Category: Car Events

Nissan Benelux looks ahead for 2025 with a bold future strategy and new models…

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Head of Communications Melvin Keuter opened the yearly Nissan Benelux press conference…

Your servant attended the yearly Nissan Benelux press conference, again expertly organized by the dynamic PR team led by Head of Communications Melvin Keuter. Together with Managing Director Jérôme Saigot they presented the mid-term and mid-long term strategic plan of the company, the new products which were launched in 2024 and the new cars for next year. Just read further…

Hans Knol ten Bensel

The Arc: A bridge to Nissan Ambition 2030.

The Arc is positioned between the Nissan NEXT transformation plan running from fiscal year 2020 through fiscal year 2023 and Nissan Ambition 2030, the company’s long-term vision. The new plan is split into mid-term imperatives for fiscal years 2024 through 2026, and mid-long-term actions to be carried out through 2030. 

Managing Director Jérôme Saigot presented the Nissan short and mid-term strategy…

Under the two-part plan, Nissan will first take actions to ensure volume growth through a tailored regional strategy and prepare for an accelerated transition to EVs, supported by a balanced electrified / internal combustion engine product portfolio, volume growth in major markets, and firm financial discipline.

This will pave the way for the second part of the plan aimed to enable the EV transition and realize long-term profitable growth, supported by smart partnerships, (see below more about partnership with Honda)  EV competitiveness, differentiated innovations and new revenue streams. For Europe, it will maximize its collaboration with Ampere in Europe to complement their own electrification strategy.

To achieve healthy growth in the future, Nissan is now rightsizing the organization and transforming the profit structure to enable the company to afford shareholders’ return, even with a projected annual sales of 3.5 million units by fiscal year 2026.

Three new full electric vehicles for Europe…and battery development

Nissan has for our market three models in preparation which will be produced in the Sunderland factory, replacing the present Qashqai and Juke crossovers and the next-gen Nissan Leaf: the “Chill-out”, the “Hyper Urban” and the “Hyper Punk.”

Nissan will offer enhanced nickel, cobalt and manganese (NCM) lithium-ion batteries, lithium iron phosphate (LFP), and all solid-state batteries to provide diversified EVs to meet different customer needs. Nissan will significantly enhance NCM li-ion batteries, reducing quick-charging time by 50% and increasing energy density by 50% compared to the Ariya. LFP batteries, to be developed and produced in Japan, will be launched that will reduce cost by 30% compared to the Sakura EV minivehicle. New EVs with enhanced NCM li-ion, LFP and all-solid-state batteries will be launched in fiscal year 2028.


 

The future line-up in Europe…

The model portfolio will be further enhanced with a new all-electric Interstar LCV, a replacement for the Leaf and the Micra and last but not least all-electric versions for the popular Juke and Qashqai.

… and partnership with Honda.

Nissan and Honda agree to joint research in fundamental technologies for a next-generation SDV platform. SDV means Software Defined Vehicle (note of the author), which means that the vehicle uses software as the main driver for its operations, features and functions. Nissan and Honda aim to complete basic research in approximately one year and based on the results consider the possibility of mass production development. (Research note of the author).

The two companies have reached a basic agreement to unify the specifications of their respective e-Axles, over the medium to long term, to be used in the next-generation EVs of both companies.

The agreed first step is to share motors and inverters, the core of the e-Axle. (Research note of the author).

With the models to be sold globally by Nissan and Honda, the two companies will consider supplementing models from a short-term to medium- to long-term perspective. For the short-term, Nissan and Honda reached a basic agreement on models and regions to be complemented by each company, and also agreed on the outline of a product review system to be jointly operated by both companies. Furthermore, ICE and EVs are being considered as vehicles for mutual complementation. (Research note of the author).

Melvin Keuter highlighted the new features of the 2024 Juke,

and Julie Engelborghs presented the 2024 Qashqai, now with e-power, uplifted design and upgraded tech and connectivity.

A further highlight was the new Interstar LCV, with a new EU 6E norm M920 Diesel engine and of course a choice between a 40 and 87 kW EV battery for the full EV versions.

