As with the first three models, the presentation of the extravagant Punk model is less about the technology and more about the idea and the lifestyle concept. According to the manufacturer, the all-electric Hyper Punk is aimed at the content creator, influencer and artist scene, and the car is designed to connect the virtual and real worlds - and the outside world with the "inside of the vehicle". Like its three sister models, the Punk can also charge bidirectionally, so that users can charge their technical devices anywhere, for example.

Artificial intelligence in manga scenes

The built-in cameras capture the vehicle's surroundings and can convert them into manga scenes or graphic patterns using artificial intelligence. The images are projected onto three screens arranged around the driver in the cockpit. This is intended to create a space in which reality and the metaverse merge.

The interior is designed as a mobile creative studio and equipped with WLAN. With biosensors in the headrests and artificial intelligence, the Hyper Punk recognizes the mood of the passengers and automatically selects the appropriate music and lighting. The polygonally styled crossover is also said to be suitable for off-road excursions thanks to short overhangs and large 23-inch wheels. The Hyper models are also available to gamers in the online game Fortnite under the term "Electrify the World".

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The Honda SUV with the idiosyncratic name e:Ny1 is the brand's second purely electrically powered model after the Honda e. It is based on the new e:N architecture F, a front-engine platform with a rigid structure and aerodynamically optimized underbody. Built on this EV platform, the e:Ny1 has similar dimensions to the HR-V. It measures 4.39 meters in length, 1.58 meters in height and 1.79 meters in width - with a wheelbase of 2.61 meters.

Remarkable space

18-inch alloy wheels are fitted as standard. Thanks to the space-saving integration of the high-voltage battery and the other drive components, the e:Ny1 offers a remarkable amount of interior space. The new design includes headlights that are cleverly integrated into the profile. The horizontal LED strip under the hood connects the headlights and provides a special light signature when charging. The charging port is located behind a flap in the radiator grille. The identifying sign of electrification is the white H emblem at the front, which corresponds with the Honda lettering at the rear. At the rear, the turn signals, brake lights and reversing lights are integrated into a single unit.

Good coordination of materials

In the interior, the good coordination of materials and colors as well as the impeccable workmanship stand out. A 15.1-inch touchscreen in the center of the dashboard serves as the control center for the infotainment and vehicle functions. The front seats are upholstered in synthetic leather and generously padded. The Advance trim level also includes elegant decorative stitching. In the rear, passengers benefit from a high level of comfort with good space. As the battery is located under the vehicle floor, headroom and legroom are not restricted. With the air diffusion ventilation system, a pleasantly gentle airflow is directed along the side windows toward the roof.

Top speed of 160 km/h

The drive engine delivers a maximum output of 150 kW (204 hp) and a maximum torque of 310 Nm to the front wheels. This enables the car to accelerate from a standstill to 100 km/h in 7.6 seconds - and up to a top speed of 160 km/h. The driver can change the responsiveness of the e:Ny1 via the three driving modes Sport, Normal and Econ Drive. While Normal mode combines performance and ride comfort in an optimally balanced way, Econ mode is designed for maximum efficiency. In contrast, the Sport mode ensures a fast response with spontaneous acceleration.

On-board WLAN for all occupants

Smartphones can be quickly connected to the on-board system. The on-board WLAN gives all occupants in the car internet access while driving, and over-the-air updates allow various functions to be updated remotely at any time. The brand's typical Sensing safety systems ensure safety as standard. Assistance systems such as Lane Keeping Assist, Traffic Jam Assist, Traffic Sign Recognition and Attention Assist support the driver. If they cannot completely prevent accidents, they at least reduce their consequences.

The e:Ny1 will be on display at Auto Zürich until November 5, 2023 at Messe Oerlikon.

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The National Information Centre on Cultural Heritage NIKE clearly classifies historic vehicles as technical cultural assets. The importance of motorized mobility for social and economic development over the past 120 years and the unbroken public interest in vehicle museums, events and classic car fairs support this assessment.

Classical specialists as guests

Now the ACS Section Thurgau invites to the podium on November 9 in the autobau erlebniswelt. The event will open with speeches by Bruno von Rotz, publisher of the classic car magazine SwissClassicRevue and operator of the online portal zwischengas.com, and Roman Kuster, member of the management of Kuster AG Scherzingen and classic car restorer.

As a prominent collector of selected vehicles, Fredy Alexander Lienhard, Managing Director of autobau erlebniswelt, rounds off the picture. He shows us which criteria a car has to fulfill in order to find its way into his collection. Or, conversely, why a specific car belongs to his collection. And he explains what it means to keep an exhibit in working condition - as opposed to just exhibits.

