WHERE TO MEET The Swiss Volvo Meeting has been held every two years for over 30 years. This makes it one of the oldest Volvo meetings and one of the three largest events of its kind in Europe.
Editorial - August 10, 2023
This year, Bulle, the second largest city in the canton of Fribourg, will be the destination of owners and fans of the brand from August 25 to 27. During the event days, around 700 Volvos, from vintage to new cars, are expected in the Espace Gruyère center. In addition to various stands, the special show "Classic Volvos" as well as the rally, which leads along a special route, will be the focus of the event.
Around 700 Volvos of all model years are expected at the Espace Gruyère event center.
Spare parts new on offer
On Friday there is the cultural Tour d'Horizon with a visit to the Gruyère cheese dairy, the Cailler chocolate factory and the extended visit to the historic town of Gruyère. At noon, a surprise awaits the participants! It's definitely worth taking part.
Saturday and Sunday are the popular Volvo meeting days. For the first time in Switzerland, there will also be a spare parts market, and in the public competition, among other things, you can win two Kontiki direct flights to Finnish Lapland in the winter.
Preservation of classic vehicles
The organizing IG Swiss Volvo and Volvo Club Romand are committed to the preservation of classic motor vehicles as a rolling cultural asset. A highlight of this year's Volvo meeting will therefore be the Saturday evening program, where, in addition to culinary highlights of the region, the topic of classic cars will not be neglected. Registrations please online.
FIT PARTNER Tennis young talent and ATP Tour player Dominic Stricker is the new ambassador for Alfa Romeo Switzerland. He now drives a Tonale PHEV in a sporty and sustainable manner.
Editorial - August 10, 2023
As the new Ambassador, Dominic Stricker can enjoy the 280 hp of his Alfa Romeo Tonale into every corner.
20 years young and already at the top. Dominic Stricker plays with great passion and success on the ATP Tour. The young talent takes part in the most famous tennis tournaments in the world, including the Australia Open, French Open and Wimbledon.
Success with Stan Wawrinka in Gstaad
At the latter, Dominic Stricker also achieved a personal success, reaching the second round of probably the most important tennis tournament in the world. Stricker also proved his skills and passion for tennis at the Swiss Open in Gstaad, where he won the Swiss Open doubles with none other than Stan Wawrinka.
FIRST INFORMATION With the Experimental study, which is a good four meters long, the Stellantis subsidiary Opel from Rüsselsheim shows the formal orientation of upcoming models for the first time.
Editorial - August 10, 2023
Soft, flowing lines and a now three-dimensional Vizor at the front are accentuated by lighting effects. The battery-electric vehicle is designed for four people and is said to offer at least as much space inside as the recently discontinued top-of-the-range Insignia model.
Moving components of the Opel Experimental ensure low aerodynamic drag.
Cameras instead of exterior mirrors Particularly low drag is ensured by a retractable spoiler at the rear, which makes the car around 30 centimeters longer, and movable components in the rims, which do not give the wind any surface to attack at higher speeds. The exterior mirrors are replaced by cameras, and instead of chrome the Experimental relies on light design.
The study will make its first public appearance at the IAA Mobility in Munich on September 5, 2023.
PERFORMANCE The professionals at tuner Mariani focus on maximum comfort to enable superior gliding at the highest level. Thus, their Mercedes-AMG EQS 53 hums along with modified suspension and optimized aerodynamics.
Editorial - August 9, 2023
Lowered and with new forged wheels Mercedes EQS V297 Tuning looks even more impressive than the original.
With already 38 years of experience, Mariani Car-Styling has given the Mercedes-AMG EQS 53 a subtle update. The eye-catchers in this conversion are the 22-inch forged wheels, which give the luxurious electric vehicle its own touch.
To achieve the desired sporty look, the air suspension of the EQS was lowered by three centimeters, optimizing roadholding thanks to a lower center of gravity. The drag coefficient has been improved by five percent. Tuner Mariani quotes 560 kW (761 hp) as the maximum drive power of the luxurious sedan.
Harmonious interaction
The result is a harmonious interplay of elegance and sportiness as well as improved handling. In order to adapt the wheels perfectly to the outer edge of the body, special spacers made of a high-strength aluminum-magnesium alloy were also installed.
