Audi Sport and the successful driver have agreed to terminate their contract at the end of the season. Just like René Rast, Nico Müller was originally intended as a driver for the LMDh project. Nico Müller has prepared intensively for prototype racing with stints in the LMP2 class. In addition to Formula E, the Swiss sees his future in Le Mans and prototype racing.

Big fan of the brand and its cars
Nico Müller: "That was a very difficult decision. Audi gave me the chance to enter professional motorsport. I owe a lot to the company and am a big fan of the brand and its cars. Also, the collaboration with Audi in Switzerland has always been great and very special for me. I still have goals in motorsport that unfortunately can't be realized with Audi. By entering Formula 1, there are now other priorities at Audi."

2016 the first victory at the Norisring
Nico Müller joined Audi's DTM driver squad in 2014 as a 22-year-old through a young driver selection program. In 2016, he celebrated the first of a total of eleven victories in the popular touring car racing series at the Norisring. In 2019 and 2020, he secured the runner-up championship in Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline. In 2020, he raced on a par with three-time DTM Champion René Rast. In the end, he only narrowly missed out on the title.

Development driver in the Formula E project
Nico Müller: "I'll never forget my first DTM race with Audi. As a kid, I sat in the stands at the DTM finale at Hockenheim and admired the Audi drivers like Mattias Ekström. Standing on the grid together with them a few years later was a goosebump moment."

In addition to the DTM, Nico Müller was also repeatedly in action for Audi Sport customer racing in the Audi R8 LMS GT3 - in 2022 in the DTM and together with motorcycle legend Valentino Rossi in the GT World Challenge.

As a test and development driver, Nico Müller was also an important part of Audi's Formula E project. In 2023, the Swiss will also compete for Team ABT Sportsline in the electric racing series.

Read tomorrow: This is what Nico Müller wants to achieve with the Peugeot team.

peugeot.ch
audi.ch

At first glance, the Thoroughbred (the translation of Purosangue) does not look like a classic SUV, but rather like a more practical Ferrari. The company itself also avoids the term SUV or crossover as much as possible.

First four-door car in the company's history
With the Purosangue, Ferrari wants to have developed a sports car for the whole family. The kerb weight is 2033 kilograms, the ground clearance is 185 millimeters, and the trunk has 473 liters - so everyone should be able to fit their luggage in there.

Normally, the powerful bolides with the Cavallino Rampante are designed for one or two people and at best there are two cramped emergency seats in the second row for short distances.

But the Purosangue is not only the first four-door in the company's 75-year history, it is also the first full four-seater, as the GTC4 Lusso passes more for a 2+2-seater with all-wheel drive.

No compromise on performance

Enrico Galliera, Chief Commercial and Marketing Officer: "The demand for a car that allows our customers to travel with the family in a four-seater has been coming for many years. We tried to answer it with our previous four-seaters, which offered performance but didn't reach the level of comfort and versatility, because of the difficulty of getting in and out of the car. Now we have an answer because we have found a technical solution that allows us not to compromise on performance."

6.5 liters of displacement and a massive 725 hp
No sooner said than done. The Purosangue is designed to clearly stand out from competitors thanks to its performance and comfort. It is the only one in its segment to be equipped with a naturally aspirated V12 engine laid out as a front-mid engine. 6.5 liters of displacement, a massive 725 hp at 7750 rpm, 716 Nm at 6250 rpm plus naturally generated fine sound are on tap. You can hear and see more in the video.

From a standstill, it is supposed to hit 100 km/h in 3.3 seconds, while the 200 mark whizzes by after 10.6 seconds. The ample engine power is transmitted to both drive axles via an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission. Top speed: well over 300 km/h.

Recycled materials in the interior
Ferrari has mainly used recycled materials for the interior, which does not detract at all from the comfort and luxury. Rigid paddles on the steering column are used for shifting gears, and there is a 10.2-inch display for the front passenger so that he also gets all the information he wants. The cockpit is thus mirrored one-to-one on the passenger side.

The rear consists of two seats, so a total of four people can ride in the car. Getting into the second row is easy, because the rear-hinged doors open fully electrically.

And in case you're interested, there is no trailer hitch. According to Ferrari, the chassis would have had to be modified for any towing operation. However, solutions are being developed that will allow a bike or skis or whatever to be taken along. Whether these accessories are included in the base price of 390,000 euros remains to be seen.

ferrari.com

The all-electric concept vehicle ID. Xtreme (center gallery) with all-wheel drive is based on the ID.4 GTX. The result of the project is an off-roader that impresses with its robust appearance and performance capabilities.

A performance drive on the rear axle and software adjustments to the drive control unit increase the vehicle's system output by 65 kW to 285 kW compared with the ID.4 GTX - in other words, by almost 30 percent.