Icing on the cake: the Ariya NISMO…

With this car, NISMO (Nissan Motor Sport) is back in Europe. Based on the Ariya e-4ORCE and featuring a dynamic new-generation EV NISMO design, the Ariya NISMO delivers greater confidence and peace of mind thanks to its extremely powerful yet smooth acceleration, exemplary handling and stellar aerodynamic performance — all brought about by NISMO’s exclusive tuning, Nissan stated when introducing the car.

The motor has approximately 10 percent greater peak output and performance is further enhanced by the combination with special acceleration tuning and an exclusive NISMO driving mode that maximizes response. 

Aerodynamic performance is improved thanks to race-derived technologies that reduce drag and provide greater down force at higher speeds — factors particularly important for EV’s.

Of course, also the interior exudes a premium air with high quality features throughout, including specially designed NISMO seats and trim.

Much more soon on this formidable SUV, but we just tell you here that you can now pre-order this NISMO at nissan.be. The price is at the moment of writing set at € 65.900. The first 250 European customers who order the car get it delivered in the exclusive exterior color Stealth Grey – the iconic body colour from NISMO. In addition, they benefit from a free charging for one year via Nissan Charge…

Soon more about Nissan, amongst others the affordable vehicle to grid technology Nissan will introduce in Europe in 2026…

Hans Knol ten Bensel

110 years Maserati was celebrated at Interclassics Brussels…and so much more!

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The breathtaking contours of the award winning Maserati A6GCS/53 Berlinetta by Pinin Farina, presented by the Brussels Autoworld museum on their stand.

The 9th edition of the Interclassics car show proved again a formidable event. The 40.000 m2 spread over several palaces was filled with collectible four wheeled beauties, and lovers of Italian, British, German, French or last but not least American classics could have a true delightful time from Friday 15 to Sunday. Your servant also took his Fujifilm X-A5 camera along, and shares here with you his impressions.

Hans Knol ten Bensel

D’Ieteren celebrates 345 years of heritage…

The dynamic PR department of D’Ieteren invited me to their magnificent stand, where they celebrated the anniversaries of some of the most iconic models of the brands they import into our country.

To present the rich history of its brands, D’Ieteren adopted the theme of the evolution of technology, and so displayed the vintage models of the Volkswagen Golf, Audi 100, SEAT Ibiza, Škoda Octavia and Porsche 911 alongside their current versions. The cute Microlino was also present, next to the iconic BMW Isetta…

What better for me to do than to aim my Fujinon lens to bodywork details of both current and vintage cars, visually telling the story of progress along many decades…

Down to the very essence: the “dashboard” of the BMW Isetta…

The electric Microlino continues this tradition of “less is more…”

In doing this, I found it remarkable how ”modern” the Porsches still look, and indeed a ”classic” Porsche hardly feels out of place five decades later. What’s more, its sheer performance and road manners still are impressive today. Actually, the same can be said of the ”Ur” Golf, its proportions, styling,  performance and overall stance are still quite modern.



Porsche celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Porsche 911 Turbo . The Porsche 911 Turbo Type 930 made its debut in 1974. I still have the fondest memories of these early Porsche 911’s. As a young car journalist I drove them to the limit, enjoying their delicate handling, the hiss of the air cooled flat six at high revs, the tout feel and precision of the whole car. Indeed, Porsche’s are unique, and once you sat behind the wheel of them, they make an indelible impression.

Celebrating 50 years of Audi in Belgium , D’Ieteren also put a truly pristine and original Audi 100 L Automatic alongside the brand new A6 e-tron, which has just hit the market. It completed this with an equally formidable 100 Coupé.

The dramatic styling details of the ’74 Audi S Coupé…

And the clean lines of the S6 e-tron…

Bentley showed a recent 2022 Flying Spur alongside a mid ‘80s Bentley Turbo R. This now classic Bentley brings back sweet personal memories, as I was invited to drive this impressive powerful V8 turbocharged saloon personally from Brussels to le Mans to attend the 2003 Le Mans 24 hour race, witnessing the event from the Bentley pit stand, and see the Bentley Speed 8 win the race!

Massive power with style…

Seat celebrated 40 years of the Ibiza, showing an immaculate 1984 model, shown here below.

Automotive technical evolution was most apparent when one compared the 65 year old Skoda Octavia Break 1201 with the present Octavia. Understandable, as in the mid sixties, the styling and technology of the products behind the iron curtain were somewhat lagging behind what was made in the west, and indeed, a time span of more than six decades  is also very long indeed.


