MARKED IMPRESSION With first teaser clips, Kia gives a first view of the body design of the upcoming EV9. For now, however, only the silhouette and lighting of the all-electric SUV are presented.
Editorial - March 4, 2023
Kia Corporation has released a series of video clips that give a taste of the upcoming EV9 large model. The new SUV flagship is expected to accelerate the company's transformation into a provider of sustainable mobility solutions in the age of electrification. The teaser video shows the EV9's silhouette and its striking front end. Striking headlights and taillights characterize the model.
First pictures show the upcoming Kia EV9 as a generously sized SUV.
Own platform for electric vehicles
The name EV9 comes from Kia's EV naming. It combines the prefix EV (Electric Vehicle) with the number 9, which represents the model's segment in Kia's EV lineup. Like the EV6, the EV9 is based on Kia's own platform for battery electric vehicles, the Electric Global Modular Platform E- GMP. Kia will also fully reveal the interior design in mid-March. All product information will be announced at the EV9 world premiere at the end of March.
MEDICAL AND SAFETY CARS Aston Martin is making its presence felt in Formula 1: The DBX707 fast SUV becomes the official mediacal car, and the Vantage returns to F1 tracks as a safety car. It all kicks off on Sunday at the Bahrain GP.
Editorial - March 3, 2023
The Aston Martin Vantage and DBX707 models are at the service of the safety and health of Formula 1 drivers in 2023.
When the lights indicate the start of the new F1 season next Sunday, the new FIA Medical Car will also be ready for action: the green luxury SUV Aston Martin DBX707, capable of accelerating from a standstill to 96 km/h in just 3.1 seconds thanks to 900 Nm of torque and 707 hp of engine power. In the new edition with further improved powertrain, optimized chassis and upgraded interior, the DBX707 combines driving dynamics and luxury at the highest level.
Special Pirelli tires type P Zero
Key optimizations include the now wet clutch, which enables even faster gear changes and improves race starts, and the specially developed Pirelli P Zero tires. The medical car's equipment naturally also includes the fire extinguisher, medical kit and defibrillator. FIA-approved racing seats with 6-point seat belts are also integrated, as is the communication system with race control.
Aston Martin Chief Technical Officer Roberto Fedeli: "The DBX707 is the perfect car for use as a Formula 1 medical car because it is as fast as it is spacious and flexible. We are delighted to continue our partnership with Formula 1 and the FIA this season."
Safety Car Pilot is Bernd Mayländer
Back in action is the Aston Martin Vantage as the FIA Safety Car. Developed at the design and engineering center in Gaydon, this unique Vantage is the fastest of its kind and of course also specially equipped for F1 use.
In the new season, the car will again be driven by experienced safety car driver Bernd Mayländer. Both the Vantage and the DBX707 are painted in the same Racing Green as the two F1 cars of the Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant team in which Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso will compete in Bahrain.
E-fuels: Final decision to be made in Brussels in early March
AND IT'S GOING ON So far, synthetic gasoline may only be blended in Germany, but in the future, e-fuels will also be available for purchase in pure form at gas stations. According to the FDP, this is what the traffic light coalition has agreed on.
Editorial - March 3, 2023
Tests have shown that vehicles with gasoline engines can run on synthetic fuel.
The Liberals are talking about a breakthrough, the Greens are not. In Germany, it is to be possible in future to fill up with synthetically produced fuel in its pure form. According to the FDP, the traffic light coalition has agreed to adapt the relevant laws on so-called e-fuels.
FDP parliamentary group leader Christian Dürr: "This means that all combustion engines can fill up with these fuels in their pure form. That's a breakthrough for climate protection. After the amendment of the Federal Immission Control Ordinance, e-fuels could then be sold at filling stations and normal combustion engines could thus be operated with climate-neutral fuels. Until now, this was not legally possible. The approval of e-fuels could also secure hundreds of thousands of jobs in the long term."
Production is very energy intensive
E-fuels are produced from water and CO2 using electricity. If green electricity is used and the necessary CO2 is extracted from the atmosphere, e-fuels can theoretically be used in a climate-neutral manner. However, critics argue that their production is very energy-intensive in any case and that e-fuels therefore have a poorer energy balance than conventional electromobility, for example. Greenpeace, for example, described e-fuels as a waste of electricity, because classic e-cars travel five times as far with the same amount of electricity. From 2035, only climate-neutral new cars are to be sold in Europe. For the Greens, this is a sham solution. Unlike the FDP, they did not want to talk about a breakthrough.