Modular drive system has enormous potential

Silke Bagschik, Head of Marketing & Sales and Series Manager (top center gallery): "The modular e-drive system has enormous technical potential. For many of our customers, the vehicle is far more than just a means of transport. With the ID. Xtreme, we are taking VW's electromobility to a new performance level."

Widened fenders from the 3D printer
Even from the outside, the VW ID. Xtreme shows that it is ready for any off-road adventure. A raised rally chassis, 18-inch offroad wheels, a modified crash carrier with additional front bumper and fenders widened by 50 millimeters, which were produced using 3D printing, give the study an authentic offroad look.

The interior of the study offers various highlights, including numerous Alcantara applications, a modified seating system and elements in the accent color orange.

From enthusiasts for the ID. Enthusiasts

Silke Bagschik: "The ID. Xtreme is made by enthusiasts at Volkswagen not just for ID. Enthusiasts in Locarno. We are excited to see how fans of electromobility react to the vehicle. Based on the feedback from our community, we will decide how to proceed with the project. I will soon be presenting the project in America. Am very curious about the reactions there."

Holistic mobility takes center stage
Surprise number 2: Volkswagen presents the ID. Treffen the ID.5 GTX Xcite (gallery below) to the public for the first time. The vehicle is a one-off build by apprentices. For one year, 14 of the best junior employees worked on the project under expert guidance.

In addition to the aspect of sustainability through vegan leather in the interior, the focus this time is on the idea of holistic mobility. The show car is based on the series version of the ID.5 GTX with 82 kWh battery and a maximum speed of 180 km/h.

Electric skateboard is part of the equipment
For the acoustics, a self-constructed digital sound system made of parts from Gladen, Musway and Bang & Olufsen is on board with ten speakers, a subwoofer and 2000 watts of total power.

A highlight is hiding in the trunk: The Teamgee H5 electric skateboard is the perfect piece for the last few meters from the parking lot to the finish line.

Positive reactions from participants and audience
In Locarno, there was much to see and hear in expert presentations about the future of ID. The meeting of and for fans of electromobility could become a green and sustainable meeting for electromobility, following the example of the GTI meeting on Lake Wörthersee. The question remains, will there be a third meeting in 2023?

Silke Bagschik: "The positive reactions of the riders and the audience have shown that ID. is an important topic. We will certainly be there again. We have enough ideas for new models or variants."

One can be curious.

volkswagen.ch
idtreffen.de

Wim Ouboter, the imaginative Swiss inventor with Dutch roots, had long been thinking about how to make individual mobility in conurbations more efficient.

Wim Ouboter: "We need to make mobility not only electric, but also lighter and smaller. Together with sons Merlin and Oliver, I thought of an iPad of mobility, a vehicle that is somewhere between a car and a motorcycle."

Starting shot six years ago at the Motor Show
The Microlino adventure took off at the 2016 Geneva Motor Show. It took a roundabout way for the Ouboters to find the Italian company Cecomp as a production partner. Under the development management of the Italians, the Microlino 1.0 with a simple tubular frame became the Microlino 2.0 with a self-supporting steel body.

Recently, production of the Pioneer Series electric sphere was launched with a limited edition of 999 units. The model is only available in Torino Aluminum and Atlantis Blue colors and comes with a 10.5 kWh battery pack that provides a range of up to 177 kilometers.

Included in the price of 20,990 francs are the sunroof, vegan leather and Alcantara inserts in the interior, portable Bluetooth speakers - and for the last mile, a micro kick scooter in the trunk.

From a standstill to 50 km/h in five seconds
With the power peak of 19 kilowatts, you can drive quickly in the city. The car reaches 50 km/h from a standstill in five seconds - there's no need to worry about a braking block effect.

Of course, the road condition can be felt well in the microcar, and the electric drivetrain is always present acoustically. However, two people sit comfortably enough for short distances.

Getting in through the front door requires a bit of practice. The trunk is surprisingly spacious. Numerous shopping bags and beverage packages can be stowed in the 230-liter volume under the rear lid.

Service partner is Amag Noviv Mobility AG
Noviv Mobility AG, the company founded by Amag in July, will become the exclusive sales partner from October. The Microlinos will be available for test drives in Amag garages in Bern, Dübendorf and Geneva, and Noviv Mobility will also handle deliveries as well as maintenance and repairs.

microlino-car.com

A new kind of fascination on a sports car trip to the countryside: The roof tent from Porsche Tequipment is housed in a hardcase that was conceived at the Weissach Development Center and co-designed at Studio F.A. Porsche in Zell am See.

