How 'cars and coffee' meets can fuel Gen Z society
At a former pub, signs and posters offer positive messages for Gen Z petrolheads.The Hut at West Meon, Hampshire, was taken over in 2024 by Caffeine & Machine, one of many groups that organise so-called car and coffee meets for motoring enthusiasts.Founder Phil McGovern says under-30s car culture can sometimes be troubled and needs to be fostered in the right way.The mantras on display include "I love you, man" and "Driving under the influence of nothing but joy".
Cars and coffee meets are a global phenomenon, which reportedly started in the United States in the early 2000s.Attendees gather to talk motoring, show off vehicles and, of course, drink hot beverages.
Fourteen-year-old Isaac Potter is a regular at The Hut, practising his photography skills and meeting fellow enthusiasts."My grandad basically got me into cars from a really young age," he says."Just talking to people and getting to know them, getting to know more about their cars... it's just a nice thing."Caffeine & Machine, which also runs venues in Bedfordshire and Warwickshire, has transformed the long-deserted pub into a car fan cafe.The firm organises a mix of ticketed events and free gatherings.Mr McGovern says: "There's a thing to fix in society on a wider level."We've got a platform to show how doing it in the right vein is actually a really good way of doing it."It's been really heartfelt and beautiful."
Elsie-Rose Robbins, 24, has brought her Alfa Romeo to The Hut to meet fellow "Young Giulietta enthusiasts" and gain confidence.She says: "There's a bit of a stigma – maybe younger women feel like they can't be a part of this because it's always been more male-dominated. "But that's not to say that if you have a passion for it you can't just go for it... Whatever you may think is holding you back probably isn't."Cars and coffee meets are not immune from misbehaviour.One organiser, who asked not to be named, said he had given up hosting events at another venue after an outbreak of trouble.Hampshire has had its fair share of unauthorised late-night gatherings, seizing vehicles for dangerous driving as recently as January.In December, police in Peterborough said planned car meets, intended for "good-natured car enthusiasts", had a "history of becoming anti-social".However, Phil McGovern hopes The Hub and venues like it can be a "safe haven" for responsible engine enthusiasts.Isaac Potter says he feels comfortable in the cafe's community.Recalling words painted on the building, he says: "When you go somewhere, you have to feel safe and you want to feel welcomed, and a place like this, as it says on the wall, 'It feels like home.'"
You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Auto Blog
17 hours ago
- Auto Blog
Alfa Romeo Teases Mysterious Reveal: Here's What We Expect
The Italian marque has posted a cryptic teaser, signaling something huge is coming. Alfa Romeo Announces Bold New Chapter Alfa Romeo, like Maserati, isn't in a good place right now. The Stellantis-led marque is in dire need of a turnaround plan with the world's fifth-largest automaker confirming that a major strategy review is in the pipeline for the Italian marques, spearheaded by a new CEO. Wasting no time putting that plan into action, Alfa Romeo has announced a big reveal is set to take place on June 10, 2025, at 4:30 PM CEST (10:30 AM EDT) with the following post shared on it social media accounts: 'A new chapter is about to begin. Bold, unexpected, unmistakably Alfa Romeo.' So, what is the premium Italian brand cooking? Oops! We're unable to load this content right now. View directly on Facebook Next-Generation Stelvio Likely It's no secret that Alfa Romeo is working on the next-generation Stelvio, its best-selling model. Despite being hit by an issue concerning the switch to a hybrid powertrain, the timing's just right. The eight-year-old Stelvio is aging, and the automaker needs to entice fans with a new model. The next-gen Stelvio will use Stellantis' STLA Large platform, which underpins the unpopular Dodge Charger Daytona EV – an architecture flexible enough to cater to both pure EV and hybrid setups. The switch from the previous all-electric powertrain plan to hybrid isn't as easy as flicking a switch, though. That said, we don't expect any powertrain details if this is indeed the new Stelvio, only a look at its new design, which was recently shared via the following patent images. But if it's not a new model, then what else could the teaser be referring to? Autodelta Triangle Teaser Sparks Motorsport Speculation As you can see in the single teaser provided, the imagery shows the Alfa Romeo badge with a glowing red equilateral triangle. Alfanatics will recognize the triangle from Autodelta, Alfa Romeo's historic racing division. Autoblog Newsletter Autoblog brings you car news; expert reviews and exciting pictures and video. Research and compare vehicles, too. Sign up or sign in with Google Facebook Microsoft Apple By signing up I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . You may unsubscribe from email communication at anytime. Could Alfa Romeo be about to announce a return to motorsport? Or could it be ready to launch a performance model that harkens to classic Alfas that Autodelta worked on. Whatever Alfa Romeo's planning, we only have a couple of days to find out. So stay tuned. About the Author Jacob Oliva View Profile
Auto Blog
3 days ago
- Auto Blog
One-Year Delay Casts Doubt on the Future of Alfa Romeo's Key Model
