Category: men women and cars

How to photograph your (classic) car…as a professional.

Posted in Automobilia, Classic and Vintage Cars, Classic cars, Lifestyle, men women and cars, PhotographyTagged , , Leave a comment

At a three quarter view the car reveals its proper proportions, a wide angle lens and a lower standpoint will make the car look more impressive. An overcast sky combined with a quiet background and natural surroundings are ideal…

Car lovers as we are, we all would like to photograph our car(s). But how do we master the art? Here we give you a few useful tips, which will let you avoid mistakes and lead you right away to achieve impressive results…

Photography is all about light, so indeed choosing the right lighting is very important.

So avoid midday sun, but choose rather, if you can, the “golden hour”, which is at  sunrise or sunset, when the light is warm and soft, enhancing  the contours and reflections of the car.

Overcast days are also good, as it avoids harsh shadows and renders the colors of the car very well.. When you cannot avoid the sun, look for shadow spots, certainly when you are photographing details of the car.

When shooting details, try to evoke the character of the car. This Jaguar D Type is all about speed. When looking at this photo, You hear the straight six roaring down the Mulsanne straight at Le Mans…

Very important also is choosing your best angle. Ideal is kneeling down to the height of the headlamps, but of course this is a matter of taste. Try it out… Three quarter shots will show best the overall design of the car, but profile shots are also a good starting point. When you have photographed front and back of the car, it is time to shoot the details. Your (classic) car has many…

Very useful, and we would say a must, is the use of a polarizing filter. For your smartphone, there are simple clip-on versions available. It avoids reflections of windscreen and painted surfaces. Shooting from an angle can also minimize the reflections of these surfaces.

I tried to catch the atmosphere of rallying with this shot. I took the reflection of the chequered flag in the door window into the composition of the image.

Use your hand to shield the lens from sunlight, or use a lens hood on your camera.

Look for a quiet, non distracting background. That is, choose a quiet country road, foliage, or an empty parking lot (the marks on the ground can be quite disturbing however). Leave enough room around the car. It shows then something about the setting around it. Indeed, it tells a story…

In the composition, look for leading lines, like the road, drawing attention to the car. Just have a look at https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-use-leading-lines-in-photography.

Use also the rule of thirds. The rule of thirds is a fundamental photography guideline suggesting that images are more pleasing when subjects are placed along imaginary lines that divide the frame into thirds, both horizontally and vertically, or at their intersections. Your smartphone has this grid most probably, so put it on. Then position your main subject along these lines or at their 4 intersections (often called “power points”). 

Never forget “human interest” photos. The face of the young woman is at an upper “power point” of the rule of thirds grid, leading your eyes to her face.

If your photo includes a horizon line, position it along the upper or lower third line, rather than dead center, to create a more balanced image. 

You will see how this really works… Just have a look at https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=UrCM4_NRmvA, but there are many YouTube videos to show you.. just practice!

You can also be creative when shooting a moving car: choose the burst mode on your camera or phone. Also try a slow shutter speed, it also gives surprising results…

This photo of the Volvo 122 S evokes the memory of legendary champion Tom Trana, throwing his Volvo along the gravel roads at a Swedish Midsummer rallye…

Our modern smartphones offer quite impressive quality, so for many there is no need for a proper camera. But then again, many find the use of a “real” camera more engaging and pleasant, as your servant does. Try a wide angle lens, which gives excellent results, but know that a 35 mm film equivalent lens or a 28-90 film equivalent zoom lens will do everything you would ever want, except of course when you are on the racing circuit taking action photos. That is a completely different matter, and this will be the subject of another article.

My very first camera, back in 1974: a Japanese bought Nikomat with the 1,4 50 mm Nikon lens, alongside the Canon AE-1 with motor drive.

Mirrorless cameras are more compact, but a good trusted (second hand) DSLR will do everything you would ever want marvelously. It is however rather heavy, so keep this in mind when you carry it along for hours on end. A shoulder harness which would allow to carry without effort even two big DSLRs would then be the thing to wear…

Mirrorless cameras are superb. Light, yet with excellent sensors, offering 24 m pixels here, combined with an F 4 Zeiss Vario-Tessar T E 16-70 mm.

Dashboards always make you dream away. Look for even light conditions, avoid strong contrasts and reflections.

Of course, the now iconic and much wanted compact mirrorless analog vintage look cameras like the Fujifilm X100 which I have been using for years now earn you much sympathy and open many doors for you at events…

Advantages of the camera are, besides the pleasure of using it, the longer battery life when you are taking many photos, for instance at a classic car event or rally.

