We continue here our report about this stunning exhibition of 12 absolutely iconic Lancias, which we can admire until April 19 at Brussels Autoworld.
A car which set Lancia apart as a brand with a unique enineering excellence is the Lambda. It was intoduced in 1922 and featured not only a revolutionary and compact V4 engine. This V-4 was banked at a tiny 13-degree angle (later 14 degrees), with a flat cylinder-head face and combustion chambers in the block. Nobody had ever seen anything like it.
But there were other surprises: it also had a load-bearing unitary body. Indeed, and here we cite the famous connoisseur Michael Frostick: “its unique unitary construction, in which body and chassis were one, came a good ten years before Mr. Budd succeeded in selling his idea for a monocoque to Andre Citroen.”
As if this were not enough, it also introduced an independent front suspension. This sliding pillar suspension was a trademark of all subsequent Lancias, used not only for all the cars before the Aurelia, but also for the Appia, up until its replacement in 1963 by the Fulvia. The suspension has an integral spring and shock absorber (all made by Lancia in house) working around a large vertical set pin internal to the assembly.
The pin is anchored into a beam axle at a particular angle, and camber and caster are fixed at the factory. The shock setting is easily adjustable by hand at the top of the pillar, and one can change it from soft to hard in a moment, or even (as the Lancia Owner’s Manual suggests) summer/winter. Absolute genius!
Lancia also introduced powerful four wheel brakes on the Lambda. All this resulted in a car with excellent handling, and indeed the Lambda proved faster over a winding track than anything Lancia had hitherto produced, including the big Tri Kappa, an eight cylinder with twice the horsepower.
The Lambda became the car to win races with, and in 1927, when Italy’s famous open road race, the Mille Miglia, was first held, a trio of Lambda’s took the first three places overall. Note on the photo above the short, sporting gear lever!
Another pre-war Lancia that won my heart was the Aprilia. Just look at its classic, timeless, compact proportions. It was born in 1936, but the car on the show is a 1947 2nd series example. It was Lancia’s first berlinetta aerodinamica. Indeed, it was one of the first designed using a wind tunnel in collaboration with Battista Farina and Polytechnic University of Turin, achieving for those days a record low drag coefficient of 0.47.
It was to be Vicenzo Lancia’s very last car, as the founder died in 1937, when series production started. It was indeed designed by Vicenzo, and featured four pillarless doors. Just look at the door handles, which are in the same position as in the pillarless 4-door Lancia Florida, which I showed you in part one. The Aprilia also featured an independent rear suspension, with inboard brakes…
The Lancia story will go further in part 3. We will tell you then more about the Lancia PF200 prototype and the legendary D50 racing car…
Hans Knol ten Bensel
Practical info: The exhibition runs until April 19 at Autoworld, Parc du Cinquantenaire 11 1000 Brussels, Belgium.
Please note, the museum is closed Wednesday 11 March, Thursday 12 March and Monday 16 March 2026.
Autoworld Brussels has again an exquisite exhibition ready for us: until April 19 we can admire a carefully curated selection of about 12 absolutely iconic Lancias. It shows us the elegance and innovation through design, as the title of the exhibition indicates. But we would add, the pop-up exhibition also showcases innovation through ingenuity and engineering excellence.
The cars are beautifully displayed at the beginning of the vast and inviting central hall of Autoworld, taking you on a journey of more than a century of technical innovation, refined design, and engulfing you in its rich motorsport heritage.
My eyes first fell on, at least to my taste, the absolute beauty of the show, the Lancia Astura Roadster by Pinin Farina. This 1935 Astura is a technical gem. The V8 engined car was introduced on the Paris Motor Show in 1931. This Astura on the show belongs to the third series, built between 1933 and 1937, with 1,243 units made.
The third-generation Astura was offered in short-wheelbase and long-wheelbase variants, and was powered by a new, larger engine. Indeed, it was enlarged from 2,6 to 3 litres, and the 17° narrow angle V8 single overhead camshaft engine now developed 82 hp. This short wheelbase you see on the photos was ideal for coachbuilders to show their talent.
ounded with the moral and financial support of Vicenzo Lancia, the Carrozzeria of Battista “Pinin” Farina witnessed a revival and produced breathtaking bodies. Of the just 328 “Corto” chassis built, many were clothed by Pinin Farina. The contours of this roadster are from the artistic hand of Mario Revelli di Beaumont, an independent stylist who worked actually for several “carrozzerie”…
Another car by the hand of Pinin Farina was for me the Lancia Flaminia. I was therefore elated to see the conceptual predecessor of the Flaminia, the Florida. The “bellezza” and elegance of this car deeply moves me. Just look at the photos. The car was built by Pinin Farina on an Aurelia B56 chassis, and it was a technically quite daring four-door pillarless saloon.
It was shown on the 1956 Brussels salon, and as a young boy, I dreamt about it. Just like the Boano styled Ferrari’s, it was for me the pinnacle of what human art, intellect and craftmanship could reach in terms of sheer contemporary beauty.
The pillarless doors had to go in the production version, the Flaminia, therefore the elegance of this Florida truly stands out.
Much more to follow on this Lancia show at Autoworld soon, about the D50 racing car, the iconic rally cars like the Stratos… just remember, go and see it, it is on show until April 19.
Practical info: Autoworld, Parc du Cinquantenaire 11 1000 Brussels, Belgium.
Please note, the museum is closed Wednesday 11 March, Thursday 12 March and Monday 16 March 2026.
The latest Brussels Motor Show proved to be a treasure trove for us car enthusiasts. At the impressive wonderful Mercedes stand on the show we met on the press day with Robert Lesnik, Director of Exterior Design. In front of the iconic and already legendary Concept AMG XX, he presented styling examples of what Mercedes believes stands for the brand.
He started off with this AMG XX, and commented that this car embodies a rare combination a very aggressive sporting front end, the side view with the timeless proportion of the long bonnet, a very round shaped rear end and an amazing interior. He also showed the legendary Autobahnkourier, and he also focused on the grille of the 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Renncoupé, being so iconic and a typical design hallmark over the years for the sport coupés and cabrios of the brand. He also commented further on the Concept AMG that this car is the harbinger of what is to come for the series version of this AMG Electric sports coupé.
