Swiss balance sheet: pilots score a lot of points

REVIEW The two ELMS drivers Louis Delétraz and Neel Jani were the most successful Swiss on the international stage this weekend, finishing first and second.

Swiss balance
Nico Müller and Robin Frijns from Team Abt-Cupra were delighted to be on the front row of the grid for the second Formula E race in Berlin.

Louis Delétraz (gallery left, photo: ELMS) has picked up in the European Le Mans Series where he left off in 2022: namely at the front. The Geneva native won the opening race in Barcelona with his two new teammates Charlie Eastwood and Salih Yoluc for Racing Team Turkey. Second place in the LMP2 category went to Neel Jani from the Duqueine team, who lost out to Delétraz in the final turn because he had brake problems.

Alexandre Coigny was almost a third Swiss on the podium. The driver from the Cool Racing team had to settle for fourth place overall and third in the Pro-Am after four hours of driving. On the other hand, Cool Racing took first place in LMP3 - after a penalty for the actually winning Racing Spirit of Leman team, which had to make do with third place in the end.

Sébastien Buemi on pole position, first points for Müller and Abt-Cupra

No podiums, but finally points for all three Swiss drivers in Formula E. At the double round in Berlin, Sébastien Buemi, who became a father for the third time a few days ago, was once again the most successful of the Swiss trio with his second pole position this year and a fourth place in the first race. Edoardo Mortara (Maserati) and Nico Müller each secured two points with a ninth-place finish. For Müller and the Abt Cupra team, it was the first two since their comebacks in Formula E.

Nico Müller: "This weekend was a rollercoaster ride of emotions: A tough Saturday was followed by a Sunday with a place on the front row of the grid and points in the race for Abt-Cupra (center gallery). It was beautiful and emotional to see the happy faces in the team when Robin and I came back to the pits after the successful qualifying. We knew the race was going to be tough, but we still made the best of it."

Formula E continues in two weeks. On May 6, the race will start on the street circuit in Monaco.

Patric Niederhauser missed 3rd place

The Swiss figureheads narrowly missed the podium at the opening round of the GT World Challenge at Monza as well. Patric Niederhauser (Gallery right, Photo Audi Motorsport) missed 3rd place by just 0.5 seconds. Audi brand colleague Ricardo Feller finished in 5th place. Philip Ellis also narrowly missed the podium in the Gold Cup in fourth place.

Source: Auto Sport Switzerland (ASS)
motorsport.ch

Alfa Romeo: Gold and power for the anniversary 🎥

REMEMBER On April 15, 1923, the four-leaf clover first appeared on an Alfa Romeo racing car. Now, to mark the 100th anniversary, the brand is unveiling the special edition Quadrifoglio variants sportier look.

 

The green four-leaf clover on a white background brought Alfa Romeo luck right away. Ugo Sivocci won the Targa Florio road race in Sicily in an Alfa Romeo RLS ahead of team-mate Antonio Ascari. To mark the 100th anniversary of this event, Alfa is presenting the Quadrifoglio versions of the Giulia and Stelvio models. The first of these are the anniversary models Giulia Quadrifoglio 100° Anniversario and Stelvio Quadrifoglio 100° Anniversario. Both are limited to 100 units.

Alfa Romeo Quadrifoglio
In the new edition, the Quadrifoglio models of Giulia and Stelvio each deliver a massive 520 hp.

Sport exhaust system from Akrapovič

The new models are powered by a 2.9-liter V6 biturbo gasoline engine producing 520 hp - ten hp more than the previous versions. Standard equipment on the anniversary models includes the mechanical limited-slip differential on the rear axle. Top-class driving dynamics are also achieved in the anniversary models through the use of lighter materials. The hood, spoiler, side skirts and even the propshaft are made of carbon as standard, and the sports exhaust system comes from Akrapovič.

Sporty look and Three colors

Both models feature gold-colored accents, including the brake calipers and emblems on the front fenders. For an even sportier look, the radiator grille and the covers of the exterior mirrors on the anniversary models are made of visible carbon. The body colors Rosso Etna, Verde Montreal and Nero Vulcano are available. In the interior, the combination of black leather and Alcantara defines the look. The seats are decorated with gold-colored stitching, and carbon elements enhance the dashboard, center tunnel and door panels.