The same can be said about classic engines…

When using your smartphone, make sure to choose highest quality, and RAW format if you have a RAW editor to edit your photos afterwards. Also choose the HDR setting, or high dynamic range. If your smartphone allows you to choose portrait mode, then select it to have a shallow depth-of-field effect.

Photos of car details can tell the whole story: You would like to sit in this seat, driving through the Alps…

Tap the screen for focus and exposure adjustment, and you are all set. Of course you can use the post processing filters your smartphone software offers you, but don’t overdo things. Just work on your style, and keep trying. Even full professional photographers take some two years to perfect their style in post processing.

You are all set, now get behind that lens and shoot!

Hans Knol ten Bensel

Alfa Romeo shows its sporting panache at the Lago Di Como

Posted in Automobilia, Car Events, Car History, Car presentations, Car Shows, Car technology, Classic and Vintage Cars, Concept Cars, Design, Fashion, History in photos, Lifestyle, men women and carsTagged , Leave a comment

From May 24 to 25, in the extraordinary setting of the Villa Sucota overlooking Lake Como, Alfa Romeo will be the Official Partner of the 2025 edition of FuoriConcorso, and will show its beautiful cars, with its unique sporting design language, a festival of beautiful contours and shapes which are an everlasting delight to the eyes of every car enthusiast.

Just read on and enjoy the photos…

Hans Knol ten Bensel

The FuoriConcorso is an event with a well rooted tradition: it was founded in 2019 by Guglielmo Miani, president of Larusmiani, the bespoke menswear and gentleman accessories firm which has been there for gentlemen since 1922. The passion for cars results also in a boutique to create an exclusive collection limited edition. There now you can purchase a collectors box of the Alfa Romeo 6C which contains: the numbered t-shirt with rear print depicting the car and a caption postcard with the history of the car.

But let’s return to the FuoriConcorso. It has grown to an international event that every year attracts thousands of collectors, experts and car enthusiasts from all over the world. The theme selected for this year is – “Velocissimo – Italian Race Cars”, and this means that Alfa Romeo will put its mark on this event. Indeed, the splendid Villa Sucota will become this year the “Casa Alfa Romeo”.

Around 15 extraordinary models will be on show there, some from the Alfa Romeo Museum in Arese and others from private collections.

The Zagato 6C…

A car which truly stands out is the 1930 6C 1750 Gran Sport, one of the most famous Alfa Romeos for its unmistakable line (Zagato), six-cylinder engine with compressor and its wide-ranging trophy haul in motorsport, spread out between the Mille Miglia, Targa Florio, Tourist Trophy and many other victories in endurance races.

On a model similar to the one on display, the legendary Tazio Nuvolari won the 1930 Mille Miglia, setting an average speed record of 100 km/h across the entire route, in a memorable duel with his teammate, Achille Varzi, also driving a 1750.

The Giulia TZ2…

Many aficionados still dream of the golden era of road racing, and the cars which played a prominent part in this. Like the spectacular 1965 Giulia TZ2. An evolution of the previous Giulia TZ, this car is lower, more tapered and aerodynamic, with fiberglass bodywork on a tubular chassis. Designed by Ercole Spada at Zagato, it sports a sleek and muscular line, dominated by the famous truncated tail, which consecrates it as one of the most beautiful racing cars ever.

The 1.6 twin-cam engine evolved with double ignition and dry sump, reaching 170 hp and 250 km/h. At its debut in 1965, it won its class at the 1000 km of Monza and went on to take other victories in the same season, including the 12 Hours of Sebring, the Targa Florio and the 1000 km of the Nürburgring. One year later, the TZ2 achieved the same feat at Monza, Sebring, the “Targa” and the “Ring.”

The 33 TT12…

Then there is the 1975 33 TT12. It made its racing debut  on May 5, 1973 at the “1000 km of Spa-Francorchamps,” when the World Championship for Makes was experiencing a period of great popularity and commitment from the most prestigious manufacturers, including Alfa Romeo with the “Tipo 33” family.

The “33” which saw the light in 1967 has now become legendary, where  the letters “TT” stand for Telaio Tubulare (‘tubular chassis’; based on its forerunner the 33 TT3 with a V8 or ’Otto Vu’  engine) and “12” is the `number of cylinders of the new 180° (‘flat’) three-liter V engine that can exceed the threshold of 500 hp. The aesthetics are unmistakable, with its side fins and famous periscope. After a year of development and initial wins in ’74, total domination came in 1975: seven victories out of eight races to win the World Championship for Makes, the fourth overall title in Alfa Romeo history. Legendary drivers such as Merzario, Andretti, Ickx, Vaccarella and many others were behind the wheel to build this immense series of wins.

