Category: Automobilia

We drove the Alfa Romeo Tonale MHEV: fit for a long love affair…

Posted in Automobilia, Car News, Car technology, Car Tests, Design, Lifestyle, New ModelsLeave a comment

The Alfa Tonale will always be a car close to my heart. Not least because I stood by its cradle, I have literally seen it born.

I was invited at the Centro Stile Alfa Romeo by Chief designer Klaus Busse and his team when the plaster and wood prototype of the Tonale was just finished. We admired its typical proportions in tune with the higher stance of an SUV, with a horizontal accent line reminiscent of the styling language of the famous ‘Disco Volante’ two seater, created by Carrozzeria Touring back in 2013 and the original Disco Volante 1900 C52 born 1952 also designed by the Milanese coachbuilder Carrozzeria Touring…

In these columns you can also read our driving impressions of the 4WD Tonale Hybrid, which we tested on the Balocco proving ground and its surroundings. This time we took the ‘Mild’ hybrid FWD version for you on a road test through France. Does it offer the unmatched panache of a true Alfa?

Just read on…

Hans Knol ten Bensel

Sliding behind the wheel one is immediately engulfed by the Alfa atmosphere. Behind the classic Alfa three-spoked steering wheel, your fingers meet two very large gearchange paddles, the very same as one finds on other Alfas and Maserati’s. Round dials greet you, embedded in two large clusters. Nice! The starting knob is nestled on the left branch of the steering wheel, the DNA selector sits close to the driver’s side on the centre console. All this befits a true thoroughbred.

Smooth power

Pushing the start button will fire up the 48 V hybrid system, and the first few meters are driven on EV power from the 0.8 kWh battery. From the size of this battery one can really understand this is a (very) mild hybrid. Just to put things in perspective, the battery on my Lexus CT 200h, a model which was launched in 2011, is a 1.3 kWh nickel-metal hydrid (NiMH) one. The Audi Q5 Hybrid – launched back in 2014 – also had a capacity of 1.3 kWh. By the way, the big Mercedes E400 Hybrid, launched back in 2014, had (only) a battery with a capacity of 0,8 kWh, the same as the Tonale.

A smaller capacity battery has of course its advantages is size and weight. The battery here has a volume of about 11 liters and does not affect the size of the trunk because it is installed under the central tunnel, between the front seats. It weighs only 13,5 kg by the way. The “dual voltage” system with DC/DC converter from 48 to 12 Volts manages the interface with the electrical architecture of the Alfa.

In the Tonale, the battery drives a 48-volt 15-kW and 55-Nm “P2” electric motor. (135 Nm thanks to the 2.5:1 transmission ratio). Indeed, after the initial start, very soon the 1,5 litre four cylinder sets in. The transition from E-power to engine power is very smooth indeed, as the 1.5 liter-gasoline engine with a variable-geometry turbocharger is paired with 7-speed Alfa Romeo TCT dual-clutch transmission as well as the electric motor. In stop start situations at traffic jams, the Tonale is able to drive solely on E-power, but indeed, not for long, due to the limited capacity of the battery. Also as soon as one depresses the throttle a little bit deeper because more traction power is wanted, the engine sets in anyway.

One can choose between two power levels of the engine, either 160 HP or 130 HP. The “edizione Speziale” equipment version of our test car can be had with both power versions. We would think that performance wise, the Tonale leaves nothing to be desired. In the 160 HP version, you will shoot from 0 to 100 km/h in merely 8,8 seconds and reach a top speed of over 210 km/h. With the milder 130 HP version, the Tonale is no sluggard either, as our test car amply showed. The acceleration time from 0 to 100 km/h is 9,9 seconds, and the top speed is a good 195 km/h. The engine sound is marvelous, and very well dampened. It never is obtrusive, on the contrary, it is quite melodious, and will please not only the Alfa aficionados.

The iconic DNA selector lets you choose between Dynamic, Naturale and the Advanced efficiency modes…

The engine, which redlines at 6500 rpm, is also turbine-like smooth and exempt from any vibrations.  At cruising speeds, it is almost inaudible. Alfa quotes an average WLTP consumption of 5.6 – 6.2 l/100 km. We managed an average consumption of 6,9 liters. Higher (cruising) speeds cost some fuel, and the Tonale invites to it… On secondary roads and slower urban speeds, the consumption hovers with some anticipative and smooth driving easily between 6 and 6,5 liters. We can only repeat ourselves that the driving style greatly influences your fuel consumption…

Acceleration at intermediate speeds is excellent and smooth, with the large gearchange paddles of course inviting you to intervene manually and let the engine “sing” in its ideal rev range when hurtling up and down mountain passes. Pulling power of the engine is quite good, as it develops 240 Nm of torque.

Curve master…

Indeed, on winding roads the Tonale really comes into its own, with its direct steering, (Alfa tells us it’s the most direct steering in its segment with a 13,6:1 ratio) and excellent suspension. The Tonale Hybrid has the Alfa Romeo Dynamic Torque Vectoring and FSD (Frequency Selective Damping) shock absorbers as standard equipment. We drove this Alfa on the mountain roads in the French Massif Central, also on the legendary Col de Burzet and the stretch towards the plateau at Lachamp Rafaël, an iconic stage in the Monte Carlo Rally, and it was a delightful experience. Stable, precise, virtually no body roll and excellent responsiveness, these were the ingredients which put a smile on our face.

Also the brakes earn a word of praise. The Alfa Romeo Tonale adopts the Integrated Brake System (IBS), an electromechanical system that combines stability control with conventional servo brakes. The system guarantees instantaneous brake response thanks to the integration between electronics and mechanics, together with weight optimization, optimal feeling and the total absence of pedal vibrations. In addition, the IBS manages the imperceptible blending between regenerative braking (to maximize energy recovery) and dissipative braking (achieved through the braking system).

What’s more, the Tonale adopts standard fixed calipers by Brembo, with 4 pistons and self-ventilated discs at the front and full discs at the rear.

…with dynamic vectoring

The front-wheel drive Tonale has standard an electronic self-locking differential. The system is built into the DNA selector and exploits the effect of the braking system by simulating a limited mechanical differential. It certainly works beautifully. It brings effective driving dynamics by controlling the vehicle stability, and by redirecting the power to the wheels when accelerating on corners. The system also provides improved greater control on slippery surfaces, as well as greatly reducing understeer, transferring torque from the inner to the outer wheel, ensuring better longitudinal acceleration and consequently better road holding. This Alfa feels truly nimble and can be thrown around corners in total confidence.

