Do you remember? The sound of the boxer engine, that angular shape - a good colleague for all everyday situations, which can scramble over hill and dale if necessary: this is how Switzerland knows the Subaru Forester, which was already a family SUV from 1997 before we would have known this term. But even four-wheel drive legends are not immune to the passage of time: the sixth generation is now arriving.

The look is modern and yet again typical Forester - that's a good thing! Eleven paint colors are available and, depending on the variant, 18- or 19-inch wheels. At 4.67 meters, there is plenty of space inside and a large load volume (508 to 1720 liters). And "head shake protection", says Subaru. Excuse me? The idea: the front seats provide excellent support and prevent back and neck pain and nausea. You can really feel it, long journeys are relaxed here.

The boxer also stays: The E-Boxer is a mild hybrid consisting of a two-liter four-cylinder petrol engine with 100 kW (136 hp) and an electric motor with 12 kW (17 hp). This is less than the previous 167 hp, but this is not noticeable when driving - also because the electric motor helps (and acts alone when maneuvering). The power is transferred to all-wheel drive via an automatic transmission. The standard consumption: 8.1 l/100 km. The Forester remains very comfortable, but now steers much more finely and, with 22 centimeters of ground clearance, continues to master off-road terrain. In addition to digital instruments, the homely interior now features an almost twelve-inch touchscreen with the new infotainment system. This includes Apple Car Play, Android Auto and Apple Maps for the navigation system. Eyesight is also on board. Five features are new, bringing the total to 15 assistance systems - so safety is guaranteed.

Starts in Switzerland Following its premiere at Auto Zurich, the Subaru Forester 4×4 is now available in four equipment lines ("Advantage", "Swiss Plus", "Sport" and "Luxury") and will be available from November 30 at prices starting at CHF 40,950. A fair CHF 1000 more than before. It's nice to see that Subaru is staying true to itself in these times of price increases for new cars, despite all the modernity.

In the EU, Chinese electric cars will soon be 25 to 35 percent more expensive due to punitive tariffs. And in Switzerland? Thanks to the free trade agreement with China, they will continue to be available at attractive prices. No wonder, explains Nicole Sahlmann, Brand Director of MG in Switzerland: "Our brand is coming to Switzerland at the right time and with an extremely interesting offer. It makes e-mobility affordable for the public and offers quality and performance at the same time."

The parent company of the once British brand MG is SAIC Motor (Shanghai Automobile Industry Corporation) and is no less than the seventh largest car manufacturer in the world. In Switzerland Astara responsible for the import of MG - and because there was no dealer network, Nicole Sahlmann and her team were able to start on a greenfield site. "We want to set up a total of 25 MG Customer Experience Centers across Switzerland by the end of 2025. We currently have eleven, and negotiations are underway with other partners," she explains. With contracts for 374 vehicles at the end of September and with the new models that will be presented at the Auto Zurich at the beginning of November Sahlmann sees himself on course.

The sporty two-seater Cyberster roadster is sure to cause a stir. After the legendary Tesla Roadster, a roadster with an electric motor and a choice of rear or all-wheel drive is now available to buy again after many years. Even the entrance through the scissor doors - an in-house development by MG engineers in China - is a real eye-catcher. Practical: the doors are electrically controlled and can be opened at the touch of a button. This is why there are no classic door handles, as these doors are only operated manually in an emergency.

In the MG Cyberster, you sit in a cockpit equipped with numerous displays. In addition to the central 10.25-inch screen with the most important information for the driver, there are two seven-inch displays to the left and right of it, giving the impression of a curved screen. The most important controls for gear selection, soft top mechanism and other vehicle settings are located on the rising center console.

Thanks to a 50:50 percent weight distribution and low center of gravity, the electric roadster, which is just 1.33 meters high, sits very well on the road. The rear-wheel drive model boasts 250 kW (340 hp) and 475 Nm and easily sprints from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.0 seconds. The all-wheel drive model is even faster thanks to 400 kW (520 hp), 725 Nm and Launch Control, which is activated via the "Super Sport" button on the steering wheel, for example. To match its sprinting ability, the color of the digital display changes to an aggressive red, and the Chinese car completes the parade sprint in 3.2 seconds. But it is actually almost more fun to cruise around open-top. The fabric roof - which comes from the largest convertible manufacturer, the supplier Magna - disappears behind the seats quickly and, above all, without affecting the trunk volume. This is because the 4.35 meter long and 1.91 meter wide roadster shines with 249 liters of storage space, whether the roof is open or closed.

