In the desert, however, all is still right with the world, and so the first edition of the "Geneva International Motorshow Qatar" is also what automotive trade shows are supposed to be: A showcase for the industry. The first show in the emirate on the Arabian Gulf is manageable, but nevertheless shows a trend: Of the 30 manufacturers, five are from China, which occupies the largest areas here. Electric models are on all the stands, but in fact traditional combustion engine technology dominates the show. After all, the charging infrastructure in the region is nowhere near ready for e-mobiles to play a significant role.

No trace of fast charger

This was also the experience of Frank M. Rinderknecht (center gallery), who drove with his team and two all-electric Volkswagen ID.Buzz from Geneva to Doha, the capital of Qatar, to symbolically link the two trade fair cities.

Frank M. Rinderknecht: "Before the tour, we were told that there are 350 fast chargers in Saudi Arabia. We didn't find a single one, but thanks to our Egyptian fixer, we fought our way through and ended up being the first to cross the kingdom in an e-mobile. The trip took 34 days and was a lot of fun, even if it was definitely exhausting."

Increase in electromobility

Sandro Mesquita, head of the traditional Geneva Auto Show, which is scheduled to return next year, had proposed a project to Rinderknecht to organize a kind of relay race between Geneva and Doha: "For us, then, the only option for the Tour d'Excellence was a ride in an electric vehicle."

Rinderknecht was on the road a little too early, because by 2030 the Qatar government plans to increase electromobility and expand the charging infrastructure at the same time.

Affluent target group

The Qatari organizers have identified above all an affluent to super-rich target group for their trade show. After all, the region is the world's fastest-growing market for luxury automobiles, having overtaken the traditional markets in the U.S., Europe and Asia. This also explains the somewhat full-bodied claim to be staging "a festival of automotive excellence".

Delage revival

Laurent Tapie, who has revived the French luxury brand Delage and is showing his D12 outside Europe for the first time, is therefore using this stage logically (gallery, right).

Laurent Tapie, son of French entrepreneurial legend Bernard Tapie: "In 2018, I had sold my companies, was living in Miami and at some point I got bored. After analyzing the market, I decided to develop a hypercar for the super-rich clientele. Cars have always fascinated me, but I didn't want to start a new brand, I wanted to use a traditional name, and after Bugatti was taken, Delage came into my sights."

Delage and Bugatti were the biggest French luxury brands until the early 1950s, dominating both motor racing and many Concours d'Elégances.

Hypercar for the road

At the time, the rights to the Delage name were owned by a fan club of the brand, which Tapie was able to convince to use the name. The result of five years of development is a road-legal hypercar whose twelve-cylinder engine, together with a small electric motor, produces 1000 hp and is offered for two million without extras. Of the 30 planned examples being built on the outskirts of the Magny Cours racetrack, the first have already been sold. A second model is already being planned.

World premiere from Afghanistan.

The European manufacturers are mostly represented by their Qatari partners at the trade show in Doha, so that almost no international innovations are presented. Porsche is showing the Mission X, Toyota has the new Landcruiser, Chery is presenting its various brands in generously sized areas, and Lynck & Co is presenting the 03 sedan, which is not to come to Europe, however.

And so the only real world premiere comes from - Afghanistan.

Now the observer from Europe may wonder whether the battered country in the Hindu Kush absolutely needs a super sports car à la the Batmobile, but the head of Entop, Mohammed Reza Ahmadi, has his own take on the Simurgh (gallery left), which was completed thanks to a crowdfunding campaign. The sports car's genesis is quite adventurous.

Engine from Toyota Corolla

Mohammed Reza Ahmadi: "We secured the material from military scrap, of which there is a lot in Afghanistan. For the design, we used You Tube to develop the shape."

A total of 30 men were involved in the project. The Simurgh is powered by a two-liter four-cylinder engine from the Toyota Corolla. Those responsible are not disclosing the exact performance data of the two-seater, which was built in Kabul.

A partner in Germany with 30 years of motorsport experience - Ahmadi is keeping the name to himself - is now to prepare the Afghan sports car for homologation. After all, Entop wants to compete in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Garage 56 is reserved.