The Italian marque has had a lackluster 2024. A better, newer lineup is in order, but reports have pointed out a delay by almost a year. Aging Lineup Hurting Italian Marque Alfa Romeo didn't have much luck in 2024. The historic Italian marque only sold 8,865 vehicles in the U.S. for the entire year. That lackluster sales figure isn't limited to America alone. Globally, Alfa Romeo sold only 62,000 units – significantly short of the company's target of 80,000 to 90,000 vehicles. Needless to say, the Turin-based automaker needs a newer lineup to sell more automobiles. Yes, it introduced some special edition models earlier this year to entice buyers, but there's no escaping from the fact that its lineup is aging, particularly its most important model, the Stelvio SUV. Previous Pause Next Unmute 0:00 / 0:00 Full screen Stelvio Delay Highlights Alfa Romeo's Struggling Sales We say most important because the truth is, the Stelvio was introduced to the lineup in hopes of jacking up Alfa Romeo's sales, just like how the Cayenne saved Porsche before. And it did – the Stelvio was a runaway success when it was introduced, but the reality is this has become an aging nameplate. The Stelvio was shown in 2016, so at this point, the SUV is nearing its tenth year. There were plans for a next-generation model, which was scheduled to be revealed by the end of 2025 for the 2026 model year. However, recent reports reveal that Alfa Romeo has had to delay its launch, not by months but by an entire year. According to Reuters, the delay is due to fluctuating trends in the industry, particularly the dwindling demand for EVs. Originally an EV, the Next Stelvio Will Now Be a Hybrid Alfa Romeo initially planned to produce an all-electric Stelvio atop Stellantis' STLA Large platform, which underpins several models, including the Dodge Charger Daytona EV. However, the automaker's plans have changed, opting to go the hybrid route instead of just full-electric models. Autoblog Newsletter Autoblog brings you car news; expert reviews and exciting pictures and video. Research and compare vehicles, too. Sign up or sign in with Google Facebook Microsoft Apple By signing up I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . You may unsubscribe from email communication at anytime. The problem is, the development of a hybrid system for the Stelvio isn't as easy as adding an engine like a Lego block. Despite the STLA Large platform having the capacity for a hybrid setup, the integration needs further development, prompting the recent delay. Of note, the target launch for the next Stelvio is now September or October 2026. Giulia Redesign Still on Track Despite SUV Setback Thankfully, the delay in the Stelvio's development isn't affecting the next-generation Giulia, which is set for launch also in 2026. However, Alfa's issues with the SUV hinder Stellantis' broader effort to revive Italian automotive production and preserve jobs, a strategy presented to the Italian government in late 2024. About the Author Jacob Oliva View Profile
Auto Blog
3 days ago
- Auto Blog
Maserati and Alfa Romeo Plot Revival Amid Sales Decline
Stellantis' premium Italian brands aren't looking great, but its new CEO, an Italian, is backing up a turnaround plan. Uncertainty Amid Two Iconic Italian Brands Maserati and Alfa Romeo share a great deal of history; these two iconic marques are two of the hottest names in the premium segment. But things have become lukewarm for both brands, with uncertainty lying in their future within the Stellantis umbrella. With sales declining, Italian production plunging, and no new products on the horizon, Maserati is currently stagnant with no clear path forward. The same goes for Alfa Romeo, which is also having issues with its best-selling SUV. 0:08 / 0:09 Walmart is selling a 'heavy duty' $89 step ladder for $48, and shoppers say it's 'sturdy and secure' Watch More Needless to say, both Italian marques are in dire need of a concrete turnaround plan. It's happening soon, according to Maserati and Alfa Romeo CEO Santo Ficili, just in time for the appointment of Stellantis' new CEO, Antonio Filosa, who will start his regime on June 23, 2025. Business Plan In Place And Will Be Revealed Soon In an interview with Reuters, Ficili said that Maserati will reveal a business plan, just as soon as Filosa steps up to the plate. He's quite optimistic about the future of the brand and confident that Filosa, an Italian national, will back whatever is in place for the iconic marque. He also denied that Stellantis is planning to sell Maserati – a rumor that circulated last year but has been refuted since. 'We have clear ideas about what we want to do, we hope we can be ready very soon. Let's wait for Antonio to take up his job,' Ficili told the publication. He shared that new products are on the horizon, along with restructured relationships with dealers and improvements to its service network. Ficili added that all Maserati models will continue to be designed, engineered, and manufactured in Italy – a bold move, considering the current tariff woes in the U.S., where a substantial portion (30%) of the brand's sales come from. Autoblog Newsletter Autoblog brings you car news; expert reviews and exciting pictures and video. Research and compare vehicles, too. Sign up or sign in with Google Facebook Microsoft Apple By signing up I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . You may unsubscribe from email communication at anytime. Alfa Romeo Also In Review But what about Alfa Romeo? Ficili, also the head of Alfa Romeo, has confirmed that Stellantis will review its strategy, too. He didn't share further details about this, as it seems like the automaker is focusing on Maserati first. We should know more by the end of the month. Alfa Romeo is currently struggling, not only with sales but also with the development of its upcoming products. Specifically, the next-generation Stelvio, Alfa's best-selling model, is in doubt since the company backpedaled from its full-electric lineup strategy, now heading to a hybrid path. However, a new post today suggests something new will be revealed next week: Of note, 15% of Alfa Romeo's sales are from America, the world's second-biggest automotive market. Again, tariffs will play a significant role in both automakers' business plans, for which Stellantis hired the consulting firm McKinsey. About the Author Jacob Oliva View Profile
