The race during the scoring à la Eurovision Song Contest for the "Car of the Year" was exciting to the very end.

The most coveted prize in the automotive industry has been awarded since 1964. So, too, at this so unusual time. The jury, made up of 61 trade journalists from all over Europe, did not let Corona stop them.

However, in view of the war in Ukraine, an unprecedented decision was made. The points of the two Russian jury members were taken out of the scoring.

Only one combustion engine among the finalists
The winner's technical innovativeness and bold design are particularly appealing. It prevailed over six competitors, all of them fully electric vehicles apart from the Peugeot 308.

The final field, which included the Kia EV6, Renault Mégane E-Tech Electric, Hyundai Ioniq 5 (261 points), Peugeot 308 (191), Skoda Enyaq iV (185), Ford Mustang Mach-E (150) and Cupra Born (144), admittedly contained one surprise. There was not a single German brand in the final.

Preparations for the Geneva Show 2023

Frank Janssen, President of the Jury: "It's a big surprise that the Kia EV6 is the winner. It was about time to have it here, because the whole brand and the whole group have worked very hard on this car. The pace of progress at Kia is impressive."

As in the two previous years, the 2022 ceremony was also broadcast as a pure livestream on the Internet (see video), as this year's edition of the Geneva International Motor Show was postponed yet again due to the pandemic.

Sandro Mesquita, CEO of GIMS: "We are working hard to ensure that the next edition of the Geneva International Motor Show can take place in 2023. The Car of the Year ceremony will resume its role as the opening event of the GIMS Press Days, especially as it will celebrate its 60th winner next year."

Electromobility that is simply fun to use

Jason Jeong, President Kia Europe: "It is a great honor to have won the award with the EV6 - the first Kia to receive this prestigious award. The EV6 was designed from the outset to deliver electric mobility that is simply fun, convenient and accessible, offers an impressive range, and combines fast charging, a spacious high-tech interior and a unique driving experience. The EV6 is an exciting sign of what's to come in our electrified lineup."

Peter Fahrni, Managing Director of Kia Schweiz AG, put it in a nutshell: "The Koreans are simply good!" True.

caroftheyear
gims.swiss

In the future, the electronic chassis will offer the semi-automatic Minimum Preload function, which lowers the height in city traffic or at low speeds, especially with a pillion passenger.

A software update improves interaction with the infotainment system and is also available free of charge to all customers who already own a Multistrada V4 S. You will be contacted by Ducati.

Topcase a total volume of 117 liters
The range of accessories is extended by an aluminum pannier set which, together with the top case, offers a total volume of 117 liters and was developed together with Givi.

There is also a lowering kit that reduces the seat height for both the low and high seats. Added as a new color variant Iceberg White for the Multistrada V4 S, whose price starts at 22 790 francs.

ducati.com

One of the videos describes Škoda's developments in international motorsport.

However, annotated video tours in Czech and English also enable a virtual visit. New episodes have now been added to the series. Experts from the museum comment on various exhibitions with different thematic focuses.

The video "Tradition", for example, provides information on the background to Škoda's corporate history and focuses on the development of the company logo or the significance of selected models.

History of successful station wagons
During the virtual tour, viewers also learn about the history of the brand's successful station wagons. The film "Depot - prototype and sports car collection" presents very special exhibits located in the former foundry of the car manufacturer.

Here you can also see the Ferat coupe, which fascinated viewers 40 years ago in the horror film "The Car Vampire" (original title: "Upír z Feratu"). The car is based on the Škoda 110 Super Sport, which debuted in its original version back in 1971. The guided tour also provides an insight into the development of various series-production vehicles on the basis of concept cars.

Special show 120 years of Škoda Motorsport
In addition to these exhibits from the permanent exhibition, a separate video tour presents the current special exhibition "120 Years of Škoda Motorsport," which is on display at the museum until March 20. In 1901, a motorcycle from Mladá Boleslav competed in an international race for the first time.

