Category: Design

We drove the N°8: French savoir vivre on wheels…

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

When premium French automaker DS Automobiles designs a flagship model, one can expect something very outstanding and unique. This is indeed the case with the N°8, a sleek coupé-SUV, elegant to look at from any angle. Indeed, this car has panache, and this makes it in our eyes truly stand out.

Because, let’s face it: what makes you choose an EV in this day and age? Personally, I would say, the one that scores on style and character. The N°8 has lots of it…

Of course, there is also range, recharging capacity, efficiency and last but not least, handling and comfort. These are also elements which determine your choice. But let’s admit, drivetrain smoothness and performance is what EV’s all have more or less nowadays, so this is in my eyes hardly a determining factor anymore.

So this N°8 scores high, just by looking at it. When I walked around the car and entered the stunning cabin, staring at the four spokes steering wheel, I felt like stepping into the world of Jules Verne, tasting this unique mix of French genius with Victorian age idiosyncrasy. Well done, I would say to the designers and the other people who conceived the model’s mission status and character of the N°8.


 

A coupé-SUV

Let’s start with the exterior. A timelessly good looking car will have ideal proportions. This is what Pinin Farina and Felice Mario Boano already told us some 70-80 years ago. Just have a look at Boano’s design of the Lancia Aurelia, the GT version and of course the Ferrari 250 GT Low Roof Berlinetta.

The DS Automobiles designers have learned their lessons. Impressive, clean and tall sides, a bold front and rear end, with elegant yet expressively styled horizontal and vertical light elements on the four edges of the car.

We also liked the dual tone paintwork, the aluminum accents and the matte, brushed lettering on the rear end. The large wheels (740 mm in diameter) give the car a unique stance. The elongated and tapered profile that is illustrated by a roof stretching down to the tailgate’s spoiler. Each part of the bodywork has also been scrutinized in the wind tunnel. Its Cx is only 0.24 and its SCx merely 0.64

A premium cabin

Touches of art déco, but with an unmistakable sense of elegance, this is what the eyes meet in the interior. The photo’s tell you the whole story. Just look at the receded dashboard panel, a central screen panel which – refreshingly – is not so enormously big and imposing. The smaller panel in front of you gives you the info which matters, and not more. The design of the odometer is inspired by the world of watchmaking. The readability of the battery charge indicator and the “power meter” take precedence.

Like an airline pilot of France Aéropostal, where instruments were few and readable, as you needed all your senses to fly, like Antoine de Saint Exupéry or Jean Mermoz, on the night routes over the desert and ocean. This is how you feel behind the X-shaped steering wheel, but not hearing the sound of the single 12 V Renault 12JA aircraft engine like these heroes, in their Latécoère 26. Just silence, as the electric motor of your DS is virtually inaudible.

The heroes I described here also flew in an open cockpit, and had no radio. Things have changed for us. Just have a look at the beautiful speakers close to you on the front sides of both doors, part of a premium Focal Electra sound system with 14 speakers, a 515watt amplifier, and custom acoustic tuning developed specifically for DS interiors. You can enjoy music in this EV, for sure.      

Then there are the wonderfully designed and sculpted seats. Inspired by the DS AERO SPORT LOUNGE concept, the seats have fully integrated head restraints. The front seats are massaging, cooled and heated. Need we say more? Well, close-up thermal comfort is enhanced by the DS NECK WARMER, a device that favors heating as close to the body as possible to enhance energy consumption. These neck warmers fitted into the backrests of the front seats are illuminated by a backlit DS logo with a crystal appearance.

The rear seat comfort is nothing else but superb. There is ample knee room, 84cm of headroom and backrests inclined at 30°, without compromising their 40/20/40 modularity. Cooled and heated seat bases and backrests complete the comfort.

Driving

When you start moving behind the wheel of a DS Automobile, the expectations are high. The N°8 fully meets them. Whatever version you choose, there is utter drive train smoothness and power. The DS N°8 uses the Stellantis Group’s STLA Medium platform. This has been optimized in length and width to accommodate batteries up to a capacity of 97.2 kWh.

DS N°8 is available with a choice of three 100 % electric drive trains developing 230 hp, 245 hp and 350 hp, the latter being fitted with two electric motors for four-wheel drive. All motors enjoy excess power that periodically gives an extra 30 hp to the FWD version – 260 hp, 35 hp to the FWD LONG RANGE version 280 bhp, and 25 bhp to the AWD LONG RANGE model 375 bhp.

Performance is more than adequate: even the 230hp version accelerates in merely 7.7s from 0 to 100 km/h. Top speed is a respectable 190 km/h. The 245hp version which has the larger 97.2 kWh battery has virtually the same performance, but rewards you with a bigger range. According to WLTP figures, the 245 HP version has a range of 750 km, instead of the 572 km of the “base” version. The 350 hp version has of course close to superpower performance, with an acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in 5,4 seconds. The range of this AWD DS is 686 km.

Of course one can count on impeccable road manners and comfort. We found the DS quite responsive and tout, tending towards sportiness and it copes very well with a more enthusiastic driving style. Country roads can be driven with verve, and also in urban low speed traffic the N°8 feels well at home. Nevertheless, the steering feel is not too responsive, and car will not invite you to throw it around, but  lets you rather adopt  a comfortable, relaxed driving style. At high motorway speeds, the good road and tyre insulation as well as the sound deadening laminated glass keeps noise at bay, so you can enjoy the fantastic sound system and seat comfort.

DS N°8 is fitted as standard with DS ACTIVE SCAN SUSPENSION, a variable damping system linked to a camera positioned at the top of the windscreen. Supported by attitude sensors and 3 accelerometers, it analyses the road surface in a few milliseconds and transmits its information to a computer that acts on each wheel. Noblesse oblige, we would say again here.

Practical

Despite the coupe-SUV profile which makes the roof arch somewhat lower,  over the rear seats, but headroom is acceptable for most passengers. The floor of the car is rather high, and this raises your legs and knees a bit, reducing thigh support by the otherwise excellent rear seats. We enjoyed the clever thermal glass roof in the “Etoile” equipment version we tested.