Robert Lesnik commented further: “For the new generation we were inspired by our past cars and design heritage, which doesn’t mean that we are doing retro design. You can see it on the radiator grille of the new GLC Electric SUV, with just three horizontal bars illuminated, it is a modern interpretation of a classic design icon.”
Beauty and attraction…
“There are two elements, beauty and attraction, which are the goals when we design a Mercedes”, Robert continued. Something that attracts the customer and what he perceives as beautiful.”
“Obviously, this goes for both the exterior AND the interior. There must be a certain power. I would say the sweet spot for every Mercedes is the three-quarter rear end perspective, where you really see the shoulder, and you see also a very iconic graphic with two roundish rear lights, with three lights for the AMG versions.”
We asked also about the interior, although he is responsible for exterior design, but nevertheless…
“For the interior,” he continued, “there is always a combination of the digital and the analog. For the first time, we have a hyperscreen, made of three screens being seamlessly positioned together. Also when the instruments and screen is shut off, it is not uniformly black, the air vent openings are still illuminated, the touch fields and items on the screen are also still visible, the inside door handles have a metallic coating, silver shadow galvanized so to say, these elements were there earlier, and will stay also in the future. I always say, Mercedes has always a chromium strip more.” We could only agree…
Focusing further on the front of the car, Robert stressed that it is still somewhat higher, which results in a spacious frunk. We will also strive to have clean lines.
We asked Robert also when looking back at the elegantly styled cars for the hand of Paul Bracque, the cars were lean, low, with excellent all round visibility. Do we see these styling elements back in the Mercedes cars of today and the future?
“Indeed, cars were (much)smaller, but now cars are electric, and they need more volume because of the batteries. Cars therefore need to be higher and this also calls for bigger wheels. This means also that cars are wider and have longer wheelbases. So cars are bigger and later hopefully will get smaller again. But cars as elegant as the Pagode will never appear again because of the safety regulations… But for the next five years, our horizon is set, we have a good idea what our design strategy will be.”
We thanked Robert for the interview and show you here some photos.
In a further episode we will have a further interview with Oliver Löcher, Vice President Vehicle Engineering and Overall Vehicle Functions Mercedes-Benz Cars.
Xpeng introduced on the Brussels Motor Show their P7+, an “intelligent fastback” brimming with advanced features…
AS everybody knows, Chinese manufacturers are entering our automotive markets, and indeed we have already applauded the very convincing Leapmotor C10, just read the test report in our columns.
In the coming weeks we will cover the Chinese brands which were present at the Brussels Motor Show, and we start this series here with Xpeng. An interesting story follows…
Hans Knol ten Bensel
Xpeng, a fascinating company history…
The full name if Xpeng is actually Guangzhou Xiaopeng Motors Technology Co., Ltd. XPeng was co-founded in August 2014 by Xia Heng and He Tao, former senior executives at GAC Group with expertise in automotive technology.
Let’s delve a bit more into this GAC Group. This is the Guangzhou Automobile Group Co., Ltd. As of 2021, it was the 5th largest automobile manufacturer in China.
Maybe it is also good to know that on 17 November 2023, GAC Group announced the independent development of key technologies, including all-solid-state batteries, cobalt-free batteries, low-cobalt batteries, and sodium-ion batteries. The company aims to achieve the integration of all-solid-state batteries into automobiles by 2026. Say no more…
But back to Xpeng. The Initial backers were amongst others the founder of UCWeb and former Alibaba executive He Xiaopeng, namesake and current Chairman of XPeng, and Lei Jun, the founder of Xiaomi.
The spacious interior of the P7+…
Collaboration with Volkswagen…
On 26 July 2023, the Volkswagen Group announced its investment of $700 million in XPeng for purchasing 4.99% stake of the company. The VW Group will collaborate with XPeng to develop two VW brand electric models for the mid-size segment in the Chinese market in 2026.
In February 2024, XPeng and VW signed a technology cooperation and joint development agreement on platform and software.
In August 2025, XPeng and Volkswagen Group signed an Agreement on Expanding E/E Architecture Technical Collaboration (“Expanded Technical Collaboration”). The signing of this agreement marks that the E/E Architecture will be not only integrated into Volkswagen’s electric vehicle platforms, but also deployed across its ICE and PHEV platforms in China, thereby significantly expanding the strategic technical collaboration to broader markets.
In November 2025, Xpeng announced a new driver-assist system designed for navigating narrow roads, which they say will be rolled out by the first quarter of 2026. The system is claimed to be able to navigate cars smoothly through the narrow streets and will be opened to other car makers, with Volkswagen being its first client. Brave new world we would say…
We spoke with Bart Hamminga, Country Managing Director of Xpeng Benelux.
Initial sales success in Belgium…
On their stand at the Brussels Motor Show, we had an interview with Bart Hamminga, Xpeng Country Managing Director of Benelux.
“Last year we announced our debut at the Brussels Motor Show, and we actually had a dream start. 12 months later, we could sign our 1000th sales contract.” Bart told us proudly.
“It shows that the Belgian car market is open for innovation and new technology” he continued. “The success is also due to the quality of our cars, which impressed the Belgian buyers. I think a very important contribution to the success was, last but not least, the cooperation with Hedin Automotive. It is, of course, essential to have a very good and solid partner. The combination of these three factors led to the very positive development we see on the Belgian market.”
Smiling faces: Bart Hamminga, Country MD of Benelux to the left, and XPeng Public Relations Manager René Aerts jr.
An impressive range
The P7+ has massive computing power, supporting the XPILOT ASSIST Advanced Driver Assistance System that uses a variety of cameras, radars, and sensors to offer support in three main areas: driving, parking, and safety.
At the Brussels Motor Show, Xpeng made the Eurpean premiere of the P7+, a model that was already on the Chinese market in 2024.
The car now got a facelift, and is in “pure” EV available in a RWD Long Range or an AWD Performance version. The rear end is completely restyled, and Xpeng defines the car as an “intelligent fastback”.
The Long Range will accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 6,2 seconds, the Performance version does this in merely 4,3 seconds. There is a lot of luggage space in this 3 m long wheelbase elegant 5 seater, with a volume of 573 l up to 1931 l with the rear seats reclined.
