The Grenadier has all the virtues that an expedition vehicle and workhorse (the off-roader is also available with N1 approval as a commercial vehicle) must have: a robust ladder frame, permanent all-wheel drive with off-road reduction (1:2.5), rigid axles and three locks that can be activated, namely in the center, front and rear. Added to this are numerous practice-oriented details such as side lashing rails, power connections on the roof rails and, as an extra, a cable winch hidden in the front bumper - homologated, of course.

Diesel or gasoline engine to choice

Under the hood is a BMW 3-liter six-cylinder engine, either a diesel (249 hp, 550 Nm) or a gasoline engine (286 hp, 450 Nm), always coupled with a smooth-shifting eight-speed automatic from ZF. The cockpit with switch panels in the center console and headliner is impressive - it would make any airplane pilot jealous. Various assistance systems (also) ensure safety off-road and enable even off-road novices to negotiate tricky passages without any problems.

Best values in every situation

And because good climbing properties were at the top of Ineos' to-do list, the Grenadier doesn't show any signs of weakness. Its rigid axles allow wild entanglements thanks to suspension travel of almost 60 centimeters. Ground clearance, water resistance, and whatever else - the off-roader built at the former Smart plant in Hambach achieves top values everywhere.

Off the tarmac, it's probably one of the best of the road-legal vehicles, and on the road you won't feel out of place with it. As the legitimate successor to the old Defender, the newcomer cuts a fine figure with its tangible, modern character.

At the start pick-up and delivery service

The sales partner in Switzerland is Hedin Automotive, known through several BMW dealerships. There is a flagship store for the Grenadier in Diesldorf, and until the distribution network is established, pick-up-and-delivery service applies. The entry-level Grenadier starts at 70,990 francs.

hedinautomotive.ch

As part of the factory deployment of the rally car, Dacia draws on its own technical expertise, and also on the British motorsport and engineering company Prodrive for the development for the T1+ category. Dacia's race cars run on synthetic fuel. Nine-time French rally world champion Sébastien Loeb and Spanish rally driver Cristina Gutiérrez Herrero will also officially drive for Dacia during the 2024 test phase.

Test of endurance and robustness

Dacia will participate as a manufacturer in the World Rally Raid Championship in the T1+ vehicle category from 2025 as part of the factory entry. The highlight of the racing series is the Dakar Rally, which is regarded as the ultimate test of endurance and robustness for man and material (see gallery). The Dakar is a motorsport adventure that has brought together more than 60 nationalities and 500 racers in a unique competition every year for a good 40 years.

More than 5000 kilometers distance

The extreme conditions over the distance of more than 5,000 kilometers at the Dakar Rally place enormous stress on the material, making robust technology essential. The technical focus of the rally prototypes with all-wheel drive will be on the essentials, just as it is for the road vehicles. In addition, the use of synthetic fuel from Aramco shows that motorsport commitment can also be implemented in an environmentally conscious manner.

Experienced driver duo at the start

Prodrive has been competing in the World Rally Raid Championship race series and the Dakar Rally with its own racing vehicles since 2020. In 2022 and 2023, the company finished second overall with Sébastien Loeb, who is now part of the new Dacia team.

Rally driver Cristina Gutierrez Herrero is the first Spanish woman to finish the Dakar Rally. The 31-year-old has already competed in seven Dakar rallies between 2017 and 2023, and the 49-year-old Loeb won the FIA Rally World Championship nine times in a row from 2004 to 2012.

dacia.ch

The official champions of national online motorsport will continue to be determined in the digital Porsche one-make cup. The new, fifth season kicks off with the start of qualifying on July 5. The live final will take place at Auto Zürich on November 4.

In the new season, the reigning champion of the Pro category, Leonard Heidegger (22, Geneva), will attempt to defend his title. This year, the winning pro driver will also get the chance to represent Switzerland at the FIA Motorsport Games.

Hotlap format returns

Last season, the Porsche Esports Carrera Cup Suisse determined the year's best over several championship races. In 2023, qualification for the final will once again take place via individual time trials in hotlap format. During Qualification 1 - both online and in the Race-Centers.com simracing centers - participants can set unlimited lap times...

Four categories will be started

Requirements for a start in the Porsche Esports Carrera Cup Suisse are a Swiss residence or Swiss citizenship, a minimum age of 15 years and a minimum height of 1.55 meters. In the professionally equipped simracing centers, the entry fee per qualification is 40 Swiss francs. Registrations can be made online,. This year, 70 participants will contest the finals at Auto Zürich in the Pro, Ladies and Ü45 categories, plus a Rookie classification for all starters under the age of 18.