These increase the track width and not only give the tuned EQS V297 an even more striking appearance on the road, but also have a positive influence on the driving dynamics. The rear axle steering is retained and the conversions have been tested by TÜV Nord.
THOUSANDS OF DAMAGES Under the slogan "Summer, sun, sat nav gone", the insurer Axa has evaluated the thefts from vehicles over the last ten years. Although the number of cases is falling, the damage per case is rising.
Editorial - August 9, 2023
In addition to the stolen items, there are often larger repair and cleaning costs.
The car door is cracked or a side window smashed - and whatever valuables were inside are gone. Every year, one in 200 cars is stolen. Although every fifth theft in Switzerland occurs abroad, 70 percent of them in France or Italy, four out of five burglaries still occur in Switzerland. Axa Versicherungen AG has evaluated when and where the worst cases occur over the last ten years.
Preferred brands of thieves
Anyone who drives an Alfa Romeo, Land Rover, Range Rover or Smart seems to be particularly likely to fall prey to thieves. They are followed in second place by BMW, Dacia, Fiat and Mercedes. Owners of Kia, Mazda, Mitsubishi and Skoda seem to be more cautious or carry fewer valuables, while Subaru and Suzuki appear to be the safest.
The vacation season is high season for thieves, whether foreign or domestic. Cars are robbed particularly often in July, but August and October are also above average. Proximity to the border also attracts thieves - apparently mainly from France.
Western Switzerland is in the lead
With a theft rate three times higher than the Swiss cantonal average, Geneva is the lonely leader. In Geneva, instead of one in 200, one in 67 cars is affected once a year. It is followed by Vaud, Neuchâtel and Ticino. Of the German-speaking cantons, only Basel-Stadt makes it into the top five, which are above the Swiss average.
Patrick Villiger, Head of Motor Vehicle Claims at Axa: "There should be no valuables in the car - certainly not visible, but also not in the trunk or glove compartment. In addition, you should always lock the car and close the windows. Thefts are insured under both household and comprehensive insurance."
2022 total 4000 thefts
Damage is compensated if objects were firmly attached to the vehicle or enclosed - in convertibles, the top must therefore be closed or at least objects should be stored in a locked compartment.
Axa reimburses an average of 1800 francs for a total of 4000 thefts from vehicles in 2022. Incidentally, the number of cases is tending to decrease statistically, but the damage per case is higher today than in the past.
BACKGROUND On the occasion of its 75th anniversary, Porsche has resorted to a color palette that has never been seen before in this form. The new color world will also be presented in China and the USA.
Editorial - August 9, 2023
Porsche models are presented as works of art in a new world of color.
The challenge for the creative team was to convey this through a series of striking images that could be used by Porsche centers, agencies and partners around the world.
Jürgen Aigner, one of the creators behind the project: "For the 75th anniversary, we looked at the past, but also at the future. We wanted to unite all of this. That's why we developed the Driven by Dreams concept for 2023, with which we communicate our Brand Purpose (means raison d'être of brands d.R.) as a guiding principle."
Individual texture from light and color
The starting point was a series of eight legendary Porsche colors - from Speed Yellow and Rubystone Red to Lava Orange, Neptune Blue and Forest Green. Each of these colors was transferred to a model and combined with an individual texture of light and color to highlight the special characteristics of the hue.
Things got even more artistic with the 356 in Strawberry Red or the fried egg design of the 996 from the 911 series, among others. The flagship, the 992 Turbo S, also embodies the actual core of the project, which the team christened "Dream in full color.
Special editions and showrooms
The "Dream in full color" program helped many initiatives achieve a distinctive design, which was implemented in films, stickers, displays and backdrops, as well as in numerous campaigns. In China, the Shanghai skyline shone in the design colors, while some locations presented the original concept with their own ideas through special editions and showrooms.
Jürgen Aigner: "It's not about selling cars, but about arousing feelings. The images we've created are open to interpretation and are meant to inspire people to write their own stories."
On the Website can use the artworks as desktop and mobile wallpapers download be
Ahead of its time On Giorgetto Giugiaro's 85th birthday, Bugatti is celebrating one of the designer's most important models, the Bugatti EB112. The car was considered one of the most sophisticated sedans in the world.