Needless to say that we look forward to put this high-tech and elegant P7+ EV through a test soon…
The 7+ has a 800-volt Si-C platform, which means that you can charge it from 10 % to 80 % in merely 12 minutes.
There is also the G6, which has a WLTP range of up to 525 km and also has the XPILOT driver assist system. It will also fast charge up to 451 kW and has also the 800 Volt SiC platform, which means that also with the G6 you can charge it from 10 % to 80 % in merely 12 minutes. It has a slightly shorter wheelbase of 289 cm compared with the P7+, but luggage space is still quite good with 571 l/1374 l.
The RWD standard range goes 470 km on a full charge according to WLTP standards. It will accelerate from 0 to 100 km in 6,7 seconds. The RWD Long Range has similar performance, but a slightly longer range of 525 km.
The dashboard and interior of the G6…
Last but not least there is of course also a full size SUV in the range, the G9. Its wheelbase is 299,8 cm or let’s say 3 meters. Luggage space is 660/1576 liters. Its kerb weight is an impressive 2,4 tons. An induction motor is at the front, a permanent magnet motor at the rear for the AWD version. Combined output is here not less than 423 kW…
The car is available in 3 versions, RWD standard and long range, then last but not least the AWD Performance. This flagship SUV in the standard range gets you 502 km far, the long range is good for 585 km. Almost supercar performance is warranted in the Performance version: in will sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in 4,2 seconds.
Also this car has the Ai speech command feature, and of course the same XPILOT driver assist system. As with all the Xpeng cars, the high-tech company will see to it that you get automatic wireless updates of its built in software.
The dashboard and interior of the G9…
he G9 has the so called “Full-Stack Logic” architecture, functioning with a binocular front camera and a rear camera. Much more on these clever cars when we drive them…
We attended a remarkable conference organized by the Belgian Historic Vehicle Association on the Brussels Salon, moderated by automotive history connoisseur Philippe Casse. The speakers were experts in the field: Loïc de la Roche, General Director of the Aventure Peugeot Citroën DS. He was followed by Thomas Stebbich, head of Audi Tradition and Audi Archives, Audi Museum Mobile and last but not least the August Horch Museum in Zwickau.
The third speaker was Thomas Antoine, honorary ambassador of Belgium and philosopher. Needless to say that he viewed the opened a very original perspective on our historic vehicle world.
Other (introductory) speakers were respectively Philippe Dehennin, President of BEHVA and Peeter Henning, CEO of Behva.
We thought it is useful to go more extensively into depth on what the speakers brought forward, as it was indeed interesting and opened many further perspectives. We therefore split the report in 3 parts.
You read here in this first part the main points put forward by the first respective speakers, offering us much food for thought: just read further…
Hans Knol ten Bensel
Introduction
An introductory adress was held by Philippe Dehennin, (see photo here above) who pointed out the explosive growth of historic automotive collections and museums. This automotive heritage forms now an integral and dynamic part of our European identity, and embodies a physical and iconic bridge between our past, present and future.
The crucial role of BEHVA…
Peeter Henning (see photo below) then presented the role and activities of BEHVA. The title of this conference already summarizes what BEHVA as an organization stands for: preserving a heritage that is not standing in a garage or museum, but which is to be admired and enjoyed on the road. We are all here together because we all believe that mobile heritage is cultural heritage, he pointed out. They bear witness to our technical, social, and cultural history. They celebrate craftsmanship, evoke industrial production and design, and last but not least, individual mobility and freedom.
The role of BEHVA is to defend the interests of this heritage. The BEHVA represents in Belgium all the amateurs of historic cars and their clubs. This includes more than 500 clubs and 110.000 members.
But our lawmakers put the existence and use of this heritage under pressure. BEHVA is the spokesperson for all these enthusiasts at the government level and is also the bridgehead toward the automotive sector and the international historic car world. We continuously stress the fact that the mileage of the cars of our members is about the equivalent of one month of an ordinary vehicle, and that lawmakers should take this into account.
BEHVA also keeps a close contact with all the actors of the automotive world, importers, independent specialists, insurers, education centers and schools. BEHVA Insurance now insures more than 72.000 historic vehicles in Belgium. We are the official representative at FIVA for our country in establishing international standards.
Preserving our heritage needs also the upkeep of technical knowledge, and passing them on to future generations. We have education projects for our youth, in maintenance, restoration and electric, mechanical and bodywork repair. We form a bridge between the professional garage and maintenance sector and schools and education centers, and tie them with the our historic car world.
There is a need in the sector for motivated young people and we create learning possibilities for them, as they are in need for a succesful career. Historic cars live in an ecosystem which BEHVA actively supports. Thousands of jobs are connected to this system. It is our mission that this history in motion stays indeed, in motion…
A filmed message was shown of the president of FIVA, Alberto Scuro. He is president of Automotoclub Storico Italiano (ASI) and was elected in november last year as president of FIVA. FIVA was founded in 1966 by an international group of historic vehicle organisations, who felt the time had come for a worldwide body to promote and guide the interests of the historic vehicle movement throughout the world. At present, FIVA comprises member organisations in 71 countries throughout the world, which in turn represent many millions of historic vehicle enthusiasts. We will come back on the role and function of FIVA in a special report soon…
A story of 9000 brands…
Moderator Philippe Casse discussed the beginnings of automotive history, and pointed out that Aristotle came up first with the idea of a self propelling vehicle, or “auto mobile.” It took another two millenia before Bertha Benz drove on August 5th 1888 at the wheel of her husband’s invention, the Patent Motorwagen, 106 kilometers from Mannheim to Pforzheim. Aristotle had already pointed out, there is no genius without a touch of folly… but it has changed the life of billions.
In 138 years, not less than 9000 different brands, of which 158 were Belgian, saw the light. They all together produced about 3,5 billion cars, of which today some 1,5 billion are every day on the road.
Every brand contributed to this, and therefore merits to be appreciated and preserved, as the collectors and clubs do today. Numerous brands also have museums, archives and collections. There are not less than 1,500 museums worldwide and several hundred thousand collectors.
The speakers today will convince you of the importance to preserve this heritage, this legacy which has triggered fundamental socio economcial changes brought about by the fabulous tool which is the automobile. Indeed, preserving this heritage is of great importance for the future of the automobile, and also to actively appeal to young generations to continue this task.
