STILL FULL OF SAFT The Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 Super Sport once again wins the Mille Miglia classic car rally. Last year's winners Andrea Vesco and Fabio Salvinelli leave around 400 teams in vehicles built between 1927 and 1957 behind them.
Editorial - 21 June 2023
In the Mille Miglia, held from 1927 to 1957 as the most demanding road race in the world, Alfa Romeo was the most successful brand with eleven victories. Today, the 1000-mile tour is run as a classic car rally - and the winners still often drive an Alfa Romeo. In the latest edition, Italians Andrea Vesco and Fabio Salvinelli repeated their success from the previous year. On the route from Brescia near Lake Garda to the national capital of Rome and back, they once again left the 400 or so competitors behind them in the 1929 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 Super Sport.
The winning car Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 Super Sport with the same crew as last year.
Winning duo always drove in time
The celebrity team with actor Tom Wlaschiha and journalist Nina Weizenecker took a remarkable 204th place for Mille Miglia newcomers. The two took on the challenge of the 144 timings in the 1954 Alfa Romeo 2000 Sportiva. In the Mille Miglia target time event, teams have to cover a certain distance exactly in a set time. Deviations are measured to the hundredth of a second. The winning duo rarely missed the ideal time by more than a tenth of a second with the Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 Super Sport.
Models like the original race
As usual, only vehicles of the types that took part in the original road race were admitted to the 41st Mille Miglia Storico. Tom Wlaschiha and Nina Weizenecker's Alfa Romeo 2000 Sportiva was built only four times in 1954, two coupés and two spiders. The Mille Miglia vehicle of the two Germans, which has around 138 hp, comes from the Stellantis Heritage collection and can normally be admired in the Alfa Romeo factory museum in Arese near Milan.
LANGUAGE CONTROL Chat GPT via Microsoft Azure Open AI is now offered by Mercedes-Benz for models with MBUX for customers in the USA. However, the carmaker retains control over all IT processes and data.
Editorial - 21 June 2023
U.S. customers are testing the use of artificial intelligence in Mercedes models.
Mercedes-Benz is further expanding the use of artificial intelligence and integrating it into the voice control of the vehicles as the next step. With the help of Chat GPT, voice control is to become even more intuitive when Hey Mercedes calls up the MBUX voice assistant. A beta phase starts today for customers in the U.S. whose model series are equipped with the MBUX infotainment system. That's more than 900,000 vehicles.
Beta program over the air
Interested parties are instructed on how to use it via the Mercedes me app or directly from the vehicle. To participate, you tell the vehicle, "Hey Mercedes, I want to join the beta program." The introduction to the beta program is done over the air. Mercedes-Benz integrates Chat GPT via Azure Open AI Service, leveraging the capabilities of the Microsoft cloud and AI platform.
Intuitive voice control
Mercedes-Benz has already set industry standards in the past with its MBUX voice assistant. Chat GPT now complements this intuitive voice control via Hey Mercedes. While most voice assistants are limited to predefined tasks and responses, Chat GPT uses a Large Language Model. This improves the understanding of natural language and increases the variety of topics. The vehicle reproduces all information by voice, so the driver's gaze can always be focused on the traffic situation.
Data protection guaranteed
The basis for the integration of Chat GPT is a cooperation with Microsoft. Via Azure Open AI Service, Mercedes uses the generative AI models of Open AI in combination with first-class security and data protection features of Azure. Mercedes has sovereignty over IT processes at all times. The testers' voice inputs are stored, anonymized and analyzed in the Intelligent Cloud. The system is to be continuously improved for the benefit of all customers.
ACTION Porsche donates a total of 911,000 euros to three charitable institutions. To mark its 75th anniversary, the manufacturer initiated a fundraising campaign at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Editorial - 20 June 2023
Jürgen Hermann Dolderer, Rémy Zilliox (Founder Interplast France), Michael Steiner, Friedhelm Beyersdorf and Johannes Kroll (Vice Chairman Kinderherzen retten e. V.).
For each of the race laps completed by the three factory Porsche 963s, 750 euros went into a special pot to benefit the Racing for Charity campaign. The Porsche Penske Motorsport hybrid prototypes completed a total of 733 laps at the 100th anniversary of the endurance event. Porsche is increasing the resulting donation of 549,750 euros to 911,000 euros to mark its anniversary.
The money will benefit three charitable organizations. The associations Kinderherzen retten and Interplast Germany will each receive 350,000 euros from the campaign's special pot. The money will be used to help sick children from developing and crisis regions. The remaining 211,000 euro will go to the Ferry Porsche Foundation, which was established in May 2018 to mark the 70th anniversary of the Porsche brand.
