Mercedes designers originally envisioned the new GLB as an angular little off-roader - even with a sheet metal bar between the front and rear doors - just like the familiar G model. But in the course of the in-house market studies, the car became more and more well-behaved and conventional. In the end, not even an off-road version went into series production - although the GLB was shown again in spring 2019 (gallery left and right), already with a finished body, before the start of series production with searchlights on the roof and chunky 265/65 R 17 off-road tires.

Similarity with big brother

Now the Stuttgart-based company is taking another stab at it - with a small off-roader announced at the IAA in Munich as the g-Class - spelled with a lowercase g. Renderings now show what such a car could look like. Compact, around 4.50 meters long, a five-seater on the platform of the next front-wheel drive models from Mercedes-Benz.

The steep windshield and sharply drawn edges provide the desired resemblance to its big brother. The space utilization should be almost ideal, the

Aerodynamicists will have plenty to do, though.

Drives as required or desired

The Stuttgart-based company is still keeping quiet about the technical details, but the aspirations of a small G-model call for all-wheel drive and outstanding off-road qualities. Because the new platform will be open to all technologies, we can expect not only an all-electric version, but also classically powered, hybridized variants. The off-roader is expected to come onto the market in 2026.

Source: auto-medienportal.net
mercedes-benz.ch

The GT World Challenge 2023 remains firmly in Swiss hands. Following Raffaele Marciello's title in the Endurance Cup and in the overall series-wide standings (Endurance and Sprint), another Swiss, Ricardo Feller, secured the Sprint Cup crown at the season finale in Zandvoort (NL). Feller and his Italian teammate Mattia Drudi took the overall lead already after the first race on Saturday. The duo Marciello/Boguslavskiy had to settle for 4th place after Marciello slipped into the gravel trap.

Podium and place for Emil Frey Racing

On Sunday, in the second race, the title was decided early on. After a collision on the starting lap with Lorenzo Patrese, Marciello's teammate Boguslavskiy had to park the Mercedes in the pits with a crooked suspension. The Audi duo Drudi/Feller, meanwhile, seized the opportunity and drove to another victory on a wet track. With 109.5 points to 90.5, Feller celebrated the championship title in superior fashion ahead of Marciello. The latter showed his true greatness in defeat.

Raffaele Marciello. "It hurts when the sister car of the very team you're fighting for the title knocks you out of the race. But I'm still happy for Ricky and Mattia. They were often the fastest and deserved this title!"

Emil Frey Racing (center gallery) clinched a podium and three top-10 finishes at the end of the championship - and secured fourth place in the Sprint Cup drivers' standings and in the team standings with drivers Albert Costa Balboa and Thierry Vermeulen. The placings of the other Swiss: 6th Lucas Légeret, 10th Patric Niederhauser. For Alain Valente, the Silver Cup season ended in 7th place.

Neel Jani victorious at the Petit Le Mans

There was also reason to cheer from a Swiss perspective at the IMSA season finale at Road Atlanta. Neel Jani (right gallery) finished third on the podium for the first time this year in the "Petit Le Mans" with Proton Racing's Porsche 963. Louis Delétraz from Geneva, who had taken pole position in Wayne Taylor Racing's Acura, had to retire in the final part of the race because his teammate ended up in the tire piles after a contact.

Kevin Gilardoni on top of the podium

Kevin Gilardoni celebrated another Swiss success. Two weeks ago he won the Rally del Ticino; now he was on top in the Lamborghini Huracán GT3 at the season finale of the Italian GT Championship in Vallelunga! The all-rounder from Misox (GR) won the race ahead of the new champion Giancarlo Fisichella. In the same race, Nicolas Leutwiler celebrated class victory in the AM classification with Ivan Jacoma.

Sébastien Carron also in the points

There were further Swiss podium finishes at the Rallylegend in Italy. Sébastien Carron (gallery left) finished second there (with co-driver Romain Lambiel), Mirko Puricelli (with Nicola Medici) third.

A place among the top 3 was also Mike Müller's goal in his first season in the ADAC Junior Cup. The three-time Swiss karting champion narrowly missed this target at the season finale at the Nürburgring and in the end had to be satisfied with a thankless fourth place.

