Abt Sportsline not only plays in the top league when it comes to engine tuning, but is also at the forefront when it comes to warranty services. The new 5-year warranty is unique on the market and is already included in the price of the performance upgrade. The conditions are simple and transparent.

If an order is placed from January 1, 2024, Abt Sportsline GmbH offers a warranty for all performance upgrades on passenger cars of the Audi (see gallery), Volkswagen, Seat, Cupra and Skoda brands up to a maximum of five years after initial registration or up to 120,000 total kilometers.

Various models

For commercial vehicles of these brands - especially VW buses - the warranty conditions are limited to the first 24 months after initial registration or up to 100,000 total kilometers. Lovers of performance and speed-enhanced vehicles from the VW Group, which have been optimized by Abt, are on the safe side with the new warranty for an above-average period of time. Prices are available on request.

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The refreshed design makes the Kia Sorento a stately presence on and off the road. The redesigned hood, vertical headlights and Star Map daytime running lights characterize the front end - as does the radiator grille with 3D mesh pattern. The rear features a revised LED tail light design with lights in Star Map graphics. The Sorento's color palette is complemented by the three new colors Volcanic Sand, Interstellar Grey and Cityscape Green.

Heated reclining front seats

The ambient lighting, which can be set in 64 colors, can be seen along the dashboard, on the gear knob and on the front door panels. The curved 12.3-inch display and the 12.3-inch multi-mode touchscreen convey a high-tech impression. Vehicle and traffic information can also be called up via a 10-inch head-up display. New ventilated and heated reclining front seats with lumbar support and memory function ensure comfort. Reusable PET materials are used for the interior trim. The new Sorento is also available with fingerprint recognition, which links the driver's profile and enables the engine to be started.

Modern drives and all-wheel drive

All variants of the Kia Sorento are equipped with all-wheel drive as standard. The plug-in hybrid is still equipped with a 1.6-liter T-GDI engine, 6-speed automatic transmission and 13.8 kWh battery. The hybrid with 1.6-liter T-GDI engine, 6-speed automatic transmission and 1.49-kWh battery is also still on offer. The smooth-running 2.2-liter diesel engine with 8-speed dual-clutch transmission and a maximum towing capacity of 2500 kilograms rounds off the range.

The new Sorento will be available in Switzerland in the spring. It comes with the factory warranty of seven years or 150,000 kilometers as standard and also has seven years of Kia Connect on board as standard.

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The time will soon be here. The F.A.T. Ice Race 2024 is in the starting blocks and is set to be more spectacular than ever before. With around 100 participants from 14 nations, the entry list has been closed and the response has been overwhelming, says Ferdi Porsche, initiator of the event. Ticket holders can expect a diverse starting field consisting of vehicles from 22 manufacturers, eight buggies and 30 pairings for the legendary Skijöring, in which skiers are pulled across the ice by the vehicles.

Competitions and demo rides

From the 75 hp Porsche 356 from 1956 to classics such as the Lancia Delta HF Integrale, the Subaru Impreza 555 and the 600 hp Audi S1 WRX to modern super sports cars, some with more than 1000 hp, virtually everything is on offer. In addition to the competitions, demo drives with vehicles such as the colorful Meyers Manx buggies will also be on offer. Partners and sponsors have spared no expense or effort to ensure that the event is also an experience off the ice track. Away from the racing action, Porsche enthusiasts and those who want to become one will get their money's worth on a journey through the history of the brand in the specially converted hangar. Audi will be exhibiting current and historic racing cars in another hangar, with the highlight being the all-electric S1 Hoonitron.

Spectacular show by the Flying Bulls

Red Bull provides the sound of engines in the sky with the spectacular Flying Bulls Show, where an aerobatic helicopter and an Edge 540, known from the Red Bull Air Race World Championship, perform spectacular tricks over the Zell am See airfield.

Red Bull Moto GP star Dani Pedrosa makes the hearts of two-wheeler fans beat faster on his spike-tired Moto GP bike. Numerous food trucks spoil guests on the food court - from traditional to unusual.

On the evening before the event, there will be a warm-up event on the forecourt of the Ferry Porsche Congress Center from 6 pm to 10 pm organized by the Zell am See Kaprun Tourist Board with an exhibition of various Porsche models, several food trucks and live music by DJane Dominique Jardin. The crowning finale of the F.A.T. Ice Race is an exclusive after-show party at Kaprun Castle.

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The Lamborghini branch in Dubai is continuing its successful collaboration with the Dubai Police. At the end of 2023, the year in which the sports car manufacturer celebrates its 60th anniversary, Paolo Sartori, Regional Director Automobili Lamborghini for the Middle East and Africa, handed over the keys to the Super SUV to Major General Ahmed Mohammed bin Thani, the acting Commander-in-Chief of Dubai Police.

Paolo Sartori: "We are pleased to continue our cooperation with the Dubai Police and to support them in their fundamental task of safeguarding public safety."

Sports car performance with all-wheel drive

Thanks to its 666 hp biturbo V8, which delivers a maximum torque of 850 Nm to all four wheels, the Urus Performante accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in just 3.3 seconds and reaches a top speed of 306 km/h. The Urus Performante is painted in the green and white color scheme of the police and is equipped with further technical modifications, including the blue LED rotating beacons and, of course, a siren.