Corporate responsibility
Michael Steiner, Member of the Executive Board of Porsche AG, Research and Development: "Porsche is once again facing up to its social responsibility as a company. Now, with the Racing for Charity initiative, we have successfully implemented this maxim in motorsport for the first time."
The day before the start of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the organizer Automobile Club de l'Ouest awarded the Racing for Charity campaign with the first place Sustainable Endurance Award.
Support for 400 projects
Both Friedhelm Beyersdorf, founder of Kinderherzen retten e. V., and Jürgen Hermann Dolderer, board member of Interplast Germany e. V., were honored and thanked the sports car manufacturer for the donation.
Sebastian Rudolph, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Ferry Porsche Foundation: "We are delighted that the Ferry Porsche Foundation has been included as a donation recipient for the campaign. Through our work, we have already been able to support more than 400 projects and organizations in their charitable endeavors."
La Roche hill climb: Berguerand's answer to Hemberg
REVANCHE In the second round of the Swiss mountain championship in La Roche, Eric Berguerands celebrated the day's victory. Last year's champion was once again in a class of his own in Fribourg.
The opening race of the Swiss Mountain Championship in Hemberg was a clear affair for Marcel Steiner. In the second run from La Roche to La Berra, last year's champion Eric Berguerand re-established the pecking order. And how! The 44-year-old from Valais was fastest in all three runs and, adding up the two best runs, secured the day's victory with a lead of 2.8 seconds. He also set a new track record of 1:39.128 minutes. As in Hemberg, the fastest touring car driver was Roger Schnellmann.
Driving at a high level
Eric Berguerand: "I didn't have a clear head in Hemberg, which is why the mistake happened to me. But I stayed calm and things went much better again in La Roche. I put on fresh tires in the first run and knew from Saturday's training results that I was well prepared. I had expected before the season that the track record would fall at Hemberg. The fact that an improvement in times was also possible in La Roche shows what a high level we're racing at."
In the battle for second place, Steiner beat Robin Faustini by a razor-thin margin of four hundredths of a second. The latter had the advantage on his side after the second run, but narrowly missed out on a good starting position. Synfuel driver Steiner in his LobArt-Honda/Helftec came under pressure after the second run. The Oberdiessbach native had to abort because the charge air hose on his E2 sports car had slipped "and I had no more power." The Hemberg winner cut his teeth on Berguerand.
Joël Volluz was three seconds short
Behind the top three, returnee Joël Volluz secured fourth place overall in his Osella FA30. In the addition of the two fastest runs, the man from the Valais was just under three seconds off the podium. Thomas Amweg, in fifth place overall, also failed to come close to the top 3 in La Roche. The man from Aargau still lacks performance as well as driving experience in the Reynard 95D.
Three times under 1:50 minutes was only one more: Joël Burgermeister. The Thurgau native managed another strong weekend in the single-seater race cars up to 2000 cm3. With another victory, the driver of the Tatuus F4 also set a new class record. This time he clearly distanced his direct competitors Philip Egli in the Dallara F3 (second) and Marcel Maurer in the Renault 2.0 (third). Fourth place in this discipline went to Joël Grand, who had taken his seat for the first time in the Wolf GB08 F1 Mistral, and with an overall time of 3:45.136 min, held his own in tenth place ahead of the fastest touring car driver Roger Schnellmann.
In the battle for the IS stage win, there was a rematch between Bruno Sawatzki and Frédéric Neff. The two Porsche drivers gave each other no quarter and drove all their runs between 1:58.0 and 1:58.4 min. As in Hemberg, Sawatzki was ahead in the end. As Neff's Porsche requires further technical clarification after the event (keyword: air duct for engine cooling), his placing is not yet definitive. Third place in the Interswiss over 3000 cm3 went to Martin Oliver Bürki on BMW E33. The Bernese will race for the Swiss slalom title in Chamblon this weekend.
Patrick Flammer is winner again
Other class winners at La Roche included: Bruno Ianniello (Lancia Delta S4, E1 to 3500 cm3), Benoît Farine (Honda CRX, E1 to 3000 cm3), Sébastien Coquoz (Opel Kadett GTE, E1 to 2000 cm3), Martin Bürki (VW Polo, E1 to 1600 cm3), Ferdi Waldvogel (BMW M3 E30, IS to 2500 cm3), Stephan Burri (VW Scirocco, IS to 2000 cm3), Christophe Oulevay (VW Scirocco, IS to 1600 cm3) and Stefan Schöpfer (Audi 50, IS to1400 cm3).
Victory in the TCR went to Patrick Flammer, as in Hemberg. There was also a repeat offender in the Renault Classic Cup: Thomas Zürcher prevailed over Michael Schläpfer and Maverick Gerber. Simon Wüthrich (E1 up to 3500 cm3) suffered a retirement. The driver from Langnau, who like Steiner runs on synfuel, retired with damage to the drive shaft.