The hard shell construction can be mounted on the basic carrier of the roof transport systems of the 911, Macan, Cayenne, Panamera and Taycan with and without roof rails.

Sleep with the best view
As standard, the all-season two-person roof tent is equipped with two side windows and one skylight. When folded out, the lying surface with polyfoam mattress measures 210 x 130 centimeters.

The tent walls are made of breathable cotton blend fabric. With water-repellent zippers and separate canopy for entry, the tent is also designed for rainy days.

Quilted lining in light gray
The interior is equipped with a well-insulating quilted lining in light gray. The quilted pattern is repeated on the mattress. An insect screen and additional blackout provide protection from mosquitoes and light.

The roof tent is quickly erected on site. First, the safety tabs are opened, then the hard shell case is lifted and unfolded. Then the telescopic ladder can be used to fold out the foot section of the underbody and stabilize it. After that, the tent only needs to be shaped and tensioned with four spring rods.

porsche.ch

The City Snap transport vehicle, which has been continuously developed over the past few years (see gallery), shows feasible solution options for efficient and sustainable delivery. According to the Rinspeed motto, the customer is the focus.

Rinspeed CEO Frank M. Rinderknecht: "People want more and more convenience, but also more and more sustainability. Our new delivery solution offers both."

Simplification increased productivity
Global online commerce has grown enormously over the past year and a half, with increases of 30 percent and more. Goods and package volumes from e-commerce have increased dramatically, and there is currently no end in sight to the growth.

With delivery vehicles that autonomously distribute, park and collect mobile parcel stations, the Swiss concept forge Rinspeed presents an interesting logistics concept. The use of the new Rinspeed solution reduces the number of delivery vehicles required by up to 50 percent. It also cuts CO2 emissions by around six percent per package.

On the cost side, City Snap is also expected to offer significant savings potential. According to Rinderknecht, the increased productivity resulting from the simplification more than offsets the additional costs for the mobile interchangeable parcel stations and the infrastructure.

Exchange system comes from aviation
At the heart of City Snap is a swap system inspired by aviation and tested worldwide. This can be transportable parcel stations that are parked in the customer's neighborhood for a certain period of time, accessible to the customer.

But microhubs for bicycle couriers, mobile dispensers or points-of-sale such as a corner store are also conceivable. Limited opening hours, long travel distances and endless courier caravans are also a thing of the past.

End customers can access their parcels at any time in a safe environment at easily accessible and well-lit locations. Loading and unloading of the City Snap with the mobile parcel stations already takes place independently and takes only a few minutes.

rinspeed.com
iaa-transportation.com

The Hellcat engine of the Swiss company Helftec from Hildisrieden in the Nissan S14 drift car howled loudly in Hall 2.2 of the Bern Expo each time a group of the 20 automotive mechatronics technicians had finished their work at the five posts.

Each talent demonstrated their skills over six hours. To find the faults and tampering with the vehicles, each post had one and a half hours.

A dream come true for the winner
A dream came true for Fabio Bossart on Saturday. He can now call himself the Swiss champion automotive mechatronics technician.

Fabio Bossart: "This gold medal means a lot to me. It's certainly the best thing that could have happened to me."

The 20-year-old started his career in the commercial vehicle sector at Grund AG Fahrzeuge in Triengen LU. Today he works in the passenger car division of Auto Birrer AG in Sursee.

Nevio Bernet from Ufhusen was second and Noah Frey from Studen third on the podium last Saturday.

Swiss Skills as a career pathfinder
Winning the Swiss Skills competition has opened doors for many talents in recent years and given a boost to their careers.

Riet Bulfoni, expert from the canton of Graubünden: "I'm here because I want to give something back to Swiss Skills and all the people behind it. My participation in 2016 helped me enormously and I was able to make many contacts that are still important today."

Not an empty phrase: today Riet Bulfoni is workshop manager at Octane 126, the official service partner of Ferrari and Maserati in Wallisellen.

Solving problems and errors is difficult
Markus Schwab, who is responsible for Automotive Technology & Examinations at the AGVS, has been in charge of setting up and running the examinations at Swiss Skills since 2018. He is well placed to judge the performance of the best participants.

Markus Schwab: "Solving all the problems and errors is very difficult. To achieve that, everything has to run optimally."

agvs-upsa.ch

The latest example is the new edition of the Range Rover Sport. Although the model is 4.95 meters long and weighs around 2.5 tons, it looks amazingly sleek and sporty and offers outstanding qualities on and off the road.

In addition to the well-balanced proportions, the flush-fitted glazing, the retractable door handles and the seemingly floating roof all contribute to the sleek, elegant exterior design. And with a drag coefficient cW of 0.29, it also sits favorably in the airstream.