Last but not least there was the Microlino on the D’Ieteren stand, next to the car which inspired it, the BMW Isetta. Similar in shape, but totally different in technology. 

Of course, there were some beautiful American classics on the show. Just look at the 1956 Chevrolet Bel Air Nomad Sport Wagon shown here on the stand of the Royal Historical Vehicle Club Belgium…

Maserati, or the unique magic of pur sang…

The quality of the Maserati’s on display was nothing short of stunning, and the car which was prized best of show was a pale blue A6GCS/53 Berlinetta by Pinin Farina, presented by the Brussels Autoworld museum on their stand. I show you here some photos of this gorgeous coupé. I am totally smitten by its feline stance and wonderful proportions.

It just has tons of character, and it embodies everything the brand with the trident stood and still stands for. This ninth edition of the Brussels Interclassics was certainly a wonderful show, and we are already looking forward to the next edition.
Just enjoy the photos…

Hans Knol ten Bensel

Lancia is back in Belgium, and presented in its return to world of rallying with the debut of the Ypsilon Rally 4 HF…

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Lancia presented its Ypsilon Rally 4 HF, with from left to right rally champion Miki Biasion, Charles Fuster, Lancia head of Marketing and Communication and Eugenio Franzetti, head of Lancia Corse HF.

Indeed, Lancia is making an impressive comeback in our low countries, notably Belgium/Luxembourg  and the Netherlands. The three countries have always had a strong interest and passion for the brand, and therefore represent an important portion of the brand’s internationalization plan. It is good to know that by the end of this year, Lancia will get ten new showrooms in Belgium-Luxembourg and five in the Netherlands.

“Lancia is Back” said Charles Fuster, Head of Marketing and Communication for the Lancia brand, with indeed already a grand opening of six showrooms in the Belgium-Luxembourg region, located in Aartselaar, Overijse, Kortrijk, Gent, Gilly and Bertrange, with a network set to grow to ten showrooms by the end of 2024, including upcoming locations in Drogenbos, Hasselt, Namur and Herstal.
In the Netherlands, the brand inaugurated five new showrooms at strategic locations, in Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague, Utrecht and Zwolle.

The Lancia Ypsilon Rally 4 HF…

But Lancia – as announced already several months ago by Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares – is also returning to motorsport, and presented now in Brussels, Antwerp and Utrecht for the first time the Lancia Ypsilon Rally 4 HF.

As the name “Rally 4” already suggests, this Lancia will take part in the Rally 4 championship, a gateway to the world of rallies where junior drivers make their first steps towards becoming professional rally drivers.

and champion Miki Biasion…

Miki Biasion, the world rally champion in 1988 and 1989 with the Lancia Delta of Martini Racing, was present at the presentation, and we were able to have a few words with him.

“I am really glad to support the Lancia Product Team and the Stellantis Motorsport Team in the fine-tuning of both the Ypsilon HF and the Lancia Ypsilon Rally 4 HF,” he said. “We worked to improve the performance of the car, fine-tuning several parameters: engine response, trying out different ignition/injection mappings.” Then he continued: “We worked also extensively on grip and handling, also working on the settings of springs and shock absorbers. We also honed and perfected the braking system, the responsiveness and gearchange speed of the gearbox, also testing new ratios”

Indeed, the Lancia Ypsilon Rally 4 HF has a “classic” 1,2 three-cylinder 1.2-liter turbo engine with four valves per cylinder and an output of 212 hp under the bonnet. It has only front-wheel drive, a mechanical transmission with five gears and a mechanical limited slip differential. All this to make the car affordable for debutant young drivers, which is also the strategy of Stellantis, pursued already with the Peugeot 208 and the Opel Corsa.
 

Relying on private teams…

We spoke also with Eugenio Franzetti, presently Director of Lancia Corse HF. He told us that the strategy of Lancia and Stellantis in general is to rely for the Lancia Rally 4 HF on private teams at the start of the 2025 season, and therefore the car has to be both affordable as well as competitive.

Eugenio Franzetti together with Silvia Cassani, Head of Lancia Communications

Eugenio already occupied various important positions in the Stellantis Group. He was communications and competitions director for Peugeot in Italy, director of communications for DS Automobiles/Citroën/Peugeot in Italy, director of sales for Citroën in Italy, director of communications for Peugeot Global and Italy’s Managing Director of the DS brand before becoming director of DS Performance.