DYNAMIC With the Rafale, Renault is bringing a breath of fresh air to the D segment in spring 2024. The SUV coupé is the brand's first production model to be designed entirely in line with the new design language.
Editorial - 20 June 2023
The Renault Rafale, whose name comes from Renault's aviation heritage in the 1930s, will appear on the market in spring 2024 as an e-tech full hybrid. Two variants are planned for the time being: a front-wheel-drive version with a three-cylinder gasoline engine and two electric motors and a system output of 146 kW (200 hp) and a 4×4 version with 220 kW (300 hp).
The Rafale complements the SUV range launched with the new Espace. The SUV coupé also shares the CMF-CD Alliance platform with the Espace. With up to 32 driver assistance systems and all-wheel steering, the safety reserves are further expanded.
The Rafale will complement Renault's mid-size SUV model range from 2024.
Interactive glass roof without blind
Impact protection elements around the vehicle, increased ground clearance, 20-inch wheels and the distinctive shoulder section ensure a robust SUV appearance. The seat upholstery is covered with Alcantara Revolution, a textile material made mostly from recycled materials.
The Solarbay panoramic glass roof with active coating does not require a roller blind. If necessary, it darkens in seconds. You can choose between four transparency variants. The glass roof can be operated by voice control. The top Esprit Alpine equipment line offers another highlight: the Alpine logo in the seat backs lights up and flashes in time with a beating heart.
Enough space for five people
With a length of 4.71 meters and a height of 1.61 meters, the Rafale offers a good ratio of exterior dimensions to interior size. Legroom and headroom are generous for five people, and there is also plenty of space for luggage with a trunk capacity of 647 liters. Like its sister models Austral and Espace, the Rafale is produced at the Palencia plant in Spain.
AND IT CONTINUES At the Grauholz Süd service station, hydrogen can be refueled directly on the highway from Bern to Zurich. The filling station is the fifteenth station for H2 in Switzerland.
Editorial - 19 June 2023
The first H2 filling station on a highway is in operation in Grauholz.
Around 48 trucks and 240 passenger cars with fuel cell electric drives are currently on the road in Switzerland. For them, there is now also a refueling opportunity directly on a highway in Switzerland. Socar Energy Switzerland, a subsidiary of the state energy company of the Republic of Azerbaijan and a member of the H2 Mobility Switzerland association, is working with other companies to promote the development of a nationwide hydrogen filling station network.
Astra Director Jürg Röthlisberger: "The future of transport is more sustainable and safer. The phase-out of fossil fuels and rapid decarbonization are necessary. And everyone can contribute to this with their own behavior."
More than 60,000 refuelings so far
The filling station can provide up to 600 kilograms of green hydrogen per day thanks to Hydrospider's container loads. According to René Himmelstein of Maximator Hydrogen, more than 60,000 refuelings of trucks or passenger cars with fuel cell drive systems have been carried out throughout Switzerland to date.
René Himmelstein: "In Switzerland, over 610 tons of hydrogen have already been refueled in this way. As a fleet, the 48 hydrogen trucks drove around 12,000 kilometers per day."
UNWOODED The second model from the Italian electric car manufacturer Aehra displays unconventional proportions. Lightweight composite materials enable a technical design with almost no limits.
Editorial - 19 June 2023
The Aehra Sedan, unveiled at the Milano Monza Motor Show, immediately follows the first model - an SUV presented at the end of 2022. Designed by design chief Filippo Perini, the sedan is based on the same flexible platform as the SUV model and was developed together with its sister model. Nevertheless, it differs significantly in character.
The Aehra sedan is exceptional in both design and technology.
Range of 800 kilometers
Viewed from the side, the car displays an uninterrupted flowing line. The design team refrained from creating edges and instead emphasized the model's character through the use of light reflections. At the front, technical elements such as active aerodynamics and cooling elements are grouped at the bottom of the car. Combined with a customized battery solution developed in collaboration with Miba Battery Systems, the Aehra Sedan and SUV are designed for optimum efficiency and a range of 800 kilometers.
Changed experience for customers
The car not only exudes beauty and elegance, but also conveys power, dynamism and energy. With the Sedan, as with the SUV, Aehra's determination to fundamentally change the customer experience and transform the electric mobility ecosystem is evident. Materials normally only used in the super and hyper sports car sector allow Aehra to push the boundaries of engineering design far beyond anything previously known in the passenger car sector.
However, the first customer deliveries of the two models will not take place until 2026. The final production variants will then look virtually unchanged from the models presented.
Geneva Motor Show: Alexandre de Senarclens new president
CHANGE The members of the Comité permanent du Salon international de l'automobile de Genève Foundation have elected Alexandre de Senarclens as the new president, succeeding Maurice Turrettini.