The legendary F1 compressor Alfetta’s…

When you stroll a few steps away from Villa Sucota, an exclusive area pays homage to the bolides that have made Formula 1 history, starring the 1951 Alfa Romeo GP Tipo 159 “Alfetta,” the veritable ruler of the first two World Championships. An evolution of the legendary 158 of 1938, the 159 triumphed with Fangio after the victory by “Nino” Farina in 1950. After the title – the first of five for Fangio – Alfa Romeo officially withdrew from racing to devote itself to the Giulietta.

Compared to the 158, the 159’s engine was equipped with a two-stage compressor, De Dion rear suspension – the name given to the 1972 Alfetta is based on the adoption of this technical solution – and a more efficient aerodynamic look. The supercharged 1.5-liter inline 8-cylinder engine reaches incredible levels of power: in tests, it even achieved 450 hp, equivalent to 304 hp/liter. This was also made possible by the use of alcohol based special fuels, which had a considerable cooling effect when evaporating, making higher compression rates possible without corresponding high combustion temperatures.

Last but not least, the 33 Stradale…

Also on show at Villa Sucota will be the new 33 Stradale, a “custom-built” car approved for road use that ensures outstanding performance on the track.

It was unveiled in 2023 and produced in only 33 models (all of which have already been sold), the car represents the return of the legendary 33 Stradale, an icon of the 1960s, reputed by many to be one of the most beautiful cars of all time, and derived directly from the Tipo 33 – once a big name in world motorsport.

We can only suggest you to take a look at the photos, and spend some delightful ”Alfa” moments…

Hans Knol ten Bensel

We spoke with Barbara De Mol, Marketing Director Lancia and Alfa Romeo…

Posted in Car manufacturers strategy, Car presentations, Design, Interviews, Lifestyle, men women and cars, New Models, Service & Repair, women and carsTagged , , , , , , Leave a comment

HKTB: Let me first congratulate you with your new responsibility, and thank you for granting this interview. You have already built up quite a career in the automotive world…

BDM: Indeed!  I made my first steps at Renault, then joined the Group D’Ieteren, where I worked in the Marketing department at Porsche, and then took a new challenge by joining Electric by D’Ieteren, putting their product in the market. Then, as I was launching a new product in a premium (electric) automotive market, it was a logical step for me when an iconic brand like Lancia was (re)launching itself in our market, to take up also this challenge and this is how I landed here as a marketing director for Lancia and Alfa.

HKTB: Lancia is a unique premium brand with a noble Italian elegance and spirit, embedded in a rich history…

When I heard that 9 dealers will represent the Lancia brand in our country, with 1 in Luxemburg, it intrigues me to know how they will receive and approach the client and give him this premium impression and “feel” the moment he enters the showroom. What kind of support do you provide to these dealers?

BDM: Indeed, our support goes further than just marketing, and contains other aspects. For instance, the appearance and “look” of the showroom itself. We prescribe a premium level here. But there is also the sales person, i.e. the person who makes the first contact with the client. So we have established a training programme, where learning how to establish a good “face to face” contact is very important. We also have to address any doubts the client may have about the quality of our Italian cars, and therefore we offer an extended guarantee for the entire duration of the contract on our products.

HKTB: Do you work together with Italy to develop this training program for the sales staff?

BDM: Indeed, we have a very good collaboration. They communicate about their best practices, and of course we also have in Belgium our own training team. We have also developed a specific sales course, not only focusing on the technical aspects of the car, but also pointing out which elements constitute a premium brand.

HKTB: And the philosophy of the brand…

BDM: Of course. This has also a special appeal for them. The Italian elegance, the rally successes, there are many aspects. The history of Lancia is also very important.

HKTB: Can you tell us a bit more about the geographical distribution of the dealerships, for instance, there is no dealer in Knokke…

BDM: Indeed, there might come one in 2025… The first idea is of course to spread the dealerships  across Belgium, and the person who lives in Knokke or rather has his second residence there, lives usually also in one of the main Belgian cities.

HKTB: You have a dealership in Courtrai…

BDM: Indeed! The (first) locations have been chosen in function of the potential sales volumes. We need motivated dealers who want to invest in the brand, and therefore we need to offer them an opportunity to grow…

HKTB: What about the dealerships who previously sold the Lancia Ypsilon, now some years ago?