Today he remains in his position as the DS Performance Director and he will therefore retain the dual role.

E power for the road: the Lancia Ypsilon HF

The Lancia Ypsilon HF, the 100% electric performance version of the new Ypsilon, is powered by a 280 hp electric motor, which enables acceleration from 0-100 km/h in just 5.8 seconds. This drivetrain is also found in the Alfa Junior Veloce and the Abarth 600e.

With its lowered chassis, wider track and muscular design, the Ypsilon HF is a nod to the iconic models from Lancia’s rich past. The car will be launched in May 2025…

Hans Knol ten Bensel

Fiat celebrates 125 years and launches a new iconic “grande” Panda for the world…

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Fiat has now for more than a century been the pounding heart of Italian engineering and industrial genius. It has given the world wonderful cars, and to me, besides the pre-war Balilla and Topolino, the post-war cars are even more iconic and are absolute milestones in automotive history. Let’s begin with the Fiat 1100 or millecento compact four dour sedan, which is still serving in India as a taxi and has been built there until a few years ago. I absolutely loved the PininFarina styled six cylinder 1800/2100 four door sedans launched in the sixties, and then of course the Seicento and the Cinquecento in ‘57…

About ten years later came the Fiat 124, the 1967 European car of the year, which put the whole east-bloc and Russia on wheels, built in Russian Togliattigrad as the Lada.

Then there was the Fiat 127, putting front wheel drive and excellent performance to the disposal of the masses. Soon then came the Panda, an absolute icon which I photographed in the Galerie de la Reine in Brussels for Keesings Auto Magazine at the time. This car I still find absolutely modern, by the way.

The iconic Panda, born in the 80s, still totally modern and contemporary today…

Now we live in different times, but the Panda is still inspiring many. Therefore only logical that Stellantis put its new Fiat Grande Panda on the new global line-up based on a multi-energy platform.  FIAT now starts its transition from local-based production to a global offer through a common global platform. But there is still an Italian DNA left, as it has been styled at the Centro Stile in Turin, and certainly has lots of character as the photos show.


 

The new Grande Panda…

Olivier Francois, FIAT CEO and Stellantis Global Chief Marketing Officer, summarized it well at the presentation: “Currently we have launched FIAT’s comeback to the global mainstream based on 3 pillars: Italian design and development, global platform and local relevance—and the Grande Panda is the first member of our new global family.”

The Grande Panda will first land in Europe, Middle East, and Africa, and will be available in both electric and hybrid versions.

Proudly presenting the big new Panda: John Elkann, Chairman of Stellantis, Carlos Tavares, Stellantis CEO, and Olivier Francois, FIAT CEO and Stellantis CMO.

Needless to say that we eagerly await to get more acquainted with the Grande Panda soon, both in hybrid and E-versions, which, as we read, will be aggressively priced.
 

A Fiat 500e Giorgio Armani

But at this anniversary, celebrated on the iconic “Pista 500”, the circular test track on the roof of the famous Lignotto factory building, now converted in a hotel, where the walls of the guestrooms are decorated with mural size photos of details of historic Fiats and a MUST to spend a night when you are in Turin, Fiat stylists and Giorgio Armani designed together an elegant version of the 500e.

The standout exterior design element are the wheels, representing the GA logo on a macro scale. They become the car’s star feature, ensuring it stands out…

We hoe you enjoyed here the photos of the celebration, a very enjoyable event for a brand we always kept very close to our car-loving heart…

Hans Knol ten Bensel  

Alfa Romeo victorious again in the 1000 Miglia 2024…

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The Villa Trasqua team’s 1929 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 Super Sport driven by the duo of Vesco and Salvinelli took the top step of the podium

The 42nd edition of the 1000 Miglia has been run beautifully again. The “Mille” is a race which has a very special place in my heart, as I have participated in it forming a team with my father in the official Mercedes Factory team, at the wheel of a works car. In the Mercedes team entry was then also Stirling Moss, and you can imagine that being in the same team, talking to him and wearing the same Mercedes Team racing overall as the celebrated champion was the pinnacle of what we would ever experience in our motoring life. I still have and cherish the Mille Miglia Shopard Watch with our entry number, 147, engraved in the back. 