Ferdinand Porsche as an entrepreneur
Also new are three video tours of the house where Ferdinand Porsche was born in Vratislavice. The films present, among other things, the modern concept of the exhibition, which is dedicated to the tradition of technology and industry.

The life of Ferdinand Porsche and his work as an entrepreneur are further focal points. As a special exhibit, the Auto Union pre-war racing car with a 16-cylinder engine is on display until the end of March 2022.

The new video tours complement the existing ones entitled "Evolution," "Precision," "Technology Gallery" and "In the Sign of Electromobility." The videos are available at this link.

skoda.ch

At the eNordkappChallenge hard conditions of the winter have to be mastered.

The friends and videographers Benjamin Dütschler, Dominic Marti and Oliver Beer wanted to know and took the eNordkappChallenge under the wheels of their purely electrically driven Mokka-e. The country teams dces Events started at their place of residence, crossing Germany, Denmark, Norway, Finland and Sweden.

Good charging infrastructure all the way to the North Cape

Benjamin Dütschler: "And all this even though we had never driven an electric car before. At the beginning, we were still very cautious and recharged with 100 kilometers of range remaining. Little by little, we exhausted the range more and more and were able to reduce the number of charging stops. Above all, we were amazed at the good charging infrastructure on the way to the North Cape."

Around 8000 kilometers and minus 30 degrees
And the trio was able to draw on more than ten years of Opel experience in building electrified vehicles. It started with the Ampera with range extender, followed by the all-electric Ampera-e, which already drove to the northernmost point of Europe in 2019 as part of an eNordkappChallenge exploration tour, and finally the Corsa-e.

To prove this competence with the Mokka-e, Opel's current all-electric vehicle, Opel Switzerland sent the #TeamOpel on the road: Around 8000 kilometers in 14 days, short nights and night drives, snowy and icy roads and passes, and up to minus 30 degrees cold.

Powerful experiences you won't forget
The challenge at the eNordkappChallenge is to master the toughest conditions of the winter with an electric car. The extreme weather conditions and low temperatures were the biggest challenge for the Swiss team.

Dominic Marti: "One snowstorm in particular shortly before the North Cape destination was fierce. We couldn't see two meters and had to be very careful not to leave the road and end up in the ditch like other cars. Our pulse rate was pretty high - it's like skiing in a heavy snowstorm when you're flying blind and can't see where the slope is. Those are powerful experiences that you don't forget."

Driving performance on snow and ice slopes

Oliver Beer: "We liked the driving fun and comfort and the numerous assistance systems, in addition to the cockpit with the infotainment. The handling on snow and icy slopes is also very good. We only had to mount the chains once. The eNordkappChallenge was a very good crash course, and I will definitely drive an electric car in the future after this experience."

Documentation in Content Hub #ThisIsOpel
The three friends from Bülach ZH captured their experiences at the eNordkappChallenge both photographically and cinematically in a video, which can be viewed on Opel Switzerland's Content Hub #ThisIsOpel, and on Opel Switzerland's Instagram channel.

opel.ch

Experts from 23 countries have been choosing the "Car of the Year" since 1964. Last year, this was the Toyota Yaris (AutoSprintCH reported). On Monday, February 28, it will be announced in Geneva which manufacturer will be able to enjoy the title this year

Seven candidates stand for election
Seven candidates have been shortlisted, six of which are purely electric vehicles. These are the models: Cupra Born, Ford Mustang Mach-E, Hyundai Ioniq 5, Kia EV6, Peugeot 308, Renault Megane E-Tech and the Škoda Enyaq iV.

Three Swiss representatives on the jury
Each year, the European jury selects its favorite from the new models of the current model year. The first winner was the Rover 2000. The 61 jurors come from 23 countries according to the size of the respective car markets, and they judge independently.

As of this year, Switzerland has three new members. The jury includes representatives from Automobil-Revue, Blick and Auto-Illustrierte. The organization of the election receives no financial contributions from the automotive industry, which ensures its independence.