Talks with the speakers

Organizer ACS Section Thurgau welcomes the participants on Thursday, November 9, from 5 pm with the opening of the automobile museum. From 19.15 the presentations begin, and from 20.30 there are talks with the speakers. For ACS members the ticket price is 20 francs, for non-members 30 francs. The registration deadline is November 5.

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The international society Green NCAP, which published its first life cycle assessment for sustainable new cars in April 2022, has newly honored four electric cars with the LCA Award for a particularly environmentally friendly life cycle. The three letters stand for Life Cycle Assessment. This involves forecasting the environmental and climate-relevant effects of a vehicle from the extraction of raw materials through vehicle production and use to subsequent recycling.

240 000 kilometers mileage

According to the consumer protection organization, the Dacia Spring, the Chinese Ora Funky Cat, the Renault Mégane E-Tech and Tesla's Model 3 currently excel in this respect. All these vehicles scored between 96 and 99 percent of all possible points in the Green NCAP test, with the Dacia coming out on top. The assessment of the LCA value is based on a useful life of 16 years and a mileage of 240,000 kilometers, as well as the European electricity mix.

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A fourth place with a win for Jonathan Michellod would have been enough for namesake Jonathan Hirschi to successfully defend the title at the 63rd edition of the Rally International du Valais. But it didn't come to that. Hirschi with co-driver Sarah Lattion (center gallery) was already the boss in the ring on the first day. He briefly relinquished the overall lead to his title rival Michellod in SS3 and SS4. But from the fifth stage on, Hirschi was unstoppable.

When Michellod then lost more than 50 seconds to Hirschi in one fell swoop on day two in the first stage Les Cols 1 from Le Guercet to Sembrancher because a tire lost air, the drop was dropped. In the end, Hirschi had won nine of 14 stages - and was 51.2 seconds ahead of Mike Coppens/Christophe Roux (gallery on the right) and 1:12.1 minutes ahead of Michaël Burri/Gaëtan Aubry (all on Skoda Fabia Rally2 evo) at the finish. Because the latter drives with a French racing license, Michellod was classified third in the SM-Championnat.

Full points at the rally

For winner Hirschi, the second SM triumph at the Rallye du Valais after 2014 was his fifth win of the season overall. This means that Hirschi scored full points in every rally he completed in 2023 as part of the SM and won the championship with a commanding 196:166 points over Michellod.

Jonathan Hirschi: "Of course I'm happy about this title. The season was exceptional. Five rallies - five victories: it doesn't get any better than that. But I am also happy about this victory at the RIV. This is a very special rally. I have already won it once in 2014. But back then I was fourth overall as the best Swiss. That's not the same."

Final with highlight for Mike Coppens
For runner-up Coppens, a mixed season ended with a highlight. Although the Valais native would have liked to claim his third Valais victory in a row, he was powerless against Hirschi this time. In the battle for third place in the championship, Sacha Althaus and co-driver Lisiane Zbinden clearly prevailed over Sergio Pinto (13th overall). The 27-year-old from the Jura had to settle for sixth place overall at the Valais - behind brand colleague Nicolas Lathion/Marine Maye - but if someone had asked him before the season whether he would be satisfied with third place, Althaus would have signed immediately.

Jérémy Michellod is the new champion

The top 10 was completed by Ismaël Vuistiner/Florine Kummer (gallery left), who made a very strong impression on their debut on the Renault Clio Rally3, ahead of David Erard/Sarah Junod (8th on VW Polo), Thibault Maret/Kévin Bronner (9th on Skoda Fabia) and the second Clio Rally3 driver from France Thomas Battaglia.

In the Juniors, Jérémy Michellod had long since been crowned the new champion. However, Jonathan's younger brother would have liked to celebrate another triumph at his home rally. But a problem with the transmission dashed his hopes early on. Because Damien Lovey also had to retire on the penultimate stage, Quentin Claire/Gabriel Claire (Peugeot 106) were the winners in the small car category.

Success for Laurent Bérard and Audrey Zwahlen

Victory in the Rally Cup went to Laurent Bérard with co-driver Audrey Zwahlen. The Honda Civic driver fought a thrilling duel with Philippe Broussoux and took the lead on the eleventh stage. Third place in the rally cup went to Steve Gaspardi (who, like Broussoux, was driving a Clio). The title went to someone else: Claude Aebi (with son Justin Vuffray as co-driver) was only sixth, but kept his pursuers Kilchenmann, Rossi and Ramel at bay.

Claude Aebi: "This is my first title. I was third in 2021, second in 2022 and now first. This proves that I have steadily improved and that we have improved again this year."

In the Michelin Trophy Alps, victory went to Bérard - ahead of Broussoux and Didier Soguel (Renault Clio 3). In the Alps Open, Vuistiner beat Battaglia and Pinto. The 2023 champions are Sergio Pinto (Open) and Alexandre Bastard. Best Swiss behind the Frenchman was Jérémy Michellod.

