Category: Design

We drove the Alfa Romeo Junior Ibrida…

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The Alfa Romeo Junior series has always been a sporting icon for the Alfa Romeo enthusiast. It stood for pure efficiency, with a somewhat smaller engine and less power, but had the same undiluted sportiness as its faster and bigger brothers in the Alfa range.

So when Stellantis launches today’s Junior again for its Alfa Romeo brand, we expect something special indeed, and we were very keen to drive for you the Alfa Junior Ibrida, which has a 1,2 litre 3 cylinder turbo under the hood and enjoys a 48 volt mild hybrid system. Does this Junoir retain the unmistakable Alfa Romeo thoroughbred qualities with a drivetrain and platform, which it has in common with its many sisters in the Stellantis group?

With this Junior, Stellantis aims also at efficiency and some degree of practicality and comfort, as it wants to attract a wider range of young customers to the iconic Milanese brand. We will find out in this test whether this new Junior fulfills all these high expectations…

Hans Knol ten Bensel.

Sporty looks…

When approaching the new Alfa Junior we are seduced by its good proportions. The front grille has character, the led headlights accentuate things further and the air inlets add an agressive touch. The car looks good from the side, the rear end with its peculiar headlight shapes is somehow a departure from the typical Alfa styling language, and shows us that Alfa is also entering a new era.

But there are Alfa styling icons which remain, like the wheel alloys with circular spokes, which suit the car very well.

The cockpit has also much Alfa Character, although aficionados will miss the typical large gear-change paddles on both sides of the steering wheel column, but then again, the smaller paddles indicate that this Alfa has somehow a different mission, and indeed this Junior wants also to convince the Alfa driver with somewhat different qualities.

But we liked very much here again the digital instrumentation, the 10 inch large central touchscreen which is set in a stylish cluster directed towards the driver, with below it a leaner centre console, which houses the Stellantis-typical drive selector, contributing to an air of sportiness with a large circular start/stop button towering above it.

The illuminated ventilation openings adorned with the Alfa symbol also add character. We liked the color pattern of the seats, with a large central red stripe, which gives the distinct optical illusion of a glowing ribbon. The seating position is rather deep, which again accentuates the thoroughbred panache of this Alfa. Note that the seats have heating and massage functions, a distinct plus..

Everything is well finished, some harder plastics are found, but the panel surfaces of the dashboard still exude a distinct premium feeling. The ergonomics are beyond reproach, and below the central touchscreen one finds still a row of “analog” touch buttons for ventilation with, last but not least, the volume control of the radio…


 

Performance and handling: the DNA of a true Alfa.

The Junior uses a 48V mild-hybrid system that combines a 1.2-litre three-cylinder Miller cycle petrol engine,with variable-geometry turbo and distribution chain for maximum reliability. The electrical component consists of a 48-volt lithium-ion battery and a 21-kW electric motor built into the 6-speed dual-clutch gearbox, which works together with the inverter and transmission control unit to ensure maximum efficiency.  The total power output of the system driving the front wheels is 134bhp, enabling acceleration from 0 to 100km/h in 8.9 seconds.

Indeed, performance leaves nothing to be desired, and thanks to the support of the electric motor the acceleration from standstill is smooth and powerful. The changes of the six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission are silky smooth under spirited acceleration, and indeed we found the whole drive-train behaving wonderfully when your right foot is somewhat heavier and you engage in a more spirited driving style.

The engineers have worked beautifully to give the 3 cylinder 1,2 litre unit, which is also found in many Stellantis models, this typical Alfa growl, reminiscent of the classic weber carburetted Veloce’s from the sixties and seventies. We just loved it.

So acceleration pleasure is to be had, and this is paired with a low fuel consumption which the classic Alfa’s never had to this extent. Yes, when cruising leasurely and avoiding high revs and (very) brutal accelerations, it is very well possible to achieve average consumptions in the 5-6 litre range, and even less.

The Ibrida is a so-called mild hybrid, this means that the electric motor, which is integrated in the transmission, has 28 HP, and the battery is also rather small with a gross capacity of 0,89 kW/h. But it does the job of giving that extra E-power smoothness and delivering E-propulsion at crawling speeds typical for start/stop situations.

The Ibrida is of course an excellent long distance motorway cruiser, with a top speed of a good 206 km/h. But it is also very much in its element on winding roads, and is both agile and completely predictable in its handling. So is this Junior an Alfa which can be driven with verve? Yes indeed, and it brings joy to motoring…

Practical and well equipped…

The luggage space is standard a good 415 liters, up to a maximum of 1218 liters. Of course Android Auto and Apple Car Play is provided, and the safety features as standard include level 2 autonomous driving, connected navigation, 180° rear camera, a handsfree electric tailgate, and a keyless system with proximity access technology as standard.

Conclusion

Is the Junior offering an attractive proposition for the die-hard aficionados of the brand? Yes it does, for us it breathes the DNA of a true Alfa. On the other hand, it offers ease of driving in town, practical everyday docility and last but not least excellent fuel economy and energy efficiency..

There are still more powerful versions, like the 280 HP Junior 280 Veloce all electric version, which  weighs only 1,590 kg. It emits also a typical “Alfa Sound” during acceleration, it appears. We are very keen to lay a hand on this throughbred EV-bomb in the not too distant future…

Hans Knol ten Bensel

Photographers’ notes: for the photos here we used again our Panasonic Lumix with its Leica 25-400 mm zoom lens. Early spring wheather warranted good light conditions, which allowed a low ISO and smaller apertures, enhancing sharpness and detail.

We drove the Kia EV3: steering into the EV future…

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Kia has not only adopted a new logo, it is now building cars with an avant-garde touch and style. Their EV3 has continued this new path with success, as it had been chosen European Car of the Year 2025.

For all the good reasons: not only does it run on the same dedicated, bespoke EV tech platform as its bigger sister, the also award winning EV9, it offers style, practicality, roominess, and range which put it at the top of its segment.