L’Aventure Peugeot and Citroën DS…
Loïc de la Roche also stressed that the automotive “patrimoine” or heritage is a tangible witness of history; just look at the museum in Sochaux, and it is also something that is essential to transmit to future generations. It also adds to brand value, showing its roots. In his conclusion he presented what we have to remember and which lessons we have to learn from all this.
Loïc stated that it will be a voyage in time, discovering the (historic)passion and emotion(s) around the automobile. It will be about discovering the emotions which the automobile has triggered in us throughout history. Discovering the (historic) automobile, getting to grips with it, drive it, describing the adventurous experience this represents.
He proposed to start with the beginning, the automobile as a witness of social and territorial history. Indeed, the automobile has changed landscapes, our way of life, our mobility but also our collective imagination.
This collective imagination is the story we tell about the cars of our youth, we dream about. Therefore we call it “adventure”, as it moves our imagination and inspires us. It is the present and the future, and this collective imagination is the strength of our brands.
Automotive industry changed societies…
The car also tells us about the evolution of the social classes, work, liberty of society. Our archives are mostly visited by…sociologists. Based on the documents, they reconstruct a period, a social history of people and their territory.
The cars also evoke an epoch, like the 2 CV. The Peugeot 205 (GTI) inspires young generations. They illustrate the cultural mirror which is the automobile. Then comes the importance of power, technology, the new ways to use a car, mobility contracts, etc.
Everything that surrounds the automobile, amongst others the industrial heritage, mass production, mondialisation, energy transition, all this has a heavy impact on people. The factory in Rennes in 1961 had originally 14,000 workers, in 1980 it was slightly below 3,000…
We open our museum to companies organizing B2B events for instance, and we discuss with them about what they want to convey to the participants and people they invite. Some parts of the museum are more suitable for them to convey the message they want to put across.
The automobile has always been a very important factor in triggering innovation, notably in the materials. So one finds always an element in the history of the automobile and in our Peugeot museum in Sochaux which allows the visiting companies to attach their message to it and to convey the values which they want to bring to their invitees.
The automotive industry also shaped our regions and landscapes…
As we said, the automobile industry is also a witness to our territorial heritage. We have noticed that the visitors to our museum are not only interested in the cars, but that the visit was for them also an industrial and territorial happening and experience, an adventure so to say. They see how the region has developed and changed due to the presence of industry. The Sochaux factory was 20,000 square meters in 1921, 585 hectars in 1960 and in 2022 we are again concentrated at 150 hectars.
The car racing circuits are also an important witness. Of course, you all know Spa Francorchamps, Monthléry, but there are also iconic roads, like the Nationale 7. You have also mythical dealerships, like the Citroën dealership building at the Place de l’Yser in Brussels, now being converted in an art museum.
The young generations will also change the way in which they will approach, accept and acquire the historic automobile. They will reinvent it, so to say. Many young people now also enter into the realm of the “aventure Peugeot” and are inspired and seduced. They search authentic experiences, they want to connect with it physically. They also accept that things can break down, in an age where everything works perfectly without a hitch. The Aventure Peugeot has of course connections with schools and education/training centers.
Automobile history also brings emotion…
We also want to transmit emotion. This was particularly true at the happening when celebrating 70 years of DS, notably at Rétromobile. The DS “Ballon” has been meticulously recreated, as the original was…dismantled and sold to a private customer(!) A team of 25 young “compagnons de métiér” did a wonderful job, and the car has been shown throughout 2025 on 16 venues, amongst witch Autoworld in June last year. The car continues its tour…
A museum of national importance…
The director of the MUCEM Museum in Marseille told Loïc de la Roche in a discussion about the Aventure Peugeot and its museum that considering the richness of the message you can transmit about the automobile and its history to the future engineers, it makes it such a such an important subject that you can consider it to be part of the national soverignity. What is better than a museum like ours to inspire young engineers to a career in (automotive) engineering? This indeed, is now an element in our strategy.
Social engagement…
A further element we want to transmit is social engagement. We organise the Europe Raid, through 20 pays, visiting 12 capital cities, 60 UNESCO heritage sites and 220 stages, over the most scenic routes of Europe. One creates strong ties, also between generations, and indeed, the world is moving. Recently a club Citroën C6 has seen the light. The average age of its members is 25 years…
We also look at video games to attract the enthusiasm and engagement of young generations and to awaken the desire to find and preserve our moving heritage, even if it is more recent and consequently inspires them.
An important pillar in the Aventure Peugeot is also to strengthen and enhance our brand image. It is craftmanship, know how, but above all embodying and bringing a promise, strengthening and upholding our values, our identity. In our present automotive market it is important to have a history, a distinct design language and putting this in perspective. This allows us to be different and stand out. Of course we talk about icons and sagas.
The saga is the 205 and the icon is the GTI. Our present e 205 GTI is a perfect example of this strategy, where we use our history as a future oriented spearhead. Last year before the start of the Le Mans race, Peugeot had invited 50 owners to drive their 205 GTI around the circuit. It is difficult to describe the enormous energy this triggered, spreading across generations. Here we really talk about authentic experiences. Also in our museum we search to enhance these experiences, so we invite the visitors to see also our restoration workshop. We are also entering the aftermarket to rescue and preserve spare parts, and we also support the collectors to keep their cars which are (partially) electronic running reliably. In France, some 30,000 persons are involved in the ecosystem of historic cars, representing a turnover of some 3,5 billion Euros…
Preserve it for future generations…
With the car history in general and the Adventure Peugeot Citroën, we have here an enormous immaterial asset, which we will keep alive with a coherent history which is preserved also in the future. I will finish with the slogan of the Patek Philippe Watches, which I will turn around a bit: when you have a historic Peugeot or Citroën, you will merely be its keeper, and preserve it to hand it over to future generations…showing that the automobile is a magnificent human adventure.
In the part 2 of our report on this remarkable conference we will present the speech of Thomas Stebbich and Thomas Antoine. In the third and final part we will present the subsequent panel discussion.