Boot space is more than sufficient with 581 liters, and offers also a small under-floor compartment. When it comes to charging speed, it is worth to mention that the N° 8 features a 400-volt electrical system, and the maximum DC charging rate is  160kW.  This means that the 74kWh battery can be charged from 20-80 per cent capacity in 26 minutes, with the 97.2kWh pack taking just a minute longer to charge to the same amount. Note that EV Routing via DS IRIS SYSTEM 2.0 simplifies trip planning.

Conclusion
 

If you are looking for a refined car which truly stands out from the rest and which is a proud four wheeled statement of French refinement and savoir vivre, then this N°8 merits a long hard look.   

It is smooth and refined for eyes and senses, looks and drives beautifully, offering up to date practicality in its class. The N°8 soothes you with style and comfort, with performance and range to match, even in the base 230 HP version with the 74 kWh battery.

Hans Knol ten Bensel

Elegance in Motion: Aston Marin shines in Autoworld Brussels…

Posted in Automobilia, Car Events, Car History, Car Shows, Car technology, Classic and Vintage Cars, Concept Cars, Design, Fashion, films, History in photos, Lifestyle, men women and cars, Pre-War Classics, Sports and RacingLeave a comment

The iconic Aston Martin DB5 used by film character James Bond: this factory-made replica on, the show is an example of the “continuation” series of the original James Bond Aston Martin.

The lovers of iconic British classics can enjoy a beautiful exhibition in the heart of Brussels: until Sunday 21st of June they stand eye to eye with the iconic cars which embody the history of this wonderful brand.

You will admire at your leisure the rare 1925 Grand Prix car, of which only 3 exist in the world today, and the one you will see in Brussels is the last one produced… Another F1 gem awaits you in the magnificent hall of Autoworld: the legendary DBR4.

But every enthusiast just loves the DB5, the iconic James Bond car. The car on the show is a replica, but it is in almost every aspect equal to the original. Did you know that the total series production of the DB5 was only 1,059 units?

On the show, iconic Aston’s from the ‘50s and ‘60s can also be admired. What to think of the gleaming black DB1, nicknamed “Spa Special”, as this is the very car that raced to victory in 1948, with team drivers Jock Horsfall and Leslie Johnson behind the wheel.

Engineer Claude Hill had designed the 2 litre four cylinder engine for the revolutionary 1939 Atom, because of the wardid not really survive the prototype s. Key to the concept was the integral construction of body framing and chassis, which were made from rectangular steel tubes.

Looking at this photo, you can easily imagine yourself sitting behind the wheel of the Aston DB1, racing towards victory in the Spa Francorchamps 24 race…

The 1948 Motor Show saw the launch of the first car to be produced under the ownership of David Brown, thTwo Litre Sports, retrospectively named ‘DB1’.  It used the Atom chassis construction, by the way…
 

There is also a Bordeaux coloured DB2/4 to be seen, which was originally owned by Belgian king Baudouin, see the photo here above. He drove not less than four Aston Martins in his life. A true connoisseur!

Noblesse oblige, and this means that an Aston Martin exhibition cannot do without a Zagato bodied example. We admired the DB4 Zagato, which was again a factory recreation of the original. The DB4 Zagato was produced between 1960 and 1963.

Originally, 25 units were planned, but the interest proved not to be large, resulting in only 19 copies being produced. Later, the popularity of the Zagato version was increasing, and two subsequent series were, “Sanction II” with 4 copies, and “Sanction III” with a further 2 copies.

The car on the show is produced in a new series of 19 , built in 2019 on the occasion of the centenary of Zagato. is a true racing car, and is not allowed to drive on public roads…

We also found the Aston Martin 2022 Speedster-type supercar, the DBR22, totally stunning. We will return soon to this beauty, which is an homage to the legendary Aston Martin DBR1 Sports Racing Car. On the photo below, you see the cockpit details of this speedster, with the Aston Martin Victor in the background.

Below we show you a photo of the cockpit and steering wheel of the DBR22, with the steering wheel of the original 1925 Grand Prix Car in the background, with almost a century between them…

The show also includes modern creations like the Aston Martin Victor (see photo earlier) and the rare One-77. More on  these cars soon…  

Everybody knows that the name Aston Martin is tied to casino glamour and film, and this was also very much the case at the magnificent opening night of this exhibition, where your servant was invited by the very dynamic team of Autoworld.

On the opening night, invitées could enjoy a game of roulette…in the true James Bond tradition!

Sebastien de Baere, General Manager of Autoworld, welcomed the public…

and Autoworld Curator Leo Van Hoorick commented expertly on the displayed cars…

More soon on this Aston Martin exhibition, but in our columns we will also come back on the previous Lancia exhibition, with more stories and photos of Lancia’s legendary Grand Prix car, the D50…

Stay tuned!

Hans Knol ten Bensel

We drove the Xpeng G6: an elegant high-tech and comfortable performer…

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

We told you in our columns already about the successful entry of Xpeng into our domestic Belgian car market, and we test here for you their stylish mid-sized electric coupé SUV, the G6.  

Introduced on our shores in 2024, the G6 has already undergone a facelift, where the most important news is the new 80.8 kWh lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) battery, which replaces the former nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) unit.