Furthermore, the champion of the Pro category gets the chance to represent Switzerland at the FIA Motorsport Games. They are the multisport motorsport event of the World Automobile Association. All champions will also receive prizes in kind.

... here you can qualify

• July 5 to September 9: Qualification 1, online and in various simracing centers.
• September 23: Qualification 2 in various simracing centers
• October 7: Qualification 3 in various simracing centers
• October 21: Qualification 4 in various simracing centers
• November 2 - 3: Qualification 5 at Auto Zurich
• November 4: Final at Auto Zürich Simracing

porsche.ch
simracingseries.ch

30 years ago, Mercedes-Benz equipped the G-Class with an eight-cylinder engine for the first time. The 500 GE V8 made its debut in 1993 in a small series. Mercedes is now celebrating its 30th birthday with the Final Edition, a special model with a V8 biturbo engine available in three color variants, each limited to 500 units. The choices are Obsidian black, Opalite white and Olive magno.

V8 biturbo engine produces 421 hp

The Final Edition is powered by a 4-liter V8 with 421 hp and receives 20-inch AMG light-alloy wheels in a double-spoke design, which are painted in body color and gloss-turned in combination with the Olive magno Manufaktur paint. For the other variants they are finished in black and have a high-gloss finish

Emmerich Schiller, Chairman and Managing Director of Mercedes-Benz G GmbH and Head of the Off-Road Vehicle Product Division: "With its exclusive equipment details, the limited special model is a fitting farewell gift from the V8 biturbo engine in the G 500."

Full leather package from the manufacture

The special model features Final Edition lettering from the exterior protective strip to the inlay on the spare wheel cover. Door knobs with embossed logos as part of the Manufaktur logo package complete the appearance of the final series. Final Edition buyers also receive an indoor car cover with "Stronger than time" lettering to protect the vehicle from dust and scratches.

The Final Edition is exclusively equipped with the new Manufaktur full leather package, which is perfectly matched to the respective paint finish. From the luggage compartment to the headliner and the trim on the seat adjustment switches, almost the entire interior is covered in nappa leather. The Final Edition of the G 500 can be ordered now at a price of 196,350 euros.

mercedes-benz.ch

Ferrari has drawn on the experience gained from series and special model development to put a very special special edition on the wheels. It is based on the concept of the XX program and turns it into a road-legal XX: the SF90 XX Stradale.

Its maximum system output has been increased by 22 additional kilowatts (30 hp) to 758 kW (1030 hp). All four wheels are driven by a plug-in hybrid system with a 4-liter V8 turbo (804 Nm, 586 hp) and three electric motors (171 kW, 233 hp). Two electric motors drive the front wheels, while one is positioned between the V8 and the transmission at the rear.

Aerodynamics perfection

Specific software logic and radically new aerodynamic solutions further distinguish the street-XX. For the first time since the days of the F50, a fixed rear wing is again used on a road model from Maranello. At 250 km/h, this generates downforce of 530 kilograms. The open-top SF90 XX Spider benefits from the same sophisticated aero solutions as the SF90 XX Stradale as well as an airflow management system around the cockpit that improves comfort for passengers with the top down.

Exceptional driving performance

Since the new models weigh in at just 1560 and 1660 kilograms (Spider) respectively, and these weights are distributed in a ratio of 44:56 between the front and rear axles, the SF 90 XX is ready for exceptional performance. It accelerates to 100 km/h in 2.3 seconds, and the top speed is 320 km/h. The 7.9 kWh battery enables a purely electric range of 25 kilometers.

The production run of the new XX models is limited. The SF90 XX Stradale will be built in 799 units, the Spider in 599, and prices will be around 800,000 euros.

ferrari.com

In Hanover, northern Germany, where the buses are built, the VW Bus Festival took place this year. 6,000 VW Bullis and their passengers transformed the exhibition grounds into a huge camping site. A total of 80,000 guests visited the various exhibitions and concerts.

Concert Fulfillment of a dream

To kick things off, musician and snowboard pro Pat Birgener was featured in the film #BULLILOVEstories, which celebrated its world premiere. Then Pat Burgener rolled onto the main stage himself with his ID.Buzz. The Lausanne native presented the songs from his recently released album and encouraged the audience to dance and sing along.

Pat Burgener: "This concert was a dream come true for me. I've never played on a bigger stage, and there were so many good-humored people in the audience."

Hotel room with panoramic roof

The Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles Switzerland ambassador arrived in his own ID.Buzz, which also serves as a mobile hotel room when he travels. In addition to suitcases, his luggage included a comfortable mattress, his guitar, of course, and a surfboard. Equipped in this way, he spent the night at the Bulli Camp just like all the other 13,000 fans of the cult vehicle who were on site with their buses.