Selected precious models

In addition to the current models, a look at automotive history will also play a major role in Qatar. As a preview of the new automobile museum, which will be launched next year, trade fair organizers will be showing a selection of selected automotive treasures. And it is possible that a Concours d'Elégance along the lines of the Como event will soon be on the agenda in the Arabian Gulf.

Sandro Mesquita: "The event offers a good mix of brands, hypercars, supercars and normal cars. We are very satisfied with the first appearance of the show."

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Suzuki is showing the new Swift concept car and, in the field of electric mobility, the eVX and eWX models. In addition, the manufacturer will present the prototype of the e-Burgman scooter and an e-outboard concept. The Suzuki stand is themed "Answers for Excitement throughout the World". Various initiatives for a carbon-neutral future in terms of mobility and services will be presented there.

As a general mobility manufacturer, Suzuki will make proposals for diverse mobility that stays close to people's daily lives by bringing together different technologies.

Driving performance and fuel efficiency

The Swift concept car is equipped with a host of advanced safety technologies, including Dual Sensor Brake Support II, Adaptive High Beam System and Driver Monitoring System. The engine is said to provide a perfect balance between driving performance and fuel efficiency.

A Japan premiere following its world debut in India, the eVX concept car embodies Suzuki's first electric vehicle. The vehicle features electronically controlled all-wheel drive, making it ready for any application.

World premiere of the eWX electric vehicle

The eWX study is an electric vehicle that - as a world premiere - is a mixture of practical small station wagon and futuristic electric car. The e-Burgman electric scooter is a 125cc bike that can be used with the exchangeable battery sharing service.

Another world premiere is the x EV outboard motor (gallery on the right). The lightweight and compact unit can be loaded onto a small car together with a boat, and the battery can also be used as a portable powerbank for charging smartphones outdoors.

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Since Europe decided to turn to electromobility, many Chinese manufacturers have been pushing into these markets. Almost every day, we hear about a new brand that wants to sell cars here in the future. For example, Chery, a manufacturer from China, which is coming to Europe with the Omoda and Jaecoo brands.

Sales launch in Germany

Managing Director Jochen Tüting: "The entry-level variant of the Omoda 5 will start at significantly less than 30,000 euros. This SUV model is 4.40 meters long and is powered by a 150 kW engine."

Tüting expects the company's overall export figures to double as early as this year compared with 2022. In addition, a Chery factory in Europe can also be very well imagined. In Germany, sales will start at the beginning of next year. The European headquarters will then also be based there.

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Last year, Duotone's first Porsche kite sold out within a very short time. Now the partners' new project was presented in Tarifa, Spain. An iconic design from Porsche motorsport served as inspiration: the 917/20 model, better known as Pink Pig, Dicke Berta or also the Sow. In reference to the top speed of the car, which competed at Le Mans in 1971, the special edition is limited to 360 units.

Porsche engineers, in collaboration with the French company Sera, had attempted with the Sau to combine the advantages of the short- and long-tail 917. The body was extremely wide and had strongly rounded wheel cutouts. Designer Anatole Lapine opted for pink paint and labeled the individual sections accordingly.

Design and performance

In the new model, Duotone's Evo-SLS technology ensures optimum kite performance. The kite is available in sizes 7, 9 and 12 meters, the board has a size of 138 centimeters. Registration for the kite and the board is now available at the Duotone online store possible.

Thomas Kaiser, Marketing Director at Duotone: "The collaboration with Porsche goes far beyond aesthetics. It is the fusion of two worlds - the craftsmanship of Porsche meets the kite technology of Duotone. The result is a masterpiece that captivates through design and performance."

Talent development through sales

Part of the proceeds from the sale of the kite and board will support the Duotone program to promote young talent. The Young Blood initiative aims to help young people enter the professional sport of kitesurfing. It offers not only sports training sessions, but also training in the use of social media and sponsorship acquisition.

Porsche has also further expanded its commitment to challenging sports. In 2021, the sports car manufacturer announced its commitment to the further development of the sports of kitesurfing and big wave surfing - complementing its long-standing support for tennis and golf.