This makes the G6 a true champion at the fast charging terminal: you can now charge it at an impressive 451kW. This means that this Xpeng G6 is built for the future, as at the moment of writing we still have to wait for such fast chargers to arrive in our country. But the fact that this allows you (in the future) to charge the battery from 10 to 80% in merely 12 minutes, is a strong (selling) point indeed. The new battery also means less use of expensive and less sustainable materials …

Spacious…

The G6 is not small, to say the least. Compared with the Skoda Enyaq, it is still a good 10 cm longer. It virtually is as wide and long as its important competitor, the Tesla Model Y. The interior space is indeed quite generous, also and even more so for the rear passengers: they enjoy ample leg- and headroom, despite the curving roof line and the coupe-like silhouette. The car also stands quite tall, and the designers have camouflaged this judiciously by putting the sills in a darker color.  One pleasant aspect is that you can… sleep in this G6, as the front seat backrest folds down horizontally and you can  remove the headrest. You can also install yourself neatly in the backseat, use the fully folded front seat as a footrest and have your laptop snugly installed on your stretched legs, and work comfortably…

…and some facelift details

The led headlight bar now runs fully over the front of the car, at the rear there is now a small duck tail spoiler. The car has now also a digital quite panoramic rear-view mirror, which is especially useful at night or when reversing in dark-lit areas. It can change back and forth to a “classic” mirror at the push of a button on its upper rim.

You can choose between 5 colors, and we liked the “stellar purple” of our test car. There is also an optional “black edition”, which is only offered for the time being on the 4WD 2- motor “performance” edition, which is the drivetrain of the car we tested.

An impressive platform with a drivetrain offered in 3 versions…

The G6 now uses Xpeng’s SEPA2.0 platform, with a chassis of aluminium and steel, reinforced by a stressed underfloor battery pack. The body is fully aluminium, the electrical architecture (with a silicon-carbide power inverter) runs on 800 V.

The model line up starts with the RWD standard range model, 252 HP with a 68,5 kW LFP battery. Then there is the Long Range model with a 297 HP motor and a 80,8 LFP battery. We drove, as said, the 4WD Performance model with 2 motors, 297 HP  + 190 HP (total 487 HP).

Superb performance, enjoyed in safety and comfort…

Needless to say that this “performance” edition is fast. Choose on the central screen among the available drive modes the “launch control” function, and then brace yourself. The G6 will take you from 0 to 100 km/h in just 4,1 seconds. The suspension and chassis can handle all this power smoothly, and the Xpeng feels utterly stable at high speeds and also in fast corners, with some noticeable body roll however. Top speed is electronically limited to 202 km/h, wind and road noise are virtually absent at high cruising speeds.

The Xpeng is comfortable, but its body sways gently over long road irregularities and all this does rather invite you to adopt a more restful driving style, despite its excellent stability and performance. Remember, this is a heavy car that weighs over 2.2 tonnes.

You can adjust the steering “feel” and responsiveness via the central screen and it also changes in function of the chosen driving modes. It transmits adequately the road surfaces, but again does not invite you to do some sharp and fast cornering. Just enjoy the smoothness and comfort, this is what the Xpeng engineers clearly had in mind when fine tuning the steering and suspension. The comfort at boulevard speeds in the city is therefore admirable. The long wheelbase indeed also brings extra smoothness.

The brakes are eminently up to their task, and indeed the 20 inch wheels add to the overall safe handling of the G6. Of course the G6 has ESP and boasts among many driving aids, even hill descent control.

Indeed, for the manufacturer, safety is paramount.  Xpeng therefore installed its ‘full scenario’ XPilot 2.5 driver assistance technology package in the G6, which is made up of a network of 29 cameras, radar transceivers and ultrasonic sensors. Did you know that all the data output is then monitored and processed by a special Nvidia processor?

You see the result on the large central screen, which all the surrounding traffic, bikes and pedestrians clearly shown. Indeed, this is a car made by a high-tech company, and this results in a wonderful and restful experience behind the wheel. Driver assistance systems are there in abundance, from lane assistance coupled with adaptative cruise control to parking and a lot more, it is all there.

Within the plethora of 29 cameras, you also have a camera which monitors whether you keep your eyes on the road. Fortunately, you can control its sensitivity via a menu on the touchscreen, so it does not interfere overwhelmingly when driving.

Refined and elegant interior…

With the facelift, the G6 had its interior upgraded with better ambient lighting and improved panel finishes. We liked the large wooden panel spanning across the dashboard. Besides the large and eminently readable 15,6 inch central screen, there is also a so-called digital 10,25 inch dashboard screen in front of the driver, and this gives you all the essential information right in the line of your vision.

Both front seats are adjusted electronically, and you can (pre)program your ideal individual seating position. The nappa leather seats (reserved for this performance version) are not only heated, they also have a massage function…

The wide central console allows you to charge TWO phones simultaneously, with up to not less than 50 W charging power.  

Climate control is also top notch with automatic air conditioning and a heat pump;  

All the main functions of the car, like heating/ventilation, opening/closing, navigation can be controlled using a mobile app. There is also an “Hey XPENG” speech assistant: 4 zones (also from the rear seats) , full scenario with intelligent suggestions and advisory remarks. You have also an App Store connection for music, video, social media, etc.

When you change lane or take a right or left turn, a camera view flashes up in this screen to show any upcoming traffic in the chosen lane. Indeed, you are definitively spoiled with a wide array of high-tech safety features.

These is of course an excellent DAB/FM radio, using a 16 speaker XPENG XOPERA 2.0 Surround Sound System, with two speakers in the front seat headrests…classic music buffs as we are, we greatly enjoyed each trip…

All this to say that sitting behind the wheel of this Xpeng one definitely gets a premium feeling, not in the least because of the excellent finish and the quality of the materials used.  

There are a lot of practical storage possibilities in the cabin, and luggage space is also quite adequate with 571 liters (1374 liters with rear seat backrests folded).

And what about consumption and range?

We noticed during our test a usable practical range of some 370-400 kilometers, with a 60/40 mix of motorway and city driving. Of course, in winter driving the heating/ventilation systems take also their toll, and we find this range therefore quite reasonable for a 2,2 tonne 487 HP car. When driving with some restraint, a consumption between 17 and 20 kW per 100 km is quite realistic. The manufacturer quotes 18,4 kW/100 km, and announces a WLTP range of 510 km.

Conclusion

This Xpeng G6 ticks many boxes, certainly taking into account that it offers impressive value for money. At the moment of writing, this 4WD Performance version is available for 51.990 Euros, and as we said earlier, in this price range, there is no other car that offers this charging capacity. Add to this the stylish exterior, the elegant, roomy, and fully appointed cabin, the comfortable ride, and safety-oriented stability combined with excellent performance, and you will agree that this Xpeng G6 deserves a long hard look when you consider buying a mid-size SUV.