 Alexa assists you on (all) the way…

The Tonale has Amazon’s Alexa voice system built in. So you enjoy hands-free, voice-initiated interactions. Infotainment is further of course top notch with a customizable Android operating system and 4G connectivity with Over-the-Air (OTA) updates. This system includes a fully digital 12.3” screen, the main 10.25” touchscreen unit which is totaling 22.5”. The Alfa Romeo Tonale enables Level 2 autonomous driving by combining the “Intelligent Adaptive Cruise Control” (IACC) and “Lane Centering” (LC) systems and the forward-facing camera, which longitudinally and laterally monitors all the car’s surroundings.

We also appreciated the dual-zone air conditioning, pleasant ambient light, sophisticated infotainment system, ventilated and heated front seats, and a formidable 14-speaker sound system by Harman Kardon. The reception of the radio is also quite good, even on FM. We were able to listen to France Musique and France Culture with crystal clear reception in mountainous areas…  The Tonale also has an electric tailgate and a wireless charging pad.

Conclusion

The Mild Hybrid Tonale is every inch a true Alfa, which is an excellent drivers’ car with formidable handling, combined with mechanical sophistication, docility and very good urban manners. It is also reasonably economical, provided you adopt a more sedate driving style. Finish and build quality is up to scratch, and equipment in our tested “speziale” equipment version is lavish to say the least.

Hans Knol ten Bensel

Awards for Alfa Romeo and Jeep…

Posted in Automobilia, Car Events, Car News, Car presentations, Lifestyle, New ModelsLeave a comment

There are smiling faces at Alfa Romeo: the iconic Giulia wins the “mid-size import” category in the readers’ competition of the magazine “auto motor und sport ” . The victory in “Best Cars 2023” is already the sixth success for the Alfa Romeo Giulia in the past seven years.

18 candidates were put to the test by the readers of “auto motor und sport” in the “mid-size import” category, and the Giulia was a winner with 19,5% of the votes.

Also the new Alfa Romeo Tonale proved a favorite. It just missed out on victory by only 0,2% and scores a 2nd place in the category ‘Compact SUV – Importers’. The D-SUV Alfa Romeo Stelvio is also among the top 3 models in the category ‘Large SUV – Importers’.

The Jeep Avenger clearly has won the hearts of the femaile voters. The fully electric Jeep® Avenger is named Best Family SUV in 2023 Women’s World Car of the Year (WWCOTY) awards. A panel of 63 WWCOTY jurors from 45 countries selected the Avenger ahead of 12 other family SUVs.

In January, the Avenger was named European Car of the Year 2023. More than 12,000 units have been sold since the opening of orders for the 1st Edition on Dec 1, 2022 and then the full lineup on Jan 11th, 2023.

The WWCOTY jury praised the  Avenger for its “successful design and excellent off-road capability”, and for being “a commitment to the future that customers will appreciate”.

More news soon about the other WWCOTY winners…and we will next week have an extended testdrive with the plug in hybrid Tonale, we are looking forward to it, and soon you will read our comments!

Hans Knol ten Bensel

We drove the Nissan Qashqai e-power: enjoying the delights of EV driving…with no strings attached

Posted in Automobilia, Car News, Car presentations, Car technology, Car Tests, E-mobility R &D and solutions, New ModelsLeave a comment

We all know it too well: Battery powered full EV’s are just wonderful to drive, seducing you with their stream of vibrationless, quiet and instant EV power.

We also realize however that at least in Belgium and also in several European countries the public charging infrastructure seems to be still in its infancy, and when you don’t have a house with a driveway with your own charging unit, you can forget about fully enjoying your EV for private use.

Indeed, apartment or condominium inhabitants can also better look elsewhere: beefing up the power circuit in de building meets much resistance from the owners, and they also find the potential fire hazard of an EV car in their underground garage rather too big.

So if you want to sell a car to a wide public which wants to enjoy the EV smoothness, without the recharging troubles, then it is wise to develop a car such as this Qashqai “e-power.”

The Nissan engineers indeed took the hybrid concept a step further: the petrol engine, here a 1,5 litre three cylinder unit,  just generates electricity and the wheels are therefore only driven by an electric motor. Does it all work fine? Just read on…

Hans Knol ten Bensel

Full Hybrid the Nissan way…

Let’s tell it right away, this is definitely one of the very smoothest hybrids I have ever driven. Indeed, total EV smoothness is achieved as there is only the electric motor powering the car. This electric motor is good for 140 kW with a torque of not less than 330 Nm. So this Qashqai is indeed well powered, as the performance figures clearly show. This Nissan will accelerate smoothly from 0 to 100 km/h in merely 7,9 seconds, reaching an electronically governed top speed of 170 km/h.

The engine – the Nissan KR15DDT unit , a 1498 cm3 3 cylinder unit with direct injection, DOHC and CVTCS (Continuously Variable Timing Control System), is very well insulated and indeed is almost inaudible, adding greatly to the pleasant feel of driving a fully fledged EV. Just for the record, it develops 116 kW / 158 PS / at 4600 rpm, torque is 250 Nm between 2400 and 4400 rpm.

Nissan also names this engine ‘VC Turbo’, with those first two letters standing for Variable Compression. The engineers went to very great lengths: instead of conventional connecting rods, the pistons are joined to the crankshaft through motor-driven, multi-link devices which vary the top and bottom dead centre positions of the pistons. This allows to adopt a high compression when performance is wanted, or low compression to improve fuel economy. Soo clever!

But how about fuel efficiency and consumption? As there are invariably losses in the drivetrain in the generation of the electric energy, you are well advised to adopt a smooth driving style, driving with anticipation in order to save as much kinetic energy as possible. The less kW the engine has to generate given a certain distance, the better it is.

Of course, the hybrid concept in this Qashqai has also efficiency gains when the urban pace is low and involves many stops.

Simply because under these circumstances the EV motor does all the work, with the combustion engine recharging the battery under ideal load and revs, computer controlled of course. Indeed, only with the advent of electronic management of the drivetrain is this possible, but this has now been the case for many years, and has already been proven millions of times. It is good to note too that the e-power Qashqai has a 2.1kWh battery, which is somewhat larger than most non plug-in hybrids.

Therefore the Qashqai can achieve good efficiency in urban traffic, where we achieved a consumption between 6 and 6,5 l/100 km. On the open road, the engine has to feed rather more the electric motor with electricity, so when speeds are moderate, say up to 100 km/h, it is still possible to stay in the 6 litres/100 km range. 