The Lancia Autrelia’s of the Automobile Club di Brescia were then the car on the winners podium, and now today Alfa Romeo’s undisputed dominance of the 1000 Miglia continues. 

The 1927 Lancia Lambda Casaro VII Serie, crewed by Fontanella and Covelli, won the silver medal.

The route of the Mille Miglia is in itself totally epic…

From Brescia it went for the first time in 76 years also to Turin, then from Genoa and the beaches of Viareggio to Via Veneto in the heart of Rome, then returning north via Siena, Ferrara and Lake Garda, to end with the traditional parade on Viale Venezia in Brescia, where it all began back in 1927.

Once again this year, the pass-by of this epic “traveling museum” aroused enthusiasm and curiosity among the throngs of spectators who crowded the route of over 2,000 km. 

Also remarkable was the participation  of the Alfa Romeo Junior, the new compact car that brings Alfa Romeo sportiness back into the largest segment in the European market.

The New Lancia Ypsilon finished at the third position participating for the first time at the 1000 Miglia Green. And this on the very same days the model became available at Italian dealerships! Needless to say that we are keen to drive both cars soon…

As you will recall, I mentioned this already earlier in my columns, I have been a Lancia owner for four years, driving a dark midnight blue Lancia Dedra. It NEVER missed a beat, come what may and accompanied me in many iconic European places and cities. After that, I drove for half a year a Lancia Gamma, which also was fast, reliable and full of panache. 

But back to the Mille Miglia: what a fantastic event, it still moves my heart. 

Hans Knol ten Bensel 

BMW makes you dream in the sky…

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Designers can make you dream, and at BMW this is no exception. It brought to this year’s Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este a unique design study: the BMW Concept Skytop. It has clearly athletic proportions, and Adrian van Hooydonk, head of BMW Group Design, commented: “It offers a combination of driving dynamics and elegance at the highest level, comparable to its historic ancestors, like the BMW Z8 or BMW 503.”

Indeed, it does, its lines, surfaces and volumes breathe the classic proportions of its iconic predecessors. Is it a harbinger for future BMW styling? It certainly has interesting details, like winglets integrated into the door shoulders replace conventional door handles. Light-alloy wheels with precise lamellas are also adding elegance and drama.

We like the impressive long bonnet and the classic kidney grille, and also the retracted rear end and the pronounced central spline, which runs over the bonnet through the interior and ends an aluminium trim positioned on the tailgate, add both panache.

The LED headlight units, positioned on milled aluminium carriers, were custom developed for the BMW Concept Skytop, utilizing the latest technology and design for automotive headlights with the slimmest profile currently available.

We also love the leather-finished roll-over bar behind the BMW Concept Skytop’s two seats, as it is combined with side fins on the B-pillar and a fully retractable rear window. The setup is quite practical: the two removable roof parts, also finished in leather, can be stored in a special compartment in the luggage space.

Color harmonies…

The colour scheme ensures a smooth transition from interior to exterior, regardless of whether the roof is open or closed. In the rear section, the reddish-brown tone of the roof flows into the muted silver with chrome shadow effect of the exterior paintwork. The technically elaborate colour gradient was crafted by an experienced master painter at BMW Group Plant Dingolfing (!)

…and luxury in brogue-style leather…

The leather seats in the interior carry brogue-style accents. The reddish-brown tone of the leather gives the whole interior a sense of luxury and spaciousness. Chrystal elements and further are artfully embedded in the gearchange lever and the cockpit, adding to the overall impression. The interior surfaces of the BMW Concept Skytop were crafted in the traditional saddlery of the BMW Group plant in Dingolfing.

The spirit of the Z8 reigns also in this concept car: under the hood roars the most powerful V8 engine in the BMW drive train portfolio.

Of course there is much more news on the BMW front: the new 3 Series Sedan and Touring, the new 5 series Touring and the first BMW i5 Touring, to say the least. Stay tuned!

Hans Knol ten Bensel

Lancia is back in our low countries…

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Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxemburg have always been “home” for Lancia. Indeed, our roads were marked 4 to 5 decades ago by the presence of the elegant Fulvia’s, and connoisseurs were at the wheel of the Flaminia’s, not to speak of the beautiful Superleggera’s and later, last but not least, the 4WD Lancia Delta “Integrale”, which still makes the hearts of aficionados beat faster.