Needless to say,our expectations were high when we crept behind the wheel of this EV3 and admired the clean yet superbly well-designed dashboard… just read further.

Hans Knol ten Bensel

Aiming higher…

We have always believed that this Korean brand would reach the top, when we drove its cars almost a decade ago. They learned very fast, and their commitment towards innovation was unseen, while offering affordable quality, technical sophistication, and style.   

Now we drive the result of this strategy, with this EV3. Just look at its overall contours and one sees that it breathes with its angular looks the styling language of today. This is a car for NOW and the years ahead.

We liked its boxy contours, its wheel contours and the styling treatment fore and aft. Also, the angular styling of the LED headlamps and rear lights are adding to a distinct lighting signature. The proportions are well chosen, and even the 19 inch alloys do not disturb the balanced contours of the car. It truly stands out, and the result is that soon the wide public will recognize it as a new generation Kia.

Modern and clever…

The same can be said of the interior. When you step in the car for the first time, you have the distinct impression that you are entering the future. A 30 inch wide display dominates the dashboard, and combines seamlessly instrumentation, infotainment and connectivity functions. Of course you can adjust heating and ventilation via the screen menus, but thankfully there are analog switches and button controls beneath the screen, which let you adjust all the functions manually. We also liked the centrally placed roll-shaped volume control, so that the front passenger can also use it. The driver has of course the same roller-styled volume control on the steering wheel…

Everything is well thought out, and indeed one can find its way and expertly use all the controls and functions of this Kia without having to use a manual, although it is ALWAYS very wise to read it…it is time very well spent!

We also liked the leather-like seat upholstery, which had a very pleasant feel and touch, with the seats also being comfortable indeed. The front seats also fully recline, so you can take a restful nap while recharging the battery.

There are also a lot of nice details on this EV3 Kia. It has aerodynamic door handles, which flip open when you press the remote key to open the car. It has a central armrest with a sliding table underneath which fits your portable PC.

After you have locked the car,  you can still move the car fore and aft into tight spaces with your remote key. The sun visors can also be extended when flipped sideways to block lateral sunlight, and the central screen has a small separate cluster of symbols on its left side to make climate control a breeze. The backs of the front seats are styled to be used as coat hanger, which is indeed so practical…  

Comfort put first…

The EV3 offers plenty of legroom, and this is thanks to its relatively long wheelbase of not less than 2,68 meters. The luggage space is also more than adequate for an EV, varying between 460 and 1251 liters. No worries about charging cables lying around, they are neatly tucked away in the frunk, which holds 25 liters.

The EV3 has a very comfortable suspension, and this you notice from the first meters you drive it. Its ride feels like a (very) large SUV, one is cocooned in comfort, and well insulated from potholes and rough roads. The whole cabin has also an excellent sound insulation, with virtually no tire noise entering the cabin. This allows easy listening to classical music, even at cruising speeds.

Good driving range…

This Kia invites you to drive in absolute “Zen” mood to your destination, and it is indeed a very restful car. Peace of mind abounds, also when one considers the very good driving range. Consumption according to WLTP standard is 14,9 kW/100 km, which is quite efficient for a car with a kerb weight of a good 1,8 tonnes.

The EV3 has an 150 kW/204 HP  electric motor driving the front wheels, and you can choose between a standard 58,3 kW or a larger 81,4 kW battery. This means that in summer temperatures around 20 C°, a motorway range of over 400 kilometer is very well possible. Of course this range shrinks rather drastically in winter temperatures.

Say that you are cruising at 100 km/h, the range then dwindles from 401 km at 20 C° to 341 km at 0 C°. We find this still quite reasonable. When you drive somewhat slower on wintry roads, at 90 km/h, the range is then still a good 378 km at 0 C°. The manufacturer quotes higher ranges, but we consider these figures as more realistic.

When you opt for the bigger battery, the picture gets of course even more rosier. Driving at 100 km/h at 0 temperature will give you a range of 473 km, and in summer conditions at 20 C° this raises to 557 km.

In normal, everyday use, the smaller battery might be sufficient, we would think. Because the EV3 can take up to 100 kW fast charge, and this means that it will cost less than 30 minutes to recharge the battery from 10 to 80 pct, and these figures are almost reached in wintry conditions, provided one pre-conditions the battery.

Lively performance…

The 150 kW of the engine and the ample torque of 283 Nm make this EV3 truly sprint. Accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h costs merely 7,6 seconds, top speed is electronically limited to 170 km/h. More than enough for everyday driving, we would say. Maybe it is good to know that the Kia EV3 can tow up to 500 kg with the smaller battery, and even up to 1 tonne with the larger 81,4 kW battery.

Conclusion

The Kia EV3 has won its accolade as “Car of the Year” for all the good reasons. Spacious, styled for the future, practical and well equipped, with excellent efficiency and range and more than adequate performance, it offers smooth transport from A to B. It is well built and finished, it is attractvely priced and enjoys the 7 year Kia guarantee, need we say more?

Hans Knol ten Bensel

We drove the Nissan Juke Hybrid N-Sport: stylish and frugal…  

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The Nissan Juke pioneered the compact SUV with its very original styling, and has remained an iconic car indeed. Since 2019 the Juke is in its second generation, and has last year received a facelift with minor exterior changes but with a revamped interior and a bolder colour palette. It runs on the same platform as the Renault Captur, but as said, it’s the styling which makes this Juke really stand out.

Since 2022 it is also offered in hybrid version, and as hybrids are gaining in popularity, it is this version we preferred to put here through its paces for you.

Hans Knol ten Bensel

Proven hybrid technology

The hybrid version inherits the know how built up in this field by Renault, which is also technically speaking understandable as it shares, as we said, its platform with the Renault Captur. It has a 16 valve 1598 cc four cylinder under the hood, developing 69 kW or 94 HP at 5600 rpm. It has two electric motors, an alternator and a traction motor, bringing total system power to 143 HP/100 kW.