The interior has also been equipped with extras that are essential for Dubai Police operations. These include an armored weapon safe, a fold-down display for messages and a special compartment in the trunk, which houses additional service equipment and a defibrillator for first aid operations.

Services in tourist centers

General Ahmed Mohammed bin Thani also said: "The powerful super SUV was purchased as part of Dubai Police's efforts to increase the number of patrol officers. The new Lamborghini will help the police to better serve residents, maintain social security and provide services in popular tourist centers."

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Even 35 years after the appearance of the first Vitara generation, Suzuki's compact SUV classic continues to be dynamic. With its combination of urban design and compact dimensions, the Vitara immediately became a visionary pioneer.

Small and all-terrain

With the launch of the Jimny in 1970, Suzuki realized its vision of a small off-road vehicle that could overcome forest tracks, mud and rocks thanks to its four-wheel drive. The success of this model prompted Suzuki to develop a model that differed from the heavy off-road vehicles and mid-size passenger car-style SUVs of the time. The first generation of the vehicle, named Vitara, was launched in 1988.

Ten years later, a new Vitara was launched in the second generation. The Grand Vitara with the slightly larger body had a typical 4×4 exterior design and also met the demand for greater safety and better environmental compatibility.

New as hybrid versions

In 2005, generation three arrived with an angular design based on the concept of the off-road athlete. In line with European tastes, the Grand Vitara embodied the symbiosis of the attributes of robust off-road performance, stable on-road handling and cultivated driving comfort.

The fourth generation arrived in 2014 - a completely new model. In response to the increased demand for modern technology, economy and environmental friendliness, the current model, which is manufactured in Hungary, combines robustness and individuality. The new Edition 35 models are available as a hybrid with a 1.4-liter petrol engine and 129 hp or as a full hybrid with a 1.5-liter engine (115 hp) and automatic transmission, with prices starting at 29,490 francs.

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Ford has its own model family of multifunctional cars for active people. It is called Tourneo and now has a new member - the latest generation of the Tourneo Courier, which is less than 4.40 meters long. It is built at Ford's Otosan plant in Craiova, Romania, where the Puma, Ford's current bestseller in Europe, with which the Courier shares the platform, already rolls off the production line. A purely electrically powered version, the E-Tourneo Courier, will also be available to order later this year.

Two-tone paint finish on request

The Tourneo Courier has an SUV-like design with its confidently upright radiator grille, which is positioned higher than on the previous model, with integrated main headlights arranged one below the other and the continuous parallel lines on the sides. On request and depending on the base model, a two-tone paint finish with a white or black roof can be selected.

Interior makes life easier

Thanks to the modem installed as standard, the space miracle is ideally equipped for the digital world. A digital display takes the place of an analog instrument panel. Smartphones can now be wirelessly integrated into the Ford SYNC 4 entertainment system. For the smartphone itself, a secure cell phone holder is provided ex works next to the display.

The trunk volume has increased by 44 percent compared to the previous model. With the rear seats folded forward and upright (60/40 fold-down), up to 2162 liters are now available. Access to the rear is via two sliding doors.

Three equipment lines in the range

Ford is launching the new Tourneo Courier in three equipment lines. The entry-level Trend model offers spacious accommodation, modern connectivity and SUV design elements. Active is aimed at particularly adventurous customers and offers black plastic trim, underride protection for the front and rear as well as special 17-inch alloy wheels. The Titanium premium variant sets its own accents with chrome trim details for the radiator grille and headlights as well as 16-inch alloy wheels.

Also available with 7-speed automatic transmission on request

The high-torque EcoBoost turbocharged petrol engine ensures agile handling. The three-cylinder engine produces 125 hp from one liter of displacement, outperforming its predecessor model by 25 percent. An automatic start-stop system is part of the standard equipment, as is a variably controlled radiator air intake. Both improve the fuel efficiency of the drive. In addition to a manual 6-speed gearbox, a 7-speed automatic with dual-clutch technology is also available. Prices are not yet known. A fully electric version will follow in around a year's time.

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The Nissan X-Trail Mountain Rescue has been extensively modified for mountain rescue work and equipped with snow chains, among other things, which replace the normal wheels. They provide safe traction on slippery snow slopes.

Equipment for really tough applications

The rear seats were removed to facilitate the transportation of injured skiers, and a special roof rack provides space for a rescue stretcher and snow shovels. A siren, a light bar with flashing lights and powerful headlights were also fitted on the roof. The mudguards were widened at the front and rear to make room for the snow chains. A cable winch is mounted at the front and there is a reinforced towing device on the front and rear bumpers.

23 centimeters higher with snow chains

Running boards on the sides make it easier to get in, as the modified X-Trail with snow chains is 23 centimetres higher than the basic version. The X-Trail Mountain Rescue is also intended to demonstrate the performance of the all-wheel drive system. The drive can react to changing grip on the surface within ten thousandths of a second and the power distribution is adjusted accordingly.