Pat Burgener's comment on the long-wheelbase ID.Buzz: "Its length is perfect. The huge panoramic roof, which can be darkened at the touch of a button, makes sleeping in the bus even more comfortable."

volkswagen-nutzfahrzeuge.ch

The Techart GT street R virtual car model for Assetto Corsa faithfully reproduces every line and contour of the aero kit, as well as the luxurious interior, for a high level of realism. From the impressive handling of the 800 hp and 950 Nm GT street R with a top speed of more than 350 km/h to the active aerodynamics, every aspect has been tuned for a realistic driving experience and many hours of gaming fun.

Eye-catcher on the race track

Simracers also have the option of choosing from a wide range of color variants and vehicle configurations inspired by their now sold-out real-life counterparts. With a striking aero kit in visible carbon as well as Techart Formula VI Race forged wheels and carbon aero rings, the Techart-refined vehicle model is an eye-catcher on any virtual race track.

The Techart GT street R vehicle mod for the PC version of Assetto Corsa is available immediately as free download at gtstreetr.techart.com available.

techart.com

With this meeting, people in Lucerne have the unique opportunity to get a comprehensive picture of this much-loved cultural asset on wheels. In groups of 25 to 30 vehicles, the four-wheeled contemporary witnesses drove in a rally to Lucerne to the Museum of Transport, the center of mobility history. The crowning glory was a trip over the Brünig and Susten passes on to Andermatt.

Living automotive history

The ACS, which has been representing the interests of motorists and living the automotive passion for 125 years, has organized this get-together of young and classic cars for its big birthday. That 125 vehicles with the vintages 1938 to 2003 meet in one place is unique.

With a 2003 vintage, a Maserati Spyder was the youngest vehicle in the Corso. A real veteran, with vintage 1938 the oldest vehicle, was a BMW 328. All 125 vehicles are witnesses of automotive contemporary history - also there to evoke childhood memories in many participants.

There is a future with synfuels

The owners of these precious automobiles are very concerned that they should be able to continue to drive their vehicles in the future and still be considerate of the environment. That's why some of them already run on synthetic fuel that emits virtually no CO₂-neutral. Synfuel is the fuel that will allow classic cars to be driven on our roads without any problems in the future. Interesting details on this topic could be learned at the booth of Horag Future Energy, a pioneer in this field, which offers the synthetic fuel P1.

acs.ch

Those who have not owned their electric car for long should get to know it first. This can be done by trying out various apps for planning and activating charging stations in one's own area. Likewise, one should familiarize oneself with different charging networks.

Early planning of charging stops reduces the risk of a stressful situation during the journey. An app can be used to prepare route planning, find suitable and free charging stations, and make payments.

The TCS eCharge app has 256,000 charging points in Switzerland and Europe. Accordingly, accounts must be created and the corresponding charging cards ordered well in advance of the trip.

The loading speed is important

When traveling, the charging speed is decisive. At low or very high temperatures, the charging power is reduced by the battery management system in the car. Before leaving the highway, the TCS recommends filling up the battery again at a fast charger.

Often, only AC charging stations can be found at tourist destinations. There, a full charge may take several hours. A mobile charger such as the Juice Booster is recommended. It can be used to charge at all kinds of outlets because the electronics prevent overloading the grid. However, the charging speed is low.

20/80 rule must be observed

The remaining range should not fall below 20 percent, and driving can continue at 80 percent charge. In electromobility, neither cash nor credit card is needed. Payment works via the app, charging card or QR code.

Compared to 120 km/h, 100 km/h reduces power consumption by around 30 percent. You often travel faster if you drive more quietly and have to charge less often.

tcs.ch

Who is interested in public viewing and a Switzerland-wide team race parallel to the real 24-hour race of Spa-Francorchamps? On the occasion of the opening of the Driving Center Sennwald, you drive the simrace 12h of Spa on July 1 and enjoy the day-night change as well as your own broadcast of the virtual race. You race against teams from other simulator centers and you can test the new cars for the endurance races of the coming season.

Here racers quickly get in touch

Carpooling is available at the following addresses, which are best contacted directly:

• Autovirtuell in Romanshorn
• ASSR anti-skid school in Regensdorf
• Driving Center Sennwald
• Pole Position Lounge in Steinhausen
• Racing Lounge in Pratteln
• Racing Fuel Academy Dietlikon
• Racing Fuel Academy Horgen

Qualifying starts at 8:37 a.m., race start is at 9 a.m., race end is at 9:05 p.m.

racingfuel.biz