Hans Knol ten Bensel

Lancia 120 years in Brussels Autoworld:  elegance and engineering excellence tell us a great and beautiful story… part 2

Posted in Automobilia, Car Events, Car History, Car technology, Classic and Vintage Cars, Design, Museums, Pre-War ClassicsLeave a comment

We continue here our report about this stunning exhibition of 12 absolutely iconic Lancias, which we can admire until April 19 at Brussels Autoworld.

A car which set Lancia apart as a brand with a unique enineering excellence is the Lambda. It was intoduced in 1922 and featured not only a revolutionary and compact V4 engine. This V-4 was banked at a tiny 13-degree angle (later 14 degrees), with a flat cylinder-head face and combustion chambers in the block. Nobody had ever seen anything like it.

But there were other surprises: it also had a load-bearing unitary body. Indeed, and here we cite the famous connoisseur Michael Frostick: “its unique unitary construction, in which body and chassis were one, came a good ten years before Mr. Budd succeeded in selling his idea for a monocoque to Andre Citroen.”

As if this were not enough, it also introduced an independent front suspension. This sliding pillar suspension was a trademark of all subsequent Lancias, used not only for all the cars before the Aurelia, but also for the Appia, up until its replacement in 1963 by the Fulvia. The suspension has an integral spring and shock absorber (all made by Lancia in house) working around a large vertical set pin internal to the assembly.

The pin is anchored into a beam axle at a particular angle, and camber and caster are fixed at the factory. The shock setting is easily adjustable by hand at the top of the pillar, and one can change it from soft to hard in a moment, or even (as the Lancia Owner’s Manual suggests) summer/winter. Absolute genius!

Lancia also introduced powerful four wheel brakes on the Lambda. All this resulted in a car with excellent handling, and indeed the Lambda proved faster over a winding track than anything Lancia had hitherto produced, including the big Tri Kappa, an eight cylinder with twice the horsepower. 

 The Lambda became the car to win races with, and in 1927, when Italy’s famous open road race, the Mille Miglia, was first held, a trio of Lambda’s took the first three places overall. Note on the photo above the short, sporting gear lever!

Another pre-war Lancia that won my heart was the Aprilia. Just look at its classic, timeless, compact proportions. It was born in 1936, but the car on the show is a 1947 2nd series example. It was Lancia’s first berlinetta aerodinamica. Indeed, it was one of the first designed using a wind tunnel in collaboration with Battista Farina and Polytechnic University of Turin, achieving for those days a record low drag coefficient of 0.47.

It was to be Vicenzo Lancia’s very last car, as the founder died in 1937, when series production started. It was indeed designed by Vicenzo, and featured four pillarless doors. Just look at the door handles, which are in the same position as in the pillarless 4-door Lancia Florida, which I showed you in part one. The Aprilia also featured an independent rear suspension, with inboard brakes…

The Lancia story will go further in part 3. We will tell you then more about the Lancia PF200 prototype and the legendary D50 racing car…

Hans Knol ten Bensel

Practical info: The exhibition runs until April 19 at Autoworld, Parc du Cinquantenaire 11
1000 Brussels, Belgium.

Please note, the museum is closed Wednesday 11 March, Thursday 12 March and Monday 16 March 2026.

Opening hours: MONDAY – FRIDAY
10:00 – 17:00
SATURDAY & SUNDAY
10:00 – 18:00

Lancia 120 years in Brussels Autoworld:  elegance and engineering excellence tell us a great and beautiful story… part 1

Posted in Automobilia, Car Events, Car History, Car presentations, Car technology, Classic and Vintage Cars, Classic cars, Concept Cars, Design, History in photos, Lifestyle, Museums, Pre-War Classics, prototypesLeave a comment

Autoworld Brussels has again an exquisite exhibition ready for us: until April 19 we can admire a carefully curated selection of about 12 absolutely iconic Lancias. It shows us the elegance and innovation through design, as the title of the exhibition indicates. But we would add, the pop-up exhibition also showcases innovation through ingenuity and engineering excellence.
 

The cars are beautifully displayed at the beginning of the vast and inviting central hall of Autoworld, taking you on a journey of more than a century of technical innovation, refined design, and engulfing you in its rich motorsport heritage.

My eyes first fell on, at least to my taste, the absolute beauty of the show, the Lancia Astura Roadster by Pinin Farina. This 1935 Astura is a technical gem. The V8 engined car was introduced on the Paris Motor Show in 1931. This Astura on the show belongs to the third series, built between 1933 and 1937, with 1,243 units made.

The third-generation Astura was offered in short-wheelbase and long-wheelbase variants, and was powered by a new, larger engine. Indeed, it was enlarged from 2,6 to 3 litres, and the 17° narrow angle V8 single overhead camshaft engine now developed 82 hp. This short wheelbase you see on the photos was ideal for coachbuilders to show their talent.

ounded with the moral and financial support of Vicenzo Lancia, the Carrozzeria of Battista “Pinin” Farina witnessed a revival and produced breathtaking bodies. Of the just 328 “Corto” chassis built, many were clothed by Pinin Farina. The contours of this roadster are from the artistic hand of Mario Revelli di Beaumont, an independent stylist who worked actually for several “carrozzerie”…

Another car by the hand of Pinin Farina was for me the Lancia Flaminia. I was therefore elated to see the conceptual predecessor of the Flaminia, the Florida. The “bellezza” and elegance of this car deeply moves me. Just look at the photos. The car was built by Pinin Farina on an Aurelia B56 chassis, and it was a technically quite daring four-door pillarless saloon.

It was shown on the 1956 Brussels salon, and as a young boy, I dreamt about it. Just like the Boano styled Ferrari’s, it was for me the pinnacle of what human art, intellect and craftmanship could reach in terms of sheer contemporary beauty.