BDM: These dealers will still exist for after sales service. Presently there are only two dealers in this situation. They can service the new Ypsilon, even when they don’t have the car in their showroom.

HKTB: The car has many technical similarities with other cars in the the Stellantis group, not to mention the Peugeot 208 and Opel Corsa …

BDM: Indeed, but when it comes to selling and servicing the Ypsilon, the approach is to maintain its strictly Italian character, which is reflected in the dealer strategy…and which is to be applauded!

HKTB: Do you have a cooperation with the Netherlands?

BDM: We are different, but we work together, as the Ypsilon is launched simultaneously in both countries.

HKTB: Within the Stellantis group, DS is also a brand which addresses a premium client base. Is there a “cross fertilization” concerning client approach, an exchange of best practices in this field?

BDM: Not really. Indeed, we have three premium brands in the group, Alfa, DS, Lancia. We can share some training programmes on how to sell a premium brand, but then for Lancia and Alfa the passion for the automobile, its elegance and its design are rather more important. It is more “Italian”.

HKTB: Can you tell a bit more about the plans and potential for the fleet market for this Ypsilon?

BDM: We know that in Belgium the premium is very much fleet oriented, but as the Ypsilon is a city car, we reckon that about 50 % will be sold in the fleet market and indeed 50 % will find its way to private clients, who will opt rather more for the hybrid version.

HKTB: There will also be a follow up in the Lancia model range with the Gamma…

BDM: Indeed, and next year also there will be the more engaging HF version of the Ypsilon.

HKTB: Are the dealers exclusively Lancia?

BDM: No, they are also Alfa. They are so-called multibrand, but they will have a specific showroom, dedicated to the brand. The showrooms of the different brands have also to be clearly separated, and indeed the sales people are also specific. There is a dedicated sales person for the brand, who has an intimate knowledge of the brand.

HKTB: Are you going to engage with Lancia in cultural and other events? Will you for example sponsor in the future events like the Concours Reine Elisabeth?

BDM: Not in 2024, we now concentrate on the launch of the brand; but the retailers will probably organize or sponsor (local) events. There will be however specific events for the fleet clientele.

HKTB: I am (also) an artist myself and have a keen interest in artistic events, and I could see Lancia sponsoring events in the cultural sector…

BDM: This is a very good suggestion! Maybe in 2025. But you can always contact me, I am always open to new ideas and suggestions! The first event is now the opening of our retailers. The 22nd of May, the Luxembourg retailer will open its doors…

HKTB: Thank you very much for this interview!

Hans Knol ten Bensel  

We drove the Dacia Jogger Hybrid 140: your (price) winner…

Posted in Car News, Car Tests, E-mobility R &D and solutions, Environment, Lifestyle, men women and cars, New ModelsTagged , , , , Leave a comment

Dacia is going from strength to strength, winning the hearts of many, as their range offers just what people want.

Also in our age of energy transition, Dacia has a truly formidable car ready for you. The hybrid version of the Jogger 7 seater. Quite frankly, it offers the lot, certainly in the “Extreme” top equipment version we tested.

It is spacious and reasonably good looking, with well proven mechanical underpinnings and a comfortable suspension. Its hybrid drive-train is also found in the Captur and Clio. This Jogger is comfortable, reasonably refined and frugal. It ticks all the boxes, we could say, and indeed, we also liked it very much throughout this test… Just read further!

Hans Knol ten Bensel

Looks and practicality…

The Dacia Jogger is quite frankly in our opinion (almost) all you will ever need in a car. Provided you leave your emotions a bit aside and look more rationally at car ownership and cost.
You don’t even have to abandon looks for that matter, because the Jogger is a rather well looking hatchback estate, with a zest of MPV added, standing somewhat higher on its wheels, which makes it feel also a bit at home on unbeaten paths.

We liked particularly well the shape of the rear lights as well as the front end with the new purist and bold logo. Also the interior could seduce us. In this top equipment version we were even spoiled with several options like integrated sat and media nav, front seat heating, and a good looking khaki green paint. This pushed the price of this Dacia up to 28.650 Euros, but then where do you find a fully fledged hybrid seven seater for this money?

The Jogger is indeed eminently practical. It offers genuine seven seat capability, and even two grown ups have enough head and legroom on the two third row seats. Of course, these third row seats can be easily removed and with the second row of seats folded and tumbled down, this enables the Jogger to function almost as a van with a usable volume of not less than 1,807 liters!

The simplicity of the dashboard controls, instruments and the info screen makes you feel relaxed, and indeed, we have to agree here again, less is more. We find also the unsurpassed typical Renault audio control stick, a stroke of genius Renault introduced several decades ago on its R25 and R30, well into the last century, and it still is delightful to use. 