It is only on the motorway at high cruising speeds that things are getting a bit awkward. The motor has then to feed the e-power to the electric motor for real, and this means averages between 7 and 7,8 l/100 km. So, what’s the verdict? EV smoothness and “zen” character of the drivetrain is yours indeed to enjoy fully, and we loved the Qashqai e-power for it. The consumption however will not break records here. You just need a very sensitive right foot and the constant awareness that developing kinetic energy costs money at the pump, and that you have to retain it as much as you can, adopting an anticipative driving style. Certainly in urban traffic the fuel economy is very creditable indeed…

You have many choices in driving this Nissan: The D-Mode lets you select between normal, power and eco, the EV button lets you use the electric motor in urban driving conditions as much as possible, and the e-pedal lets the electric motor act as a generator when you lift the throttle…

The qualities of a bestseller…

Did you know that in the UK the Qashqai is a bestseller in its segment? By the way, it is built in the Nissan factory in Sunderland, UK, where also the Juke and the Leaf roll of the production lines.

We can understand its success, as this SUV, which we tested in the Tekna top equipment version, has all the qualities to put a (broad) smile on your face. It has a very readable head-up display, a 12.3-inch ‘Nissan Connect’ touchscreen infotainment system, a powered rear tailgate and a of course many driver assistance functions. We liked the classic round dials, instrumentation buffs as we are, and also the good mix between touchscreen functions and physical knobs and levers.      

It is also practical, offering you a boot space of 505 litres, and it has very wide opening doors, a boon for mothers with toddlers which have to be heaved in the baby seats.

Comfort

This Nissan is very well insulated from engine and road/wheel noise, and the suspension is comfortable at speed. In urban driving situations on our Belgian inner city tram rails and ridges the suspension is rather firm, but feels never obtrusive. Of course the Tekna top equipment level leaves very little to desire indeed, including a very good sound system, which we enjoyed to the full in this marvelously quiet car.

This Qashqai really convinced us by combining the wonderful qualities of EV driving with the limitless mobility a fuel powered combustion engine offers us. We must admit that your servant regretted to part with it…

Hans Knol ten Bensel

Formula 1 drivers Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu test the Alfa Romeo Tonale Plug-In Hybrid Q4…

Posted in Automobilia, Car Events, Car News, Lifestyle, New Models, Sports and RacingLeave a comment

The entire Alfa Romeo F1 Team met in Hinwil, the location of Sauber Motorsport, for their annual preseason retreat.

The drivers Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu there took part in an unconventional test drive of the Tonale Plug-In Hybrid Q4. They were involved in a reactivity test on a track in which a series of “doors” were progressively illuminated by sensors which, with the passing of the vehicle, progressively turned on and determined its route.

We can understand that they could not resist the temptation: I drove this formidable Tonale at its presentation on the scenic roads around Balocco, where I had also enjoyed behind the wheel a magnificent speed handling test on the circuit of Balocco, tasting the agility and driving dynamics, its 280 HP total power and formidable grip of the Q4 all-wheel drive of this “bolide”. See the full report on the presentation on https://autoprova.be/2022/11/17/we-drove-the-alfa-romeo-tonale-plug-in-hybrid-q4-in-balocco-the-wonderful-panache-of-todays-efficient-sportiness/.

The iluminated cones formed the “portals” or “doors” which formed the test circuit with many curves…

Indeed the grip in the both narrow and wide corners was masterful, and the acceleration between corners is nothing short of amazing. Know that this Tonale accelerates from 0 to 100 km in merely 6,5 seconds. Soon we will take this beautiful Tonale for a longer test drive, so stay tuned on these pages!

Hans Knol ten Bensel

We spoke with Béatrice Foucher, Brand Chief Executive Officer of DS Automobiles…

Posted in Automobilia, Car manufacturers strategy, Car presentations, Concept Cars, Design, Fashion, Interviews, Lifestyle, men women and carsLeave a comment

We met already Mme Béatrice Foucher at the presentation of the DS 4 last year in Chantilly, where she presented the strategy of DS Autombiles at the “DS Week” event…

DS Automobiles is carving a fine niche for itself in the premium segment. Your servant appreciates the refinement, comfort and last but not least the style of these fine DS automobiles. You can understand that we were delighted to meet Mme Béatrice Foucher at the presentation of the DS 4 in the “DS week” last year in Chantilly. Then, the entire press presentation of this noble automobile was in line with its qualities: we were not only able to meet Mme Béatrice Foucher personally at dinner, together with the communications people of the brand at lunch, we also had interesting workshops with the designers, engineers and last but not least the craftsmen and artists who make the DS 4 into the hand made four wheeled gem it is. You can read more about this event in our columns, see https://autoprova.be/2021/09/05/we-had-a-first-drive-with-the-elegant-ds-4-the-electrified-future-has-arrived-at-ds-automobiles/

At the Brussels Salon this year, we were again invited to have an interview with her. Just read further…

Hans Knol ten Bensel

A prototype of the DS 4 was displayed in Chantilly, symbol indeed of French “Savoir faire”…

HKtb: I have to congratulate you on your client approach and your philosophy to extend the refinement of your cars, not only in its external styling, but also in the interior.

BF: Indeed, that is our “raison d’être”, it is a combination of technology and the French “savoir faire” or know-how. Indeed, after having admired the exterior, customers must open the door of our cars, like for instance the DS4, see the new leather, the new solutions in the interior we developed in the DS3, the new DS7. From the next year onwards, we are going to create what we call collections, like there exist in the world of fashion.

The stunning interior of the DS prototype seen last year in Chantilly. Look at the contours and wood lined finish of the seats. A harbinger of things to come?

HKtB: We see here on the Salon, the very stylish DS E-Tense Performance 600 kW prototype, are there details of this car we will see in the production models?

BF: This will be more for the exterior than the interior, its bodywork lines which will be seen on our cars from 2024 onwards.(See our photo below of this prototype)

HKtB: But you emphasize the “savoir faire” Français, the French art of life…in automotive mobility.

BF: Indeed, that’s it. This lies in the materials we use, the art of treating them and producing exquisite textures. The French know-how in terms of stock market value lies now in the companies producing luxury goods, who have an established international reputation. This know-how is internationally recognized and appreciated, and this we put into our cars. Indeed, we see the car as a part of the interior one lives in, a part of one’s private home, and so the satisfaction and the reason people buy our cars is this choice of materials which appeals to them.