The pillarless doors had to go in the production version, the Flaminia, therefore the elegance of this Florida truly stands out.  

Much more to follow on this Lancia show at Autoworld soon, about the D50 racing car, the iconic rally cars like the Stratos… just remember, go and see it, it is on show until April 19.
 

Practical info: Autoworld, Parc du Cinquantenaire 11
1000 Brussels, Belgium.

Please note, the museum is closed Wednesday 11 March, Thursday 12 March and Monday 16 March 2026.

Opening hours: MONDAY – FRIDAY
10:00 – 17:00
SATURDAY & SUNDAY
10:00 – 18:00

Hans Knol ten Bensel

The Mercedes styling philosophy uncovered…

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

The latest Brussels Motor Show proved to be a treasure trove for us car enthusiasts. At the impressive wonderful Mercedes stand on the show we met on the press day with Robert Lesnik, Director of Exterior Design. In front of the iconic and already legendary Concept AMG XX, he presented styling examples of what Mercedes believes stands for the brand.

He started off with this AMG XX, and commented that this car embodies a rare combination a very aggressive sporting front end, the side view with the timeless proportion of the long bonnet, a very round shaped rear end and an amazing interior. He also showed the legendary Autobahnkourier, and he also focused on the grille of the 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Renncoupé, being so iconic and a typical design hallmark over the years for the sport coupés and cabrios of the brand. He also commented further on the Concept AMG that this car is the harbinger of what is to come for the series version of this AMG Electric sports coupé.

Robert Lesnik commented further: “For the new generation we were inspired by our past cars and design heritage, which doesn’t mean that we are doing retro design. You can see it on the radiator grille of the new GLC Electric SUV, with just three horizontal bars illuminated, it is a modern interpretation of a classic design icon.”

Beauty and attraction…

“There are two elements, beauty and attraction, which are the goals when we design a Mercedes”, Robert continued. Something that attracts the customer and what he perceives as beautiful.”

“Obviously, this goes for both the exterior AND the interior. There must be a certain power. I would say the sweet spot for every Mercedes is the three-quarter rear end perspective, where you really see the shoulder, and you see also a very iconic graphic with two roundish rear lights, with three lights for the AMG versions.”

We asked also about the interior, although he is responsible for exterior design, but nevertheless…

“For the interior,” he continued, “there is always a combination of the digital and the analog. For the first time, we have a hyperscreen, made of three screens being seamlessly positioned together. Also when the instruments and screen is shut off, it is not uniformly black, the air vent openings are still illuminated, the touch fields and items on the screen are also still visible, the inside door handles have a metallic coating, silver shadow galvanized so to say, these elements were there earlier, and will stay also in the future. I always say, Mercedes has always a chromium strip more.” We could only agree…

Focusing further on the front of the car, Robert stressed that it is still somewhat higher, which results in a spacious frunk. We will also strive to have clean lines.

We asked Robert also when looking back at the elegantly styled cars for the hand of Paul Bracque, the cars were lean, low, with excellent all round visibility. Do we see these styling elements back in the Mercedes cars of today and the future?

“Indeed, cars were (much)smaller, but now cars are electric, and they need more volume because of the batteries. Cars therefore need to be higher and this also calls for bigger wheels. This means also that cars are wider and have longer wheelbases. So cars are bigger and later hopefully will get smaller again. But cars as elegant as the Pagode will never appear again because of the safety regulations… But for the next five years, our horizon is set, we have a good idea what our design strategy will be.”

We thanked Robert for the interview and show you here some photos.

In a further episode we will have a further interview with Oliver Löcher, Vice President Vehicle Engineering and Overall Vehicle Functions Mercedes-Benz Cars.

Hans Knol ten Bensel

Xpeng, a high-tech EV car company that makes a sales hit in Belgium…

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

Xpeng introduced on the Brussels Motor Show their P7+, an “intelligent fastback” brimming with advanced features…

AS everybody knows, Chinese manufacturers are entering our automotive markets, and indeed we have already applauded the very convincing Leapmotor C10, just read the test report in our columns.

In the coming weeks we will cover the Chinese brands which were present at the Brussels Motor Show, and we start this series here with Xpeng. An interesting story follows…

Hans Knol ten Bensel

Xpeng, a fascinating company history…

The full name if Xpeng is actually Guangzhou Xiaopeng Motors Technology Co., Ltd.  XPeng was co-founded in August 2014 by Xia Heng and He Tao, former senior executives at GAC Group with expertise in automotive technology.

Let’s delve a bit more into this GAC Group. This is the Guangzhou Automobile Group Co., Ltd. As of 2021, it was the 5th largest automobile manufacturer in China.

Maybe it is also good to know that on 17 November 2023, GAC Group announced the independent development of key technologies, including all-solid-state batteries, cobalt-free batteries, low-cobalt batteries, and sodium-ion batteries. The company aims to achieve the integration of all-solid-state batteries into automobiles by 2026. Say no more…

But back to Xpeng. The Initial backers were amongst others the founder of UCWeb and former Alibaba executive He Xiaopeng, namesake and current Chairman of XPeng, and Lei Jun, the founder of Xiaomi.

The spacious interior of the P7+…

Collaboration with Volkswagen…

On 26 July 2023, the Volkswagen Group announced its investment of $700 million in XPeng for purchasing 4.99% stake of the company. The VW Group will collaborate with XPeng to develop two VW brand electric models for the mid-size segment in the Chinese market in 2026.

In February 2024, XPeng and VW signed a technology cooperation and joint development agreement on platform and software. 

In August 2025, XPeng and Volkswagen Group signed an Agreement on Expanding E/E Architecture Technical Collaboration (“Expanded Technical Collaboration”). The signing of this agreement marks that the E/E Architecture will be not only integrated into Volkswagen’s electric vehicle platforms, but also deployed across its ICE and PHEV platforms in China, thereby significantly expanding the strategic technical collaboration to broader markets.