Swiss prices and equipment are available on request.

alfaromeo.ch

Porsche: This is how the Stuttgart company celebrates its sports cars

WHERE YOU MEET For 75 years, sports cars from Stuttgart have fascinated people all over the world. 2023 is therefore all about the anniversary. The Porsche Museum is presenting a varied annual program.

Porsche Museum
The Porsche Museum is offering a varied technology and cultural program to mark the anniversary.

On June 9, the Porsche Museum opens an extensive special exhibition on the brand's success story. In addition to new interactive experiences such as the 360-degree tours, visitors will also be given behind-the-scenes insights for the first time and allowed to take part in a special experience program.

Many Moments to dream

For the first time, a variety of experiences in Zuffenhausen will be combined in a special offer. The Porsche Moments of Dreams include a factory tour specially put together for the day. Those who take part also get to get behind the wheel of an 911 for two and a half hours and experience the sports car experience in the truest sense of the word. After a museum tour, a three-course meal with wine accompaniment awaits the men and women in the newly designed lounge of the Christophorus restaurant.

The exclusive program, which is offered in German, costs 992 euros per person and takes place on July 14, September 15 and October 6. Interested can register under info.museum@porsche.de log on

Porsche Museum

Anniversary 60 years Porsche 911

In the Porsche 4Experts Backstage program, museum curator Iris Haker talks to museum colleagues and experts in line with the respective focus topic. On July 29, she will report on the current exhibition and the development of the exhibition concept since 2009. For the anniversary "60 Years of Porsche 911" (pictured above), she has invited workshop manager Kuno Werner. On September 16, the two will talk about the collaboration between curation and workshop. 4Experts Backstage costs 49 euros per person including museum and park ticket.

360 degree tour on the Internet

Those who live too far away or are otherwise prevented from visiting the museum, but would still like to get a glimpse, can always take a 360-degree tour at the Website immerse themselves in all levels of the museum. In this way, the history of the origins of Porsche sports cars, including their 75th anniversary, reaches the living rooms of this world.

On International Museum Day, Sunday, May 21, all visitors will receive free admission to the museum. From 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., free guided tours will start every hour, for which participants can sign up on site. The Porsche Museum is open Tuesdays to Sundays and all public holidays from 9 am to 6 pm.

porsche.com

Honda: Ride along to the new record 🎥

STRONG PERFORMANCE The Honda Civic Type R once again completed the extended 20.8-kilometer lap of the legendary Eifel race track as the fastest front-wheel drive production car.

 

Back on March 24 this year, members of the Honda development team completed the lap of the legendary German circuit in the Eifel region in a record time of seven minutes and 44:881 seconds. The lap time was measured on the revised track layout set by Nürburgring management in 2019.

Honda Type R
The Honda Type R is powered by a 4-cylinder turbocharged engine.

329 hp and 420 Nm torque

The Type R is powered by a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder turbocharged engine, which in its current version produces 329 hp and 420 Nm of torque. Combined with a revised six-speed manual transmission, it accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.4 seconds and on to a top speed of 275 km/h.

honda.ch

Peugeot: 9X8 hypercar from 1775 Lego bricks

FOR REAL FANS Following the unveiling of the Peugeot 9X8 hypercar last year, Team Peugeot Total Energies has taken on a new engineering challenge - the exact replica of the racer in Lego Technic.

Lego Peugeot 9X8
The Peugeot 9X8 as a Lego model for talented hobbyists is offered in the store or online.

The Lego Group and Peugeot Sport design teams have created a precise 1/10th scale replica of the Peugeot 9X8 hypercar. From the striking silhouette to the lightning bolts on the paint, the model brings the fascination of the race car to life. The electric drive and 7-speed transmission have been faithfully reproduced in the new model. Details such as the V6 engine and the glow-in-the-dark lighting elements convey the thrill of racing.

Olivier Jansonnie, Technical Director of Peugeot Sport: "Our technical collaboration began as early as January 2022, five months before the unveiling of the Peugeot 9X8. It was important for both brands to create as realistic a model as possible."