Live broadcast from Palexpo Geneva
This year's winner will be chosen by the jury on Monday, February 28, 2022, starting at 5 p.m. in a live event at Palexpo Geneva.

caroftheyear.org

The plug-in hybrid Jeep Wrangler 4xe is "Best 4×4" according to the Women's World Car of the Year (WWCOTY) 2022 jury. The panel of 56 women motoring journalists from 40 countries judged the vehicles on safety, handling, comfort, technology, design and efficiency, among other criteria.

The judges praised the new Wrangler 4xe in particular for its environmental compatibility and value for money.

Electric range of up to 53 kilometers

Marta García, Executive President of WWCOTY: "With the Wrangler 4xe, the Jeep brand has taken a big step forward in many ways, the most important being its commitment to a more sustainable environment. It is to be applauded that the manufacturer of true off-road vehicles has opted for hybridization."

The Jeep Wrangler 4xe has an electric range of up to 53 kilometers in the city, which also makes it an e-vehicle suitable for everyday use.

The gasoline engine and two e-motors deliver 380 hp

Christian Meunier, Chief Executive Officer of the Jeep brand: "We are pleased that the judges recognized the great strides the Jeep brand is making in electrifying its vehicles around the world. The Wrangler 4xe is an example of Jeep combining the best of both worlds, legendary off-road capability and open-air fun with an electrified powertrain that allows you to enjoy the outdoors in silence."

The 380 hp (280 kW) powertrain has a 2-liter turbocharged gasoline engine plus two electric motors, a high-voltage battery pack and an 8-speed automatic transmission.

womensworldcoty.com
jeep.ch

In the Cupra 2 Experience, real and virtual worlds are to be vividly combined

Cupra 2 is the name of the Spanish Seat subsidiary's ambitious vision for 2022. Cupra will launch further new models in the next two years. The Tavascan (prototype gallery on the left), the brand's second all-electric vehicle, will arrive in 2024, and the Urban Rebel, an electric city car, a year later (gallery on the right).

Cupra CEO Wayne Griffiths (center gallery): "Our fourth birthday has special significance. Plan for 2022 is to double sales, distribution network and revenue. That's why we've christened our Vision Cupra 2."

Metahype for emotional experiences
Later this year, emotional experiences will exist in a new space as the brand enters the metaverse.

Wayne Griffiths: "Metahype is our interpretation of this new universe. It's a collaborative space where brands, startups and creators provide lots of events and experiences for people to come together and create a special culture."

Auction from the first Urban Rebel
Not content with bringing emotional experiences to the metaverse, Cupra also announced the launch of a new racing experience: the Cupra 2 Experience.

Antonino Labate, Strategy Director at Cupra: "With the all-electric Urban Rebel, we are bringing the Cupra 2 Experience to the world. With it, we are ready to challenge the traditional racing formats."

In the run-up to the launch, Cupra will auction off the first one-off of the first Urban Rebel. The winner will have the opportunity to compete in the Experience.

cupraofficial.ch

The global chip crisis has the car market in its grip. Car customers sometimes have to wait more than a year for the new car they have ordered. Some prospective buyers are therefore turning their focus away from the showrooms of new car dealers to the used car market on the Internet. The online comparison service Comparis has taken a close look at the most sought-after car brands on the online market in 2021.

German models are in great demand
The most frequently searched for car on comparis.ch was Mercedes with a share of search queries of 12.3 percent. BMW and Volkswagen followed with 10.8 and 10.3 percent, then Audi (8.8), Porsche (4.6), Toyota (3.6) and Ford (3.3). The Škoda (2.9), Volvo (2.7) and Renault (2.4) brands bring up the rear of the ten most searched-for car brands in 2021.