The Cervinia ski area is at your service

The X-Trail Mountain Rescue can currently be seen in the Cervinia ski resort in the Italian municipality of Valtournenche in the Aosta Valley region. Under the motto Ride Responsibly, Nissan is supporting a campaign in five European regions. The speed of snowboarders and skiers is monitored in a similar way to road traffic.

Coralie Musy, Vice President and Brand Experience at Nissan: "With this campaign, we want to promote responsible behavior in the winter sports community."

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Those responsible attribute the great public success to the extended range of offers. The opening of the Experience Energy exhibition hall and the agricultural exhibition "Of pitchforks and drones" also contributed to this result. Visitor numbers in 2023 rose by around 11% compared to the previous year and exceeded the pre-coronavirus level. In 2019, 993,775 admissions were registered.

Hub for education and knowledge

The Museum of Transport not only remains a popular place of learning and excursions for school classes, but has also recorded growth in this area. In 2023, around 3,000 school classes or around 50,000 pupils visited the Museum of Transport. The unique educational offers and interactive exhibitions help to ensure that the Museum of Transport remains an integral part of the curriculum and an exciting destination for schoolchildren.

Daily interactive live shows

The planetarium has set new standards with its new event formats and reached 100,000 admissions for the first time. The daily interactive live shows are unique worldwide and make it possible to show the audience up-to-date content such as recently discovered exoplanets or new images from space telescopes such as the James Webb Space Telescope or Euclid.

Swiss Chocolate Adventure

The Swiss Chocolate Adventure theme world takes visitors on a 20-minute journey to learn about the discovery, origin, production and transportation of chocolate. This attraction is also very popular with guests from abroad. The movie theater also received a great response with blockbusters such as Avatar on the giant screen and in 3D. The documentaries Secrets of the Sea, Antarctica and Planet Power - Around the World with Solar Energy are currently attracting large numbers of visitors.

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The well-known model car manufacturer Amalgam presents the Aston Martin collection by artist Alan Thornton (center gallery). The new collection starts with the two extraordinary models Valkyrie and DB5. Alan Thornton is available to owners of the most valuable Aston Martin models to transform the beauty of these cars into special works of art.

Pictures are created individually

The format, size and number of focal points to be captured and the respective print quantity are up for discussion. Each project is defined individually, and Thornton's vast experience with portrait photography opens the door to creating large format prints that capture both the car and the driver.

Sandy Copeman, founder of Amalgam: "When I met Alan Thornton in 2020, I quickly realized that he was on a mission to perfectly translate his understanding of iconic car designs into 2D artwork. As with Amalgam's models, Alan's work exudes a passionate attention to fine detail."

Traditional hand screen printing

In the first step of the creative process, the real car is driven to the studio, illuminated and photographed in high resolution. The second step is to edit the image and break it down into numerous elements and complex dot patterns that create the illusion of a complete tonal range when printed. The third and final step is to print the individual pieces using traditional hand screen printing or dye sublimation. The resulting print has colors of great purity and intensity.

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Over the past few years, the "Swiss Garage Day" has developed into a major and particularly popular industry gathering for the Swiss car trade. Once again, the AGVS welcomed representatives of the garage and supplier industry to the Kursaal Bern - with a record attendance of more than 900 participants. No wonder - interesting presentations on the situation of the automotive industry in Switzerland were held. The fact that Federal Councillor and former Auto Schweiz President Albert Rösti was also among the speakers further enhanced the event.

Freeway and energy supply

The head of the Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications (DETEC) also emphasized the importance of the car as a driver of prosperity in the Kursaal. One of his key concerns was the vote next November, when the population will vote on the expansion of several important sections of highway. On the other hand, the energy supply situation must be secured, whereby openness to technology must be guaranteed.

Innovations from Switzerland

AGVS Central President Thomas Hurter: "Change is progress, and progress comes from innovation. Innovation is therefore the key to success. In Switzerland, one in eight jobs is directly or indirectly dependent on the car. The car therefore remains central as a symbol of freedom and as an economic driver. In 2022, private motorized road traffic accounted for 75 percent of passenger kilometers."

Anja Schulze, Professor of Innovation Management at the University of Zurich, pointed out that Switzerland is also one of the most important innovators internationally. Remarkable: the 574 companies, manufacturers and suppliers in the Swiss automotive industry with 34,000 employees achieve a turnover of 12.3 billion Swiss francs.

There is a lack of trust

Chinese car manufacturers, who are now also bringing their products to the European markets, have also become an issue. Helena Wisbert, Director at the Center for Automotive Research, cited a survey conducted in several European countries. She noted that there is currently still a lack of trust in Chinese brands in Switzerland. Only around a fifth are considering buying a car from China. The popularity of Chinese manufacturers is somewhat higher in the rest of Europe.

Training in automotive professions

Training in the automotive professions in Switzerland is doing well. This is demonstrated by the numerous top positions achieved by automotive mechatronics technicians in international comparisons. Olivier Maeder, AGVS Head of Education, therefore invited a number of young professionals who have been successful in international competitions to talk about their experiences on the stage of the Kursaal (gallery left).

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