The reasons why our clients buy a DS is first of all the design, both as well exterior as interior, as this is a car which tells something about them. The second element is the elegance and the luxury and last but not least, the comfort. These are the three aspects which make people purchase a DS. The level of satisfaction is very high; clients are very pleased with their choice.

HKtB: Are your clients mostly women?

BF: No! When we look at the statistics, we have the same share of male clients than the other premium brands, even for the DS3, which appeals only slightly more to women. The reason why our clients buy a DS is because it’s a French premium brand, they like a different car in this premium segment, and indeed, the (male) clients show the car to their spouses, they enter the car, and they fall for it. So indeed we have a female clientele “on the second row”, they have a strong influence in the choice of the car which doesn’t show in the statistics.

HKtB: When cars are too feminine, women (and men) don’t necessarily buy it…

BF: Indeed, but as soon as the cars embody a social statement, as premium cars do, the (sexual) codes are not important. We put forward the codes of “savoir faire” Français, of luxury, of refinement, which appeals to both men and women.

HKtB: Indeed, a Cartier watch also appeals to men…

HKtB: The successes of your involvement in the Formula E racing does not really translate into the image of the brand…it did not create the “Audi” effect.

BF:  You mentioned Audi. Now their Quattro was a car entering in rallies with iconic figures behind the wheel. Rallies are very popular. We are a young brand, dating from 2014, we chose the Formula E because it tells the story of our brand, with its fast and early move towards electrification. Formula E is not as popular as F1 for example, but it is iconic and indeed quite amusing and interesting.

I mention also here that the DS 7 360 or the DS9 is built by the DS Performance team. This means that besides the drivetrain which is shared with Peugeot, everything else is specific, it has a unique “feel” on the road and offers an exceptional handling. We also optimized the regeneration also on this car, which clients consider important. But indeed, we don’t have decades of sporting history to tell here…

HKtb:  Also the typical DS client is not the one who drives (very) fast or seeks the ultimate in performance…

BF: Indeed, this is what we want, and that’s the reason why we call it also “the art of the voyage”. The quality of the time you spend in the car is important. The satisfaction enjoying the comfort of a car being surrounded by noble materials. Of course, you have not less than 360 HP. I can use them if I want it, but what is offered here with this car to me is comfort and refinement. One has more than enough power at hand, but it is not an issue.

HKtb: Are your clients young, and is connectivity important for them?

BF: Our clients are not young, which is the case for all premium brands, if one looks at the B to C statistics, they are between 58 and 60 years old, the B to B is younger, from 45 to 50 years, let’s say. Everybody wants to be seen as an amateur of technology, being a “technophile”, because one thinks that if you don’t love technology, you are missing out. So everyone wants a car which is up to this. It is a social statement of modernity. I tell to my teams, the value of a car is nowadays 50 % hardware and 50 % software.

HKtB: This digitalization takes still further steps, like is shown by BMW with its “Neue Klasse” with screen wide displays and dashboard instrumentation and touch knobs and buttons reduced to the minimum, as the underlying digital menus are doing the rest.

BF: Our philosophy is very clear and we showed it also on our concept car, it is to say that what makes the value of our cars is that when you open the door, you have the impression to enter in a Bugatti. We have refinement, savoir faire, and this we want to stress even more in the future. Of course we consider also the increasing digital infotainment needs, as a modernist social statement, but we want this digital element to disappear when the client wishes so. If you enter the car, there is nothing on the screen. Only when you put the contact, the screen appears. That is our philosophy and our goal. Because at a certain point, showing a plethora of screens is not premium. The faculty of having the information appear and again discreetly disappear is premium. This is the direction in which we work. Of course, we need the technology to make this happen.

HKtb: What I would also look for in future DS automobiles is incredible sound…

BF: We made a partnership with Focal, installed in our higher equipment versions like the Rivoli line, which reaches already very good sound quality… of course we have now more silent, electrified or fully electrified cars, which makes this even more important. Everybody works on this, and we also work with partners who have built an enviable reputation in pure sound management. You will see more in the future…

HKtb: When I travel on a motorway, in a certain region, I would like to tune in on my sound system for cultural, historic or general information about where I travel.

BF: This fits in our philosophy of cultivating “the art of the voyage”, and this is also want the digitalization to bring us. My name I Beatrice, and I want to know about the culture, or art places to visit in the region or city where I travel. This is what connectivity should give me.  

 HKtb: I thank you for this interview.   

Hans Knol ten Bensel

We drove the Citroën C5X 1.2 Pure Tech 130 S&S: the legend lives on…

Posted in Automobilia, Car technology, Car Tests, Design, Lifestyle, New ModelsLeave a comment

We all know that the segment of the “grandes berlines” or the bigger saloons is under pressure. But then Citroën has a tradition to defend: making cars which provide splendid comfort, ample space for its passengers and can travel at speed for hours on end, without any fatigue for its occupants. The French call it “une grande routière”, and they whisper this with some respect. The tradition in France has been long, and magnificent. They have had in the ‘30s les grandes Bugatti, Voisin, Hotchkiss, Delahaye, and of course from the mid fifties of last century onwards the Citroën DS 19, Pallas 21. Then came the stylish CX, followed the XM and then by the iconic C6, a “voiture présidentielle” if there was one. So a “grande berline” simply MUST be on the menu. And indeed, there it is: the C5X.

The C5 X comes with different drivetrains, more powerful and electrified, but the dynamic Citroën Belgium PR team reserved for us the “base” version, with the well proven and pretty formidable 1 199 cm3 three cylinder 12 valve 131 HP engine coupled to an 8 speed automatic gearbox. Well proven we say, as this engine/gearbox combination is found in a great many models of the Stellantis group. It is found in Opels, DS Automobiles, Peugeot…and of course other Citroëns’. Does the C5X with this combination still have all the panache of a “grande routière?” Let’s see…

Hans Knol ten Bensel

Impressive stance…

But first let’s have a walk around the car, and have a look at its aesthetics. It stands rather high on its wheels, so you cannot define it as an ordinary saloon. It rather has the looks of an SUV with its up to 19 inch wheels, and protections running around the wheel arches. When you look at its descending roofline, it also has the character of a luxury coupé.

On the front, a long chrome strip with the “double chevron” at its centre runs between the double headlights which are placed one above the other. Citroën describes the body shape of the C5 X typically as a hatchback crossover, and we would agree totally here.