On the first ride, the Cyberster, which is also visually appealing, proves to be very agile and comfortable. Although it doesn't take minor bumps completely in its stride, it makes a well-balanced impression overall. Both variants of the electric roadster have a 77 kWh battery, which gives the rear-wheel drive model a range of up to 507 kilometers according to the WLTP. The all-wheel drive model still achieves a respectable 443 kilometers. Practical: thanks to a 144-kW fast-charging function, the battery can be charged to 80 percent with direct current (DC) in less than 40 minutes and you can continue cruising.

What is particularly exciting about MG's new image carrier is the pricing: the well-equipped rear-wheel drive model with 19-inch wheels is available from CHF 63,990. The all-wheel-drive Cyberster rolls to customers on 20-inch wheels from CHF 67,990.

First things first: In Switzerland, a retrofitted trailer coupling (towbar) must be registered in the vehicle registration document. Carrying any towbar documents with you is not enough! It is therefore advisable to entrust the selection and installation to a specialist company. This reduces the risk, as the towbar and socket must be type-approved and suitable for the vehicle. A garage that is authorized to carry out so-called self-acceptance is ideal - because it carries out the checks itself and no separate presentation to the MFK is required. The cantonal road traffic office or the regional section of the AGVS car trade association can tell you which garages are authorized.

Retrofitting abroad is suboptimal: It is often debated that it is cheaper abroad - at first glance. But there is often a catch to the supposedly low price. Firstly, the towbar still has to be checked and registered in Switzerland. Secondly, the retrofit must be declared in advance as "active refinement" at foreign customs on the outward journey. On the return journey, the retrofit must then also be declared at Swiss customs without being asked. The foreign VAT will then be refunded, but Swiss VAT will be due. With fees, expenses, time and MFK, this is often hardly worthwhile.

Does the tow bar have to be removed when not in use? Fixed towbars of course not. However, detachable or retractable towbars must be removed when not in use. "Depending on" means: generally not. But if it is in the vehicle registration document, then yes. And also yes, if it is not stated in the vehicle registration document, but the trailer coupling covers parts of the lights or the license plate - ignorance is no defense against fines. So take a close and self-critical look. By the way: A protective cover for the ball head is not mandatory. But it is recommended to prevent rust and bruises on the rail legs.

As always, Volvo focuses on quality, safety and high value - the Swedes have made no compromises in this regard since the takeover by the Chinese Geely Group. Impressive proof of this is the new EX90: the electric counterpart to the previous flagship XC90 is the most luxurious, most comfortable and safest Volvo of all time.

The Swedes really come up trumps with the new luxury electric car: The 5.04 meter long seven-seater looks magnificent in the usual discreetly luxurious Volvo style - inside and out. It offers a princely amount of space, not to mention the completely fold-away third row of seats, and is equipped to a high standard - with purely vegan materials with a high proportion of recycled materials, of course. With all seven seats upright, there is still room for 310 liters of luggage in the rear - that is more than most seven-seaters on the European market offer. If the two rearmost seats are folded down, which is done fully electrically at the touch of a button, the load volume more than doubles. If all seats except the two front seats are folded down, almost two cubic meters of cargo can be stowed in the elegant Swede.

The cockpit is ultra-modern, with a large touchscreen in portrait format above the center console for the Android infotainment system, a small info screen behind the steering wheel and a large head-up display in the windshield. However, the fact that you even have to adjust the exterior mirrors and climate functions on the touchscreen is a bad thing - Tesla introduced this bad habit, and unfortunately it is now increasingly being adopted because buttons are simply not stylish. This makes setting basic functions tedious, which causes distraction while driving. At least the EX90 helps to avoid accidents with a semi-autonomous driving system. There is even a lidar on board, which sits under a cab sign-like hood above the windshield. Although the system currently only collects data, the Swede is already equipped for fully autonomous driving functions, should they one day become legal.