Do you know “Automechanika” ? It is actually one of the pillars in the “Messe Frankfurt” organization, which generally offers tailor-made trade fairformats worldwide with an international target audience. Of course, the automotive sector is an important part of their activity. Therefore, they organise automotive events, and also automotive aftermarket events.
Automechanika, being the leading trade fair brand, is its most important platform with 16 events worldwide. Not only is it the international meeting place for the manufacturing industry, repair shops and automotive trade, it also represents the entire automotive aftermarket value chain like no other trade fair brand.
Now they have launched a new B2B Classic Car Network, and are working to establish a comprehensive network between the automotive aftermarket and the classic car sector.
As we all know, classic and collectible cars and supercars represent a market worth billions – and a key goal of this initiative is to bring clarity to this fragmented sector.
Members of the new network will receive industry insights and exclusive invitations to classic and collectible car events, while also enjoying the opportunity to discover new business models and make new contacts in the worlds of industry, retail, workshops and services. Just read further…
Hans Knol ten Bensel
Put Frankfurt 8-12 September in your diary…
During the trade fair from 8 to 12 September 2026, the new community will be gathering in Hall 11 for a daily happy hour where they can network and share ideas. There will also be a captivating supporting programme organised by Jürgen Book, a classic car aficionado and paintwork expert with more than 45 years of experience in the automotive industry. One highlight will be the presentation of the ‘Golden Classic’ award by Auto BILD Klassik on the evening of 8 September 2026.
Bringing together leading players from industry, workshops and retail to address topics throughout the automotive value chain is part Automechanika’s DNA. This is also true for Automechanika’s network concept for the classic car business.
Automecahnika has taken this step in response to growing global interest in classic cars and associated challenges such as spare parts supply, the retention and transfer of expertise (increasingly important as many experienced specialists retire), and, also very important, a distinct lack of specialised training formats.
For many workshops, classic cars have been little more than a sideshow to date, yet they offer numerous automotive businesses a lucrative additional source of income – in restoration, maintenance, spare parts supply and specialised services for classic vehicles.
The network specifically strengthens the visibility and networking of professionals in this sector while helping them to network. This includes not only industry companies exhibiting at the event, but also international associations and institutions, as well as trade visitors with business ties in the classic car business.
Automechanika Frankfurt’s organisers will be getting support from their new strategic partner FIVA (Fédération Internationale des Véhicules Anciens), the well known international association for classic cars.
FIVA represents clubs in more than 70 countries with over two million members and has one of the largest international networks in the world of classic cars. We will discuss also more at length the role and acivities of the FIVA organisation when we present you here on this site the conference organised by the Belgian Historic Vehicle Association (BEHVA), titled “Motoring Heritage, History in Motion.” You can read a first short comment of this event on my Instagram Site autoprova.be. But more to come soon on this site here.
Tiddo Bresters, President of FIVA commented on the B2B Classic Network: “Our strategic partnership with Automechanika, a global player in the B2B automotive supply exhibition industry, demonstrates confidence in the growth potential of the historic vehicle business and the opportunities it also offers young people for a career in this market.”
Supported by industry…
Automechanika’s initiative is besides FIVA also supported by its partners Bosch, DAT (Deutsche Automobil Treuhand), Eucon and ROWE.
Bosch Classic comes here in the picture. Michael Mack, Director of Bosch Classic commented: “Bosch Mobility Aftermarket has had a strong presence at Automechanika for many years now. We are delighted to be adding Bosch Classic’s portfolio of products and services to the mix in 2026 and relish the opportunity to present these to a broad international audience. Automechanika Frankfurt’s B2B Classic Car Network promises to make a valuable contribution to the classic car community in future.”
Osvaldo Celani, Managing Director of Eucon: “The dynamics of the classic car market are presenting the industry with new challenges. Factors such as increasing technical complexity, growing market diversity and higher expectations among stakeholders mean that classic cars can no longer be viewed merely as a hobby, but rather as a professional business area. Reliable data and strong partnerships are crucial in this regard. With our data service for classic cars, we at Eucon are increasing transparency and efficiency in this segment – an important contribution to sustainable growth and the future viability of the classic car industry.”
Raphael Dammann, DAT Head of Sales Strategy: “DAT has been an integral part of the automotive industry since 1931. We help our experts, workshops and dealers with data and values that help keep our automotive heritage moving throughout the vehicle lifecycle. We welcome the additional opportunity that the Automechanika B2B Classic Car Network gives us to come into contact with highly specialised providers.”
Stefan Wermter, CEO of ROWE Mineralölwerk GmbH: “Our participation in the B2B Classic Car Network is a clear commitment to our involvement in the field of classic and modern classic cars. Historic vehicles exude pure fascination, but also require particularly intensive care from their owners to protect them and maintain their value. The interests and needs of the classic car scene are as diverse and exciting as our high-quality full range of products.
Our product solutions thrive on the exchange with connoisseurs. With the classic oils in our vintage product range, ROWE already offers a wide selection that meets the special requirements of young and oldtimers. The coming together of the automotive aftermarket with professionals from the scene offers enormous potential for establishing contacts, expanding our portfolio in a targeted manner and thus contributing to ensuring that enthusiasts can enjoy their classic cars for as long as possible.”
We will keep you posted on further developments of this laudable initiative of Automechanica. Stay tuned for the report of the conference held by BEHVA on the latest Brussels Motor Show!
Conceiving the automotive future is always a very challenging task. Some brands have also a future-oriented attitude more than others in their DNA, and one of them is certainly Citroën.
75 years ago, they brought us the 2 CV, a car which embodied nothing less than a four-wheeled French revolution, embodying Liberty, Equality and Fraternity. Indeed, this adagio of the French revolutionists fitted the post-war French “citoyens” admirably, as the 2CV brought them just that. Freedom for all, with low-cost mobility, practicality, and go-anywhere capacity.
This revolutionary dream of the brand with the double chevron has never died. And Pierre Leclercq, the Belgian born head of design, proved its love for practicality, out of the box progressive “back to authentic basics of automotive mobility” thinking already with its wonderful and stunning OLI.