Agreement on a technical solution
Green Party leader Katharina Dröge: "The coalition has agreed to definitively rule out the use of palm oil and fossil fuels as paraffinic fuels. The regulation for e-fuels in Germany will be adjusted, she added. Up to now, the use of e-fuels or paraffinic fuels has been possible up to a blending limit of around 26 percent. Now we have agreed on a technical adjustment that will allow pure e-fuels to be marketed. It is important for us that there is accompanying consumer information for vehicle compatibility."
Confusion in Berlin and Brussels
The final approval of the member states is due on March 7. However, German Transport Minister Wissing has now threatened that Germany will only agree to the phasing out of internal combustion engines from 2035 if e-fuels remain permitted so that internal combustion engines can continue to be operated in a climate-neutral manner after 2035. This had caused confusion in Berlin and Brussels.
Jan-Niclas Gesenhues, environmental politician for the Green Party: "E-fuels are inefficient and not sufficiently available. The EU wants to decide on the end of combustion engines. The decision by the traffic light coalition is not to be confused with the plan at EU level to ban internal combustion engines in new cars from 2035. Negotiators from the EU states and the EU Parliament had already agreed on this in October - Germany also gave its approval." One can be curious.
Škoda: The future shows itself in the Mobility Hub 🎥
SWISS PREMIERES The Vision 7S study previews a new e-model from Škoda, and the Enyaq RS iV expands the RS portfolio. The first appearance is at Zurich-Kloten Airport in the Mobility Hub.
Editorial - March 2, 2023
From April 3 to May 1, visitors can find out that electric mobility can also be simply clever at the square at Zurich-Kloten Airport. Škoda Switzerland is also presenting the Vision 7S study (gallery) and the Enyaq RS iV as special highlights and Swiss premieres. The Vision 7S concept car provides a first glimpse of a new Škoda model and at the same time shows the new design language.
The e-SUV offers generous space for up to seven people as well as numerous simply-clever details. The Enyaq RS iV is the second battery-electric model in Škoda's sporty RS range. Like the Enyaq Coupé RS iV, it has the most powerful drive in the brand's current portfolio.
The Vision 7S concept study shows what a future new Skoda model could look like.
New models and input presentations
Markus Kohler, Brand Director Škoda Switzerland: "We are pleased to be present with Škoda in the square again in 2023 - and with two Swiss premieres at that. In addition, we have planned further events around Škoda's e-offensive. There will be varied input presentations from experts on all aspects of electromobility, including the topic of the current electricity situation."
Throughout the exhibition period, visitors will have the opportunity to take part in various events, benefit from test drive opportunities, and receive information and advice about the Škoda brand and model portfolio.
Surprises for the whole family
Škoda Switzerland will also be holding a competition throughout the exhibition period, in which entries can be made in the Square. The prize is a 3-day overnight stay for up to five people at the Pradas Resort in Brigels. An Enyaq iV is available as a mobile companion during this time. Charging is included during the rental period.
On April 15 and 16, 2023, a Škoda Family Weekend will be held for the first time. In addition to the opportunity to book test drives, there will be a barista presentation by former Swiss barista champion and world championship finalist Anna Käppeli, as well as various games from the Škoda world. Childcare with drawing, make-up and games rounds off the Family Weekend.
LA MAISON PURE SANG Today, the Bugatti Veyron is considered an icon and is therefore a modern automotive classic. Now, two early examples have been given new life as part of Bugatti's restoration and certification program.
Editorial - March 2, 2023
In the past two years, Bugatti has issued ten certifications La Maison Pur Sang.
Two Veyron siblings, a 16.4 Coupé and a Grand Sport, from a collection in the United Arab Emirates have spent nine months at Bugatti in Molsheim, where they have undergone revitalization and careful reconfiguration and restoration by the experts of the Bugatti team.
In addition to the targeted aesthetic upgrades that came from the customer's design vision, the Veyrons also underwent a technical inspection with a complete check of all components and subsystems, as well as the drivetrains.
Any car with official certification
Luigi Galli, Bugatti's Heritage and Certification Specialist: "Once the work was completed, both models received La Maison Pur Sang certification, which documents the work done on the two cars to ensure value and status. The Veyron is valued today more than ever. This car was a masterpiece of automotive design that was light years ahead of its time when it was introduced in 2005."