In November 2025, Xpeng announced a new driver-assist system designed for navigating narrow roads, which they say will be rolled out by the first quarter of 2026. The system is claimed to be able to navigate cars smoothly through the narrow streets and will be opened to other car makers, with Volkswagen being its first client. Brave new world we would say…

We spoke with Bart Hamminga, Country Managing Director of Xpeng Benelux.

Initial sales success in Belgium…

On their stand at the Brussels Motor Show, we had an interview with Bart Hamminga, Xpeng Country Managing Director of Benelux.

“Last year we announced our debut at the Brussels Motor Show, and we actually had a dream start. 12 months later, we could sign our 1000th sales contract.” Bart told us proudly.

“It shows that the Belgian car market is open for innovation and new technology” he continued. “The success is also due to the quality of our cars, which impressed the Belgian buyers. I think a very important contribution to the success was, last but not least, the cooperation with Hedin Automotive. It is, of course, essential to have a very good and solid partner. The combination of these three factors led to the very positive development we see on the Belgian market.”

Smiling faces: Bart Hamminga, Country MD of Benelux to the left, and XPeng Public Relations Manager René Aerts jr.

An impressive range

The P7+ has massive computing power, supporting the XPILOT ASSIST Advanced Driver Assistance System that uses a variety of cameras, radars, and sensors to offer support in three main areas: driving, parking, and safety.

At the Brussels Motor Show, Xpeng made the Eurpean premiere of the P7+, a model that was already on the Chinese market in 2024.

The car now got a  facelift, and is in “pure” EV available in a RWD Long Range or an AWD Performance version. The rear end is completely restyled, and Xpeng defines the car as an “intelligent fastback”.  

The Long Range will accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 6,2 seconds, the Performance version does this in merely 4,3 seconds. There is a lot of luggage space in this 3 m long wheelbase elegant 5 seater, with a volume of 573 l up to 1931 l with the rear seats reclined.

Needless to say that we look forward to put this high-tech and elegant P7+ EV through a test soon…

The 7+ has a 800-volt Si-C platform, which means that you can charge it from 10 % to 80 % in merely 12 minutes.

There is also the G6, which has a WLTP range of up to 525 km and also has the XPILOT driver assist system. It will also fast charge up to 451 kW and has also the 800 Volt SiC platform, which means that also with the G6 you can charge it from 10 % to 80 % in merely 12 minutes. It has a slightly shorter wheelbase of 289 cm compared with the P7+, but luggage space is still quite good with 571 l/1374 l.

The RWD standard range goes 470 km on a full charge according to WLTP standards. It will accelerate from 0 to 100 km in 6,7 seconds. The RWD Long Range has similar performance, but a slightly longer range of 525 km.

The dashboard and interior of the G6…

Last but not least there is of course also a full size SUV in the range, the G9. Its wheelbase is 299,8 cm or let’s say 3 meters. Luggage space is 660/1576 liters. Its kerb weight is an impressive 2,4 tons. An induction motor is at the front, a permanent magnet motor at the rear for the AWD version. Combined output is here not less than 423 kW…
 

The car is available in 3 versions, RWD standard and long range, then last but not least the AWD Performance. This flagship SUV in the standard range gets you 502 km far, the long range is good for 585 km. Almost supercar performance is warranted in the Performance version: in will sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in 4,2 seconds.

Also this car has the Ai speech command feature, and of course the same XPILOT driver assist system. As with all the Xpeng cars, the high-tech company will see to it that you get automatic wireless updates of its built in software.

The dashboard and interior of the G9…

he G9 has the so called “Full-Stack Logic” architecture, functioning with a binocular front camera and a rear camera. Much more on these clever cars when we drive them…

Hans Knol ten Bensel

Brussels Motor Show: Some thoughts about the styling future at Citroën, our talk with head of design Pierre Leclercq…

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

Conceiving the automotive future is always a very challenging task. Some brands have also  a future-oriented attitude more than others in their DNA, and one of them is certainly Citroën.

75 years ago, they brought us the 2 CV, a car which embodied nothing less than a four-wheeled French revolution, embodying Liberty, Equality and Fraternity. Indeed, this adagio of the French revolutionists fitted the post-war French “citoyens” admirably, as the 2CV brought them just that. Freedom for all, with low-cost mobility, practicality, and go-anywhere capacity.

This revolutionary dream of the brand with the double chevron has never died. And Pierre Leclercq, the Belgian born head of design, proved its love for practicality, out of the box progressive “back to authentic basics of automotive mobility” thinking  already with its wonderful and stunning OLI.   

Your servant was at the presentation of this OLI in Paris, and now stood eye to eye with the equally intriguing ELO. On both occasions, he met the designer, Pierre Leclerq. We talked to him again in Brussels…

Hans Knol ten Bensel

A creative career…

Pierre Leclercq started in 1998 at BMW as an intern, he joined the Italian coachbuilder Zagato in 1999, which he left after three months to join Ford Ghia. Here he designed the interior of the Ford Street Ka concept. In 2000 he returned to BMW, where he worked for 13 years. There he notably designed the BMW X5 E70, BMW X6 E71 and the rear of the first Mini Countryman. He also worked on a successor to the BMW M1 based on the BMW i8, but the project was ultimately abandoned.

Pierre Leclercq headed the design studio of Great Wall Motors from 2013 to 2017. He then became design director at Kia, but stayed only one year with the South Korean manufacturer. Needless to say that he acquired a keen understanding of the design philosophy and DNA of both European and Far East manufacturers.

In November 2018, he took over the head of Citroën’s design office, succeeding Alexandre Malval, who had moved to Mercedes-Benz. The first project he led entirely at Citroën was the C4 X, a 4-door version of the third-generation C4.

Three pillars to keep in mind when building this concept car…

On the Brussels show, at the presentation of the ELO and the subsequent talk we had with him, Pierre stressed that this concept car is first and foremost a laboratory of ideas. He also wants to demonstrate the three pillars of the design philosophy of this car;  he told us: “The ELO must become your third place (after home and office – editor’s note) to live in which you must be able to play, work and rest ”   

Work…

Pierre presented the ELO to us, showing the highlights of its design. “We start with a six seater”, with the driver in the center and two seats on both sides. The second row is made of three other seats.”