It has the same Renault engineered E-TECH multi-mode automatic gearbox, and it lets you select between three driving modes, standard, ECO and Sport. When starting from standstill, the computer controlling the transmission will select the electric motor and will continue to do so, until more power is asked by your right foot and the combustion engine has to set in.

The power transitions are smooth and virtually imperceptible, resulting in quite stress free and pleasant city driving. The lithium battery is of course not a formidable power source with a capacity of merely 1,2 kW, and this means that the combustion engine has to recharge the battery frequently, which it does preferably when you are driving at a slow (urban) constant speed.

This can result in the combustion engine starting to rev quite significantly when you are cruising quietly at some 35 km/h on a city boulevard, which can initially be quite unsettling, but no alarm, the computer is doing its intelligent job to let you progress as efficiently as possible. The multi-mode transmission chooses not less than 15 gear- and power combinations for you.

All this wizardry results in good (urban) consumption figures of around 5,5-6 liters/100 km. On the open road the Juke is quite efficient too. We clocked on a drive to Amsterdam and back an average of 5,4 liters/100 km.

CO2 emissions are some 107 g/km by the way.

Acceleration performance is pleasantly brisk with 0 to 100 km/h absolved in merely 10,1 seconds. It is the punch at slow speeds which is impressive (and important), with for example going from 15 to 30 km/h in just 1,2 seconds.

Top speed is a reasonable 165 km/h, but indeed, absolute high speed driving is not the forte of this Nissan. Of course it is perfectly capable of cruising effortlessly and comfortable on our motorways at legal speed limits…

We also liked the “e-pedal”, where the generator motor will use the kinetic energy even more intensely to recharge the battery. You soon learn to use this to the extent that you will hardly need the brakes…

Travelling in style, and oh, that sound…

The SUV character of the Juke makes you sit pleasantly somewhat higher, and getting in and out if the car is also easier. We found the seating position excellent, and everything fell “just right” in our hands.

The Juke has now a bigger central touchscreen of 12,3 inches and a revamped digital instrument display with identical 12,3 inch dimensions. Very readable and elegant round dials are displayed in front of the driver, and you can choose to display the navigation function also between the dials. Of course Apple Car Play and Android Auto are installed and voice commands are also reliable and reactive.

We liked the big round knob for the sound system volume and the further touch buttons for audio functions and last but not least the camera. There are also welcome “physical” commands for the ventilation/heating system.

Our test car came with the Bose Plus personal audio system with not less than 10 audio speakers, two of which are also positioned in the headrests, and this offers a very impressive sound experience.

To enjoy classical music however one has to take into account that you are driving a compact SUV, and besides the fact that tire/road noise levels are good for its segment, it can still impair a perfect listening experience.

Our test car came also with the so-called “technology package”, and this includes adaptive cruise control, lane change warning and further driving aids like blind spot warning and rear cross traffic alert. It also has the Intelligent Nissan Round View Monitor, which we liked very much, as the visibility towards the rear is rather poor due to the original styling of the Juke.
 

The N-Sport equipment version pleased us optically with its nice black lacquered 19 inch “Akari” alloys, lacquered bumpers, the two-tone paint finish.

More room and comfort

The Juke is comfortable, the suspension is never too harsh and seats are fine. Passenger space at the rear has been improved since 2019 with a lengthened wheel base by some 10 centimeters, resulting in about 6 centimeters more space for your knees in the back. Due to the bold styling of the Juke, the floor of the luggage compartment is rather high. Luggage volume is reasonable, varying between 354 to maximum 1237 liters.

Positive handling

The Juke is stable and has predictable handling, but does not actually invite you to throw it around corners. It steers precise and pleasant however, and is relaxing to drive also on winding roads. It feels very surefooted on motorways, and indeed it is also an excellent companion on long distances.

Conclusion

For those who like to travel in style, enjoying this unique higher stance and feel so typical of an SUV, then the Juke is the choice. It truly convinces in its hybrid configuration, delivering smooth and fast accelerations in town, combining it with excellent economy. Infotainment and driving aids are up to scratch, and will please younger hearts. The Juke inspires confidence due to its finish and workmanship, the cabin is well equipped and pleasant, so enjoy the ride…

Hans Knol ten Bensel  

Photographers’ notes: we used again our Lumix DMC-FZ1000 with its Leica DC Vario-Elmarit 2.8/4.0 25-400 mm (35mm equivalent) lens. Its extended zoom range is very useful for photographing car details and avoiding extensive cropping. In lower light conditions however, the depth of field is of course quite small…

70 years of DS, a unique adventure: the story of its iconic engineers…

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 Already in 1934, the dream of the goddess of the road began: Citroën designers drew the first contours of a more streamlined body for the “Traction”, which was launched only a few months earlier.

This year we celebrate 70 years of DS, as indeed the iconic DS 19 was launched in October 1955, this year now 70 years ago.

Reason enough to delve into the stunning history of the birth of this goddess, and subsequently also DS Automobiles, who since 2014 carries further the tradition of making superbly styled, avant-garde automobiles offering exquisite comfort and panache.

Your servant started to delve into his archives, and here is a tale, which every car enthusiast can adopt as an exquisite story to be told at a dinner table with friends and family, about the men with a unique “Génie Français” which led to the birth of a truly unique automobile.  

Hans Knol ten Bensel

But development work started rather in earnest in 1938, when Pierre Boulanger codenamed the project for a successor of the Traction VGD, or “Voiture à Grande Diffusion”

The man behind it all: Pierre Boulanger...

But first a word about the actors of this unique engineering adventure. It starts with Pierre Boulanger,  who was a so-called “Michelin man”. He started working for Michelin in 1918, reporting directly to Eduard Micheli, co-director and founder of the business. Boulanger joined the Michelin board in 1922, and in 1938, he became the company’s joint managing director.

What has Michelin to do with Citroën? In December 1934, despite the support of the Michelin company, Citroën filed for bankruptcy. In that same month Michelin, already the car manufacturer’s largest creditor, decided out of necessity to become its principal shareholder.