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How long will the battery of this electric car last? How many charging cycles has it already gone through? Such questions plagued buyers of used electric vehicles at the beginning of the electric era. Now, however, it has been shown that these worries are largely unfounded. Current data show that electric cars actually have shorter downtimes at used car dealers than cars with conventional drives.In addition to confidence in the batteries, the range of models on offer is also crucial to rising demand.

Suitable cars for needs

Philipp Zimmermann, CEO of auto-i-dat: "In the past, there were only small entry-level cars or large SUVs with electric motors. Today, there is a suitable e-car for every need. There are also more and more providers who test the condition of the battery in used cars. This state-of-health test gives potential buyers additional security."

Charging options challenge

So everything's hunky-dory with electric cars? Not quite, because future demand for electric vehicles on the used car market depends heavily on the charging infrastructure. Many people living in apartment buildings currently have no way of charging the vehicle at home. The group of potential buyers is therefore still limited. How the EU ban on the sale of new cars with internal combustion engines from 2035 will affect the market and charging options remains to be seen.

Residual capacity well over 80 percent

René Mitteregger, Head of Product Management at auto-i-dat: "With the development of the battery and these testing options, the fear of excessive wear and tear on batteries in the electric market is sinking further and further. Until now, manufacturers still promised a residual capacity of 80 percent after four years. But the figures show that the residual capacity is then well above 80 percent." Certainly good news for prospective buyers.

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In many regions of the world, vehicles with combustion engines will probably still be needed for some time because the infrastructure for electromobility is not yet in place. For example, a serial hybrid drive with a small battery and a small combustion engine as a generator could be an advantageous solution.

Japanese also rely on the Wankel

Mazda is now coming up with an interesting concept. A small Wankel engine serves as a range extender in the new MX-30 e-Skyactiv R-EV. This 1-disc rotary engine operates with a displacement of 830 cm³ and produces 74 hp at 4700 rpm and a maximum torque of 116 Nm. The unit integrates coaxially with the generator and the 125 kW traction engine housed in an oil-cooled engine casing.

Range of over 600 kilometers

To improve exhaust gas quality, the engine is equipped with an exhaust gas recirculation system. As a CO₂-emissions, Mazda quotes 21 g/km, which corresponds to a gasoline consumption of around one liter per 100 kilometers. The MX-30 e-Skyactiv R-EV plug-in hybrid is powered exclusively electrically from the front wheels and manages a range of 85 kilometers with the energy of the 17.8-kWh battery alone; together with the 50 liters of gasoline for the rotary engine, more than 600 kilometers are then possible.

Three driving modes to choose from according to the situation

The drive of the MX-30 e-Skyactiv R-EV works with three driving modes. Depending on the driving situation, a choice can be made between Normal, EV and Charge mode. As long as the battery charge is sufficient, the car drives electrically in Normal mode without the combustion engine being in operation. If more power is needed than the battery's charge level - for accelerating when overtaking, for example - the Wankel motor generator kicks in.

The hybrid model is available in five trim levels at prices starting at 42,200 Swiss francs.

Video: @behindtax
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Now it's official: The next edition of The I.C.E. will take place on February 23 and 24, 2024. Until the spikes can be put on again for a new sub-zero experience, St. Moritz offers numerous distractions to sweeten the waiting time. With classic cars still sparkling in the autumn light now, you can confidently take a look at the categories of the I.C.E. 2024, the world's coolest Concours d'Elégance on wheels. The video shows scenes from this year.

Golden age of racing

The nickname Barchetta was introduced in 1948 by journalist Giovanni Canestrini for the Ferrari 166. At the time, however, he had no idea that spectacular open two-seaters of the 1950s would one day drive on frozen water.

The 1950s, 1960s and 1970s were the golden age of motor racing. Daredevils like Juan Manuel Fangio, Stirling Moss, Jackie Stewart and Niki Lauda always went full throttle. In February 2024, their vehicles will return to the ice- and snow-covered lake.

Especially exclusive cars

Concept cars and one-offs have always fascinated people. Several such cars will be on display in St. Moritz. Jetsetters, hautevolée and blue-bloods from all over the world have also always found their way to the Engadine - with particularly exclusive automobiles. It is already possible to register for the new edition next February.