Both Veyron models came to Molsheim from their home in Dubai. The team at the Bugatti showroom in Dubai acted as the customer's direct contact for the entire La Maison Pur Sang program for the 16.4 Coupé and the Grand Sport. The owner had direct contact throughout the process, ensuring optimum customer care and communication.
Interior and exterior customization
The 2006 Veyron 16.4 Coupé underwent a complete metamorphosis upon its return to the atelier, with the interior and exterior carefully modified according to the customer's specifications. The contemporary paint finish in two shades of gray with an interior in cognac was transformed into a more modern color scheme by the Bugatti team in Molsheim in accordance with the customer's wishes.
The Veyron Grand Sport, which was handed over to its owner as part of Bugatti's centenary celebrations in 2009, was requested by the owner to preserve the soul of the car and modernize it with new, subtle details in the interior. See for yourself.
DETAILED CARE Following criticism from customers, the Wolfsburg-based company has once again improved the materials used in the Stromer ID.3 and given it a facelift.
Jens Meiners - March 2, 2023
Actually, this facelift was not supposed to come until next year, but the feedback from the market was clear: The Volkswagen ID.3 needs to be of higher quality. The compact electric car simply didn't seem sophisticated enough on the inside - and on the outside, one or two customers had their problems with the modern, emphatically friendly design. The designers and developers listened. The result is a thoroughly renewed model that not only looks more dignified, but also boasts improvements in the electronics.
In view of the strong competition, the early facelift of the ID 3 is by no means too early.
Especially the front looks sportier
The visual appearance has become sportier, but also a bit more conventional. While the ID.3 previously played with the element of a visually extended windshield and visualized the possibilities of an electric drive with this at least implied one-box appearance, the hood is now emphasized: A more powerful appearance, even though no engine is installed at the front at all.
Flow-through air intakes in the wider front apron bring minimal aerodynamic improvements, and the wheel program has been restyled. The taillights are now illuminated across their full width. A modified, thoroughly attractive color program completes the changes to the exterior; the somewhat playful-looking stickers on the C-pillar are no longer there.
Softer materials in the interior
The interior now meets the expectations of Volkswagen's previously quite spoiled clientele. While the plastic qualities used in the ID.3 had met with criticism from the outset, softer materials on the top of the doors and dashboard, imitation leather applications with decorative stitching and silver stripes on the air vents underscore the clientele's expectations In fact, the qualities even surpass the current state in the larger and more expensive ID.4 and ID.5 models.
However, the previously available leather steering wheel has been dropped and the previously available interesting color combinations give way to various shades of gray, which are, however, cleverly combined depending on the equipment and partly also show contrasts.
Twelve-inch screen is always on board
From now on, all ID.3 models will have a twelve-inch screen, and it will also be possible to add various functions for a limited or unlimited period of time. Others remain because there was no need for improvement - for example, the three-dimensional head-up display with augmented reality function, where the arrows visually overlay the road scene.
Prices for Switzerland have not yet been set. The new ID.3 models can already be ordered and will be delivered to Swiss customers from fall 2023. Prices on request.
WHERE YOU MEET Volkswagen will bring next year's GTI meeting to Wolfsburg. The event, which traditionally takes place on Ascension Day, had attracted car fans to Lake Wörthersee in Austria every year since 1982.
Editorial - March 1, 2023
Under the motto "Coming Home," Volkswagen will make the Wolfsburg site the new home of the GTI fan community.
But the municipality of Maria Wörth had recently announced that the meeting no longer fit in with the times. VW had always supported the GTI meeting and had therefore now decided to host it itself in the future. In addition to vehicle presentations, stage shows and club meetings, there will be other activities and surprises.
New home for the fan community
Imelda Labbé, Member of the Board of Management for Sales, Marketing and After Sales at Volkswagen Passenger Cars: "Our GTI fans are of great importance to Volkswagen and that's why the exchange with them is very close to our hearts. For this reason, after the GTI meeting at Wörthersee was regrettably cancelled, we decided rather quickly to offer the GTI fan community a new home for the event in Wolfsburg. When planning the event, we also want to take into account the wishes of the fans, because above all it should be a meeting for them."