In the interior, the dashboard has a rather classic layout, with small instruments facing the driver, spreading its information also on a clearly legible head up display. Luckily there is a large 12 inch touch screen display in the centre, with all the necessary functions well laid out, including the obligatory Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

Space

The strong point of the C5 X is of course its legendary interior space. Rear passengers find regal legroom and this puts this car truly in a (more than) premium league. All this space doesn’t come at the cost of boot space, which is in standard form still offering a good 545 litres, which is extendable to a whopping 1645 litres. Despite its higher stance, the loading sill is pleasantly low.

A pounding heart

If one wouldn’t know better, one gets the impression that a big, old school 2 litre four cylinder petrol engine is doing all the work; it is not exactly refined, as vibrations on partial load at lower revs are clearly felt in the steering wheel.

But once you put your foot deeper, the engine runs smoother, and the 8 speed automatic changes also less perceptible. The gearbox can be ultra smooth when accelerating gradually at low urban speeds, and the engine is not too rough either, and even almost inaudible. So the engineers did their homework in slow city driving circumstances. The stop start function can be jerky sometimes, but soon one learns to avoid that with a sensitive right foot. All this behavior lets you think back to the DS 21 and DS 23 Injections in the seventies, and when you have known these cars, it gives you the impression that it is typically Citroën, this engine efficiency with a hint of roughness. Because efficient this engine is. Consumptions between 6 and 7 litres are easy to obtain, given of course an anticipative driving style, avoiding sprint accelerations.

Not that this 1,2 litre, 1,4 tonne Citroën is slow. Remember, 130 HP is exactly what a flagship 1972 DS 23 injection 5 speed was capable of, and its torque with 210 NM was even less than the 230 Nm the 1,2 litre three cylinder puts to the front wheels. Don’t forget, the DS 23 had a 2347 cc engine…The DS5 will sprint from 0 to 100 in 11,3 seconds, the historic DS 23 took 11 seconds to do the same. Top speed of the C5 is 210 km/h, doing honor to the Citroën tradition of “grande routière”. The DS 23 Injection was teasing Porsches in their days with a top speed of 188 km/h.

The good torque characteristics of this 1,2 litre engine and the alert 8 speed gearbox lets you enjoy good punch for overtaking and gaining  speed.

Thankfully the climate controls are analog beneath the touchscreen…

The legendary suspension and comfort…

The strong point of the DS5, and this is where it continues the tradition, is its masterful behavior at (high) motorway speeds. Because here the suspension comes into play, and here, despite the fact that we don’t have an adjustable suspension in this “basic” version, the engineers did a masterful job and succeeded in giving this big Citroën exactly this floating carpet ride which is so typical of them. This indeed makes this car an absolute king of the road, come rain, sleet, slippery surfaces, the C5 always seems to float over it with unerring stability and comfort, and…at speed. Cornering is also no punishment for the driver either, even when you are in big hurry. Of course there is some leaning to be felt in corners, but then again this feels completely natural. 

When talking about comfort, we have to mention here the absolutely fantastic Citroën comfort seats, which really stand out.

The pinnacle of mobility…

There is one thing in which this 1,2 litre petrol engined C5 X truly excels too: it has just a petrol engine only, and this does result in mean less weight to carry around, but also, and this we tend to forget in our electrified age, it gives you absolute mobility. After a (very) fast 700 km trip, it just takes minutes to refuel, and you can continue your journey for as long (and fast) as you want. Your formidable “pure” EV than has to rest for AT LEAST one hour, provided you find the proper recharging station…for example in the cute village you entered in the Alpes Maritimes…

Citroën says less is more… the rest you can read on the head up display…

With the abysmal recharging infrastructure we will witness still for years to come, as it cannot keep up with the increasing volumes of EV cars, increasing, this is an element which cannot be stressed enough. The reason also why all manufacturers are offering also (plug in) hybrids…

Conclusion

Is this 1,2 litre C5 X a true “big” Citroën? You bet it is. All the way. We mentioned its strong points, and this indeed makes it a car which continues the legend with panache and unique bravour.

We also like its style, its value for money, its roominess, comfort, safe, unerring, stable handling. Of course the C5 X is also offered with more sophisticated drivetrains, like the 225 HP Plug in hybrid version, but you get already the real taste of what a big Citroën is all about, enjoying as we said absolute mobility  with this 1,2 litre petrol engined drivetrain…

Hans Knol ten Bensel

We spoke with Pierre Leclercq: “our Citroën Oli is not only style. It is French Design.”  

Posted in Automobilia, Car Events, Car manufacturers strategy, Car News, Car presentations, Car Shows, Car technology, Concept Cars, Design, Driving accessories, Environment, Fashion, Future car technology, Interviews, Lifestyle, New Models, Profiles, prototypes, Suppliers and car industryLeave a comment

On the Brussels Salon, Citroën showed its already iconic Oli prototype, a harbinger of things to come in the Citroëns which will be in the showrooms already this and next year. Reason enough for your servant to have a talk with its head of design, Pierre Leclercq, about the design philosophy of the progressive brand with the “double chevron”, and so much more…

Hans Knol ten Bensel

I started this interview asking indeed about this new design philosophy of the brand, striving towards simplicity, practicality, lightness, durability and sustainability in a very bold and original package.

PL: “With the Oli, there are two things. First there is the brand identity, as we show with the Oli styling elements which we will bring to the market as soon as this year. The front end, the new logo, the head- and rear lamps, also the coherence between the front and rear end. The latter is a very important element in our brand identity. (We have seen this already in the Ami – editor’s note).

The form language, the simplicity of the edges and the curves will also be seen on our future production cars, but then also the contrasting vertical elements will be present. Our designers will deviate here from the strictly automotive styling which you see in the other brands of the group, we have a non-automotive touch which will be a distinctive element in our future styling.

The magic goals of French Design…

The second fact is that the Oli is not just a styling exercise. It is not only style. It is really French Design. We work together with our engineers to reduce weight, the cost, we are striving for intuitive and simple solutions.

For instance the seats. It’s very important, we work with a whole team to get a seat which is very distinctive, which we can put into production. We discovered with the Oli that our clients are ready for these things. We see that our clients are ready to take bold steps together with us, because we have an image that we will bring something more on the road than just a nice looking car.