Pierre Boulanger then became the assistant of Pierre Michelin, who was already the chairman of Citroën. Boulanger became the vice-president and chief of the Engineering and Design department. He became president in 1937 until his accidental death behind the wheel of a Traction 15 CV . He also jointly managed the Michelin company.

Pierre Boulanger was already since 1936 working on a project to create the TPV (short for ‘Très Petite Voiture’). This led, as you might already know dear reader, to the birth if the 2 CV, affectionately called by the French “La Deuche”.

The driving genius of the project: André Lefebvre …

But let’s go back to our VGD project, which he started with the help of André Lefebvre, the spiritual father of the Traction. Another most important actor in our tale. He was an engineer with unique insight and creativity, with a wonderful talent to think out of the box. He was a lifelong friend of aviator, artist and also car designer and engineer André Voisin. And this is a man who designed and built absolutely stunning cars.

André Lefèbvre in his younger years, a keen racing engineer, working for Voisin…

We show you here a photo of the Voisin which was to be seen in the Brussels Autoworld museum last year. It was also André Voisin who recommended Lefebvre to André Citroën.

The man behind the hydropneumatic suspension: Paul Magès

The genius who invented and developed the legendary hydraulic suspension was Paul Magès. He came to Citroën as a draughtsman at the age of 17 and a half, and made a wonderful career thanks to its practical sense, creativity and entrepreneurship. In September 1940 he was promoted to quality engineer and in 1942 Pierre Boulanger included him in his research team, to create and develop a suspension system for the 2 CV. Here his out of the box thinking and creativity proved crucial.

Already early in the development, he saw the advantages of a liquid that would compress a gas. It was a new idea that Paul Magès began to experiment with in 1944 on a 2 CV with a very crude system comprising 1 gas tank per wheel, which theoretically made it possible to vary the flexibility from one to four, with a gas and a liquid separated by cork. Cork will not withstand high pressure however. This archaic start is refined, perfected, tested a multitude of times, and the results are always more surprising. Paul Magès then created his own team which manufactured all the organs itself. The skills of each person are at stake, in the feverish atmosphere of research. The theory gradually became reality, the concept was simplified, the tests multiplied, the results were refined.

First trials of a hydropneumatic suspension on the 2 CV prototype…

In 1946, Pierre BOULANGER encouraged Paul Magès to continue his research, no longer on the 2CV but this time on a front-wheel drive, because it was necessary to think about the future VGD car. (Mass Circulation Car)

Besides the suspension, the car had to be revolutionary, and Boulanger proposed a monocoque structure in which the centre of gravity would be as low as possible, the roof and bonnet would be of aluminium and the floorpan would support unstressed, lightweight body panels. 

The hydraulic suspension found its way on the rear axle of the six cylinder 15 CV Traction…

In 1949, Paul Magès, after multiple tests, finally developed a hydropneumatic suspension that he put to the test in the cold in the Nordic countries, then in Algeria for resistance to high temperatures. It was from this adventure that the idea of a manual height control was born, in order to allow the vehicle to face snow or chaotic terrain. Other trials will be the source of questioning, creations, and multiple improvements.
In 1953, the hydropneumatic suspensions were deemed reliable enough to equip the 15 six, then the DS 19…

But soon more about the story of the DS in the following 70 years since its birth…

Hans Knol ten Bensel

We drove  the Alfa Giulia ’’ Tributo Italiano’’ 280 HP : a true driver’s delight..

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There are sporting sedans which are engaging to drive. But then there is the Alfa Romeo Giulia. It sets the absolute standard in its class when it comes to balanced handling and panache. And since its introduction in 2017, this Giulia remains unchallenged in its class until this day. We experienced this again at the wheel of the new ”Tributo Italiano” version, equipped with 4 wheel drive and its legendary 280 HP 2 litre direct injection petrol engine. Read further…

Hans Knol ten Bensel

Thoroughbred looks

This Tributo Italiano version certainly makes your car loving heart beat faster. The timelessly well proportioned body is painted either in ’’Rosso Alfa”, ’’Verde Montreal’’ or ’’Bianco Alfa.’’ You guessed it, these are the colours of the Italian flag… this Giulia also has wonderful 19 inch black alloys and red painted brake calipers.

In the cabin the black sports seats are adorned with red stitching, also found in the door panels and the dashboard edges. The front seats are heated and ventilated, your ears are spoiled by a 14-speaker Harman Kardon sound system.

Behind the wheel…

Sitting in the Giulia is low and sporting, with everything beautifully within reach. Certainly the big sized gearchange paddles on the steering wheel, worthy of a supercar, and so easy to reach also when you are making extensive steering movements. Totally Pur Sang, and one asks oneself why not every car with sporting aspirations has this too. The engine starts smoothly by pressing the knob on the steering wheel. A true gem is this 2 litre four cylinder, with ample torque and power. It develops not less than 280 HP, which indeed results in supercar performance.

What to think of a top speed of some 257 km/h, and an acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in merely 5,5 seconds? Thanks to the ample torque, the pulling power is also quite massive at intermediate speeds, where of course the excellent and alert 8 speed auto box comes also into play. Leaving the lever in ’’D’’, the Giulia sprints from 70 to 120 km/h in just 5,8 seconds.

The Giulia is also reasonably frugal at constant speeds, at a cruising speed of 130 km/h, consumption is around 7,51 liters. In town, with some restraint, one can achieve between 8,7 and 9,5 liters/100 km, cruising at 110 km/h will cost you around 6,4 liters. Our average consumption during a quite extended test resulted in 8,1 liter/100 km.

Beautiful handling

What one feels behind the wheel of this Alfa from the first few meters is its the wonderful balance and handling. It still runs on the Georgio platform, developed long before electrification, and this in collaboration with the chassis engineers from Ferrari and Maserati.  This resulted for instance in a truly ideal weight distribution of 51% at the front and 49 % at the rear.