The ride comfort, on the other hand, is beyond reproach. Thanks to the optional dual-chamber air suspension, the EX90 rolls smoothly over bumps of all kinds and seems to literally float over the asphalt. Nevertheless, the Swede feels precise in bends and only rolls to a tolerable extent. The drive range also gives no cause for complaint: at the top is the Twin Motor Performance AWD all-wheel drive version with a whopping 380 kW/517 hp, which sprints to 100 km/h in under five seconds. Below this is the Twin Motor AWD with 300 kW/400 hp, also with all-wheel drive and an acceleration time of six seconds. The front-wheel drive entry-level model delivers 205 kW/279 hp and reaches 100 km/h in 8.4 seconds.

The two all-wheel drive versions are equipped with a 111 kWh battery and thus achieve WLTP standard ranges of up to 619 kilometers. The base model has a slightly smaller battery with 104 kWh capacity, which enables up to 580 kilometers on a single charge. Volvo has dispensed with an 800-volt system, which would be available from parent company Geely: However, the EX90 makes full use of its 400-volt platform and sucks up to 250 kW at the fast-charging station.

Volvo has done everything right with the new EX90, and this will certainly be rewarded in Switzerland, where the big Swede wants to shake up the luxury E-SUV segment from now on at a starting price of 94,950 francs. Above all, however, the model is likely to generate large numbers in the USA, where the EX90 also rolls off the production line. And China will soon be added as a production location - Volvo can also expect large volumes there.

Myths are often stronger than facts - even when it comes to car paint. "Any color, as long as it's black," Henry Ford is supposed to have said and only offered the Model T in black. But that's not true: the first mass-produced car was launched in 1908 in several colors. It was not until the seventh year that Ford made the change in order to speed up assembly line production. Later, there were again several colors. And the quote? Historians now believe that Ford only added it to the story later.

But at first everything was black. Not a beautiful black - but cobbler's pitch. When the Benz Patent-Motorwagen was the first car to be launched in 1886, it was coated with the oily substance as rust protection. Back then, cars were hardly ever painted because a brush-on paint job took days to dry. If the paintwork was damaged, it had to start all over again; partial painting was not yet possible due to the lack of color accuracy. Things only became more colorful when Albert Krautzberger patented his "compressed air-operated painting device" in 1902 and the first spray gun was joined by new nitrocellulose paints.

Soon many brands had "house colors" from motor racing: a Polish count had the idea of coloring racing cars according to nation. For example in red, which first stood for the USA and later for Italy. It is famous how Germany came to silver: before a race in 1934, the Mercedes race director noticed that the car weighed too much. And had the white paint on the aluminum body of the German racing cars sanded off: The "Silver Arrow" was born (from 1968, national colors were abolished because race sponsors preferred to see their corporate colors).

Things got cheerful in the 1950s: Pastel colors displaced olive, grey and brown tones of the World War, and color pictures, prints and film made the colors popular. But it was Ford, not Cadillac, that first offered pink. Why do we think of Cadillac when we think of pink? Because Elvis sang about the "Pink Cadillac". In the 1960s, acrylic paints and bright colors arrived. Lamborghini was the pioneer of these. Today, gray tones from water-based paints dominate. In Switzerland, gray (including silver) leads the way, followed by white and black. Worldwide, white leads over black.

The saying "the same in green" comes from car paint, by the way. The expression goes back to the Opel 4PS from 1924. It was green, which is why it was called the "leaf frog" - and Opel was sued by Citroën. Because this first German conveyor belt car was a copied Citroën 5 CV (Type C) from 1922, which was always yellow. A court therefore dismissed the lawsuit: the color was different. And from this, the German vernacular cheekily claimed that the Opel was just "the same in green".

The e-tron GT from Audi was already no pushover when it made its debut in 2021: the four-door shares its technology with the Porsche Taycan and achieved a WLTP range of up to 487 km and a charging capacity of up to 270 kW right from the start. Still a top value today. However, technology continues to develop and customers want more and more, especially when it comes to range and charging power. The facelift takes this into account. There are now three new variants on offer. The basis is the "S" e-tron GT, which with 500 kW (680 hp with Launch Control) already offers more than the previous top model.