Your servant was at the presentation of this OLI in Paris, and now stood eye to eye with the equally intriguing ELO. On both occasions, he met the designer, Pierre Leclerq. We talked to him again in Brussels…
Hans Knol ten Bensel
A creative career…
Pierre Leclercq started in 1998 at BMW as an intern, he joined the Italian coachbuilder Zagato in 1999, which he left after three months to join Ford Ghia. Here he designed the interior of the Ford Street Ka concept. In 2000 he returned to BMW, where he worked for 13 years. There he notably designed the BMW X5 E70, BMW X6 E71 and the rear of the first Mini Countryman. He also worked on a successor to the BMW M1 based on the BMW i8, but the project was ultimately abandoned.
Pierre Leclercq headed the design studio of Great Wall Motors from 2013 to 2017. He then became design director at Kia, but stayed only one year with the South Korean manufacturer. Needless to say that he acquired a keen understanding of the design philosophy and DNA of both European and Far East manufacturers.
In November 2018, he took over the head of Citroën’s design office, succeeding Alexandre Malval, who had moved to Mercedes-Benz. The first project he led entirely at Citroën was the C4 X, a 4-door version of the third-generation C4.
Three pillars to keep in mind when building this concept car…
On the Brussels show, at the presentation of the ELO and the subsequent talk we had with him, Pierre stressed that this concept car is first and foremost a laboratory of ideas. He also wants to demonstrate the three pillars of the design philosophy of this car; he told us: “The ELO must become your third place (after home and office – editor’s note) to live in which you must be able to play, work and rest ”
Work…
Pierre presented the ELO to us, showing the highlights of its design. “We start with a six seater”, with the driver in the center and two seats on both sides. The second row is made of three other seats.”
“Fold two seats under the rear seats and then you can rotate the driver’s seat 360 degrees, either for a good entry or when you want to work. Ideal for people who want to work – our first pillar – in another place than the office.”
Play…
“I told you the second pillar is play”, he continues. “The cooperation with Decathlon was so inspiring and led to new ideas and applications. We developed an app together with them. You can plan your trip, plan your weekend, so that you don’t forget anything that you need, you have electricity and (compressed) air for your bikes and toys…”
Compressed air and electricity for your E-bikes are provided…
Rest…
“The third pillar is rest. You fold the seats in the back row, and you have a flat floor. You then use two matresses, again an innovation from Decathlon. You inflate them to have perfect rigidity. We also have a larger screen that can unfold and we have a projector that is on the side of the car, and the little roof opens up at the back of the car to let you look at the stars in the sky.”
We asked him also about the cooperation with Decathlon on this project…
PD: “We liked Decathlon because we carry the same values.” was his answer. “Decathlon is innovating because it makes well designed and well thought products and is not reverting to expensive technologies. We worked together from the beginning to the end on this project, and it was a big learning experience for us.”
What are the futher design hallmarks of the ELO, we asked.
PD: “The car is compact, but has a lot of glass, which is very important both for the driver and people in the back, and more importantly, children.”
Can you tell us more about the materials used, we wanted to know.
PD: “Many materials are recyclable and we even recycled materials from the OLI for this project. Also the interior panels for example. They are also cheap and easy to replace when scratched due to intensive use…”
You took advantage of the EV architecture, we remarked…
PD: “Indeed, we could maintain very compact dimensions whilst offering much room. We could move driver forward, even putting him in the centre.”
We will see much of these solutions in forthcoming models?
PD: “Yes, this concept car is a laboratory of ideas, there is not one idea which we will not try to put into production. Of course, this is the beauty of our craft, of being a designer, is to make and develop many projects, and to put them on the road, and last but not least to sell them, because these concept cars are not made for us, but for the cliënt.
Needless to say it was a big pleasure for us to meet up again with Pierre Declercq, and see and admire his stunning concept car, the ELO.
In the next report on the Brussels Salon we will talk to Robert Lesnik, Director Exterior Design Mercedes-Benz and Oliver Löcher, Vice President Vehicle Engineering and Overall Vehicle Functions Mercedes-Benz Cars. Stay tuned!
The exhibition retraces this remarkable story, from the very first three-wheeled Benz (1886) to the spectacular AMG ONE, here on the photo.
The magnificent Autoworld Museum traditionally ends the year with a major exhibition. This year, the house with the good star, Mercedes, takes centre stage. You can admire all the cars which made the brand truly legendary, and this until 22nd of February 2026.
Indeed, Mercedes has quite something to celebrate: not only is the brand now 140 years old, but it celebrates also the 100th anniversary of the merger between Daimler and Benz.
The exhibition retraces this remarkable story, from the very first three-wheeled Benz (1886) to the spectacular AMG ONE. More than fifty vehicles, including several rare highlights, are brought together for the first time in Belgium, displayed across thematic zones that reveal the many faces of Mercedes-Benz.
We attended the press evening, and of course we took our Fujifilm camera along the exhibits. We show you here some remarkable cars, but you should definitely put a visit to Autoworld, housed in the magnificent Cinquantenaire monumental site.
You can start your tour with the 1886 Benz Patent-Motorwagen Replica. A replica indeed, as Mercedes had 100 replicas build in England, to celebrate the 100th birthday in 1986.
Carl Benz (1844 -1929) built the car and it contained quite a few novelties: fully elliptic springs were used at the back with chain drive on both sides. A simple belt system served as a single-speed transmission. The four-stroke engine was extremely light for the time, weighing about 100 kg. A large horizontal flywheel stabilized the power output. Nevertheless, Benz was cautious, and opted for 3 wheels because he was… as an engineer not really familiar with a 2-wheel steering mechanism (!). The vehicle was awarded the German patent number 37435, applied for on 29 January 1886. Everyone knows about the drive which his wife Bertha Benz made with this car to visit her mother. The first fully-fledged automobile drive ever… when you see the car in the flesh, you wonder how on earth this was ueberhaupt possible.
The unique Mercedes DNA was soon established…
When you stroll a few meters further, you stand eye to eye with a magnificent green 1937 Mercedes-Benz 540 K Sport Cabrio A (W29). The car was originally delivered to Alfred Krupp , and was early after the second world war sold to Prince Bernard, the husband of Queen Juliana of the Netherlands. Since he wanted his cars to be green, it was resprayed in his favorite color.
It was sold to a Swedish owner in 1953. Around 1990, Daimler-Benz meticulously restored the car to its original specification. The current owner has cherished this remarkable automobile since 1995.