HKtB: This translates also into the choice of the materials, the dialogue with the suppliers about the substance and texture of the elements and their surfaces, their unique touch and feel, the atmosphere and character this gives to the car…

PL: We will be a zero carbon company in 2038, and this has a huge impact on materials. Not so long ago, the choice of the materials came very late in the process of building a car. The exterior and interior, the colors, it was seen as pure decoration. Here and there, one started to use recycled materials for some items, but that was it. This process is now completely turned around at Citroën. We now ask first to tell us which materials we can use, as we want recycled materials, unpainted, and we will go from there and adopt them. This is most interesting. And I think that our clients are also ready for this.

HKtB: These elements and this approach we also see in the Ami. The French, as even Mr. Tavares recently put it, love their individual mobility. The Ami is fit for the (mega)city… will there be other models geared for a new City Mobility in the spirit of the Oli?

We always search for new solutions…

PL:  We have many projects running now. It’s a bit like a funnel. When there is one project hitting the road, we have already other proposals in the pipeline. We are always searching for new solutions. If you remember, two years ago, we showed a rather disruptive project of robotized platforms, which is an intelligent use of the present day autonomous technology, in controlled urban areas. But I imagine perfectly in 2030 and 2035 that these solutions will be used in our cities. The design will then focus on the interior of the cabins and structures rolling on these platforms, a very interesting evolution.

The Ami represented a big risk for us, indeed, we thought about the city, but in fact, we scrutinized the clients who bought the Ami, age, location, etc, and we noticed that the Ami is not only used in the cities. We have clients who buy the Ami for their children and grandchildren, remember that in France you can drive an Ami at the age of 14, and it is better than a scooter. And in a market where these vehicles cost between 12 and 15.000 Euros, ours is available for 6.000 Euros… No small feat, as we respect the profitability margins of our group! It is now on the market for two years, and it has grown more into a lifestyle than a car. This is also what the 2 CV has achieved. It is not easy to create the same phenomenon in this day and age…

HKtB: Can you tell a bit more about your Ami buyers?

We have also many clients who buy an Ami for their holiday homes. And as I said, of course grandparents who buy the Ami for their grandchildren. There are also clients who own a Ferrari and buy an Ami for their third or fourth car…

HKtB: We talked earlier in Paris about your open mindedness towards other designers, in other sectors, who could become involved in offering elements of the car during its life, for example, that in a further future one could offer replacement seats for Oli’s or Citroëns who after years of intensive use get a bit long in the teeth… or, rather, offer parts and items to customize the new Citroëns…

PL: It’s a philosophy I love very much. People more and more want an object which is really theirs. Design is not a luxury anymore. If you go for an Ikea kitchen, you can still choose the finish, styling and colors you want, to make it yours. This is now also true for cars. We have started this with the Ami.

HKtB: It is also true for Jeep. Mopar offers a wide array of accessories.

PL: Indeed, this trend is already more prominent in the States. But with the Ami we started off in Europe with the same trend. Not that we offer many accessories, but we created a desire with the customer to customize his car. It’s like Apple. They don’t offer many accessories themselves, but are produced by Belkin etc. It is a very interesting path for our cars in the future. This will give us for instance incredible interiors. I want the client to appropriate our geometries. Why not share our geometries on the internet Open Space and invite the developers to have fun with it?

Every brand has its own design team to embody its proper DNA

HKtB: What is your relationship or rather dialogue between your styling department and the suppliers? Do they come present you what is possible, or after having established a manifest for yourselves what you want to do in styling in the next five years, let’s say, you ask them to come up with new materials, possibilities?

PL: The dialogue goes both ways. But I want to stress here that the design has become very important. The suppliers are specialized in offering technology, for instance for the platforms we have conceived within the group, but over the last 30 years, what have we done? Instead of asking PininFarina or Bertone to style all the cars in the world, we have all established our design centers which carry truly our DNA, and every brand has its own equipe or team of designers. This is génial, because we have cars within the group which don’t resemble each other at all…

HKtB: With the new materials comes also repair friendliness, durability…

PL: Indeed, we want our cars to have a longer lifespan, and we will refresh them within our network. We need of course more control as nowadays we don’t see the car anymore after it has been produced. We have to control the recyclability of the car. Otherwise it’s no use to build the car with recyclable materials.

HKtB: It think it is necessary to tell the client that his car now has a long life and that you as the manufacturer will follow the car throughout its life.

PL: Indeed, a lifelong car, staying with you the rest of your life.

HKtB: Indeed, that as a brand policy you commit yourself to the clients that your Citroën model, Type A, B, or whatever, that you will always follow this car for decades to come…

PL: Ca serait génial, that would be a stroke of genius. It is our goal. It would be very interesting and it would completely change the idea of the automobile of today.

HKtB:  The youth is already there. They support and adopt the circular economy. I think Citroën is the right brand to do this. 

PL: Indeed, we push within the Stellantis group for these concepts, and I think that our clients are far more inclined to make these choices than the buyers of other brands.

HKtB: I thank you for this interview. Thinking out of the box is always interesting.

PL: I thank you, always lovely to exchange these ideas, thank you for the conversation. I also think that every car we build has to make the life of our clients better. These are not empty words. The Ami improves lives. We offered a new service; in Paris, people smiled when they saw the car. It takes something to convince a Parisien!

Hans Knol ten Bensel

The Citroën C3 is the best-selling car in Belgium in 2022…

Posted in Automobilia, Car News, Car production and factories, Car ShowsLeave a comment

With 8,472 units registered in Belgium in 2022, the Citroën C3 is the most popular car in our country.  Citroën’s compact saloon is clearly very wanted for its pleasing size, which makes it easy to use in the city, its driving comfort and its original, empathetic design. Citroën’s compact sedan appeals to a large number of customers in Belgium, both individuals and companies.

“Citroën has always had a strong presence in Belgium,” says Damien Martin-Cocher, General Manager of the brand for the Belux market. “We are therefore pleased that our current range maintains this special connection with the Belgian public. The C3 is indeed very visible in the Belgian car landscape and we are very enthusiastic about it. We are on the eve of the 2023 Brussels Motor Show and we are convinced that we can use the success of the C3 to further strengthen Citroën’s position.”

Citroën builds further on is success and is planning a number of attractive offers for the Citroën C3 for the 2023 Brussels Motor Show. The C3 You! (e.g. equipped with air conditioning, BlueTooth radio and cruise control) is available from € 13,480 (€ 5,000 unconditional discount). More Citroën news soon!