More importantly, thanks to the new battery with 97 kWh usable capacity (previously 83.7 kWh), the range increases to up to 609 km (WLTP). The new battery is also less susceptible to temperature fluctuations, meaning that pre-tempering before charging is rarely necessary. The battery can also be fast-charged over a longer period of time without reducing the charging power. It can now draw a maximum of 320 kW from the fast charger, and charging from 10 to 80 percent takes just 18 minutes.

Increased

Even the basic model trumps the previous GT in every respect. However, Audi was of the opinion that this was not enough. The "RS" e-tron GT now has 630 kW (857 hp with Launch Control). Want even more? The "RS" e-tron GT "performance" delivers up to 680 kW (925 PS), races to 100 km/h in 2.5 seconds and still has a range of up to 592 km (WLTP).

More relevant for everyday life: The new active suspension. It combines air suspension with active shock absorbers, each of which is controlled by a hydraulic unit. This allows the car to lift itself when getting in and out of the car and eliminate or even overcompensate for any pitching and rolling in order to reduce the forces on the occupants. At the same time, bumps are magically ironed out. Impressive. But expensive: 9140 francs surcharge in the "S" e-tron GT (from 131,270 francs). The magic suspension is standard in the "RS" (from 152,900 francs) and "RS performance" (from 167,270 francs).

"Van life" is still booming. For many camper van buyers, the VW California is in pole position. The outgoing T6 generation in particular is seen surprisingly often. The reason is clear: the model, which has been continuously developed over decades, is simply better than the competition.

But it gets even better. The new generation, which is not called the T7 but simply the California, is not based on a commercial vehicle chassis for the first time, but uses the MQB platform, which is otherwise only used for passenger cars from the various VW Group brands. This opens up completely new possibilities.

MQB offers many advantages
The new model drives like a large SUV, with state-of-the-art assistance systems, a fully digital cockpit and contemporary drive systems - in addition to the tried-and-tested diesel (110 kW/150 hp) and a turbocharged petrol engine (150 kW/204 hp), a plug-in hybrid (180 kW/245 hp) with all-wheel drive is now also available. All this is only possible thanks to the new platform.

The California also benefits from this in terms of space: with a length of 5.17 m, it is a full 27 cm longer than its predecessor and the living area is correspondingly more spacious. Don't worry: the height has been kept at 1.99 m, so the van still fits into most underground garages.

Even more variable
Instead of a two-seater bench seat in the rear, there are now two sliding and removable individual seats. And there is a second sliding door - so the outside area can now be used as living space on both sides. The kitchenette on the left is shorter than before to create a passageway to the outside. There is now a pull-out fridge, which is much more practical than the previous top loader.

Anyone who predicted the end of the California after VW's announcement that the new model would be based on the MQB was wrong: the popular camper van has not only been made fit for the future, but has also been significantly improved in many details. Prices start at CHF 62,110.

Adventures begin in Bern
There will soon be an opportunity to discover and scrutinize the most important trends and exciting highlights of the industry "live" in Switzerland. The next Suisse Caravan Salon will start in Bern on October 24, 2024. Switzerland's largest and most diverse trade fair for camping and caravanning lasts until October 28, further information on the exhibition and tickets can be found at suissecaravansalon.ch

Skoda pursues a holistic approach to sustainability and tries to reduce CO₂-emissions of its business activities and to promote the circular economy. In Cham ZG, Karsten Schnake, Board Member for Procurement at Skoda Auto and Sustainability Officer of the Board of Management, explained what this means for customers in addition to new e-models.

Genuine circular economy In close cooperation with suppliers, Skoda is increasing the use of natural, recycled and recyclable materials in its models. In the new Superb, for example, all textile components of the seats and door panels are made from 100 percent recycled polyester. The ice scraper in the fuel filler cap and the umbrella in the door are also made from sustainable materials. From 2025, the proportion of recycled plastics is to be doubled to around 40 kg per vehicle.