The rear lights of the new Ypsylon are reminiscent of the legendary Stratos, with also the “Y” Calice symbol worked in…

Even your servant fell for the brand with the elegant chromed “calice” on its radiator, namely a Dedra 1,8 i.e. By then, Lancia was already part of the larger Fiat concern, and it proved to be an utterly reliable and pleasant companion for four years in my stable, and I still remember it fondly. It already had the beautiful dark blue body paint and equally blue Alcantara interior and seats.

Given this enthusiasm, it is hardly surprising that Stellantis decided to pick the Benelux as one of the ideal places in Europe to have the renaissance of the brand, in line with the “Stellantis Dare Forward” strategic plan.

The Lancia Ypsilon is the much loved debutante…

The Ypsilon has maintained the brand alive in Italy, and has been highly popular there over the years. Not that the new Ypsilon has anything in common with its predecessor. It carries the Lancia Pu+Ra Design (the name a combination of ‘pure’ and ‘radical’), the one-of-a-kind Lancia design language with a timeless touch. The new Ypsilon It is available as a pure EV and in hybrid form. The 156 HP EV with a 51 kW battery has a WLTP measured range of 403 kilometers, the 3 cylinder, 100 HP 48 V hybrid caters for a wide(r) public and can be bought at an attractive base price of 24,000 Euros. The EV has the same technical basis as the Peugeot e-208 and the Opel Corsa Electric, but it certainly has quite different looks.

Lancia presented us their Ypsilon at the launch in a very attractive top notch “Edizione Limitata Cassina” version, whith an iconic “Lancia Blu” color for interior and bodywork, ”panno” wool upholstery for the seats executed in “cannelloni” pattern and as icing on the cake, one is seduced by an iconic “tavola” or small round table in the centre of the dashboard, sitting on top of the centre console. This brings you in the unique S.A.L.A. or “living room” atmosphere, which the Lancia designers created in collaboration with Cassina.

The abbreviation S.A.L.A., meaning living room in Italian, actually stands for Sound, Air, Light, Augmentation and is the new name used for the infotainment system. Its command module sits as a disk on top of the dashboard. We will come back on this system more in detail when we will get acquinted with the Ypsilon, hopefully soon…

This Cassina edition is exclusive: only 1906 units will be produced, and the number is actually also quite symbolic, as 1906 is the year Vicenzo Lancia was born…

The Benelux customer can now order this Ypsilon, and besides the top Cassina and the “base” version, one can also opt for the premium LX version. LX is also symbolic, as it is the Latin acronym for 60, created in 1966 to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the brand.

Even the base version is well equipped, with multifunctional steering wheel, automatic airco and keyless entry/start/lock. There is also one 10,25 inch digital instrument screen and an equally big  central touchscreen. Of course Apple CarPlay and Android Auto is also provided.

A new dealer and sales network

The renaissance of Lancia comprises also an all-new network made up of 9 new showrooms in Belgium, 6 in the Netherlands, and 1 in Luxembourg, with 12, 6, and 1 after-sales service points respectively. You can order also your new Ypsilon online, if you wish.

Should you opt for a “pure” EV, it is good to know that Lancia offers “Free2move Charge”, a simple, complete, and integrated ecosystem that allows worry free charging at home and gives you access to 600,000 charging points across Europe. Lancia offers also the Easy Wallbox Home Charging solution and has interesting financial renting offers in store, worked out in collaboration with Stellantis Financial Services.

Last but not least, we had at the presentation an interview with Barbara de Mol, Marketing Director for Lancia and Alfa Romeo, about Lancia’s dealer/sales and marketing approach in our country. It to be published soon, so stay tuned!

Hans Knol ten Bensel  

D’Ieteren offers innovative and tailored mobility solutions to its B2B clients…

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It is a significant trend: the major automotive brands in our Belgian market organize targeted events to approach their customers in the absence of a Belgian Motor Show this year.

So from March 12 onwards, Mobility Solutions by D’Ieteren, formerly Group Mobility Solutions, immerses its B2B audience in an exclusive experience that focuses on innovative solutions and the leading trends in sustainable mobility.