Hans Knol ten Bensel

A look at Peugeot’s future products and electrification strategy with the INCEPTION CONCEPT…

Posted in Automobilia, Car Events, Car News, Car presentations, Car safety, Car Shows, Car technology, Concept Cars, Design, Environment, Future car technology, Future technologies, Lifestyle, New Models, prototypesLeave a comment

Featuring a revolutionary exterior and interior design, including the next-generation PEUGEOT i-Cockpit® and innovative Hypersquare control system with steer-by-wire technology, the INCEPTION CONCEPT will inspire PEUGEOT’s future products from 2025 onwards. The better news is that Peugeot plans to bring most of its innovations to production (!)

Based on the STLA Large platform, the fully electric INCEPTION CONCEPT is powered by a 100kWh battery providing a range of 497 miles. With two electric motors, the INCEPTION CONCEPT produces almost 680hp and accelerates from 0-62mph in under three seconds. The model also features 800V technology, enabling it to add 93 miles of range in just five minutes, and is capable of wireless induction charging.

Linda Jackson, CEO of the PEUGEOT brand, said: “PEUGEOT is committed to the electrification of its range. In 2023, our entire line-up will be electrified and in the next two years, five new 100% electric models will be launched. Our ambition is simple: to make PEUGEOT the leading electric brand in Europe by 2030. This objective and ambitious vision pave the way for a radical transformation for the brand, as represented by the INCEPTION CONCEPT.”

Indeed, PEUGEOT will reduce its carbon footprint by more than 50% by 2030 in Europe and to become fully Carbon Net Zero by 2038.

Over the next two years, PEUGEOT will launch five new 100% electric models and by 2030, all PEUGEOT cars sold in Europe will be electric.

Dramatic design

The PEUGEOT INCEPTION CONCEPT introduces a new, simpler and more refined design language for the brand, which will be introduced on future models from 2025. At the front, it features an all-new light signature incorporating PEUGEOT’s distinctive claw design, which is merged with the front grille to create a single object that also houses the sensors. This is made up of a single piece of glass with the logo in the centre, magnified by the 3D luminescent effect.  The front grille and headlamps are in my opinion a bit reminiscent of the ‘70s 504… 

A TECH BAR runs horizontally through the door layer. This flush screen emits different messages to the outside of the car when the driver and passengers approach it. The artificial intelligence equipped on the PEUGEOT INCEPTION CONCEPT makes it possible to recognize the driver in order to set up the comfort settings (seat posture, temperature, driving mode and multimedia preferences) desired by each occupant. In addition, the TECH BAR also displays the battery charge level and houses many sensors and radars, leaving the bodywork completely smooth.

The INCEPTION CONCEPT’s bold design incorporates 7.25m2 of glazing to create a glass capsule for the passenger compartment that plunges to the driver and front passenger’s feet. All the glazing (windscreen, side windows and quarter windows) is made from glass designed for architecture. Adapted to the PEUGEOT INCEPTION CONCEPT, it retains its exceptional thermal qualities and benefits from a multi-chrome treatment (treatment with metal oxides), a process initially used for the visors of astronauts’ helmets by NASA.

Completing the car’s unique design is an exclusive body colour, which highlights the shapes in the bodywork and interacts, like the glazing, by tinting according to the external environment. The paint is single-coated, meaning far less energy is consumed during its application.

‘BEV-by-design’ platform

The INCEPTION CONCEPT has been given the silhouette of a low (1.34m) and efficient saloon and is 5m in length. It is based on the STLA Large platform, one of four future Stellantis Group “BEV-by-design” platforms. The arrival of this new range of platforms from 2023 will revolutionize the PEUGEOTs of tomorrow. Specifically created for electrification, they offer major differences in terms of architecture which enabled designers to completely reshape the PEUGEOT INCEPTION CONCEPT’s passenger compartment.

The new “BEV-by-design” native electric platforms will also introduce technological modules powered by artificial intelligence: STLA Brain, STLA SmartCockpit and STLA AutoDrive. Like the INCEPTION CONCEPT, future PEUGEOT models will be equipped with STLA Brain artificial intelligence and will be fully connected.

Powertrain

The 100% electric PEUGEOT INCEPTION CONCEPT is equipped with 800V technology. Its 100kWh battery enables it to travel 497 miles on a single charge, with extremely low consumption of just 12.5kWh per 100 km. The INCEPTION CONCEPT is capable of adding 19 miles of range in one minute, or 93 miles in five minutes, and can also be recharged wirelessly by induction.

Two compact electric motors, one at the front, the other at the rear, make the PEUGEOT INCEPTION CONCEPT a four-wheel drive vehicle. The combined power is close to 680hp (500kW), enabling it to accelerate from 0-62mph in under three seconds.

Next-generation i-Cockpit®

With its new Hypersquare control system, the PEUGEOT INCEPTION CONCEPT offers an agile driving experience and an all-new, more intuitive i-Cockpit®. Inspired by video games, the Hypersquare control system does away with the conventional steering wheel in favour of digital electric controls and steer-by-wire technology.

The centre of the Hypersquare is a tablet-type screen dedicated to the distribution of control information. The pictograms for the different features (air conditioning, radio volume, ADAS etc.) are displayed on the two side panels to facilitate access to the chosen control. The latter is located inside the circular recesses and can be accessed by moving the thumb only, without taking your hands off the steering control.

The next generation i-Cockpit also includes the Stellantis STLA SmartCockpit technology platform and STLA AutoDrive, enabling Level 4 autonomous driving. When driving is delegated, Hypersquare retracts and a large panoramic screen slides out from the floor to offer a new passenger compartment experience.

 PEUGEOT’s goal is to introduce the Hypersquare on a next generation vehicle in the range before the end of the decade.(!)

Interior

The PEUGEOT INCEPTION CONCEPT features a minimal cockpit dedicated to the driver alone, which does without a dashboard, crossbar and the bulkhead, providing a completely open view of the road.

Sustainable ‘moulded textiles’ are also used throughout the interior. Scraps of 100% polyester fabric from the design centre’s prototyping workshops or from suppliers are re-used to make load-bearing or trim parts. The seats are covered with a velvet made from 100% recycled polyester, which extends onto the floor and features 3D patterns to act as a floor mat.

More Peugeot news soon…

Hans Knol ten Bensel

BMW rides you into an enhanced real and virtual world at CES Las Vegas…

Posted in Automobilia, Car Events, Car manufacturers strategy, Car News, Car presentations, Car Shows, Car technology, Concept Cars, Design, E-mobility R &D and solutions, Future car technology, Future technologies, Lifestyle, New Models, prototypesLeave a comment

The BMW Group is sharing its vision of the future digital experience, both inside and outside the vehicle, at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2023 in Las Vegas.