Editorial - August 8, 2023
Many critics praised the EB112 as the most beautiful sedan ever created.
When the Bugatti EB112 was presented at the Geneva Motor Show in 1993, an entirely new grand touring segment was born. Backed by the brand's tradition and equipped with the latest technology, the EB112 is a thoroughbred Bugatti that seamlessly combines performance and luxury.
Giorgetto Giugiaro (Center Gallery): "The EB112 features a number of nostalgic styling cues that reference the French brand's famous models from the late 1930s, but presented in a car with innovative mechanicals. The EB112 is a dream car in many ways."
Ideas for the new models
In many respects, the EB112 is now regarded as the spiritual predecessor of the Veyron and Chiron. Its front exudes the elegance that is now considered Bugatti's famous design DNA. The radiator grille, for example, laid the foundation for the grille that graced the Veyron ten years later, and the longitudinal rib that extends from the hood to the rear window is a stylistic allusion to the Bugatti Type 57 SC Atlantic. It was later revisited first on the Veyron and then on the Chiron. The timeless all-aluminum body of the EB112 concealed a carbon monocoque derived from the similarly advanced EB110 supercar.
V12 naturally aspirated engine with 60 valves
The powertrain was also groundbreaking. The 6-liter, 60-valve V12 engine was combined with a 6-speed manual transmission and sophisticated all-wheel drive. The naturally aspirated V12 engine produced 460 hp at 6300 rpm, and its maximum torque of 590 Nm was available from 3000 rpm. This made a top speed of 300 km/h possible, and the sprint from 0 to 100 km/h was achieved in just 4.3 seconds 100 km/h.
REVIEW The first weekend in August once again offered reason to cheer from a Swiss perspective. Especially at the hill climb Osnabrück. The podium was occupied by three Swiss!
Editorial - August 8, 2023
The successful trio Faustini, Steiner and Volluz on the podium.
Ricardo Feller remains the best-placed driver in the DTM to have scored points in every race so far (gallery, left). At the Nürburgring, at the halfway point of the 2023 DTM, the driver from Aargau also finished in the points in both races in fourth and sixth place respectively. This puts him in fourth place in the championship with 88 points - 29 points behind leader Thomas Preining.
Feller was not entirely satisfied with the result in the Eifel. In the second race, which Feller had started from pole position for the second time in his DTM career, he was able to defend his lead at the beginning but then fell back in the rain with flagging tires. For Patric Niederhauser, the second DTM Swiss, the weekend ended with a ninth-place finish in the first race. The Bernese retired in the second race.
First rookie win for Jasin Ferati
The Porsche Carrera Cup also reached its halfway point at the Nürburgring. And there was also a success story from a Swiss perspective. Jasin Ferati from Team Fach Auto Tech secured his first victory in the rookie classification in the first race. The picture gallery on the right shows him with team boss Alexander Fach.
Jasin Ferati, who just turned 20: "It's my first time on the rookie podium, and then right at the top - I could get used to that."
Marcel Steiner successful in Osnabrück
There was an all-Swiss podium at the 55th edition of the Osnabrück hill climb. Winner Marcel Steiner (LobArt-Honda/Helftec) laid the foundation for the overall victory with a fast first run in 52.073 sec. In the second, a 52.608 sec was enough for him to stand at the top of the overall score. Second place went to Joël Volluz in the Osella FA30 (1.1 seconds behind Steiner). Third place went to brand colleague Robin Faustini, who won the Hauenstein hill climb in a new record time a week ago, and lost 1.1 seconds to Volluz in the addition of both runs.
Joël Burgermeister not satisfied
Joël Burgermeister finished seventh overall in his Tatuus Formula 4. The Thurgau native was not satisfied with his first race run and had to admit defeat in his class (E2-SS up to 2000 cm3) to Italy's Federico Liber, who, like Joël Grand, pilots a Wolf Mistral GB08. Also at the start were Martin Bürki on the ex-Beiner BMW, Kyrill Graf (BMW M3) and Victor Darbellay (Tatuus Formula Renault).