Alongside the 540 K stands a 1961 220 S (W111) “Heckflossen”. This nickname stemmed from the rather timidly styled rear fins, which Mercedes apologetically commented as “helpful for parking”. This 220 S was revolutionary for its “safety cell”, truly representing a milestone in car design where front and rear crumple zones absorbed kinetic energy on impact. F1 Racing car engineer Rudolf Uhlenhaut had a major hand in the design of suspension and refining the handling of this beautiful car, and since my father owned one in these days, it is a car in which I learned to drive expertly. I still love the specific handling of this car, and I vividly remember a long drive with a 230 S “Universal” together with Autoworld Curator Leo Van Hoorick to visit the German Mercedes Benz museum, where I could enjoy behind the wheel the wonderful performance and stability in fast corners and at speed of this car. I think Leo fell immediately in love with this very car, and soon after he bought this car from the Mercedes Benz Belgium collection…and still owns it!
Royal transport: the 600 “Pullmann”
Strolling a bit further, one stands eye to eye with royal transport. Indeed, this car has served exclusively at the Belgian Royal Court, and is known as the “King Baudouin.”
This car, designed by the Frenchman Paul Bracq, (he also designed the iconic “Pagode” 230 SL) did not undergo a single modification during its 18-year career, undoubtedly due to its modern styling. It is equipped with air conditioning and a hydraulic system that controls, among other things, power steering, braking, and the hydraulic windows. Production began in 1964, and more than 600 variants were built until 1972. The production continued, albeit at a slower pace, until 1981. In total, 2,677 units were produced of which 487 long-wheelbase Pullmans. (overall length 6,240 mm).
A F1 Mercedes for the road…
Sensational to admire is the 2025 Mercedes AMG-One. It is a hybrid supercar, nothing else actually than a F1 car adapted for road use. Behind the driver rests a 1,6 litre V6 turbo engine sourced from the Mercedes F1 car. But that is not enough: it also has four electric motors, which results in a total power delivery of 1062 HP and a top speed of 352 km/h. All this is not exceptional anymore in our dizzying EV age, but it stays quite impressive of course. The car made its debut on the 2017 IAA show in Frankfurt, but putting this complex drivetrain into production appeared to be a quite formidable task. So series production actually started only in August 2022. Only 275 units were planned, and of course they were completely sold out long before actual production began. The demand for this car was far higher, but AMG and Mercedes maintained the original production run, also to keep the car very exclusive.
A tribute to Stirling Moss: the 2009 Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren “Stirling Moss” (R199).
Your servant has vivid memories of this iconic British champion when he participated in the historic Mille Migilia in the official Mercedes factory team, alongside Stirling Moss. Together with my father, we drove the works 180 D “ponton”, which was far more comfortable and cooler that the 300 S Panamericana which Stirling Moss steered along the 1000 mile course. “You were having fun”, he commented, “you could drive virtually the whole course flat out!”
We like the panache and the contours of the car here which is built in his honour. Stirling drove this car on the 2009 Goodwood festival of speed.
This limited edition variant uses a speedster styling that does not include a roof or a windscreen. The car is designed by Korean designer Yoon Il-hun and is of course inspired by the 300 SLR race car. The SLR Stirling Moss was to be the last series of the McLaren SLR built under the partnership between Mercedes-Benz and McLaren.
he car is approximately 200 kg lighter than the standard model thanks to carbon fibre construction and speedster styling. All 75 cars planned to be produced were completed by December 2009. It was available only to the existing SLR owners and each car cost in excess of US$1 million. This one was driven and signed by Stirling Moss in Goodwood in 2009….
Autoworld curator Leo Van Hoorick (left) and Mercedes Benz Cars PR Bastien van Den Moortel guided us expertly through the exhibition…
But of course there is much more to be seen of stunning Mercedes cars in Brussels Autoworld. As said, the exhibition runs until February 22nd. Not to be missed…
In the vast “palaces” of the iconic Brussels Expo, the 10th edition of this event proved quite popular, with no less than 29.472 enthusiasts admiring the four-wheeled classics. Special theme of the show was the celebration of the looks, fury and sound of the V12 engine, which is of course at home in many supercars. The good news is that these wonderful engines are here to stay, as our Brussels EU politicians are going to allow combustion engines to live on after 2035…
The festival of supercars: a Koeningsegg was admired by many…
The show also focused on the 75th anniversary of Formula 1. Many supercars were therefore to be seen on the show, and this inspired the organiser MECC Maastricht to provide a special “Supercar Foyer” at the InterClassics Maastricht, which is to be held from 15 to 18 January in Maastricht.
International character
Organiser Erik Panis also mentions the international character of the show, and indeed, it is becoming one of the hallmarks of the Brussels event. It has now grown to the biggest indoor classic car event in the Benelux. Also, if you look at the number of cars which changed hands on the show, one notes that the classic car sector is still growing…
BEHVA promotes youth education…
One of the important partners of MECC is the Belgian Historic Vehicle Association (BEHVA). They worked actively to support students and teachers in car maintenance, repair, and service. Indeed, without the (specialized) professional mechanical and service know-how in repair and workshops and classic car care centres, the classic car industry and sector simply cannot survive and have a good future.
Many beauties were to be found on the show, and our beloved Royal Historical Vehicle Club Belgium, which had put up a beautiful stand at the InterClassics show, won a special prize with a well-preserved Lincoln Continental Mark II built in 1957. The club also celebrated its 50 years of existence…
The body, interior, and chassis of this Continental are totally original; of course, the mechanics underwent a thorough overhaul to make it roadworthy and reliable. For Emmanuel de Menten, (here far left in the photo), the proud owner of this Lincoln with classic “European” and Latin/Italianate styling language, hence the name “Continental”, owning this car is the fulfillment of a child’s dream…
On the photo below you see the counselor and member of the executive committee of Autoworld Brussels, Leo Van Hoorick, handing over the Special Price of the BEHVA Jury to RHVCB President Michel Van Eesbeeck.
Celebrating 50 years of VW Polo…
Your servant vividly remembers driving the Audi 50 as a test car, and soon after I sat behind the wheel of the first Polo, a more dressed down version of the Audi sister model, launched in 1975. The original Polo 1 was sold in not less than 1,1 million units, and was built, including a facelift, until 1981. Of course, the history of the Polo merits a special article by itself and we will come back on this.