On sale from May for 200 francs

The new model in the Lego Technic series consists of 1775 parts and is more than 13 centimeters high, 22 centimeters wide and 50 centimeters long when fully assembled. The Lego version of the race car was unveiled at the FIA World Endurance Championship round in Portugal, even before the real car took to the track. The new Lego hypercar set will be available in Lego stores or online from May 1, 2023, at a price of around 200 Swiss francs.

lego.com
peugeot-sport.com

Bugatti: This watch gives you fitness tips

UPGRADE The Ceramique Titane Edition smartwatch from Bugatti offers a number of detail improvements that make it a must-have for a clientele seeking maximum luxury and perfect functionality.

Bugatti Smartwatch
Ceramique Titane Edition has a new Supersport border in black and green

Among the most striking features of the Bugatti Ceramique Titane Edition is its large 585 mAh battery, which provides up to three days of runtime in always-on mode and up to 15 days in normal mode without GPS activities. The watch is also equipped with the latest generation heart rate sensor, which provides accurate measurements for improved fitness tracking.

Bracelet comes in five variants

In addition, the Ceramique Titane Edition features a new Supersport bezel in black and green to round out the design. The watch itself is made of titanium, with a zirconium ceramic bezel and an AMOLED (meaning Active Matrix Organic Light Emitting Diode) touchscreen protected by sapphire crystal. The new edition comes with five strap options, including four nylon straps, each made for a specific watch, and one silicone strap that fits all watches.

Music control and Apple Health

Other new watch features include music control, Apple Health integration, and optimized watch faces and colors. With music control, owners can play, pause or skip songs directly from their wrist. As a testament to the quality, it comes with a five-year warranty. Prices are available upon request.

bugatti-smartwatches.com

Alfa Romeo: Basis of the Carabo is a racing car

PROTOTYP Together with the tradition-steeped Milanese fashion house Larusmiani, Alfa Romeo is showing the Carabo concept car during Milan Design Week, which is based on the legendary Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale.

Alfa Romeo Larusmiani design
During Milan Design Week, cars and fashion go together particularly well.

The famous Bertone Alfa Romeo Carabo body study from 1968 represents the opening of the permanent exhibition The Automotive Gallery of the new Larusmiani boutique in Milan. During Milan Design Week, this legendary car and the traditional Larusmiani fashion house, located in the elegant Monte Napoleone shopping district, are emblematic of the Made in Italy prescriptive.

Race car with road approval

A link between Alfa Romeo and Larusmiani was also created by architect Benedetto Camerana, who in 2015 renovated the Alfa Romeo Museum in Arese and is now responsible for the construction of the Larusmiani boutique.

With the Carabo, designer Marcello Gandhini and the carrossiers Bertone created a study based on the Alfa Romeo Tipo 33 Stradale, an extremely lightweight road-legal racing car.

Raffaele Russo, Director Alfa Romeo Italy: "I am sure that the futuristic Carabo will cause great amazement among the public. The vehicle should also be an invitation to visit our museum in Arese."

alfaromeo.ch
salonemilano.it

Market: Better supply situation in Switzerland

OFFER Slowly the supply situation in the automotive sector is normalizing, which is having a positive effect on the supply on AutoScout24. Compared to the previous quarter, the number of advertised vehicles increased by 8.6 percent.

AutoScout24
The number of advertised vehicles on Auto Scout 24 increased significantly in the first quarter of 2023.

The supply of electric cars increased particularly strongly, with a third more e-cars advertised on the online platform. Average vehicle prices remained at a very high level.

Maurice Acker, Director Business Customers (center gallery): "There are increasing signs that the situation on the Swiss car market is easing. The supply situation is increasingly stabilizing, and waiting times are thus becoming shorter again. We are also noticing this at AutoScout24. The upward trend continues in the first quarter of 2023. From January to March 2023, almost 49,000 new cars were advertised - around 6,000 more vehicles than in the previous quarter."

Proportion of internal combustion engines decreases

Although most vehicles on AutoScout24 are still gasoline or diesel models, their share is becoming smaller and smaller. In the first three months of the year, the supply of diesel vehicles increased by 8.9 percent (6300 vehicles), while the increase for gasoline models was only 5.4 percent (9300 vehicles). The supply of full hybrids increased by 22.9 percent (2000 vehicles), plug-in hybrids by 18.7 percent (1775 vehicles) and mild hybrids by 11.5 percent (around 2000 vehicles).