“Fold two seats under the rear seats and then you can rotate the driver’s seat 360 degrees, either for a good entry or when you want to work. Ideal for people who want to work – our first pillar –  in another place than the office.”

Play…

“I told you the second pillar is play”, he continues. “The cooperation with Decathlon was so inspiring and led to new ideas and applications. We developed an app together with them. You can plan your trip, plan your weekend, so that you don’t forget anything that you need, you have electricity and (compressed) air for your bikes and toys…”

Compressed air and electricity for your E-bikes are provided…

Rest…

“The third pillar is rest. You fold the seats in the back row, and you have a flat floor. You then use two matresses, again an innovation from Decathlon. You inflate them to have perfect rigidity. We also have a larger screen that can unfold and we have a projector that is on the side of the car, and the little roof opens up at the back of the car to let you look at the stars in the sky.”

We asked him also about the cooperation with Decathlon on this project…

PD: “We liked Decathlon because we carry the same values.” was his answer. “Decathlon is innovating because it makes well designed and well thought products and is not reverting to expensive technologies. We worked together from the beginning to the end on this project, and it was a big learning experience for us.”

What are the futher design hallmarks of the ELO, we asked.

PD: “The car is compact, but has a lot of glass, which is very important both for the driver and people in the back, and more importantly, children.”

Can you tell us more about the materials used, we wanted to know.

PD: “Many materials are recyclable and we even recycled materials from the OLI for this project. Also the interior panels for example. They are also cheap and easy to replace when scratched due to intensive use…”

You took advantage of the EV architecture, we remarked…

PD: “Indeed, we could maintain very compact dimensions whilst offering much room. We could move driver forward, even putting him in the centre.”

We will see much of these solutions in forthcoming models?  

PD: “Yes, this concept car is a laboratory of ideas, there is not one idea which we will not try to put into production. Of course, this is the beauty of our craft, of being a designer, is to make and develop many projects, and to put them on the road, and last but not least to sell them, because these concept cars are not made for us, but for the cliënt.  

Needless to say it was a big pleasure for us to meet up again with Pierre Declercq, and see and admire his stunning concept car, the ELO.

In the next report on the Brussels Salon we will talk to Robert Lesnik, Director Exterior Design Mercedes-Benz and Oliver Löcher, Vice President Vehicle Engineering and Overall Vehicle Functions Mercedes-Benz Cars. Stay tuned!

Hans Knol ten Bensel

World premieres in Brussels…

Posted in Car Events, Car News, Car presentations, Car Shows, Concept Cars, Design, New Models, prototypesLeave a comment

The Brussels Motor Show is now in its 102nd edition and will be quite important, with an impressive array of world premieres to admire.

You can stand eye to eye with the  Citroën ELO concept car, the Ford Ranger (facelift),  Hyundai’s biggest EV so far, the Staria EV, KIA will show its new EV2 and powerful GT versions of the EV3 , EV4 and EV5, Mercedes-Benz will bring its new GLB, Mazda probably the European version of the EZ-30. Last but not least there is the Opel Astra and Peugeot E-408.

Indeed, Citroën has chosen Brussels to unveil the world premiere of ELO, a concept car designed as a veritable laboratory of ideas. ELO is firmly rooted in society and evolving lifestyles: responsible, functional, clever, multi-purpose, accessible and resolutely friendly. Compact (4.10 m) but incredibly spacious, ELO is “the little car that thinks big”. Its 100% electric architecture is optimally exploited to offer a modular space that can accommodate up to six people.

Kia will unveil the EV2, an all-electric B-segment SUV dedicated for Europe, on 09 January 2026, at the Brussels Motor Show. It is expected to have one E motor, borrowed from the Kia Inster. The 115 HP EV will be built in Žilina, in Slovakia.

Hyundai will launch new EVs in 2026, starting at the Brussels Motor Show with the world premiere of its biggest EV yet,” the automaker said in a statement. “The new model will showcase state-of-the-art electric technology, including an advanced 800-volt charging system.”

The all-new Mercedes GLB is built for everyday life. Available as a 5-or 7-seater, it adapts to all customers’ needs. It has more space, a new design, greater comfort, and even the ability to tow a full-size caravan.

The new Opel Astra and Astra Sports Tourer will celebrate their world premieres at the 102nd edition of the Brussels international motor show. The compact class bestsellers ‘made in Germany’ are sharper and more technical than ever, featuring the permanently illuminated Opel Blitz in the centre of the modernised Opel Vizor brand face for the first time, as well as the segment-unique, adaptive Intelli-Lux HD light.

PEUGEOT will unveil its new saloon car, the PEUGEOT 408, in Brussels. A true ambassador of French dynamism and panache, says the manufacturer in its press message, the new PEUGEOT 408 boasts an expressive and unexpected design. Wow effect guaranteed… 

This will also be an opportunity for the Belgian public to discover the NEW PEUGEOT E-208 GTi.

The Brussels Motor Show will open its doors to the public from January 10 until 18 January. Your servant will attend the press day on January 9, and you will soon read my impressions in these columns… Don’t miss it!

Hans Knol ten Bensel

Mercedes tells us in Brussels Autoworld the iconic “Story of the Star”…

Posted in Automobilia, Car Events, Car History, Classic and Vintage Cars, Classic cars, Concept Cars, Design, Lifestyle, Manufacturer's Classic Centers, Museums, Pre-War Classics, Sports and RacingLeave a comment

The exhibition retraces this remarkable story, from the very first three-wheeled Benz (1886) to the spectacular AMG ONE, here on the photo.

The magnificent Autoworld Museum traditionally ends the year with a major exhibition. This year, the house with the good star, Mercedes, takes centre stage. You can admire all the cars which made the brand truly legendary, and this until 22nd of February 2026.