You guessed it, this Giulia has a balance, steering precision and handling which is honed to absolute perfection. Steering this Giulia on winding roads is totally a dream. The suspension set up strikes an ideal compromise between precise handling and comfort, and indeed this Giulia is surprisingly comfortable considering its excellent agility. On top of all that this 280 HP Giulia has 4wd, which sets in when necessary. Normally, the rear wheels are driven.

The engine revs to a beautiful staccato when called for, but this never gets unobtrusive, and also high speed cruising does not unduly raise the noise levels in the cabin, making the Giulia a magnificent Gran Turismo, as we experienced driving it into France.

Practical

The Giulia offers adequate room in the rear, and luggage space is also quite reasonable with 378 liters. Infotainment is now since the latest facelift where the Giulia also received new LED headlights up to the mark, with of course Apple Carplay and Android Auto connectivity installed. The digitalized instrumentation in the cluster in front of the driver is well executed with an excellent rendering of both speedometer and rev counter, and indeed, instrument buffs as we are, we did not miss the previous beautiful analog instruments. We liked to find again the trusted DNA driving mode selector on the centre console.

Conclusion

This Giulia truly stands out, and is nothing less than a true supercar within the Stellantis portfolio. Its engine is a marvel, and it is therefore with good reason that we will see this formidable unit soon in top of the range Peugeots…
Then there is the Georgio platform, which breathes the aura of ’’Puro Sangue.’’ Precision, agility and wonderful balance between comfort and superb roadholding and stability is the hallmark of this platform, and it has to be experienced behind the wheel to fully appreciate it.

Last but not least there is the overall styling, the ideal proportions and the panache of the Giulia. It is for many the quintessential Alfa, and this is the best compliment we can give this car…

Hans Knol ten Bensel 

Photographers’ notes:

We again used our Nikon D5600 for this photo session. The strong autumn light of the French midi created vivid contrasts, which the camera handled well… We used B & W for one interior photo, to give it a “classic” look…

We drove the Lancia Ypsilon electric: elegance, character and smooth panache

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Lancia has always embodied style and elegance, coupled with mechanical refinement. This makes the new Ypsilon a very fitting candidate for EV propulsion. Indeed, after an extended test behind the wheel of this Lancia, we can only agree. It is most endearing as an EV, and indeed, it is a delight to steer it in town and on every road you may drive it.

Hans Knol ten Bensel

Renaissance on a well proven platform

With the birth of Stellantis it was clear that a revival of Lancia was in the cards. We already told you in length about the introduction of this Ypsilon. It carries typical styling icons of the brand, like the “calice” on the front end, and the round rear lights reminiscent of the legendary Stratos.
In my opinion it is the most attractive of the Stellantis compact range, but that is of course a very subjective preference.

Iconic cabin

The elegance and the Lancia typical panache continues in the interior. We loved the layout of the dashboard, the resolutely square screens, the cute and well finished little central table or ”tavola”.

You can leave flat and light objects on it, everything else is of course hazardous when you drive  your Lancia with verve. We loved the blue/grey/black colour palette in the interior, so in tune with the tradition of the brand. Of course, it is a pleasure to find “real” commands and knobs for ventilation/heating for instance, and one feels quickly at home in this Lancia. One has Android Auto or Apple Carplay, and you can stream La Callas and delight in hearing how beautifully she brings Casta Diva. Indeed, the sound system is up to scratch.

The seats are quite comfortable and give excellent support. Space for the rear passengers is adequate, but of course one cannot expect miracles from a car with an overall length of 4,08 meters. Boot space is more than adequate for its class, with a standard available space of 309 liters.

Smooth EV power…

The Lancia shares its EV drivetrain with other cars in the Stellantis group, like the Opel Corsa, Peugeot 208, Jeep Avenger and Fiat 600. This means we’ll proven technology, with a 115 kW electric motor and a 54 kW battery, of which 51 kW is available in practice on the road.

This drivetrain is quite efficient, and indeed it is well possible to achieve consumption averages of 14-15 kW/100 km. It  results in a practical range of some 360 km under reasonable temperatures. Fast charging is possible up to 100 kW, which means you can charge your Lancia in less than 1/2 hour from 20 to 80 pct.

The smoothness of the EV drivetrain is an absolute delight and suits the character of the car wonderfully. Performance is quite zesty with an acceleration time from 0 to 100 km/h in 8,2 seconds. Top speed is limited to 150 km/h, which is very wise indeed, as high speed driving with an EV is a very wasteful affair.

Handling is brisk and precise, and indeed even  when driven with abandon on winding roads, this Lancia will delight you.

Conclusion

We found this Ypsilon utterly pleasing with the EV drivetrain. The silence and smoothness of EV power is just what this car needs. We are curious to see how it behaves with its 1,2 litre 16 V combustion engine, and even more so in the hybrid form. But here in our eyes, it already earned top marks…

Hans knol ten Bensel 

Photographer’s notes: we used for our photos here again our trusted Nikon 5600 D, a 24.2 megapixel upper-entry level, APS-C sensor DSLR. It delivers nice, crisp, well balanced photos, and is an absolute pleasure to use.

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!

Posted in Automobilia, Car Events, Car History, Classic and Vintage Cars, Classic cars, Design, Lifestyle, UncategorizedLeave a comment

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

We drove the Renault Rafale : an elegant flagship with sporting panache…

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

There are days where the life of a car journalist are very bright indeed. For example when sitting behind the wheel of the Renault Rafale, a stylish high tech hybrid full of character and ingenuity.

Renault has poured all its car making know how into their latest SUV Coupé, making it very much in tune with the times: it is a full hybrid, offering electric driving without recharging, and has style too. We drove the 200 HP model  in the “Esprit Alpine” equipment version, adding to the unique panache of this Rafale… just read further.

