The winter months are easier to get through with the anticipation of extraordinary driving experiences in a classic. Anyone who wants to buy a young or classic car for the coming season is likely to find what they are looking for at the auction in Gstaad on December 29 from 4 p.m. onwards. After a year's forced break, around 45 selected vehicles will be on offer in the festival tent at the Classic Car Auction of the Oldtimer-Galerie Toffen.

Classic on four or two wheels
Besides Alfa Romeos, Ferraris, Jaguars, Lancias, Bugattis, Porsches and many other models are offered. Some motorcycles are also looking for a new owner. Price inquiries are possible via the website. In addition, registrations are still being accepted in Gstaad.

The vehicles can be viewed on Tuesday, December 28, between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. and on Wednesday, December 29, from 10 a.m. until the start of the auction in the Festival Tent Gstaad. Many are also already in Toffen and can be viewed there by appointment.

There is also a comprehensive overview of the vehicles on offer on the website. The entrance fee is 20 francs, together with the catalog 40 francs.

theswissauctioneers.swiss

The condition of the battery plays an important role in electrified used cars.

The ACS (Automobile Club of Switzerland) and the Austrian battery diagnostics expert Aviloo will be working together in the future. They want to give buyers and sellers of used electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles in Switzerland and Liechtenstein the opportunity to have the vehicle battery professionally tested for performance.

Drive battery condition diagnostics
When buying or selling a used electrified car, the condition of the battery plays a crucial role, as replacement can account for up to 50 percent of the vehicle's value. The ACS's new service is based on a test procedure developed by the high-tech startup Aviloo, which enables condition diagnosis of traction batteries across manufacturers.

Through the Aviloo-ACS certificate, which is sent by e-mail within two working days after the test drive, the buyer or seller knows exactly about the condition of the traction battery.

ACS members benefit from special conditions.

acs.ch/aviloo

Two things are necessary for the rapid spread of electromobility: affordable cars and a readily available and easy-to-use charging infrastructure.

Juice Technology AG, manufacturer of mobile charging stations for electric vehicles, is therefore expanding its partnership with Hyundai Switzerland. Juice charging stations are now officially integrated in the configurator of Hyundai Switzerland and also available via the accessories page of Hyundai.

An all-round carefree package for the launch
The Kona Electric models, which are successful in Switzerland, the plug-in hybrid variants of the Ioniq, Tucson and Santa Fe, as well as the Ioniq Electric and the Ioniq 5 can be directly configured with Juice Booster 2, Juice Charger 2 and Juice Phaser. Together with the corresponding adapters and accessories, EV drivers get an all-round carefree package right from the start that enables long ranges and fast charging.

Christoph Erni, CEO of Juice Technology AG: "Hyundai customers now have direct access to the ideal charging solution that is tailored to their needs, technically at the highest level and extremely user-friendly."

However, as a full-range supplier with mobile and fixed AC and DC charging stations and charging accelerators on offer, Juice has the right equipment for every available and new e-car coming onto the market.

Charge anywhere and then pay conveniently
With the Juice Booster 2, Hyundai customers now also have a mobile wallbox at their fingertips when buying a car, which can be connected to any conventional socket thanks to extensive adapter sets.

Charger 2 also provides a charging station for public areas, where payment can be made conveniently with a credit card rather than just a charging card. The offer is rounded off by a charging accelerator for all single-phase charging cars.

juice-technology.com

A more precise response is made possible by the dynamic steering system available for the first time on the R8.

The new rear-wheel drive Audi R8 V10 Performance represents an attractive alternative to the Quattro variant.

Steffen Bamberger, Head of Technical Development Audi Sport GmbH: "With its rear-wheel drive derived from the LMS GT4 race car and its unfiltered dynamics, the Audi R8 V10 RWD now comes with 30 hp and ten Newton meters more and takes driving pleasure to a new level."

Free-sucking 5.2-liter V10 engine with 570 hp
The heart of the newcomer, which can be ordered as a coupe or a convertible, is the naturally aspirated 5.2-liter V10 engine, which not only boasts an incomparable sound and ultra-fast response, but also tremendous revving power.

In the new R8 version, the power unit produces 570 hp at 7800 rpm and 550 Nm of torque at 6400 rpm, which is transmitted to the rear wheels via a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic.