Source: Car Sport Switzerland
Photos: Audi/Kräling, ACI, Emil Frey Racing and IMSA
motorsport.ch

The British brand and the Elvis Presley Charitable Foundation want to find out what happened to the nine motorcycles with the help of music and motorcycle fans. As a passionate biker, the King of Rock'n'Roll rode a motorcycle in many of his more than 30 films, including a Triumph 650 Bonneville "Desert Sled" in the 1968 comedy "Stay Away Joe" (gallery, right). The relationship between Elvis and Triumph began three years earlier.

First test with a Bonneville

In June 1965, the music legend was in front of the camera for the musical "Frankie and Johnny" at the Samuel Goldwyn Studios in Hollywood. He often spent breaks from filming with his closest friends, known as "The Memphis Mafia," at his home in Bel Air in East Los Angeles.

During this time, mob member Jerry Schilling shifted to the Robertson & Sons motorcycle dealership on Santa Monica Boulevard. There, Schilling put a down payment on a new Triumph T120 650 Bonneville (gallery at right). When Schilling brought the bike home, Elvis asked his friend to take it for a spin around Bel Air. The King was immediately thrilled and after the ride asked his travel manager Alan Fortas to get motorcycles for all the guys for rides in the area.

No official records

The story of the nine motorcycles was long considered a myth. But an archive find from Elvis' Graceland residence - the original checks made out to Robertson & Sons, signed by the musician himself - now confirms Jerry Schilling's recollection: All nine original motorcycles are currently considered lost - there are no official records of where they ended up after the summer of 1965. Triumph is now calling on fans around the world to help clarify the whereabouts of these motorcycles.

Please send any relevant information to this e-mail..

Source: auto-medienportal.net
triumphmotorcycles.ch

For 20 years, Škoda Switzerland has supported the diverse activities of the Theodora Foundation as a mobility partner. Since 1993, DiesStiftung has pursued the goal of brightening the everyday lives of children in hospitals and specialized institutions with joy and laughter. It organizes the visit of 69 dream doctors every week, enabling more than 100,000 children's visits every year. With its commitment since 2003, Škoda Switzerland is thus the foundation's oldest partner.

Dream doctors in the foreground

To celebrate its 20th anniversary, Škoda Switzerland is focusing on the work of its dream doctors. To this end, Markus Kohler, Brand Director Škoda Switzerland, drove Droktor Hüpf to one of his missions. On the way to the Lucerne Children's Hospital, Kohler learned a lot about the everyday life of a dream doctor.

Markus Kohler: "The work as a dream doctor is incredibly varied, but at the same time very challenging. Because they don't know exactly what they'll be facing on the day of the visit, they have to react quickly and are a great help and support for the children, but also for their parents and for the medical staff."

Various vehicles available

Over the past 20 years, Škoda has provided the foundation with various vehicles. In the beginning, well-known Swiss artists embellished the vehicles. Later, it was children who turned the cars into masterpieces with their drawings. And since this year, the logo and the colored hearts of the foundation adorn the fleet vehicles, which currently consists of six Škoda Enyaq. Škoda is thus now also electrifying the Theodora Foundation, which is on the road for the first time with purely electric vehicles.

André Poulie, co-founder of the Theodora Foundation: "We have been able to count on Škoda as our mobility partner for 20 years now. This support is as reliable as Škoda vehicles. We are proud to usher in a new era in the Foundation's mobility history with the electric Enyaqs."

skoda.ch

Autumn has it all. Poor visibility, the risk of skidding and wild animals require road users to be more attentive and to drive appropriately. Those who drive with only daytime running lights on despite poor visibility should be aware that most cars are unlit at the rear. Since the automatic light system reacts exclusively to differences in brightness, if visibility is impaired by fog, smoke, snow or rain, you should switch on the low beam yourself despite the automatic function.

Annoyance rear fog lights

Fog lights and rear fog lights may only be used if visibility is less than 50 meters due to fog, driving snow or heavy rain. Unnecessarily switched on rear fog lights dazzle following traffic.

Cyclists use their lights best as soon as it is dusk or visibility is poor. E-bikes and e-scooters must use their lights both during the day and at night. TCS recommends that pedestrians wear bright or reflective clothing as soon as they are out and about.