Hans Knol ten Bensel

Stylish, inside and out

The Rafale has the looks, now coming from the hand of Gilles Vidal. Surprisingly Renault has abandoned the design language which Laurens van den Acker started in 2009 when he became chief designer and which culminated in the recent Megane E-Tech electric. Now Gilles Vidal is at the designer table, and he comes from the Peugeot stable. He brought the design language of the recent Peugeot C-segment sales hits (3008) to Renault, and this is what Luca de Meo apparently wanted.

This new Renault DNA takes some getting used to, but we understand the strategy, as this styling language is trendy for the C segment and upward. Don’t forget, the Rafale is a D segment car.  Renault is also choosing different and highly original styling paths when it comes to the new “retro” 5 and 4, which are indeed amazing and bound to be successful.

But back to the Rafale. I must admit that I like the name. It harks back to the also very stylish and rakish pre-war record plane with a Renault aircraft engine, and did you know that Dassault is still building a ”Rafale” jet fighter?

Renault has also added a touch of “Alpine magic” to it. Your eyes fall on the illuminated “A” with an arrow on the backrest of the front seats. It pulses to the beat of a human heart. Wooww….The colour of the lighting matches the option selected in the MULTI-SENSE settings. Agneta Dahlgren, the design project director on the new CMF-CD platform also used for the Austral and the Espace , sees the illuminated logo when you enter the car as an invitation to experience driving pleasure…

The interior of the Rafale is quite welcoming, ergonomic and spacious. It has a high tech aura about it, accentuated by phasing out the use of leather in its cars. In the Esprit Alpine version we tested, the use of … SLATE is surprising. Renault says that “it evokes the Alps”, an environment where the rally Alpine Berlinettes stormed to victory. Present on the dashboard facing the passenger, these thin sheets of slate mould to the contours as easily as wood veneer.

The interior is also quite spacious. Understandable, as it is built on the same platform as Espace. The Rafale shares its 2.74m wheelbase, allowing not less than 302 mm knee room in the back. The long wheelbase and gently sloping roof line allow a rear headroom of 880 mm, almost the same as on Espace (892 mm). The Rafale has a standard boot space of 627 litres (532 dm3).

A digital cockpit…

The cockpit offers driver and front passenger Renault’s “Open R” digital instrumentation with two screens forming an L shape. There is a horizontal TFT dashboard display of 12.3 inches diagonally and a vertical touch screen measuring 12 inches diagonally in the centre of the
console. Eminently legible and intuitive to use.

Staying connected…

The Rafale connects indeed seamlessly with your smartphone through its in-car “OpenR” Link multimedia system with Google built-in.
The system provides access to Google Maps, Google Assistant and a host of apps (50 or more depending on the country and version) via the Google Play catalogue. Just like on a smartphone. The interface is also fully customisable and compatible with Android Auto and Apple Carplay.

As it is an open-ended system connected to the cloud, OpenR Link automatically integrates the recommended updates using FOTA firmware over the air) technology.

A clever, full hybrid drivetrain…

The Rafale has a 3-cylinder 1.2 litre turbocharged petrol engine developing 130 hp (96 kW) with 205 Nm of torque underneath the hood, and two electric motors. Let’s start with the engine. It has a Miller combustion cycle, low-pressure exhaust gas recirculation, a variable-geometry turbocharger and a longstroke architecture similar to that of a diesel. The result is an extraordinary efficiency level of 41%.

You guessed it, this engine does not spoil your ears with a thoroughbred high revving staccato, but rather sounds indeed like, well, a lower revving piston aircraft engine when called to duty. Especially as the computer which controls the hybrid system lets the  engine rev up to recharge the small 2 kW battery, which it does when you are driving at a (lower) constant speed or coasting, when you are using little engine power otherwise to propel the car. The computer then cleverly takes the opportunity to rev up the engine to recharge swiftly the battery, so it can again deliver its e-power for e-driving in slow urban traffic or to e-boost swift acceleration when called for.

This typically gives the driver the impression that the engine is revving up like the original Rafale record airplane before take-off… one would almost like to sit behind the wheel with leather gloves and a leather flying cap and goggles!

Renault’s full hybrid system is indeed very clever and astonishingly efficient. The two electric motors are respectively a main motor, developing 50 kW or 70 hp, and this is the one fed by the 2 kW 400 V battery. The other one is a starter-generator motor of 25 kW, which starts/stops the engine and performs the gear changes in the clutchless  multimode automatic dog box developed using Formula 1 technology. It  combines two gears for the main electric motor and four for the internal combustion engine. The motors and engine with this box combine 15 different operating possibilities, to offer te ideal solution in any driving situation. Soo clever!
But there is more. Renault went as far as to introduce on its flagship car so-called “predictive hybrid driving”. This function is meant to maximise the use of electrical energy while driving.

Connected to Google’s mapping data, such as the topography of the road over the next seven kilometers (or the most likely route if no destination is recorded), provides advance information to the battery management system to maximise the use of electric power….

Brisk performance

With a total system power of 200 HP, acceleration of this 1,6 tonne Rafale is quite good with a sprint time from 0 to 100 km/h of 8,9 seconds, and an intermediate dash between 80 and 120 km/h being absolved in 5,6 seconds. Of course, when driving full power for an extended period, the e-power is consumed and the petrol engine has further to do all the work, which translates therefore with its 130 HP in a relatively modest top speed of 180 km/h.

The good thing is that one is driving in urban traffic to a very large extent on e-power, which translates indeed in very good fuel economy. The WLTP figure is 4,7 l/100 km with CO2 emissions being 105 g/km.

The paddles on the steering wheel are not meant for manual gear changes, just let you choose the level(s) of e-regeneration.

Alpine agility…

The Rafale has very good handling qualities, and much testing has been done by Renault people to eke out the very best the CMF-CD platform has to offer.

The Rafale has multi-link rear suspension as standard , and the Alpine version we drove has the “4Control” four-wheel steering technology. The rear wheels turn in the opposite direction to the front wheels (by up to 5 degrees), for better maneuverability on city streets. This results in a turning circle of merely 10.4m.
On the motorway, at higher cruising speeds,  the rear wheels then turn very slightly (up to 1 degree) in the same direction as the front wheels, improving vehicle stability by reducing the inertia of the rear axle.