Many actions and Surprises
In addition to vehicle presentations, stage shows and club meetings, there will be many other activities and surprises for GTI fans. The areas and infrastructure in Wolfsburg offer ideal conditions to welcome a large number of visitors with their vehicles.
REMEMBER A photo together with Juan Manuel Fangio is a great souvenir of a visit to the Mercedes-Benz Museum. In the exhibition this is not possible, but directly in front of the building without any problems.
Editorial - March 1, 2023
A photo with Juan Manuel Fangio and his Silver Arrow W 196 R looks good in the family album.
A two-part bronze sculpture has stood on the side in front of the Mercedes-Benz Museum since 2006. It depicts five-time Formula 1 World Champion Juan Manuel Fangio in life-size and his Silver Arrow W 196 R. When does one have the opportunity to come face to face with such a famous racing driver and even take a seat behind the wheel of his Silver Arrow?
Fangio has his right hand on the steering wheel and his helmet under his left arm. But he doesn't get in. He gives visitors the opportunity to take a seat in the W 196 R from 1954 and 1955. Best opportunity for a selfie or photo.
Duplicate from Barcelona to Stuttgart
The work of art at the Mercedes-Benz Museum defies wind and weather. It is a cast of a monument that stands at the Circuit de Catalunya racetrack in Barcelona. It was created at the turn of the millennium by the Catalan artist Joaquim Ros i Sabaté on behalf of the Real Automóvil Club de Cataluña.
The sculpture impressed, and so the then Daimler Chrysler Classic initiated further variants in agreement with the artist. Supporters of the project are the Fangio Foundation in Balcarce, Argentina, where Fangio was born, and the mineral oil company Repsol as a further sponsor. The Spanish foundry Barberí produced five copies.
Castings at selected race sites
The legendary motor sportsman Fangio died in Buenos Aires in July 1995 at the age of 84. All the casts were therefore placed posthumously and at locations related to Juan Manuel Fangio: at the Nürburgring, in Monaco near the Rascasse curve, in Monza at the local Autodromo, in Buenos Aires in front of the headquarters of Mercedes-Benz Argentina - and at the Mercedes-Benz Museum. The sculpture was erected for the museum's opening in 2006.
AUTOFREAKS UNDER HIMSELF Singer and Ford ambassador Baschi recently started driving an all-electric Mustang Mach-E GT. The switch to the sporty electric crossover has been a success, and the musician is daring to experiment.
Editorial - March 1, 2023
Baschi wants to convince three die-hard petrolheads of his electric pony. Thanks to a range of 490 kilometers, acceleration of 3.8 seconds from 0 to 100 km/h and the practical Ford Pass app, Baschi has become a self-confessed electric fan.
Electric newcomer vs. combustion engine freaks
When Luca, Nina and Lukas talk about their cars, the evening can get long. The three petrolheads love their cars, all of them with combustion engines. For singer Baschi, who has been driving only electrically in the new bright orange Ford Mustang Mach-E GT for a few months now, a Beniner or diesel no longer gets under the hood.
Baschi: "I did have reservations at the beginning, especially about charging. But I quickly discovered that the charging network in Switzerland is well developed."
Baschi only drives his Ford Mustang Mach-E GT electrically.
The bright color like the petrolheads
The first meeting of the three car freaks with Baschi is peaceful. None of them can resist a little side-swipe. "What is this? Need for Speed?" teases Baschi. "Then let's see how the toaster runs," quips Luca.
The musician, who can be seen in the fourth season of the TV show "Sing meinen Song" from March 8, only lets himself say that once. Well then, get in and off you go. Visually, the Ford Mustang Mach-E GT can already convince the three Petrolheads. Especially the color, the sporty shape and the beautiful rims are appealing. And technically?
Emotions and pithy sound are missing
The acceleration is thrilling. But the three are not yet convinced that quickly. Lukas lacks emotion, and Nina misses a throaty sound: "And then there's the charging. I don't feel like standing around at the charging station for 45 minutes."
Baschi counters, "With a full battery, I have a range of 490 kilometers, and at a Supercharger, I charge 100 kilometers on top of that within ten minutes."
The trick: With the Ford Pass app, you can plan the trip exactly, including charging stops, and also check the status of the vehicle - including range check and charging status, location check, vehicle preheating and traffic information in real time. Can Baschi convince the three petrolheads of his electric pony? You can find the answer in the video. See for yourself.