Sprint from zero to 100 km/h in 3.7 seconds
As with all R8s, the body is built using the space-frame design of aluminum and, to a large extent, carbon fiber-reinforced plastic. As a result, the Coupé weighs a modest 1590 kilograms, the Spyder version 1695 kilograms.

The driving performance is correspondingly impressive: The car can be catapulted from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.7 seconds and reaches a top speed of 329 km/h.

Thanks to new technology highlights such as bucket seats, dynamic steering, CFRP stabilizer and optional ceramic brakes, the driving experience of the new edition is even more impressive.

New dynamic steering and axle load distribution
The chassis and driving dynamics setup is specially adapted to the rear-wheel drive concept. When the ESC driving dynamics control system is operating in Sport mode, the setup and control systems allow controlled drifts.

The dynamic steering system, available for the first time for the rear-wheel-drive R8, enables an even more precise response, and the axle load distribution of 40:60 is perfect for driving dynamics. Particularly lightweight 19- and 20-inch cast aluminum wheels ensure precise handling and great directional stability in fast cornering sections.

As an alternative to the 18-inch steel brake system, a 19-inch ceramic brake system is available. The new R8 variants are manufactured at the Böllinger Höfe plant in Neckarsulm.

Prices start at 157,700 francs.

audi.ch

The Abarth 595 is a residual value giant. This is the conclusion of the latest edition of the "Residual Value Forecast," which the expert organization bähr & fess forecasts every six months for Focus Online.

Selling price above average
For the first half of 2025, the analysis expects that an Abarth 595 then four years old will fetch an above-average sales price of 53.5 percent of new value when sold.

This forecast not only puts the model at the top of its class, but also ranks it among the best in the field of all vehicles on offer. The Abarth 595 therefore appears to be a real residual value giant.

abarth.ch

Under the motto "The garage owner - a brand in its own right", the question of how the garage owner can position himself even more strongly as his own brand, regardless of whether he represents one or more brands or is brand-independent, will be discussed in the Kursaal in Bern on January 18, 2022.

The personal relationship with its customers, complemented by a service orientation adapted to the customer as a fundamental attitude, will continue to be a differentiating feature and a decisive influencing factor for success in the future.

Empowerment through information and inspiration
Within this framework, the Swiss Garagist Day program takes up various aspects that are of key importance to both the individual member and the association.

In times when technology is developing more dynamically than ever, the aim is to strengthen members in their role as entrepreneurs by providing information and inspiration. The AGVS wants to spread confidence that entrepreneurship in the automotive industry is worthwhile - today as well as in the future.

The members of the Garagistenverband should be made aware that entrepreneurship primarily means recognizing changes as opportunities, using them and shaping the future.

The AGVS has once again succeeded in attracting a number of personalities who will impart knowledge and inspire at the same time. Interested parties can find out who is taking part on the Internet.

agvs-upsa.ch

With the MobED from Hyundai, you can maneuver effortlessly even through tight spaces.

The MobED is characterized by its innovative design. Its flat, rectangular body stands on four large wheels with independent suspension, which enables optimum posture and stable movement even on inclined and uneven roads.

With this suspension, the platform can freely adjust both the wheelbase and the steering angle, allowing it to move through complex urban environments.

Three motors work on each wheel
Equipped with innovative technologies such as an advanced eccentric wheel drive and high-tech steering, braking and height control systems, the MobED adapts to different road surfaces and environments to achieve an optimal position.

The three motors mounted on each wheel ensure power transmission and precise steering of the wheels and at the same time control the overall position of the MobED.

The intelligent arrangement of the individual wheels with individual power and steering control enables rotation on the spot and movement in all directions. This allows the MobED to maneuver effortlessly even through tight spaces.

Maximum speed of 30 km/h
The position control system based on an eccentric mechanism stabilizes the platform by adjusting the height of the individual wheels according to the ground environment. The MobED's 12-inch pneumatic tires absorb shocks and vibrations.

The MobED is 67 cm long, 60 cm wide, 33 cm high and weighs 50 kg. Its wheelbase can be extended to 65 cm to ensure greater stability at high speeds. The maximum speed is 30 km/h and, with a battery capacity of 2 kWh, enables a driving time of around four hours on one charge.

hyundai.ch
ces.tech

The Extreme E will be contested with 400 kW (550 hp) electric unit buggies of the Odyssee 21 type.