Comparis mobility expert Andrea Auer: "German brands have always been popular in Switzerland. Not only in the Comparis ranking, but also in the new car market, they have occupied the first ranks for years. However, a comparison with new car registrations also shows: Škoda is only in eighth place in online searches. In the new car statistics, however, in the top five."

There are large regional differences
The specific vehicle searches in individual cantons reveal regional peculiarities. For example, searches in the mountainous cantons differ from those in Switzerland as a whole.

In Graubünden, Seat (rank 8) and Suzuki (rank 9) made it into the top ten. Porsche and Seat are newcomers. In the canton of Valais, Suzuki also made it into the top ten most wanted brands last year.

Andrea Auer: "The fact that Suzuki is popular in the mountain cantons is not entirely unexpected. Along with Subaru, the brand is known for its 4×4 expertise."

Ticino loves Fiat, Land Rover and Mini
Vehicle seekers in southern Switzerland have completely different preferences. Here, the Fiat (5th), Land Rover (7th) and Mini (10th) brands are among the top ten. Subaru, Renault and Nissan, on the other hand, dropped out of the list.

In French-speaking Switzerland, the Mini and Peugeot brands made it into the top ten most searched-for car brands.

comparis.ch

Mercedes-AMG is expanding its product portfolio with battery-electric performance models.

New to the range are the two business sedans EQE 43 4Matic and EQE 53 4Matic+, which are based on the Mercedes architecture of the luxury and luxury class EVA2. AMG-specific solutions, particularly in the areas of powertrain, chassis, brakes, sound, exterior and interior design and equipment, ensure a dynamic driving experience.

Power on demand in abundance
Both models offer a performance-oriented drive concept with two electric motors. The eATS powertrain with one motor each on the front and rear axles also offers fully variable all-wheel drive.

The power spectrum ranges from 350 kW (476 hp) to 505 kW (687 hp) with optional Dynamic Plus package and boost function. Maximum torques are 858 and 950, and even 1000 Nm in the short term. Both AMG EQE models are equipped with rear-axle steering as standard.

Bass actuator and sound generator
Vehicle sound has always been an important part of the typical AMG driving experience - and that is not about to change for all-electric models. The sound system in the EQE uses special speakers, a bass actuator and a sound generator to create a special sound experience, in each of the three variants Balanced, Sport and Powerful. Tonality and intensity are adjusted to the respective driving condition.

New batteries with short charging times
The new EQE models are equipped with a powerful 328-volt drive battery offering a usable energy content of 90.6 kWh. The battery management system is also tuned specifically to AMG. Another new feature is the ability to upload updates for the battery management system over the air.

One advantage of the new battery generation is also the short charging times. The battery can charge with up to 170 kW at fast charging stations with direct current. This allows electricity for 180 kilometers to be recharged in 15 minutes.

The AMG EQE 43 will arrive at dealers in April, the EQE 53 in the summer. Prices are not yet known.

mercedes-benz.ch

A large-scale research project is being launched in the UK on the road to autonomous driving. With Servcity, Nissan and five partners are testing autonomous driving technology. The three-year field trial is designed to identify potential obstacles to the use of autonomous vehicles in cities.

Testing in the Smart Mobility Living Lab
After a long development period involving simulation and testing on private test tracks, Servcity is now climbing to the next level. The Servcity CAV (Connected and Autonomous Vehicle), based on the Leaf model, will be put through its paces in the middle of the UK capital from October.

To maneuver safely through the streets, testing will take place at TRL's Greenwich-based Smart Mobility Living Lab, which has the necessary infrastructural sensors and processing power.

Combination of strong partners
Servcity is funded by the government's £100 million Intelligent Mobility Fund. In addition to Nissan and TRL, the British innovation agency Connected Places Catapult, the technology group Hitachi, the University of Nottingham and the consulting firm SBD Automotive are also involved in the project.

Says SBD Director Andrew Hart, "Robotaxis have the potential to fundamentally change mobility for both customers and cities. Operators must carefully balance customer expectations with real-world technological constraints."

nissan-global.com