Alternative powertrains such as natural gas and hydrogen continue to eke out a niche existence: In the first quarter, around 430 gas-powered vehicles and 90 hydrogen-powered models were offered.

SUV and minivan are in demand

Maurice Acker: "In percentage terms, SUV and minivan models saw the strongest growth in the first quarter of 2023. Switzerland has been an SUV country for years. The vehicles are considered safe, and the somewhat higher seating position offers a good overview. In addition, an SUV as a status symbol has more appeal than a station wagon."

autoscout24.ch

Lamborghini: New colors to mark the anniversary

ANNIVERSARY EDITIONS This year, Lamborghini is celebrating the company's 60th anniversary and has developed 60 limited-edition special models each of the Huracán STO, Huracán Tecnica and Huracán Evo Spyder series.

Lamborghini Anniversary Edition
Lamborghini celebrates 60th birthday with special Huracan models in special colors.

All models were presented at the Milan Design Fair. Each is offered with a V10 engine and in two special configurations. These pick up on Lamborghini's traditional colors but are combined with select new color schemes.

Mitja Borkert, Head of Design: "In the color studio at Centro Stile Lamborghini, we have put together three distinctive shades. They underline the special characters of our diverse Huracán range. The presentation at Milano Design Week provides the perfect setting."

Special designs tone on tone

A special feature of this limited series is the carbon badge with the imprint 1 of 60 for each car. In addition, the 60th logo is embroidered on the seat cushions and painted on the doors. The Huracán STO (Super Trofeo Omologata) is the pinnacle of the V10 family, its naturally aspirated engine producing 640 hp.

Two versions of the 60th Anniversary Edition are offered, with tone-on-tone designs. The body is finished in Blu Aegeus, in Grigio Telesto or in Rosso Alala, and the interior is in Nero Cosmus and Grigio Octans. The anniversary models roll on matte black forged alloy wheels.

First appearance of the new Revuelto

The Evo Spyder is the convertible version. The anniversary edition can be ordered with a body in Blu Le Mans. The details are set off in high-contrast Bianco Isi. The same color combination is used in the passenger compartment, Alcantara in Nero Ade, adorned with embroidery in Blu Amon and lines in Bianco Leda. The Spyder stands on glossy black 20-inch alloy wheels.

On the occasion of the unveiling of the anniversary models, the new Lamborghini Revuelto also made its first appearance in Europe outside Sant'Agata Bolognese. The presentation is part of a series of 60th Anniversary events. The 60th Anniversary Giro ride will start on May 24.

lamborghini.com
salonemilano.it

Renault: Enduring Clio shows the Nouvelle Vague 🎥

SELF-CONSCIOUS With the new brand logo in the center and the freshly designed front end, the Renault Clio is preparing for a new era. The light signature will also be used on other models from the brand.

 

Since its introduction in 1990, the Renault Clio has been a perennial favorite, with nearly 16 million units sold worldwide. Over its five generations, it has remained one of the most eye-catching city cars. Now it is reinventing itself and becoming an example of the Nouvelle Vague (French for New Wave). With an even more striking style and chic interior, it offers a first interpretation of the brand's new design language.

Renault Clio
The new Clio comes up with refreshing design innovations.

Unchanged dimensions

The front end with the redesigned light signature and the precise lines give the new Clio a more pronounced character. The vehicle's proportions remain unaffected by all the design changes, as the dimensions are the same as those of the predecessor model. The new Clio is 4.05 meters long and 1.44 meters high.

The space and ergonomics remain the main strengths of the car by providing pleasant comfort to the occupants. The Renault Easy Link multimedia system, combined with the Multi-Sense settings and the 20 available driving assistants, make the newcomer a real car to live in.

Hybrid drive with electric advantage

When it comes to the engine, the E-Tech full hybrid drive with 145 hp is the main trump card. The series-parallel hybrid architecture combines two electric motors with a 1.6-liter gasoline engine with 94 hp, combined with a multi-mode transmission with claw shift and a 1.2-kWh battery. All start-up operations are performed electrically, making it possible to drive purely electrically up to 80 percent of the time in the city.

Thanks to the efficiency of this powertrain, CO2-emissions are limited to 93 g/km. In the TCe 90 model, a turbocharged 3-cylinder gasoline engine with 90 hp and 160 Nm drives the front wheels via a 6-speed manual transmission.

renault.ch

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