It presented the BMW i Vision Dee, a futuristic mid-size sedan with a new and pared-down design language. The name “Dee” stands for Digital Emotional Experience – and that is precisely its aim: to create an even stronger bond between people and their cars.

This car has future digital functions will go far beyond the level of voice control and driver assistance systems we are familiar with today.

It starts all with a BMW Head-Up-Display extending across the full width of the windscreen, providing a glimpse of the next vehicle generation.

From 2025 onwards, this innovation will be available in the models of the NEUE KLASSE. The BMW Group has also refined its use of colour-change technology. Having unveiled the BMW iX Flow Featuring E Ink, with the ability to change from black to white, at the last CES, BMW i Vision Dee can now curate its exterior in up to 32 colours.

“With the BMW i Vision Dee, we are showcasing what is possible when hardware and software merge. In this way, we are able to exploit the full potential of digitalisation to transform the car into an intelligent companion. That is the future for automotive manufacturers – and, also, for BMW: the fusion of the virtual experience with genuine driving pleasure,” said Oliver Zipse, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG. “At the same time, BMW i Vision Dee is another step on the road to the NEUE KLASSE. With this vision, we are looking far into the future and underlining the tremendous importance of digitalisation for our upcoming product generations.”

With its intelligent, almost human capabilities, BMW i Vision Dee accompanies drivers not only through real-life situations on the roads, but also in their digital environment.

“A BMW lives by its unparalleled digital performance. BMW i Vision Dee is about perfect integration of virtual and physical experiences,” said Frank Weber, member of the Board of Management of BMW AG responsible for Development. “Whoever excels at integrating the customer’s everyday digital worlds into the vehicle at all levels will succeed in mastering the future of car-building.”

BMW Mixed Reality Slider: into the virtual world in five steps

The BMW, in combination with the advanced Head-up Display, is the digital highlight and central operating control of BMW i Vision Dee. The completely virgin and simple dashboard panel shows just a line with dots. This is the Mixed Reality Slider. By using shy-tech sensors on the instrument panel, drivers can decide for themselves how much digital content they want to see on the advanced Head-Up Display. The five-step dot selection ranges from analogue, to driving-related information, to the contents of the communications system, to augmented-reality projection, right up to entry into virtual worlds. In parallel, dimmable windows can also be used to gradually fade out reality. Mixed reality can be experienced in BMW i Vision Dee in an immersive way that engages different senses without requiring any additional tools, creating a new dimension of driving pleasure for the user.

Advanced BMW Head-Up-Display: in NEUE KLASSE from 2025

The BMW Group is known in the automotive sector as a trailblazer for the Head-Up-Display and has systematically refined this technology over the past two decades. In BMW i Vision Dee, projection across the entire width of the windscreen allows information to be displayed on the largest possible surface – which only becomes recognisable as a display once it is activated. In this way, the BMW Group demonstrates the huge potential of projection technology and BMW i Vision Dee visualizes how a advanced Head-Up-Display could also be utilized in the future for the display and operating concept. The standard-production version of the BMW Head-up-Display extending across the full width of the windscreen will be used in the models of the NEUE KLASSE from 2025 onwards.

Welcome scenario with voice and phygital icons

The digital experience already begins outside the vehicle, with a personalized welcome scenario that combines graphical elements, light and sound effects. Natural language serves as the simplest, most intuitive form of interaction, enabling perfect understanding between humans and their vehicles. The headlights and the closed BMW kidney grille also form a common phygital (fusion of physical and digital) icon on a uniform surface, allowing the vehicle to produce different facial expressions. This means BMW i Vision Dee can talk to people and, at the same time, express moods such as joy, astonishment or approval visually. BMW i Vision Dee can also project an image of the driver’s avatar onto the side window to further personalize the welcome scenario.

World premiere for full-colour E Ink technology

Following the spectacular debut of the BMW iX Flow Featuring E Ink at CES 2022, the BMW Group is now unveiling a full-colour version of the E Ink technology in BMW i Vision Dee that will be used as the outer skin of the vehicle for the first time worldwide.

BMW i Vision Dee, rather than simply alternating between black and white, now showcases a multi-coloured, fully variable and individually configurable exterior. An ePaper film from the BMW Group’s cooperation partner, E Ink, is applied to the body to create this magical display of colour. Up to 32 colours can be displayed.

The body surface of the BMW i Vision Dee is divided into 240 E Ink segments, each of which is controlled individually. This allows an almost infinite variety of patterns to be generated and varied within seconds. The laser cutting process used to trim the films and the electronic control design were developed in partnership with E Ink. The adaptation of this technology for curved surfaces and the programming of the animations, were developed by BMW Group’s in-house engineers – enabling a form enabling a form of customisation that is unique throughout the automotive sector worldwide.

Reductive design – inside and out

The design of BMW i Vision Dee has been deliberately pared down to focus attention on the digital experience and the DNA of the BMW brand. The exterior is defined by the classic three-box sedan design that forms the core of the BMW brand. Traditional design elements, like the BMW kidney grille, twin circular headlights and the Hofmeister kink, are reimagined, with phygital icons replacing analogue elements. This gives BMW i Vision Dee its own digital, but human, character.

Inside, digitalisation goes hand in hand with reductive use of materials, operating controls and displays to ensure nothing distracts from the digital experience and the new feeling of enhanced driving pleasure. The unconventional design of the steering wheel, with its central vertical spoke, creates touchpoints that come to life when approached or touched and can be operated by moving the thumb. These phygital touchpoints control selection of the content projected onto the windscreen and, together with the Head-Up Display, thus support the principle of “hands on the wheel, eyes on the road”.

“With BMW i Vision Dee, we are showing how the car can be seamlessly integrated into your digital life and become a trusty companion. The vehicle itself becomes your portal to the digital world – with the driver always in control,” said Adrian van Hooydonk, head of BMW Group Design. “Implemented the right way, technology will create worthwhile experiences, make you a better driver and simply bring humans and machines closer together.”

Another milestone on the road to the NEUE KLASSE

The future of the BMW Group is electric, circular and digital. BMW i Vision Dee represents the digital aspect of this trio and will be another milestone on the road to the next vehicle generation, the NEUE KLASSE. The BMW Group will provide further insights and glimpses of the revolutionary vehicle concept of the NEUE KLASSE over the course of 2023. See more news soon!

Hans Knol ten Bensel