Florian Gonon easily ahead of Eddy Bérard

In the historic class, the VHC, the fans were looking forward to a duel between Pascal Perroud (on BMW M3), who had already been determined as champion, and Florian Gonon (Ford Escort RS1600). But this duel was quickly decided. On the slippery surface in the first test early in the morning, Perroud damaged his right front wheel. Although he limped to the finish as fastest, he had to watch from the second stage on. Gonon took a commanding victory ahead of Eddy Bérard (BMW M3) and Laurent Metral (Ford Sierra RS Cosworth).

In the VHRS, which is all about uniformity, Laurent Pernet won on a BMW 325 ix. The man from Neuchâtel was already the first champion of this category, which was created in 2023, before the Valais.

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Photos: Rhône FM, Eichenberger, Kaufmann, @01Team3V (Video)
Source: Car Sport Switzerland
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The 36th Auto Zürich will feature a record number of around 60 brands. This leaves many trade shows behind in an international comparison. For the third time in a row, the Auto Show in Oerlikon records an increase in exhibitors. However, it is not only becoming the largest live event for cars in Switzerland, but also the car show with the greatest variety of brands in Europe. Despite all the change, Auto Zürich is also sticking to its roots, because this year it is again relying on the commitment of the dealers.

Anniversaries of famous manufacturers

When it comes to presenting new automobiles, Doris and Karl Bieri and the new Managing Director Ines Nägeli are in good hands. No less than three renowned car manufacturers are using Auto Zürich as an opportunity to celebrate their 75th anniversary. Land Rover, Porsche and Volkswagen began series production of cars in 1948.

The show organizers proudly display as European premieres the BMW X2, the Peugeot E-3008 (gallery on the right), the new VW Tiguan (gallery on the left) and the Chinese compact SUV JAC e-JS1 (gallery in the middle). Among the most important of the 30 or so Swiss premieres are the BMW i5 M60, the Cupra Tavascan, the Fiat 600e, the Ford Explorer, the Kia EV9, the Opel Astra Electric, the Toyota C-HR and the VW ID.7. The Aston Martin DB12, the Ferrari Roma Spider, the Lamborghini Revuelto, the Pininfarina Battista and the Porsche 911 GT Street R are likely to be particularly attractive to the sports car fan community.

Stromer and legendary classic cars

In addition, this year's Auto Zürich will also showcase other classic cars in Hall 6. More than a dozen companies are presenting young and classic cars there. For example, an Alfa Romeo 1900, a Jaguar Mark IX and a Mercedes-Benz 220 S from the years of the economic miracle are on display. Exciting convertibles from several well-known manufacturers from the 80s will be shown by Aston Martin and Mercedes-Benz with the exhibits V8 Volante and SL. Those who have a weakness for small sporty cars should enjoy the Bentley Blower Junior from the Little Car Company.

In addition, the trade show is further expanding the "ev experience" concept. On the open space in front of the main entrance, there will be accompanied test drives with 15 EV and PHEV models from various brands. In addition, trade fair visitors will receive all the necessary information about vehicle selection, public charging and home wallbox.

Season tickets and family tickets

So you can look forward to the coming days in the exhibition halls in Oerlikon. The fair will be open on Thursday and Friday (November 2 and 3) from ten to 9 p.m., and on Saturday and Sunday (November 3 and 4) from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tickets are online or available at the box office, at prices ranging from twelve to 22 francs. Season tickets and family tickets cost 30 and 39 francs respectively. Further info is available at the Trade fair magazine as PDF.

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Following the Jazz and the Civic, Honda is also equipping the new ZR-V compact SUV with the e:HEV hybrid system. A gasoline direct injection engine, together with two electric motors, provides powerful and efficient drive to the front wheels. With a length of 4.57 meters and a wheelbase of 2.66 meters, the ZR-V ranks between the HR-V and CR-V. The front is dominated by a glossy black radiator grille consisting of vertical bars on the Elegance and Advance models, while the Sport models get a honeycomb design.

Safety system and eleven airbags

The ZR-V's subtly colored interior has a high-quality feel thanks to the soft-touch materials on the dashboard, door panels and center console. For the Elegance and Sport trim lines, there is a 7-inch TFT display that, along with the speedometer, conveys the most important info in an easy-to-read manner. In the Advance model, a 10.2-inch TFT display provides information. Also standard in the ZR-V is the Honda Sensing safety system, which together with the eleven airbags and all-round collision protection ensures active and passive safety.

From 0 to 100 km/h in 7.8 seconds

The e:HEV hybrid drive delivers a maximum output of 135 kW (184 hp) and a maximum torque of 315 Nm. This enables acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in 7.8 seconds. In addition to the sporty driving performance, however, the system control also ensures low consumption values. With the four driving modes Eco, Normal, Sport and Snow, the characteristics of the powertrain and chassis can be adjusted as desired.