Wild animals change the lane

However, autumn is also the time of year when the risk of unexpectedly encountering wildlife on the roadway is highest. To reduce the risk of collision, it is important to adjust your speed and be ready to brake at all times. If an animal is on the road, you should turn on your dipped headlights and honk to scare it away. Dangerous evasive maneuvers are not advisable. If, despite these precautions, a collision occurs, the accident should be reported to the police. The police will send a game warden, a hunter or a veterinarian to the scene of the accident.

Slip hazard and braking distance

Due to the lower temperatures, the risk of skidding is greater in autumn, and the braking distance also becomes longer. This is due to wet and cold roads covered with leaves or dirt. Water puddles also increase the risk of aquaplaning. At low temperatures, ice can already be expected to form on bridges. Car drivers should therefore put on winter tires according to the O-rule - from October to Easter.

tcs.ch

With the triple victory at the Italian WRC round - Walter Röhrl and Christian Geistdörfer as well as Attilio Bettega and Maurizio Perissinot followed in second and third place - Lancia secured the constructors' title early.

Luca Napolitano, CEO of Lancia: "Winning the San Remo Rally exactly 40 years ago is a historic moment in rallying and made the Lancia Rally 037 unforgettable. It's no coincidence that this race car is one of nine models from our history that will inspire the design of Lancia's future production cars."

Drive with one axis only

Röhrl/Geistdörfer with three victories and Alén/Kivimäki with two had contributed to winning the World Constructors' Championship title. For Lancia, it was the fifth title overall after three Constructors' Championships from 1974 to 1976 with the Lancia Stratos and the 1977 FIA Cup for Drivers win by Italian Sandro Munari.

For the Lancia works team Martini Racing, the great success 40 years ago was unexpected, as the Rally 037 was only a transitional model to the Delta S4, which had four-wheel drive. Lancia's entry in the 1983 season was the last World Rally Championship participation for a vehicle without four-wheel drive.

Series car at the Turin Motor Show

Lancia presented the production version of the Rally 037 at the 1982 Turin Motor Show. The four-cylinder engine positioned behind the cockpit was force-fed by a supercharger. In series thus 205 HP were available. Altogether Lancia produced exactly the 200 vehicles, which were prescribed for the homologation in the group B. The Coupé developed by the racing department Abarth as altogether 37th project - hence the model designation 037 - was a racing car without compromises. Its body was made entirely of fiberglass-reinforced plastic. A large rear spoiler was an expression of the sophisticated aerodynamics.

lancia.com

Unlike the two distribution models with the code numbers 300 and 400, the first battery-electric long-distance truck from Mercedes-Benz does not drive forward with the combustion engine cab: Daimler Truck today unveiled the final production version of the e-Actros 600 with a specific driver's cab. However, it will be a good year before the smooth-surfaced tractor unit with the striking cooling air intake just above the bumper is seen more frequently on the highways. From the end of this year, however, vehicles will go out to selected customers in advance.

1000 kilometers in one day

Mercedes-Benz promises ranges of around 500 kilometers and charging times at a CCS charging station of just over one hour for recharging 20 to 80 percent of the battery capacity. The e-Actros 600 has 400 kW (544 hp) of rated power and 600 kW (816 hp) of peak power, as well as four gears. The three lithium iron phosphate batteries, located where the fuel tank usually is, have a net capacity of 600 kWh. With intermediate charging during legally required driver breaks, the eActros 600 will be able to cover more than 1000 kilometers a day. According to Mercedes-Benz, the drive and batteries are designed for a service life of ten years and 1.2 million kilometers.

Later also with megawatt charger

Around 60 percent of the long-distance trips made by Mercedes Trucks customers in Europe are shorter than 500 kilometers anyway, so the charging infrastructure at the depot and at the loading and unloading points is sufficient. For all other operations, the ongoing development of a public charging infrastructure is an important prerequisite for making the electric truck fully operational for long-distance transport.

