The bonded aluminium chassis is very strong in collision, but there are no airbags, traction control, nor even a rollover bar on early models. Twin front airbags and stability control were made standard when the model was revised in 2006. There is also an alarm and immobiliser.

Few two-seater sports cars are especially practical and the Aero 8 certainly proves that. In the cabin there is precious little storage aside from a small flip-down glovebox, tiny door pockets and a small stowage area in front of the gear lever. The fact the roof has to be put down manually is another annoyance as is the fly-off handbrake buried down the transmission tunnel.

The boot isn’t too bad with 250 litres of luggage room, but it’s incredibly awkward to access as the boot lid only opens to a certain height, so you have to lean down to get things in and out.