The ZR-V will be on display at Auto Zürich from November 2 to 5, 2023, at Messe Oerlikon.

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October 30, 1963 marked the start of the then important Turin Motor Show, and it was during this event that the first Quattroporte was unveiled on the Maserati stand. The 60th anniversary is now set to commemorate some of Maserati's most important milestones. Like many iconic models, the Quattroporte won great acclaim from the moment of its debut and inspired subsequent generations. The car transcended boundaries and remained true to the pursuit of excellence in design and performance. More than 75,000 units were produced over the 60 years.

Sedan with racing genes

The first-generation Quattroporte was a pioneer, featuring a distinctive-sounding racing V8 engine combined with an elegant exterior design and a refined interior. The car reached a top speed of 230 km/h.

The Quattroporte is also representative of the passion and talent of all those who have been involved in the project over the years. Frua created the original shape, followed by other masters, including Bertone, Giugiaro, Gandini and Pininfarina - up to Maserati Centro Stile as the designer of the current generation. Thus, the Quattroporte remains the jewel in the intense history of the Modena-based company.

Special demand for exclusivity

While the second-generation Quattroporte was a less memorable design, the Quattroporte III, when the company was led by De Tomaso, represented a resounding success. A new challenge followed, which was mastered with aplomb in the 1990s with the fourth generation.

With the multiple award-winning Quattroporte V of 2003, the brand continued to evolve but remained true to the successful formula before the current, sixth generation represents the most modern expression of the concept. Even after all the redesigns, advances in technology, changes in corporate structure and the many models produced, this sedan has retained its special claim to exclusivity.

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To mark the 25th anniversary, Roberto Giolito, then designer of the Fiat Multipla, (gallery left) transformed a vehicle kept by Stellantis Heritage into a one-off. The Fiat Multipla 6×6 was inspired by six cartoon characters that Giolito used to humorously illustrate the benefits of the new seating arrangement a quarter century ago.

Roberto Giolito: "The Fiat Multipla 6×6 is a cheerful homage in Fiat's typical style to a model that still arouses interest after 25 years. The six figures represent six ways to experience the Fiat Multipla."

The unique piece will be exhibited at the Milano Auto Classica trade fair from November 17 to 19 and then sold.

Exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art

The redesigned Fiat Multipla 6×6 is based on a 1998 model, with the Bio Turquoise body color serving as a backdrop for the six cartoon characters on the hood and doors. Each of the six seats also features one of the characters designed in 1998 for the launch of the Multipla. Each figure has its own way of seeing and experiencing the model: from the adventurer at the wheel to the baby in a racing helmet, the attractive woman, the manager with a laptop on his knees, the monk and the hippie.

In another video, Giolito explains the strengths of the Fiat Multipla. The vehicle is a concrete example of how ingenious solutions can improve the quality of life on board. The concept was so revolutionary that the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York included the Multipla in an exhibition on the theme of the car of the future.

Production flexibility and investments

The entire body is divided into two modules: a short and streamlined base overlaid by a generous superstructure. The arrangement of the headlights on different levels gives the front of the vehicle its special appearance. The three pairs of headlights are positioned to provide optimum illumination of the road. The Multipla was also innovative in terms of production technology. Thanks to the space frame structure, it met the twin requirements of high production flexibility and low investment in the factory.

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Sales growth of purely electric vehicles continues to accelerate in Switzerland. This is shown by the Electric Vehicle Sales Review study by PwC Autofacts, which evaluated new registration figures in 20 markets worldwide. According to the study, 53 percent more BEVs hit the roads in Switzerland in the third quarter of this year than in the same quarter last year. In the first nine months of the year, the BEV market share is just under 20 percent.

Weakness sales in the south

BEV growth is expected to continue in the coming year. The study forecasts growth of 27 percent for the USA, 34 percent for China and 43 percent for the five core European markets of Germany, France, Italy, Spain and the UK.

Although this puts Europe in the lead, a north-south divide is emerging within the continent. Electric cars have now broken through the 16 percent market share barrier in Germany, France, the UK and Switzerland, which is considered a barrier to entry into the mainstream market. Spain, with six percent, and Italy, with four percent, on the other hand, remain in the single digits in terms of market penetration, putting climate targets at risk.

Plug-in hybrids back on trend

In the battle for market share, plug-in hybrids could also play a stronger role again in the medium term. Such concepts celebrated a comeback in five core markets in the third quarter of this year - and outperformed pure electric vehicles in France, Italy, the UK, China and the USA in terms of growth rates. In Switzerland, too, PHEV sales increased by 32 percent compared with the prior-year quarter, but lagged behind BEV growth rates.

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