Editorial - 18 June 2023
General Manager Sandro Mesquita (left) and Alexandre de Senarclens.
Alexandre de Senarclens was born in Geneva in 1975. He holds a licentiate in law from the University of Fribourg and a master's degree in law from Georgetown University in Washington D.C.. He has been a partner in a law firm in Geneva since 2010. Parallel to his legal career, he has been politically active in the Geneva FDP since 2003, of which he was president from 2015 to 2019. Today, he sits as a member of the Grand Council in Geneva. De Senarclens will take office on July 1, 2023.
Sandro Mesquita, Director General GIMS: "Alexandre de Senarclens not only has a large national network and international experience, but also extensive political experience."
First Doha, then Geneva comeback
Andreas Burgener, Director auto-schweiz: "Swiss importers support the GIMS and its President in this promising market environment. The platform of the Geneva show serves the interests of the entire industry, which is characterized by its innovative strength."
The first edition of the Geneva International Motor Show Qatar will be held in Doha from October 5 to 14, 2023. During these ten days, the automobile will be celebrated. From Monday, February 26 to Sunday, March 3, 2024, the Geneva Motor Show will then celebrate its comeback and 100th anniversary as a prestigious international event.
Alexandre de Senarclens: "It is a great honor for me to assume the presidency of such an important event, which makes a significant contribution to Geneva's international reputation. The importance of this event for the regional economy and the Swiss automotive sector is very great."
WHERE YOU MEET Dacia is supporting the UTMB World Series again this year. The automotive brand will be the official technical and automotive partner at the European and African events of the trail running series.
Editorial - 18 June 2023
The UTMB World Series offers runners from all over the world the opportunity to compete in trail running events in the most spectacular places on earth. Dacia has supported the running series since its beginnings in 2022, among other things with vehicles for logistics.
UTMB World Series automotive partner Dacia will also present current models at the events.
Running Stones for the Best
The UTMB calendar for the current year includes 35 events in Europe, Africa, Asia, America and Oceania. Depending on the event, participants compete in up to four categories: over 20, 50 and 100 kilometers as well as over 100 miles (161 kilometers). In the process, they have to overcome up to 11,000 meters of altitude.
The principle of partial autonomy applies to the runners, which means that they carry mandatory equipment and receive support only at official stations. Upon arrival at the finish line, the best runners receive so-called Running Stones. These stones serve as a lottery ticket in the allocation of starting places for the final on Mont Blanc.
Three starts in Switzerland
After the kick-off in Croatia, runs will follow throughout Europe in the further course of the season. In Switzerland, the UTMB World Series will make guest appearances in the summer at the Trail Verbier St. Bernard in Verbier (July 7 to 9), the Eiger Ultra Trail in Grindelwald (July 12 to 16) and the Wildstrubel in Crans-Montana (September 14 to 17). Dacia will be present at all three venues to support the local organizers and will also be presenting a selection of its latest vehicles in the Village - including the Dacia Jogger Hybrid 140 in the Extreme version with the In Nature Sleep Pack. At the Wildstrubel event, Dacia Switzerland will also be at the start of the Wild 25 run with its own team.
STREET ART SPORT Roger Federer and Mercedes-Benz open a tennis court in London designed by internationally renowned street art duo Low Bros. The court, which can be played on by the public, is part of the Neon Legacy initiative.
Editorial - 17 June 2023
To mark Roger Federer's retirement from active sport in September 2022, a neon yellow Mercedes AMG GT 63 S E Performance was auctioned off to raise money for the renovation of public tennis courts in London's Royal Borough of Greenwich (AutoSprintCH reported). The street court at Bostall Gardens was selected as a lighthouse project and not only received a complete renovation, but also a special design.
Bettina Fetzer, Head of Communications and Marketing Mercedes-Benz, Roger Federer and the Berlin artists Christoph and Florin Schmidt.
Center of the community facility
The colorful tennis court consists of two courts and is designed to promote public tennis. Designed by the Berlin street art duo Low Bros, Christoph and Florin Schmidt, in a retro-futuristic style and realized in collaboration with local artists, the court makes a visible statement far beyond the city and state borders. The result is a work of art that not only visually blends into its surroundings, but also fulfills its original purpose as a tennis court. The street courts, which can be played on without membership, are the focal point of the community facility.
Transformation into a cheerful place
Roger Federer: "It has always been my goal to give back to the next generation of tennis players. That's why I'm grateful to be a partner of Mercedes-Benz and the Neon Legacy initiative, which has not only renovated this tennis facility, but transformed it into a beautiful and joyful place for everyone."
The central components of the Streetcourt in London are the floral motifs inspired by the name of the facility, Bostall Gardens, and 3-D elements of the tennis court symbolizing open windows on a computer desktop.