We found the Rafale indeed quite agile and stable. Also thanks to the upgraded Vehicle Motion Control (VMC 2), an electronic system controlling the rear wheels, and ESP.  All this is further enhanced by the calibration of the steering with a direct steering ratio of 13. A truly sporting D segment car, when it comes to agility and road manners. In line with its French pedigree, it is very comfortable too.

Conclusion

With this Rafale, Renault makes an impressive statement in the D segment, offering a stylish SUV coupé with ample room, excellent handling, convincing performance and surprising economy. Its drivetrain is truly clever, its equipment and finish is full of panache, especially in the Alpine versions.

Soon there will be a 300 hp plug in hybrid 4×4 version, noblesse oblige, but already this 200 HP Rafale was very convincing indeed…

Hans Knol ten Bensel 

The star of your dreams: we drove the Mercedes CLE 450 4Matic AMG line.

Posted in Automobilia, Car Tests, Design, Lifestyle, New ModelsTagged , , Leave a comment

A Mercedes coupé has always been a car of legends. My father had a 1955 220 S coupé, based on the first Mercedes ponton and it was in the mid fifties an iconic and elegant dream car indeed.
Then came ’heckflossen’ generation and its coupé version is still a pure beauty and a very desirable classic indeed with a unique panache. Mercedes carefully honed this 4 seater coupé/cabriolet tradition right until this day, and indeed the CLE we tested for you is a true delight. The new CLE Coupé uses the conceptual and technical innovations of the C-Class and E-Class, and has the classic ingredients the brand uses since decades now to achieve appealing looks.

It offers the necessary efficiency we expect nowadays by downsizing its engines and making them electrified. Indeed, all engines are mild hybrids with an integrated starter generator and 48-volt electrical system. There is a choice of four-cylinder units and – as the most powerful engine – a 3.0-litre straight-six petrol unit, which we enjoyed in our test car. Connoisseurs will agree: nothing surpasses the sound and fury of a powerful straight six, and indeed, it has plenty of power, all 280 kW or 381 HP of it.

But driving a Mercedes Coupé is also very much about enjoying its interior, space and comfort. Here the CLE also sets again standards. Just read further…

Hans Knol ten Bensel

Elegance and comfort

Long wheelbase, a strongly inclined A-pillar, a short front and a slightly longer rear body overhang, as well as pronounced shoulders and large wheels, these are the recipies for elegance as the brand with the good star understands it. This CLE impresses with its forward leaning “shark nose”, flat LED headlights and a newly designed, three-dimensional radiator grille.

Of course, the overall body lines are smooth and softly curved, as the laws of aerodynamics now dictate, and iconic angular designs are a thing of the past. Therefore it is very important that the overall proportions of the car are “just right”, and here the Mercedes stylists succeeded admirably.

A Mercedes coupé always stands out with a magnificent interior, and the CLE truly lives up to the tradition. Opulence reigns, with a top choice of excellent materials and a beautiful finish. Opening the wide door, your eyes meet the free-standing 12.3-inch, fully digital instrument display and the 11.9-inch, driver-oriented central display in portrait format. Modern times embrace you. Your shoulders are smoothly held by the front seats in so-called  “integral sport design”, developed exclusively for the CLE. Beautiful, and very comfortable indeed.

Before stepping in, your hands are searching for the release handle of the front seats, to put your jacket, purse or camera, tablet or laptop on the rear seat, only to discover that the release handle is not there. Indeed, the Mercedes stylists have made a little surprise for you. They replaced the knob with an elegant loop made of Nappa leather.

It is conveniently located at the upper edge of the backrest, the only thing is that you have to pull it straight up and not a bit sideways, because then it did not function. It took some getting used to, but soon enough we got the hack of it. But the seats are a dream. In conjunction with the optional Burmeister® 3D surround sound system, which we enjoyed in our test car, they each have two speakers at the level of the integrated headrests, creating an immersive music experience with Dolby Atmos close to the ears. The premium sound system has a total of 17 speakers…The front seats are heated and have an electro-pneumatic four-way lumbar support as standard. Seat climate control and a seven-zone massage are also available in conjunction with the optional ENERGIZING Plus package.

Enjoy now further the Mercedes world. Additional panache is created by the dynamic ambient lighting in not less than 64 colors. There is  ambient lighting with indirect light on the trim strip of the instrument panel, the cup holders on the centre console, the overhead control unit, the door handles, the seat adjustment unit and in the front footwell. All this is standard.

The AMG Line comes standard with ARTICO/MICROCUT black, which is made of 65 percent recycled materials in the seat area and 85 percent in the inner lining. Our test car had a macchiato beige/black colour scheme.

Intuitive user interface…

The display graphics and their arrangement are taken from the C-Class. The styles “Classic”, “Sport” and “Ambiente” can therefore also be selected in the CLE Coupé and are optionally supplemented by a full-screen map in the instrument cluster. All relevant settings for media, vehicle, telephone, comfort, etc. can be found on the central display. The new main icons in the central display were recently introduced in the new E-Class, and are self explaining. Here the highlight in the AMG line is a new trim part with a silver-coloured mixed-metal fabric. Also new is an open-pored, black wood veneer that is interspersed with fine real aluminium inlays. Superb!

Spacious…

With its dimensional concept – in particular the 25-millimetre longer wheelbase – the CLE Coupé offers more space than the C-Class Coupé.

The rear passengers enjoy 10 millimeters more headroom, 19 millimeters more shoulder and elbow room and 72 millimeters more knee room. The trunk offers 60 litres more volume, with a total of 420 litres. Indeed, we were able to transport one of my larger paintings to an exhibition with it, which could be conveniently and safely placed flat on the luggage compartment floor.