Christian Bach: "Synthetic fuels are needed on a large scale".
BACKGROUND For many, the ban on internal combustion engines cannot happen fast enough. This ignores the fact that the climate target for 2050 cannot be achieved with the electrification of car drives alone.
Editorial - March 1, 2023
Christian Bach: "We will not achieve the CO2 targets with electromobility alone any more than with synthetic fuels alone. That's why we need both."
According to electrolysis plant manufacturer Thyssen Krupp, more than 100 pilot projects for the production of green hydrogen are already underway in the USA, Brazil, the Netherlands and Saudi Arabia. AUTOINSIDE, the Swiss trade magazine for garage owners, spoke with Christian Bach, head of the Vehicle Propulsion Systems department at Empa in Dübendorf, one of the most renowned experts on alternative propulsion systems.
What scenario of drives do you envision for 2035?
Christian Bach: In Switzerland, a high electric share could be possible, but in large parts of Europe this is more unclear due to the partly much worse power grids. In 2019, a study by the University of Geneva and the BKW network showed that in Switzerland alone, investments of eleven billion francs would be needed to upgrade the already good distribution networks. Elsewhere, the need for expansion is greater. I therefore assume that a drive mix will be offered throughout Europe even for passenger cars after 2035. And for commercial vehicles anyway.
Why are politicians and the automotive industry focusing primarily on electric vehicles?
Due to the planned strong expansion of renewable electricity production, the switch to direct use of electricity wherever possible makes sense and is logical. However, it is not the case that politics and the automotive industry are focusing on e-mobility alone. There are many programs for hydrogen as well as for synthetic or biogenic fuels. The EU, for example, is discussing ambitious blending rates.
Do we need synthetic fuels for climate protection?
According to the Energy Perspectives 2050+ of the Swiss Federal Office of Energy, the decarbonization of road transport in Switzerland in 2050 will require roughly the same amount of synthetic fuels as renewable electrical energy - namely around 15 terawatt hours, or TWh, or 1.5 billion liters of diesel equivalent each year. Added to this is air traffic with a further 15 to 20 TWh. In addition, synthetic fuels will probably also be indispensable for the decarbonization of industrial high-temperature processes - around 20 TWh today.
The answer is therefore: Yes, synthetic fuels are needed - on a grand scale. They may be inefficient to produce, but they are still necessary because the world does not have an energy problem, but a CO2 problem. They are made from hydrogen and CO2. When they are used, only as much CO2 is produced as was previously drawn from the atmosphere for their production. The decisive factor is how the hydrogen is produced. If renewable energy is used for this, a high CO2 reduction results. If the hydrogen is produced using fossil fuels, it can be driven using fossil fuels. But that is also the case with electricity for electromobility.
The EU is planning a ban on internal combustion vehicles. Is that the right way to go?
Yes, if this path is followed to its conclusion. As I said, I consider it unlikely that a 2035 ban on internal combustion vehicles in Europe is fully feasible. However, to achieve the 2050 target, given the typical vehicle lifetime of 15 years, it will be necessary for no vehicles using fossil energy to be on the road after 2035. In addition, the world's fleet of 1.4 billion internal combustion engine vehicles must move away from fossil fuels. We can no more achieve the CO2 targets with electromobility alone than with synthetic fuels alone. That's why we need both.
Can production be increased at a reasonable energy cost?
Mobility based on synthetic fuels is about as expensive as electromobility. This means that synthetic fuels could be launched on the market with the same measures - i.e. the creditability of CO2 reduction and mineral oil tax and HVF exemption during the market launch. Technologically and energetically, practically everything is ready for the industrial production of synthetic fuels. However, investment security is still lacking. This is about to change, however, with the European requirements for a blending quota. We assume that synthetic fuels will be produced in the Earth's sunbelt. There, solar radiation is twice as high per square meter of surface area, and there are huge areas of unused land.
Do you see a diesel future - and what role does biogas play as a fuel?
Without renewable fuels, combustion engines have no future - however, there are applications in long-distance and load operation where diesel engines cannot be dispensed with for decades to come. These applications must not remain fossil if we want to achieve the climate targets. Biogas is a more complex but often underestimated energy resource. There are few more impressive upcycles than converting green waste and manure into fuel. Biogas is currently experiencing a boom in the commercial vehicle sector, but is being held back by rigid HVF regulations.