Thierry Vermeulen in the points
Emil Frey Racing made its debut with the new Ferrari 296 GT3 last weekend at the DTM weekend at the Nürburgring (center photo). Unfortunately, the team experienced a roller coaster of emotions: while Dutchman Thierry Vermeulen was able to score points for the team in both races, his teammate Jack Aitken experienced a lot of bad luck and bitter disappointment. However, the difficulties the team had recently experienced with pit stops were eliminated and on both Saturday and Sunday they took the top position with the fastest pit stop.
Lorenz Frey-Hilti, Team Principal: "Jack always delivered a strong performance in qualifying. Thierry Vermeulen, on the other hand, had made his presence felt in the races with two top 10 finishes. Considering all the difficult circumstances we had to deal with, I'm still happy with the overall result. We were able to really fight for positions in a DTM race for the first time ever this year. "
Source: Auto Sport Switzerland Photos: myrally.ch, Archive Fach, ADAC, Emil Frey Racing motorsport.ch
VW: First photos of the Passat Variant
The new Volkswagen Passat Estate will celebrate its world premiere at the end of August. It is already the ninth generation of the very successful mid-size station wagon with a model history spanning more than 50 years.
Editorial - August 7, 2023
In the new model generation, the typical features of the Passat Estate are further optimized.
In developing the new Passat Estate, Volkswagen exploited the potential of the modular transverse matrix in its current development stage, known as MQB evo for short.
Kai Grünitz, Brand Board Member for Technical Development, explains: "In the new Passat, we have placed great emphasis on a high level of ride and travel comfort. This is ensured, among other things, by the increased wheelbase and the adaptive chassis control with 2-valve dampers. At the same time, our new display and control concept can be operated very intuitively, and the air-conditioned massage seats illustrate our premium standards in the interior."
Concept for displays and handling
The Passat Estate comes with a newly developed cockpit and new infotainment system. Sizes of 12.9 and 15 inches are available for the infotainment display. Underneath are backlit touch sliders that can be used to set functions such as the interior temperature and volume. With the head-up display, information is projected into the virtual space in front of the vehicle, and the steering wheel again gets buttons to make it even easier to operate.
Case volume of 1920 liters
The new edition of the Variant is significantly larger than its predecessor. This results in greater legroom and more trunk volume - 1920 liters with the rear seat folded down. The chassis has also been optimized. The four-link rear axle has become even more stable, and the electromechanical steering, stabilizers and dampers have also been adapted. The optional DCC Pro with 2-valve dampers reacts permanently to road characteristics and driving situations. The ideal damping is set for each wheel in fractions of a second.
Thanks to MQB evo, various drive types are used in the new model. There are turbo diesel engines, turbo gasoline engines, mild hybrid turbo gasoline engines (eTSI) and plug-in hybrid systems (eHybrid). AC charging is faster in all eHybrid versions, and DC fast charging is also available as standard for the first time.
WHERE YOU MEET At the Venice Film Festival, not only stars and starlets are in the spotlight, but also a car. The new Lexus LBX is the official vehicle of the "Biennale di Venezia".
Editorial - August 7, 2023
It is the manufacturer's smallest model to date and will be offered in the Swiss from January 2024. Other Lexus electrified models will also transport filmmakers, actors and celebrities during the festival from August 30 to September 9, 2023.
The following actors are expected on the red carpet
Zendaya ("Spider Man: No Way Home")
Mike Faist ("West Side Story")
Josh O'Connor ("The Crown")
Caroline Murino ("Casino Royale")
LBX stands for Lexus Breakthrough Crossover. It is a compact SUV.
Naomi Lareine is Ambassador
But that's not all: since August 1, Naomi Lareine (gallery center) has been part of the Lexus Switzerland team as an ambassador specifically for the launch of the LBX. Naomi Lareine is an ambitious, innovative, young artist. Her music inspires not only in Switzerland, but also internationally. Among other things, she was stormily celebrated by the audience at the Open Air Frauenfeld, the largest hip-hop festival in the world.
younger audience is target group
As an entry into Lexus' SUV portfolio, the LBX is intended to appeal primarily to a younger audience, but also to those who have never considered buying a Lexus before. It is intended to be an attractive proposition for those interested in switching to a smaller vehicle or driving a second car that meets their lifestyle demands.
Western Switzerland is in the lead