Molly Taylor, Johan Kristoffersson and the Rosberg X Racing team of former Formula 1 driver Nico Rosberg are the first champions in the history of the Extreme E electric SUV racing series. However, the title decision at the Jura X Prix in Dorset, England, turned into a nail-biter.

With fourth place in the final, Molly Taylor and Johan Kristoffersson achieved exactly the position needed to win the title. In the overall standings, the duo closes the season with 155 points, level on points with Cristina Gutierrez and Sebastien Loeb from Lewis Hamilton's Team X44, who claimed their first victory in Extreme E at the final race.

Race in remote areas of the world
The new race series was all about sustainability and was to be held without spectators in remote areas of the world in order to draw attention to climate change and, above all, to the local environmental problems of the region in question.

Due to the pandemic, the last two races took place on European soil. Originally, races were planned in the Amazon region and Patagonia in South America. Another special feature: one man and one woman each form a team.

Cupra to start again with Abt Sportsline in 2022
Despite the somewhat different premiere season, Cupra remains loyal to Extreme E. The brand will continue to compete with Abt Sportsline. Next year, an evolutionary version of the 400 kW (550 hp) Cupra Abt XE1 based on the Tavascan Extreme E concept car will be used.

Next year's driver pairing has not yet been decided. This year, it was Jutta Kleinschmidt and Mattias Ekström who finished the inaugural season in fifth place overall after the round in Great Britain.

Extreme E now says goodbye to a winter break lasting just nine weeks. The opener of the second season is scheduled to be held in Saudi Arabia on February 19 and 20, 2022

extreme-e.com

Manufacturers of French sedans have always been committed to comfortable travel. In the case of the new Citroën C5 X, the Advanced Comfort program offers a feel-good atmosphere in an interior that is like a lounge.

Also enhancing comfort are numerous driver assistance systems and a new communication interface on a 12-inch touchscreen tablet with voice recognition.

With a length of 4.81 meters and a height of 1.49 meters, the C5 X has generous dimensions. The long wheelbase of 2.79 meters ensures plenty of space in the rear and comfortable travel.

Floating carpet swallows bumps
With its long hood, the C5 X emphasizes the elegance of a sedan, but combines it with the large interior space offered by station wagons and SUVs. The hatchback offers a wide hatch opening and a low loading edge.

The Advanced Comfort suspension recreates the "floating carpet" effect of legendary Citroën models of earlier vintages to elegantly suppress road imperfections.

Gasoline or hybrid with up to 225 hp output
The new Citroën C5 X is available with either a 130- or 180-hp gasoline engine or with a plug-in hybrid drive. The plug-in hybrid drives up to 50 kilometers and up to 135 km/h in pure electric mode. The 12.4-kWh battery can be charged at home, at work or at a public charging station. Citroën lists 165 kW (225 hp) as the system output.

The plug-in version is combined as standard with Advanced Comfort Active Suspension with active chassis control.

In terms of price, the new Citroën C5 X is priced at 36 390 francs (gasoline) and 45 390 francs (hybrid).

citroen.ch

Car manufacturer Polestar and the Weisse Arena Group enter into a partnership with the aim of zero-emission electric mobility.

Guests in the Flims Laax Falera region are offered a transport service with the Polestar 2 models, and the electric limousines are also used for food deliveries and other trips by the Weisse Arena Group. With this new partnership, both companies are underlining their ambitions to reduce CO2 emissions to zero.

Self-sufficient alpine destination

Sascha Heiniger, Head of Polestar Switzerland: "Our goal is to build the first truly climate-neutral car by 2030. We were very impressed by the Weisse Arena Group's vision of becoming the world's first self-sufficient Alpine destination by 2030 with 100% renewable energy from the region."

Markus Wolf, CEO of the Weisse Arena Group, adds: "In Polestar, we have found a partner who thinks just as uncompromisingly as we do and wants to pursue long-term goals with us."

To promote transparency in the automotive industry, Polestar publishes all information on the carbon footprint of the Polestar 2 model in a life cycle analysis that takes into account all factors from the supply chain to production, use and recycling.

Electric vehicles as a climate solution

Sascha Heiniger: "Electric vehicles can be a climate solution. If they are charged with regional, renewable energy, they reach their full potential. In the Flims Laax Falera region, the consequences of climate change are directly visible and tangible. We look forward to supporting the Weisse Arena Group and playing our part through electromobility."

polestar.com