In addition to CCS charging with up to 400 kW, the e-Actros 600 will later also enable megawatt charging (MCS). Customers will be able to order pre-fitting for this from the start of sales. As soon as MCS technology is available and standardized, it will be possible to retrofit it to the e-Actros.

mercedes-benz.ch

Two Fiat commercials have won prestigious industry awards in Italy. The Art Directors Club awarded six prizes to the spots, which were conceived in collaboration with the Leo Burnett agency and realized by Twister Film. The video No Grey addresses Fiat's decision to no longer offer gray as a body color.

The main character is Olivier François, Fiat CEO and Global CMO Stellantis. In the spot, he is immersed in a huge pot of orange paint by a crane on board a gray-painted Fiat 600e. The claim reads: "Italy. The land of colors. Fiat. The brand of colors." The spot has been viewed more than ten million times on YouTube.

More pandas than inhabitants

The Art Directors Club presented a gold award in the Corporate PR Communication category, a silver award in the Film category, and a bronze award in the Social/Digital PR category. Also honored was the approximately 30-minute documentary Pandelleria. The setting is the small Mediterranean island of Pantelleria, where it is felt there are more Fiat Panda cars than inhabitants.

The focus is on Fiat Panda of the early model years still used today in tough everyday life and their owners. The film is also a tribute to the employees of the Fiat plant in Pomigliano d'Arco, who have been building the Fiat Panda for more than 40 years. The documentary received medals from the Art Directors Club in Gold in the Creative Effectiveness Media category, in Silver in the Brand Entertainment category and in Bronze in the Film category.

fiat.ch

The latest generation of Ford's successful recreational vehicle benefits from technology from the future Transit custom family and is also available for the first time in combination with a plug-in hybrid drive. In developing the five-seater Nugget, Ford once again collaborated with the specialists at Westfalia Mobil GmbH. What has remained is the enormous feeling of space in the Nugget with the roof open.

Photovoltaic roof and shower

The multi-room concept with living, dining and sleeping area, L-shaped kitchen and further sleeping area is also fully successful in the current version. Even when the two double beds are set up, passengers can move around freely in the Nugget, cook or get in and out without getting in each other's way.

In addition, new speakers and USB-C interfaces optimize travel comfort for up to three rear passengers. Also new is the optional photovoltaic roof and the standard hot/cold water outdoor shower in the rear.

170-hp Ecoblue turbodiesel

Orders for the Transit Custom Nugget in the Titanium equipment line with pop-up roof, 170 hp Ford Ecoblue turbo diesel and 8-speed automatic transmission will be taken by Swiss Ford partners from November. Retail prices will be announced shortly. The first deliveries are expected in summer 2024.

Other model variants such as the PHEV version with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and a system output of 171 kW (232 hp) will follow. The new Ford Transit Custom Nugget can be seen at the Suisse Caravan Salon in Hall 3, Stand A002.

ford.ch
suissecaravansalon.ch

Step by step, Team Audi Sport is increasing the pace and the demands with a view to the big goal next January. Last May there was a first season test in Saudi Arabia. After further testing in Zaragoza, Spain, the team took part in the Baja Aragon.

Head of Audi Motorsport Rolf Michl: "October is marked by the most intensive work since the Dakar Rally. Now the entire team can work in competition mode again. The Morocco Rally is ideal for this in terms of duration and terrain because the terrain reflects the versatile demands of the Dakar Rally well."

Prologue and five stages

From October 13 to 18, a prologue and five rally stages await the participants of the Rally du Maroc. The schedule includes 1449 timed kilometers and a total distance of 2219 kilometers. Team Audi Sport participated outside the classification last year. Now, as a registered participant, it will face tough competition from Toyota, Ford and Prodrive, among others, at the fifth round of the FIA World Rally Raid Championship.

Rolf Michl: "An excellent field has announced itself. This is a good assessment for us. At the same time, it helps the entire team to switch back into competitive mode and verify everything we have already implemented with a view to the 2024 Dakar Rally."

Tests over 3000 kilometers

In the run-up to the event, Team Audi Sport completed six days of testing in Morocco together with Q Motorsport. Each of the three driver pairings Mattias Ekström/Emil Bergkvist, Stéphane Peterhansel/Edouard Boulanger and Carlos Sainz/Lucas Cruz was in action for two days. In total, the Audi RS Q e-tron reeled off more than 3,000 kilometers. In the process, the team succeeded in further improving the set-up and testing new tires and components.

audi.com