport_Spider_(89664).jpg"}},{"id":454961,"startTime":3200.68,"endTime":3202.86,"type":"car","title":"BMW Series Bmw","url":"/cars/bmw/7-series","image":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1b/BMW_7-Series_%28G70%29_750e_1X7A1899.jpg","quote":"I don't know absolutely hideous looking two series BMW or X4 in black or grey","canonicalId":"car:bmw:7 series","priority":0.3,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gemini-3.5-flash","data":{"imageAttribution":"Alexander-93 (CC BY-SA 4.0)","imageLicense":"CC BY-SA 4.0","imageSourceUrl":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:BMW_7-Series_(G70)_750e_1X7A1899.jpg"}},{"id":454962,"startTime":3268.9,"endTime":3270.44,"type":"car","title":"Dodge Avenger","url":"/cars/dodge/avenger","image":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7d/2007_Dodge_Avenger_%28UK%29.png","quote":"And actually gold, there you go, gold My Avenger is yellow gold and it looks spectacular","canonicalId":"car:dodge:avenger","priority":0.5,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gemini-3.5-flash","data":{"explanation":"The Dodge Avenger nameplate has been used on two distinct vehicles: a sporty two-door coupe in the 1990s and a mid-size four-door sedan sold from 2007 to 2014. Sharing its platform with the Chrysler Sebring, the sedan version was known for its aggressive, miniature-Charger styling but received criticism for its cheap interior materials and unrefined driving dynamics. It is often discussed today as a symbol of late-2000s American rental car fleets.","simplifiedExplanation":"The Dodge Avenger is a mid-sized car made by the American brand Dodge, sold as a sporty two-door car in the 1990s and later as a four-door sedan in the 2000s and 2010s. It was designed to look like a smaller version of Dodge's larger muscle cars.","imageAttribution":"Kieran Holdren (CC BY-SA 4.0)","imageLicense":"CC BY-SA 4.0","imageSourceUrl":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:2007_Dodge_Avenger_(UK).png"}},{"id":454963,"startTime":3272.04,"endTime":3274.46,"type":"car","title":"Chevrolet Impala","url":"/cars/chevrolet/impala","image":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c0/06-09_Chevrolet_Impala_LS.jpg","quote":"gold and it looks spectacular and my Chevrolet Impala is champagne gold with a white roof and it looks","canonicalId":"car:chevrolet:impala","priority":0.7,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gemini-3.5-flash","data":{"explanation":"The Chevrolet Impala is an iconic American full-size car first introduced in 1958, celebrated for its dramatic styling, signature triple taillights, and spacious interior. During the 1960s, it became one of the best-selling vehicles in the United States, epitomizing the era of comfortable, V8-powered cruisers. It is frequently discussed in automotive circles for its historical significance and popularity in custom car culture.","simplifiedExplanation":"The Chevrolet Impala is a large, classic American car made by Chevrolet that was very popular starting in the late 1950s. It is known for its long body, stylish design, and comfortable ride. People often collect and restore older models today because of their vintage look.","imageAttribution":"MercurySable99 (CC BY-SA 4.0)","imageLicense":"CC BY-SA 4.0","imageSourceUrl":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:06-09_Chevrolet_Impala_LS.jpg"}},{"id":454964,"startTime":3391.8,"endTime":3394.4,"type":"car","title":"Rover SD1","url":"/cars/rover/sd1","image":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/88/1976_Rover_3500_SD1_St_George_Street%2C_Mayfair.jpg","quote":"well there's two videos out this week one of them which has already come out will be the second part of my Carl Cox chat where we actually sit down and do an idle chat and I think you will particularly enjoy this one because he talks about MG Maestros and Rover Estee Ones","canonicalId":"car:rover:sd1","priority":0.6,"confidence":0.9,"source":"gemini-3.5-flash","data":{"explanation":"The Rover SD1 is an executive hatchback famous for its sleek, Ferrari Daytona-inspired styling and its use of the iconic Rover V8 engine. It was a dominant force in British touring car racing and police fleets throughout the late 1970s and 1980s. Despite its brilliant design, it became a symbol of British Leyland's build quality and reliability struggles during that era.","simplifiedExplanation":"The SD1 was a cool, wedge-shaped British luxury hatchback from the late 70s and 80s. It was fast and sounded great thanks to its V8 engine, making it a favorite for police chases, but it was notorious for rusting and breaking down.","imageAttribution":"Cityswift (CC BY 2.0)","imageLicense":"CC BY 2.0","imageSourceUrl":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:1976_Rover_3500_SD1_St_George_Street,_Mayfair.jpg"}},{"id":454965,"startTime":3550.1,"endTime":3552.8,"type":"person","title":"Michèle Mouton","url":"/glossary/michele-mouton","quote":"and the fourth thing is that I wanted to say last week was Michelle Mouton's 75th birthday World Rally I think is she still the only lady to have conquered World Rally and that was 1982 that she won","canonicalId":"person:mich-le-mouton","priority":0.7,"confidence":0.99,"source":"gemini-3.5-flash","data":{"explanation":"Michèle Mouton is a French former rally driver who competed in the World Rally Championship for the Audi factory team. She is highly notable for winning four championship rallies and finishing runner-up in the world championship in 1982 driving the revolutionary Audi Quattro. She remains the most successful female driver in top-tier motorsport history.","simplifiedExplanation":"Michèle Mouton is one of the greatest rally drivers of all time. In the 1980s, she drove the famous Audi Quattro and won several world championship races, proving she could beat the best male drivers in the world."}},{"id":454966,"startTime":3595.18,"endTime":3597.38,"type":"car","title":"Audi Quattro","url":"/cars/audi/quattro","image":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/88/1980-1991_Audi_Quattro.jpg","quote":"...to interview you one day because just you and the Quattro in the early 80s","canonicalId":"car:audi:quattro","priority":0.5,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gemini-3.5-flash","data":{"explanation":"The Audi Quattro is a seminal road and rally car introduced in 1980 that revolutionized motorsport by introducing permanent all-wheel drive to high-performance passenger cars. It dominated the World Rally Championship in the early 1980s and established Audi's 'quattro' branding as a hallmark of all-weather traction. Its boxy, flared-fender design and turbocharged five-cylinder engine make it one of the most famous automotive icons of its era.","simplifiedExplanation":"The Audi Quattro is a famous German sports car from the 1980s that was the first to successfully use a four-wheel-drive system for high-speed racing. It became legendary by winning numerous off-road rally races and proved that four-wheel drive was useful for everyday road cars.","imageAttribution":"kieranwhite599 (CC BY 2.0)","imageLicense":"CC BY 2.0","imageSourceUrl":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:1980-1991_Audi_Quattro.jpg"}}],"speakers":[{"id":"s1","name":"Jonny Smith","role":"host"},{"id":"s2","name":"Richard Porter","role":"host"}],"transcripts":[{"url":"http://getcarcurious.com/episodes/ronnie-pickering-s-picasso/transcript.vtt","type":"text/vtt"}]}