We limit ourselves here to the remarkable Polo models on the VW stand of the show, the Polo Harlekin and the Polo R WRC.
The story of the “Harlekin” is a special one. When the third generation of the Polo was introduced in 1994, Volkswagen also launched its modular production system. This allowed some parts to be exchanged with other models and brands within the group.
To highlight this approach, a small group of production engineers decided to fit ten Polos with body parts of different colours, and the Wolfsburg marketing department liked the idea and decided to make a limited production run for the German market. In total, from 1995 to 1997, 3.806 units were built, with 103 extra right hand drive Polos for the UK market.
The Polo R WRC is an icon of the World Rally Championship! Over four seasons, this car ensured that Volkswagen Motorsport and its beloved duo Sébastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia won four world titles for manufacturers, and the same number for drivers and co-drivers. Of the 52 rallies in which the Polo R WRC participated, the car won 43 (or 82.7%) and at least one of its drivers finished on the podium 50 times.
The Polo R WRC, which is showcased at the Belgian VW Club stand during InterClassics, is the car that Sébastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia used in 2013. The 1.6-litre turbo engine produces around 315 hp, a power that is transmitted to all four wheels via a sequential gearbox. Good for a sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in less than four seconds!
You can write the next InterClassics Brussels in your agenda: it is scheduled from 20 to 22 november next year!
Italy is the birthplace of style and elegance, and this Grande Panda truly shows it. We personally love it and both the exterior and cabin styling solutions have won our hearts. It truly stands out in character and practicality and shows many competitors how a compact B-segment car can also be designed and built.
The Grande Panda Elettrica runs on the Stellantis compact EV platform, which it shares with the Citroën C3 (Aircross) and Opel Corsa/Frontera.
It has a 44 kW battery, and a 83 kW/113 HP electric motor. Perfect for town driving, where the less ideal aerodynamic boxy bodywork doesn’t spoil the fun. This means that in town, a practical range of some 300 km is quite realistic.
On the open road and certainly on the motorway, you better have a somewhat lighter foot, as the wind resistance pushes the consumption higher into 18-19 kW/100 km, reducing the range below 220 km.
The engineers wisely limited the top speed to some 132 km/h, which is totally reasonable. Cruising around 110 km/h will get you around 250 km useable range. The WLTP consumption is quoted at 16,8 kW/100 km. Charging on an 11 kW charger will cost 4,5 hours from zero to a full battery.
The Grande Panda is very much in its element both in town and on the open road. It steers light and precise, is quite comfortable on city pavés and is also remarkably silent, also at speed.
The electric engine is smooth and inaudible, just a faint whirr is heard when it recuperates energy when slowing down. Wind and tyre roar increase with speed, but it never gets obtrusive.
A model of the original Panda, remembering the banked round curves of the famous “pista” on top of the iconic original Fiat factory in Turin…
Besides the silence and smoothness of the electric engine, one can also enjoy the zest and power offered by the 83 kW motor. It will sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in just over 11 seconds, but actually the intermediate accelerations tell you the whole story: accelerating from 60 to 100 km/h costs slightly over 6 seconds…
Handling is quite good and predictable. This Panda doesn’t mind to drive with speed on winding roads, with good motorway stability also guaranteed.
A pleasant cabin
So much for the driving part. Stepping into the car one enjoys the modern and stylish “ambiance” of the interior. Well done! We liked the styling elements and surface texture of the glove box, the square shaped ventilation openings, the layout of digital dashboard screen and the 10,25 inch centre screen. Everthing is simple, yet there is every information you will ever need.
Of course, no navigation is provided, so the apps on your phone will via Apple Car Play or Android Auto will have do the work. It also pays to have an app on your phone which shows charging stations…
There is plenty of room on the dashboard to put your stuff and the centre console has room for your phone. Two USB C slots are provided in front near the centre console.
We liked the “Panda”lettering on the seats, and the front seats were pleasantly soft and comfortable. We were further seduced by the evident controls of heating and ventilation: three round knobs, which were a child’s play to use… When the battery is charged more than 30 pct, you can even pre-heat your Panda in the morning.
Also in the rear there is enough room for two rather tall adults. The luggage space is also more than adequate with 361 liters, with the rear seat down this increases to 1315 liters. The charging cables have no separate space, so they occupy the boot…
Conclusion
If you are looking for a B segment car which stands out in style, then this Grande Panda is the one to look at. It offers enough room for four adults and their luggage, is a dream to drive in town and will let you tour through Europe in comfort.
Its personality will let you enjoy EV motoring, that’s for sure, and last but not least, the price will also make you smile…
Hans Knol ten Bensel
Photographers’ notes
The photos were taken in abysmal rainy and windy autumn weather, where a camera and lens which performs well in low light conditions is paramount. It also pays to have a chamois at hand to keep your camera and lens dry..
We used again our Sony Alpha 5100 with the Zeiss Vario Tessar E 4/16-70 ZA OSS lens, and it delivered again wonderfully with sharp photos having good contour contrast.
We used a second camera which is a long time favorite, the wonderfully compact and stylish Fujifilm X10, having a Fujinon aspherical lens, 7.1-28.4 mm, f. 2 to 2.8. This boils down to 28-112 mm for 35 mm equivalent. The large lens opening makes it an excellent candidate for low light situations. The sensor of the Fujifilm X10 is now 13 years old, and it is a 12 MP 2/3 CMOS X-TRANS I Sensor, but still holds its own wonderfully.
The desktop shot here of the X10 was taken with the Fujifilm Finepix S100FS Bridge Camera, with a 28-400 Fujinon zoom lens, which we bought used some years ago, for… 75 Euros (!). The handheld shot was taken at 1/40 sec, with f at 3,2, and sensitivity set at 800 ASA.The camera has, of course, image stabilization and an 11,1 MP sensor, which proves to be quite sufficient in many situations… We still think it is an impressive camera, considering also its massive zoom range and having also film simulation built in, letting you choose between Provia, Velvia and Soft and Portrait modes. On top of that you can choose between High, Mid and Low colour profiles and of course Black & White.
Autoprova - for the Connaisseur 