“Developing seamless and sustainable mobility for everyone by offering our customers a connected mobility ecosystem: that is, in a nutshell, what we stand for,” says Joris Spigt, director of Mobility Solutions by D’Ieteren. “During our Mobility Experience by D’Ieteren, we therefore invite the B2B audience to get up close and personal with all the novelties within the entire ecosystem of mobility solutions that D’Ieteren has to offer today.”

News from the  VW Group car brands…

There is quite some news. For example, Volkswagen and Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles will not only be showing the new Tiguan e-Hybrid at this event, the ID.7 Tourer will also be present, just like the ID. Buzz with long wheelbase and seven seats. One can also see the latest generation ID.3 and the ID.2 all-concept: a design study of a compact, fully electric model that will have a base price from € 25,000.

Škoda, for its part, is presenting two Belgian premieres: the new Superb Combi and the Kodiaq iV.. The latter is now available as a plug-in hybrid, further strengthening its B2B potential.

CUPRA presents the new Tavascan, the brand’s very first fully electric, sporty SUV. It is flanked by the also fully electric, compact UrbanRebel concept car that provides a glimpse of the future of CUPRA, and by the current Formentor and Born models.

Audi’s long-term vision is given concrete form by the camouflaged prototype of the Q6 e-tron that will be unveiled very soon. A new SUV that perfectly embodies the electric DNA of the four-ring brand with even more autonomy thanks to the new Premium Platform Electric technology platform.

Finally, Porsche will be showing its latest Panamera Turbo E-Hybrid, which with its combination of power and emotions guarantees an unparalleled driving experience.

Seamless mobility offered…

In addition to the product novelties, Mobility Solutions by D’Ieteren will make time and space available during this show for all the mobility services it offers. The best known are probably the financial solutions of VDFin and the mobility sharing service Poppy/MyPop, but providers such as Joule, Taxis Verts/Husk, My Way/Audi Approved+, EDI/Go Solar and Mbrella are also present.

Finally, Wondercar is part of the mobility ecosystem in its own way and highlights this with a creative activation that tests the stress level of fleet managers when someone damages their company car.

Interactive workshops are also organized…

“But with our Mobility Experience by D’Ieteren we go one step further,” explains Joris Spigt, “by also strategically familiarizing our B2B audience with the mobility of today and tomorrow. In four interactive workshops we inform them about how they can integrate new transport modes into their policy, how new technologies can provide guidance and how they can tailor a mobility strategy to the ambitions of their company and the expectations of their employees.”

We show you the photos here, and needless  to say that we are keen to test for you the numerous novelties D’Ieteren has in store for us…

Stay tuned!

Hans Knol ten Bensel

Autoworld has grown to be (much) more than just a museum…

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On February 21 I attended an interesting dinner conference organized by the Royal Historical Vehicle Club Belgium, where Sebastien de Baere, managing director of Autoworld Museum Brussels presented the impressive turnaround he achieved for this iconic museum, which is now more popular than ever. 

Michel Van Eesbeek, president of the Royal Historical Vehicle Club Belgium, introduced the speaker Sebastien de Baere…

This evening conference was of course held in the restaurant of the Autoworld museum.

Sebastien told us at length about the very positive evolution the museum went through since he became its Managing Director in January 2011. His previous professional experience as event organizer (he was Director of SAP Lounge, situated in the historic setting of the ‘Tuchthuis’ in Vilvoorde, which offers a high class meeting and event facility to catalyze business interaction) helped him to revitalize and effectively transform the museum.

“I first started to transform the sleepy, dusty image of this museum in its stately premises at the Cinquantenaire, also literally”, Sébastien starts his conference. I drew up a five year plan, and indeed started with removing unnecessary old artifacts which did not contribute to the essence of the museum and then we began to restructure the collection of exhibits and display areas.

2024 started already magnificently with the end-of-year exhibition “Porsche – Driven By Dreams,” from December 8th 2023 until February 25th 2024. We reported about this outstanding exhibition on our pages…

Then we got to work on improving the image of the museum with a new logo, introduced up to date marketing and last but not least started organizing events, at a very frequent rate. (Not less than 150 annually). These events established close ties between the museum and companies and industry in the automotive sector as well as the whole Belgian and international car world.

The results are there: In 2023, the museum welcomed no less than 235,000 visitors, a spectacular achievement especially if you take into account that this number doubled in a mere five years.