Curiosity Fuel coffee At the Vrchlabí component plant, Skoda has even been producing CO₂-neutral - thanks to biogas, among other things. At Skoda, sustainability has long included social aspects. That's why the company itself has been producing sustainably grown coffee for a year now. And the coffee bean husks are to be used for tanning car leather - no joke! Karsten Schnake: "Every sip of Curiosity Fuel coffee can inspire further ideas on how we can reduce our ecological footprint even more effectively."

Investment-rich strategy Skoda is also systematically implementing its plans for digitalization and electrification and intends to invest billions in e-mobility. The Elroq is now an attractive, all-electric newcomer in the important compact SUV segment. It boasts 470 to 1580 liters of luggage space, is available in Switzerland with system outputs of 150 to 220 kW and has a range of over 560 km according to the WLTP.

An incredible variety of vehicles that make you want to drive, and 66 brands under one roof! This is what characterizes Auto Zürich 2024. Following the demise of the Geneva Motor Show (Gims), it has become the largest national motor show. For car buyers, but also garage owners and simply all car fans and those interested in mobility, it offers the opportunity to view the increasingly diverse range of models and drive systems in one place. A recipe for success that brought 62,068 visitors to the last Auto Zürich.

What is behind this success and what visitors can look forward to at the 37th edition, AutoSprintCH asks the organizers Karl Bieri and Ines Nägeli.

Mr. Bieri, what would you tell a friend why he should visit Auto Zurich?
Karl Bieri, President of Auto Zürich: Hardly any other place currently offers the opportunity to experience the diversity and multifaceted nature of the automotive world with all its fascination under one roof.

Ms. Nägeli, why shouldn't anyone miss the trade fair in November?
Ines Nägeli, Managing Director of Auto Zürich: In a market that is currently characterized by major upheavals - also with regard to new brands - it is becoming increasingly difficult to maintain an overview. With 66 brands represented, Auto Zürich is able to bring practically the entire spectrum of the new car market to life in one place and provide a comprehensive overview of current product and brand developments in the Swiss automotive market. Following the closure of the Geneva Motor Show, Auto Zürich is the most important national motor show.

What does this mean for you?
Karl Bieri: While Auto Zurich was always a pure sales fair, Geneva increasingly became an international stage where the focus was on showcasing the car brands. In this respect, we hardly had any overlaps here, which is also one reason why we have been able to operate in perfect coexistence all these years. The end of Gims, which we very much regret, has therefore - at least so far - had no major direct impact on the upcoming Auto Zürich. What we are already noticing, however, is a growing interest, especially from smaller, mostly very exclusive manufacturers, who are now looking for new ways to attract customers and interested parties in Switzerland.

Is this new significance also a challenge - and will Auto Zürich become even bigger?
Ines Nägeli: The challenge is that we must and want to meet more diverse requirements and content without being able to increase the size of the exhibition space, as the space available at Messe Zürich is already largely exhausted. We will continue to invest heavily here in order to be able to counter this situation with intelligent and contemporary solutions. Maintaining accessibility and proximity for exhibitors and visitors remains crucial.

The classic car area is a fixed component. Now it is being supplemented with the Auto Zürich U35 module. Why?
Karl Bieri: The focus of Auto Zürich U35 is on the so-called Youngtimers. This is a relatively young area of collecting. Broadly speaking, it includes vehicles from the 1970s to 1990s and even more recently. For many, these vehicles represent a good compromise between a classic look and technically sound equipment. In many cases, there is also a reliable supply of spare parts. This means that they can usually be used as everyday vehicles without any restrictions. In order to clearly differentiate the new module from Auto Zürich Classic, whose portfolio has always been comparatively sophisticated since it was founded - and should remain so - the decisive factor for youngtimers is not the year of manufacture, but rather the price. Here we consistently set the upper limit at CHF 35,000.

What other innovations can we look forward to?
Ines Nägeli: As in the past, we have made considerable investments this year in order to further improve our relevance and quality of experience. And personally, I am particularly looking forward to the enthusiasm that we hope to arouse in all visitors with the program of this year's Auto Zürich!