Indeed, Mercedes has quite something to celebrate: not only is the brand now 140 years old, but it celebrates also the 100th anniversary of the merger between Daimler and Benz.

The exhibition retraces this remarkable story, from the very first three-wheeled Benz (1886) to the spectacular AMG ONE. More than fifty vehicles, including several rare highlights, are brought together for the first time in Belgium, displayed across thematic zones that reveal the many faces of Mercedes-Benz.

We attended the press evening, and of course we took our Fujifilm camera along the exhibits. We show you here some remarkable cars, but you should definitely put a visit to Autoworld, housed in  the magnificent Cinquantenaire monumental site.

You can start your tour with the 1886 Benz Patent-Motorwagen Replica. A replica indeed, as Mercedes had 100 replicas build in England, to celebrate the 100th birthday in 1986.

Carl Benz (1844 -1929) built the car and it contained quite a few novelties:  fully elliptic springs were used at the back with chain drive on both sides. A simple belt system served as a single-speed transmission. The four-stroke engine was extremely light for the time, weighing about 100 kg. A large horizontal flywheel stabilized the power output. Nevertheless, Benz was cautious, and opted for 3 wheels because he was… as an engineer not really familiar with a 2-wheel steering mechanism (!). The vehicle was awarded the German patent number 37435, applied for on 29 January 1886. Everyone knows about the drive which his wife Bertha Benz made with this car to visit her mother. The first fully-fledged automobile drive ever… when you see the car in the flesh, you wonder how on earth this was ueberhaupt possible.

The unique Mercedes DNA was soon established…  

When you stroll a few meters further, you stand eye to eye with a magnificent green 1937 Mercedes-Benz 540 K Sport Cabrio A (W29). The car was originally delivered to Alfred Krupp , and was early after the second world war sold to Prince Bernard, the husband of Queen Juliana of the Netherlands. Since he wanted his cars to be green, it was resprayed in his favorite color.

It was sold to a Swedish owner in 1953. Around 1990, Daimler-Benz meticulously restored the car to its original specification. The current owner has cherished this remarkable automobile since 1995.

Alongside the 540 K stands a 1961 220 S (W111) “Heckflossen”. This nickname stemmed from the rather timidly styled rear fins, which Mercedes apologetically commented as “helpful for parking”. This 220 S was revolutionary for its “safety cell”, truly representing a milestone in car design where front and rear crumple zones absorbed kinetic energy on impact. F1 Racing car engineer Rudolf Uhlenhaut had a major hand in the design of suspension and refining the handling of this beautiful car, and since my father owned one in these days, it is a car in which I learned to drive expertly. I still love the specific handling of this car, and I vividly remember a long drive with a 230 S “Universal” together with Autoworld Curator Leo Van Hoorick to visit the German Mercedes Benz museum, where I could enjoy behind the wheel the wonderful performance and stability in fast corners and at speed of this car. I think Leo fell immediately in love with this very car, and soon after he bought this car from the Mercedes Benz Belgium collection…and still owns it!

Royal transport: the 600 “Pullmann”

Strolling a bit further, one stands eye to eye with royal transport. Indeed, this car has served exclusively at the Belgian Royal Court, and is known as the “King Baudouin.”

This car, designed by the Frenchman Paul Bracq, (he also designed the iconic “Pagode” 230 SL) did not undergo a single modification during its 18-year career, undoubtedly due to its modern styling. It is equipped with air conditioning and a hydraulic system that controls, among other things, power steering, braking, and the hydraulic windows. Production began in 1964, and more than 600 variants were built until 1972. The production continued, albeit at a slower pace, until 1981. In total, 2,677 units were produced of which 487 long-wheelbase Pullmans. (overall length 6,240 mm).  

A F1 Mercedes for the road…
 

Sensational to admire is the 2025 Mercedes AMG-One. It is a hybrid supercar, nothing else actually than a F1 car adapted for road use. Behind the driver rests a 1,6 litre V6 turbo engine sourced from the Mercedes F1 car. But that is not enough: it also has four electric motors, which results in a total power delivery of 1062 HP and a top speed of 352 km/h. All this is not exceptional anymore in our dizzying EV age, but it stays quite impressive of course. The car made its debut on the 2017 IAA show in Frankfurt, but putting this complex drivetrain into production appeared to be a quite formidable task. So series production actually started only in August 2022. Only 275 units were planned, and of course they were completely sold out long before actual production began. The demand for this car was far higher, but AMG and Mercedes maintained the original production run, also to keep the car  very exclusive.

A tribute to Stirling Moss: the 2009 Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren “Stirling Moss” (R199).

Your servant has vivid memories of this iconic British champion when he participated in the historic Mille Migilia in the official Mercedes factory team, alongside Stirling Moss. Together with my father, we drove the works 180 D “ponton”, which was far more comfortable and cooler that the 300 S Panamericana which Stirling Moss steered along the 1000 mile course. “You were having fun”, he commented, “you could drive virtually the whole course flat out!”

We like the panache and the contours of the car here which is built in his honour. Stirling drove this car on the 2009 Goodwood festival of speed.
 

This limited edition variant uses a speedster styling that does not include a roof or a windscreen. The car is designed by Korean designer Yoon Il-hun and is of course inspired by the 300 SLR race car. The SLR Stirling Moss was to be the last series of the McLaren SLR built under the partnership between Mercedes-Benz and McLaren.

he car is approximately 200 kg lighter than the standard model thanks to carbon fibre construction and speedster styling. All 75 cars planned to be produced were completed by December 2009. It was available only to the existing SLR owners and each car cost in excess of US$1 million. This one was driven and signed by Stirling Moss in Goodwood in 2009….
 

Autoworld curator Leo Van Hoorick (left) and Mercedes Benz Cars PR Bastien van Den Moortel guided us expertly through the exhibition…

But of course there is much more to be seen of stunning Mercedes cars in Brussels Autoworld. As said, the exhibition runs until February 22nd. Not to be missed…

Hans Knol ten Bensel