The 2024 events calender will be very busy indeed…

The year started already magnificently with the end-of-year exhibition “Porsche – Driven By Dreams,” from December 8th 2023 until February 25th 2024. We reported about this outstanding exhibition on our pages…

Autoworld further honors 50 years of the Volkswagen Golf from March 1st to April 28th. The most successful European car is now in its 8th generation, having received a facelift again this year. 

Many members of the Royal Historical Vehicle Club Belgium attended the conference…

It will be followed from  the 60th anniversary of the legendary Ford Mustang, a retrospective on the history of Formula 1, and, of course, a few more surprises that Sebastien de Baere would like to keep secret until further notice…

Soon we will visit the VW Golf exhibition at Autoworld – stay tuned!

Hans Knol ten Bensel

We interviewed Asterio Perez, Managing Director of Fiat, Abarth and Fiat Professional in Belgium and Luxemburg.

Posted in Automobilia, Car Events, Car manufacturers strategy, Car News, Car presentations, Car Shows, E-mobility R &D and solutions, Interviews, New ModelsLeave a comment

In the Stellantis Group, Fiat occupies of course a very important place, and therefore we made this interview about its future plans at the recently held press conference… Just read on!

HKTB: I propose to start this interview with the LCV market, which is very important for Fiat.

AP: Indeed, it is very important, and we have even reserved a specific brand for it, Fiat Professional. This means that we have also a dedicated network for this brand. Indeed, we have dealers who sell exclusively commercial vehicles. This means that they offer a service which is fully tailored to the needs of a professional client. For him, our vehicles are an instrument for his job, and so his needs are for example different time schedules for service and maintenance, and sometimes also assistance on Saturdays too.

Fiat has fully renewed its LCV range…

HKTB: I assisted a few years ago at the launch of the first electric Ducato…

AP: Indeed, this was the first phase in the electrification of our LCV range. Now we have a new Ducato which has been designed from the ground up for BEV use. This Ducato has an attractive range of some 400 kilometers. But the use of a fully dedicated BEV platform enabled us also to be more cost effective and reduce the price by not less than 25 pct and meet the needs of our professional clientele by offering multiple load and bodywork configurations.

HKTB: When we come back to the passenger cars, the new 600 will also be very important to introduce electrified and BEV mobility to a wider public?

AP: Our most important BEV car for the moment remains the 500. The latest generation of our iconic 500 is exclusively BEV, whereas the previous generation is still produced and offered in hybrid form.  It is very important to note that our most popular and important car is now BEV only, not many mainstream manufacturers are doing this!

AP: This goes of course also for the Belgian market: the new 500 is exclusively electric. Now we come to the 600. This is a segment B car, and everybody knows that in this segment, a big share of the volume is still consisting of IC or “thermal” cars, let’s say that of the approximately 130,000 cars sold in this segment, only 7,000 are electric.

This is why we decided to offer the 600 also in hybrid form, besides the BEV version. Its hybrid drivetrain allows you still to drive on E-power in town for some 50 % of jour journey. The first hybrid cars will be available to the public around mid summer. This car will be available at a price around 24.000 Euros, which is quite attractive.

HKTB: Finally we have also Abarth. Being an engineer, this brand will certainly passionate you…I still remember the bialbero’s, the 850 TC’s… 

AP: Indeed, as soon as you sit behind the wheel of an Abarth, you feel younger and invigorated… it gives you energy, even if you drive only at a speed of 30 km/h! There is this unique spirit…

HKTB: How do you see the energy transition for the “Abartisti”?

AP: We have already an electric version of the 500, and we will continue along this path. I understand that many enthusiasts of the brand are still somewhat skeptical, but even if you want a sporting car, its electrification is inevitable. I can assure them that they will find a car which is responsive, handles beautifully, will be full of character.

In the new 600 Abarth which will be launched this year, they will find all these unique qualities too. I cannot give more details at this moment, just that this car will be powerful with 240 HP… But in looks, feel and touch, it will be very much a pur sang and sporting automobile. The car is not only developed by Abarth, but also by the people of Stellantis motorsport.

HKTB: Will it be a car for the engaging, sporting driver, will it have performance controls like a formel E racing car, so the expert and talented driver can increase the handling and outright power of the car?

AP: I cannot give you any more details of the car at this moment, except that it will be very powerful, with 240 HP…

HKTB: I thank you very much for this interview!

Hans Knol ten Bensel