Auto Zürich 2024 - the most important information
Date/Opening hours: Wednesday, November 6: exclusive pre-opening. Visitor days: Thursday, November 7, to Sunday, November 10, 2024, Thursday/Friday 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday/Sunday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Location: Zurich fair
Admission prices (when ordering online): Adults CHF 19; AHV/IV recipients CHF 12; pupils/students/learners CHF 10; evening tickets (Thurs/Fri from 6pm) CHF 12; family ticket (2 adults, one to four children up to 16 years) CHF 39; children up to 6 years (accompanied by an adult) free; season ticket CHF 30.
Info: auto-zuerich.ch

The highlights at Auto Zürich
Auto Zürich 2024 has expanded its portfolio of brands even further. Including many Swiss and even European premieres. Other models: Abarth 600E, Alfa Romeo Junior, Alpine A290, Aston Martin Vanquish, Audi S6 Avant E-Tron, Audi Q6 E-Tron, Bertone GB110, BMW X3 and BMW iX5 H_2, Cadillac Lyriq, Citroën C3/e-C3, Citroën C4, Citroën C3/e-C3 Aircross, Cupra Terramar, Dacia Duster and Dacia Spring, Ferrari 12 Cilindri, Fiat 600 MHEV, Ford Capri, Genesis G90, Honda Civic Type-R 50^th Anniversary, Hyundai Ioniq 5 N Line, Hyundai Inster, Hyundai Staria, HJAC E30X, JAC T9EV 4×4, Jeep Avenger 4xe The North Face, KGM Torres EVX, Kia EV3, Land Rover Defender Octa, Lexus RZ300E FWD, Lotus Emeya, Lucid Air Pure RWD, Lucid Air Gravity, Maxus eTerron 9, Mazda CX-80, Mercedes-Benz G 580 with EQ Technology, MG HS, MG Cyberster, MHero1, Mini Aceman, Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, Morgan Plus Four, Opel Frontera, Opel Grandland, Pagani Utopia Roadster, Peugeot E-5008, Polestar 4, Porsche Macan, Porsche 911 GT3 RS Tribute to Jo Siffert, Renault 5, Renault Symbioz, Renault Rafale, Rimac Nevera, Seat Leon, Skoda Elroq, Smart #5 Concept, Subaru Forester, Suzuki Swift, Toyota Land Cruiser, VW Tayron, VW ID.7 Tourer GTX, VW California, Volvo EX90 and Volvo CX90.

When angels travel, the sky is smiling - but not always when Honda celebrates: the weather at the industrial and commercial campus The Valley in Motorworld Kemptthal ZH was merciless. Nevertheless, more than a thousand fans of the brand, together with their cherished treasures, did not let the good mood or the opportunity for a big get-together get in the way. In the spirit of "The Power of Dreams", the Swiss importer hosted a 50th anniversary celebration and also presented a special model limited to 50 units: the Civic Type R 50th Anniversary Edition.

Around 500 Hondas from 50 years of The exhibition on the festival grounds provided a unique overview of the Japanese brand's model history. From the tiny S600 and the NSX hyper sports car to the Clarity hydrogen-electric car, pretty much everything was represented. Representatives of the high-revving fraction showed models such as the S2000 very close to the hybrid vehicles. Honda launched the Insight back in 1999, which is the second reason to celebrate in Kemptthal: 25 years of Honda hybrid drive.

However, the Hybrid, which Honda and Toyota pioneered in Japan, initially had a difficult time. Although more economical models soon became an issue, most brands at the time continued to focus on gaining an edge through increased performance. Today, however, hybrid vehicles are in demand like never before. And Honda offers a sophisticated hybrid system with its e:HEV concept.

At the Honda event there were In addition to the automotive attractions, there were also workshops, competitions, test drives and live music. The event concluded with the "Best Car Awards" in the classic car, sports and hybrid categories. An expert jury selected the best three vehicles in each category. Andreas Schmidt, Head of the Automotive Division at Honda Suisse, was also very satisfied: "A big thank you goes to our Honda dealers and all our partners who have accompanied us on this journey. It was overwhelming to see how many Honda fans from all over Switzerland came together".