Video: @Acriore
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The bright red giant looks unusual high up in the steep curve of the Mythos 7 room amid the low and sleek motorsport vehicles. From the mid-1980s until 2001, the European Truck Racing Championship title went thirteen times to drivers with trucks from Mercedes-Benz.

French pilot at the start

The Atego race truck presented in the museum is the vehicle of the 2001 season of Ludovic Faure. With an equally red Atego, the Frenchman became European champion in the Super Race Class category on October 4, 1998. He competed for the Tiger Racing Team Dehnhardt. In Jarama, Spain, a third and a second place in both races was enough for him to win the title. Mercedes-Benz won the Constructors' Championship by a large margin.

To 100 km/h in four seconds

It's impressive how a racing truck weighing around five tons effortlessly accelerates to racing speed and tackles the curves, accompanied acoustically by the distinctive working noise of the large-volume engine and the whistling of the turbochargers. It gets from a standstill to 100 km/h in just around four seconds. The top speed is 160 km/h.

The Super Race Class trucks are thoroughbred racing vehicles. They merely look like normal semitrailer tractors. Everything about the chassis, driveline and cockpit is optimized for fast driving in competition. The 315/70 R 22.5 tires, for example, are not standard tires but low-profile racing tires. The Atego was the third development stage from Mercedes-Benz, and its first season of service in 1998.

12 liters of displacement and 1500 hp

The OM 501 LAR was the engine of choice for Mercedes' race trucks from 1996. The V6 high-performance diesel engine has high-pressure injection and two turbochargers with high-pressure compressors and charge air cooling. From a displacement of around twelve liters, it develops 1100 kW (1496 hp) within a comparatively low engine speed window of 2000 to 2200 rpm. Torque is 5000 Newton meters.

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Highlights on the four days of the event included the world premiere of the Porsche 911 GT3 R rennsport, demo laps of the Porsche 963 hybrid prototype and the all-electric GT4 e-Performance, and races with historic motorsport vehicles and tractors.

Ayesha Coker, Director of Marketing Porsche Cars North America: "Hosting the seventh Rennsport Reunion was a great pleasure. The ingredients were just perfect: legendary drivers from then and now, great cars, plus brand new content like Esports to appeal to a young audience."

Music, workshops and Transformers

Historic and new racing cars created excitement on the track with the famous Corkscrew. Numerous presentations, technology workshops, autograph sessions with Porsche legends, music concerts and giant Transformers figures rounded off the program.

One of the big highlights was the unveiling of the new Porsche 911 GT3 R racing car. The vehicle, limited to 77 units and based on the successful GT3 race car 911 GT3 R, completed two runs at Laguna Seca Raceway on each of the four days of the event. The spectacular vehicle designed to run on race tracks away from motorsport competitions produces up to 620 hp and is consistently designed to use e-fuels.

Show laps with hybridPrototype 963

The racing reunion also served as a tune-up for the finale of the 2023 IMSA Weather Tech Sportscar Championship. The 963 of the Porsche Penske Motorsport factory team completed daily show laps at the very venue where the hybrid prototype had clinched its first pole position in May this year. At the wheel of the 700-plus hp race car, factory drivers Dane Cameron and Felipe Nasr alternated with local hero Patrick Long.

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As before, a winner will be sought in the three traditional categories of Swiss Classic Innovation Award, Swiss Classic Door Opener Award and Swiss Classic Rookie Award. However, four additional categories have now been added:

• Swiss Classic Historic Motorsport Award
• Swiss Classic Passion Award Suisse Romande
• Swiss Classic Passion Award Ticinese
• Swiss Classic Passion Award German-speaking Switzerland

Also in these areas, personalities and projects can now also be selected for the Swiss Classic Award 2023.

Award ceremony on November 25

The jury of the Swiss Classic Award, which has now also become a tongue twister with the many new categories, will additionally determine the winner of the Swiss Classic Award Swiss Classic Lifetime Award 2023 in parallel with the election.

The public vote is still possible until Sunday, November 12. The award ceremony for the Swiss Classic Awards 2023 will take place on November 25 at the Swiss Museum of Transport in Lucerne. The voting form and further information can be found on the Internet.

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