The magic of a powerful straight six…

As the happy owner of a classic 3.4 litre Jaguar Mk II we know something about powerful straight-six petrol engines. I also vividly remember my long drive in Marbella at the wheel of a 300 SL Gullwing at the anniversary celebration of this legendary car.

So straight-six petrol engines are close to my heart. This one incorporates of course all the up to date engine technologies.
This M 256 M as the factory designates it, combines a twin-scroll turbocharger with ISG, eliminating all turbo lag.  The exhaust ducts of three cylinders each are combined in the dual-flow exhaust manifold and only rejoin directly in front of the turbine wheel. This leads to a spontaneous build-up of boost pressure and torque as well as rapid engine response and spontaneous revving from low engine speeds. This of course means abundant power and performance.

The CLE 450 4MATIC develops 280 kW (381 hp) and 500 Nm of torque, resulting in a 0 to 100 sprint in merely 4,4 seconds, hurtling further to an electronically limited top speed of 250 km/h. We can assure you, it is a true delight to put this coupé through its paces. The instant responsiveness of this engine makes everyday both relaxing and enjoyable indeed. The 9 speed auto gearbox reacts instantaneously and is well tuned to the sporting character of the CLE. It will show some jerkiness under some conditions when parking and moving slowly back and forward when manoeuvring, but is otherwise super smooth.

Electric support…

In addition to a turbocharger, the CLE has a second-generation integrated starter generator (ISG). This will also deliver extra push, albeit only from a 17 kW motor, so it is only useful to propel the car on E power at low speeds or in city driving situations.

The ISG includes a 48-volt vehicle electrical system. Besides boosting with extra power,  it also allows coasting and recuperation. Another advantage is an  almost imperceptible start-stop function.  Also the transition from coasting with the engine switched off to propulsion with engine power is not noticeable. Refined city motoring is the result, fitting for a coupé of this stature, we would think.

A plug-in hybrid propulsion is in the cards too…

Besides the formidable straight six, Mercedes has a wide array of engines to choose from, as we told you already here above. The four-cylinder petrol engine (M 254) is available in two output levels at market launch: with 150 kW as the CLE 200 and CLE 200 4MATIC and with 190 kW as the CLE 300 4MATIC . The entry displacement is 2.0 litres. There is even a 2 litre diesel engine available under the hood of the CLE 220 d Coupé developing 145 kW.

Soon a plug-in hybrid version is available. Of course, this 450 CLE is efficient, and its fuel economy depends largely on your driving style. Official WLTP figures for combined consumption are 8.6-7.8 litres/100 km, with Co2 emissions between 196-176 g/km.

Dynamic handling?

The CLE enjoys the so-called 4MATIC all-wheel drive, which has
been further developed. It increases the surefootedness of the car, especially in the wet. Our test car came with the technology package, which includes the DYNAMIC BODY CONTROL suspension with continuously adjustable damping on the front and rear axles as well as rear-axle steering. Truly state of the art!

Of course you can use the DYNAMIC SELECT switch to choose between a comfortable or a sporty, taut setting. In conjunction with this DYNAMIC BODY CONTROL, the CLE Coupé is equipped with sports direct steering.

Just a few words more about the 4 wheel steering. The steering angle on the rear axle is up to 2.5 degrees. This reduces the turning circle by 50 centimeters. At speeds below 60 km/h, the rear wheels steer in the opposite direction to the front wheels. The wheelbase is thus virtually shortened, making the more agile. From a speed of 60 km/h, the rear wheels steer in the same direction as the front wheels. The resulting virtual longer wheelbase increases driving stability and safety at high speeds, fast lane changes or sudden evasive manoeuvres.

Entering the digital age…

The CLE Coupé adopts the third generation of the MBUX (Mercedes-Benz User Experience) infotainment system, as we told you already. This makes the sporty two-door the most intelligent coupé with the star. The MBUX infotainment system, the MBUX language assistant, the instrument cluster, the central display and the optional head-up display share a very powerful central vehicle computer.

For entertainment, a new Android compatibility layer allows the installation of third-party apps. The “Mercedes me” Store has also a new App Store. The offer will be gradually expanded. The MBUX entertainment package is optionally available from the Mercedes me Store. It includes Internet radio, music streaming and a data package from a selected third-party provider. With the online music service, Mercedes-Benz has fully integrated the largest music streaming providers – Tidal, Spotify, Amazon Music and Apple Music – into the MBUX infotainment system. MBUX enables access to the personal user profile of the linked music providers. Classical and jazz music lovers as we are, we certainly enjoyed this…

But there is more: with the “Just Talk” function, the intelligent voice control can now also be activated without the keyword “Hey Mercedes”. The customer must be alone in the vehicle for this. When the function is activated, a red microphone symbol appears in the display. Then the CLE Coupé is ready and waiting for voice commands.

Hey Mercedes also explains vehicle functions and helps, for example, if you want to connect your smartphone via Bluetooth. If compatible building technology and household appliances are available, these can also be networked with the CLE Coupé thanks to the Smart Home function and controlled from the vehicle by voice. The language assistant can also recognise occupants acoustically. After the individual voice characteristics have been learned, this can be used to access personal  data and functions via profile activation.


Enjoy also personal routines…

The CLE Coupé goes one step further in terms of automated adaptation to personal habits. You can use templates of standard routines, or have the opt for creating our own routines. You can link several functions and conditions with routines.  Examples here include “Cold days” (switching on the seat heating at a certain outside temperature, ambient lighting changes to warm orange) or “Date night” (romantic music is played via Bluetooth audio, the ambient lighting turns pink)…

Conclusion

This CLE Coupé sets again very high standards in its class, in the legendary tradition of the brand.
First comes the excellent quality of materials and workmanship, the unique design language, the mechanical refinement and solidity.

The panache of the interior and the excellent infotainment add to the magic of Mercedes coupés, as does its performance and handling, combined with a great amount of comfort.

In this age of energy transition, Mercedes here follows the path of mild hybrid technology, which could prove to be a future proof mobility solution in world markets…

Hans Knol ten Bensel