Precise processing and new materials
The interior of the new model is also clean and simple. The horizontal main lines in the cockpit, the precise workmanship and some new materials, such as Ultrafabrics, which can be selected as a leather alternative, are striking - and have a very pleasant visual and tactile effect.

Specially developed textile upholstery also covers the dashboard and doors. All information and driving functions are operated largely via switches on the steering wheel and via the 13-inch touchscreen. To ensure that comfort and safety do not suffer, however, some important analog switches have been retained.

Drive with 48-volt mild hybridization
Gasoline and diesel engines with 48-volt mild hybridization and several plug-in hybrid variants are available for the third-generation Range Rover Sport. The range extends from the D250 (600 Nm, 250 hp) through the P440e (620 Nm, 440 hp) to the top model P530 with 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 (750 Nm, 530 hp). The first fully electric model is planned for 2024.

In terms of price, the top of the range is the P510e (700 Nm, 510 hp), the plug-in hybrid that covers up to around 110 kilometers in pure electric mode. Other technology highlights of the Range Rover Sport are the electronically controlled Dynamic Response Pro active roll stabilization and dynamic air suspension.

8-speed automatic and iAWD all-wheel drive
All model versions are equipped as standard with an 8-speed automatic transmission, iAWD all-wheel drive and sophisticated driving modes. This makes the new model suitable for every application without exception: On the road, it impresses with reassuring power reserves and a high level of cruising comfort, and off-road - even with 23-inch high-speed tires - it manages sections that would initially have been thought insurmountable.

The new Range Rover Sport is available in SE, Dynamic HSE and Autobiography trim levels, with a First Edition with special equipment also available in the first year of production. Prices range from 112,100 (D250 SE) to 168,700 Swiss francs (P530 First Edition).

landrover.ch

For such cases, Renault has a range of useful services available to owners of vintage and classic cars of both brands on the new Originals Renault Services platform, which reduces the bureaucratic burden of registration.

Registration and recognition of the vehicle
With the launch of the new Originals Renault Services platform, Renault is adding another component to its existing offering of virtual Originals Museum and Originals Store.

Among other things, classic car fans can obtain German-language certificates required for vehicle registration and recognition here. In just four steps, owners of a Renault or Alpine over 30 years old can obtain an application for a registration certificate with classic car endorsement or an official production and dating certificate for their vehicle. In addition to the date of manufacture of the vehicle, this lists information from the production record.

German official document
In addition to the French certificate of registration with the Agence nationale des titres sécurisés (ANTS), classic car enthusiasts can also request a German-language official Renault document for presentation to the registration office.

The international document contains the exact model name, age and a description of the main vehicle characteristics.

Processing time four to six weeks
The cost of a French or international certificate is 75 euros. A production and dating certificate also costs 75 euros. Those who wish to receive both the certificate and the attestation can obtain both together for 115 euros.

The processing time is four to six weeks. In addition, for the extra cost of 40 euros, the website offers a fast service that provides the certificate in less than two weeks.

The platform is to be gradually expanded by 2023 to include new sections for the use of classic cars and new exclusive services for collectors.

renault.ch

In 1998, the first Lexus RX was among the pioneers in the luxury SUV market. Today, it is firmly established as a core model of the brand. Now in its fifth generation, it has been comprehensively renewed.
The GA-K platform forms the basis for a lower center of gravity, lower weight and a stiffer body - important elements for increased driving dynamics.

Striking appearance with dynamic design
One feature of the future design language is the striking new diabolo front. The characteristic radiator grille has been extended to cover the entire front of the vehicle. While the new RX is the same length as the previous model, the hood has been lengthened and the A-pillars set back. The wheelbase is now 60 millimeters longer, and the 21-inch wheels enhance the impression of dynamism.

Inside, the cockpit gives the driver direct, intuitive control based on the principle of hands on the wheel, eyes on the road. The new design also allows more legroom for rear-seat passengers and better visibility to the side.

New powertrains with 250, 309 or 371 hp
The new RX is coming to Europe with three electrified powertrains. The core model in Europe is the RX 450h+, the first RX plug-in hybrid. With a 2.5-liter gasoline engine, it delivers 227 kW (309 hp) and accelerates to 100 km/h in 6.5 seconds. The entry-level 350h model presents itself as an efficient alternative with a self-charging hybrid system and 184 kW (250 hp). For customers who place particular value on high performance, Lexus is launching the RX 500h with Direct4 all-wheel drive. The high-performance hybrid generates 550 Nm and 273 kW (371 hp), and the rear wheels are driven by an 80-kW electric axle. The distribution of the drive torque to the axles is faster and more precise than a mechanical system could achieve.

The Swiss sales launch is at the beginning of next year, prices and equipment are not yet fixed.

lexus.ch