We liked the utmost user friendliness of the “analog” round knobs of heating and ventilation, the logical layout of the touchscreen info and functions.

A convincing hybrid…

The Jogger Hybrid 140 as it is officially called, has a normally aspirated 90 HP 1,6 litre four cylinder, and is assisted by twin electric motors, a (close to) 50 HP one and a starter/generator, which delivers the extra torque when getting away from standstill. The battery, which is housed in the rear where normally the spare wheel would sit, has a rather moderate capacity of 1,2 kW.

You understood it, this battery is designed to feed the e-motor for short bursts, for instance always for driving away. This makes the driving impression in stop start situations always very refined, and one of the very charming points of this hybrid version.

When you accelerate rather briskly, then the battery gets rapidly depleted and the petrol engine will soon step in vigorously and start whirring frantically to recharge the battery as quickly as possible. This is clearly heard, but the noise is never obtrusive.

When you don’t want the engine to step in so often and recharge instead  at a lower pace at lower revs, then simply drive more smoothly with a lighter right foot. The computer will let the petrol engine do its (re)charging at lower revs and less nervously, as the battery is not depleted at a rapid pace.

Indeed, a clever right foot and a driving style with lots of anticipation is the key to enjoying EV smoothness in urban traffic. Indeed, it is well possible to “float” along with the traffic flow under silent EV power in town over more than half of the driven distance. This greatly helps of course your fuel consumption in the city.  We had no trouble at all to achieve averages between 5 and 6 liters. Look at the results on the photo of the info screen, where indeed over a distance of 200 odd kilometers an impressive distance of 107 km was travelled on E-power(!).

Driving at constant moderate speeds on country roads will also let kick in the e-motor quite often, with the engine starting and revving up from time to time to recharge the battery in short(er)  bursts. It takes a bit getting used to the hear the engine suddenly starting to work at these higher revs when cruising at say 60 km/h or so, but when you know that it is to recharge the battery you understand that this is only logical.

When cruising at motorway speeds, the combustion engine is doing all the work, and is spinning away in 5th or 6th gear of the automatic box, and is then also keeping the small battery fully charged. So the overall  “feel” is then of an ordinary combustion engined car. By the way, the Jogger Hybrid has a 6 speed automatic.

The performance of this hybrid Jogger leaves in our eyes nothing, but then really nothing to be desired. It will smoothly sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in 10,1 seconds, and its top speed is close to 170 km/h. A 356 B Porsche Super 90 cannot even accelerate this fast, and reaches only a slightly higher top speed. So, one can’t say that this Jogger is “slow”!!  

As said, the consumption is quite reasonable. The WLTP figures tell a maybe somewhat too optimistic story, but here you go: the average is 4,8 liters, with CO2 emissions being officially set at 107 g/km. You see on the photos our average consumption over a single trip of 206 km…

Comfort

French suspension engineers have the talent to create comfortable suspensions with excellent handling capacities, and here indeed, the Dacia truly shines. Its steering is also light and quite precise and responsive, so the Jogger is a pleasant companion on winding roads, with excellent high speed comfort and stability on fast motorways.

Conclusion

This Jogger is, and we only repeat ourselves, a car for all needs, all seasons, all times. Future  proof with its low emissions, low consumption and last but not least its moderate kerb weight of slightly more than 1,4 tonnes, (if in the future cars might be road taxed on their weight…) it will provide very pleasant transportation at a very moderate cost. Due to all these good qualities, it is noticed that it holds second hand value very well too…



This car really impressed us, and shows how value for money can be wonderfully combined with comfort, performance and up to date environment friendliness. 

Hans Knol ten Bensel 

Photographers’ notes: We shot the photos here again with our Panasonic Lumix DMC FZ-1000. The camera tends in its standard ISO setting to render the colours on the rather cooler side of the sprecrum. Especially the interior shots had to be corrected in post production. Again the Leica Vario Elmarit aspherical f 2.8-4 25-400 mm lens delivers excellent sharpness also at full lens openings...

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

Posted in Automobilia, Car Events, Lifestyle, men women and cars, Museums, UncategorizedTagged , , Leave a comment

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The 2024 events calender will be very busy indeed…

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

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

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

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

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

Hans Knol ten Bensel

Audi Belgium offers now personalized home deliveries…

Posted in Automobilia, Car manufacturers strategy, Lifestyle, men women and cars, Service & RepairTagged , , Leave a comment

Premium brands are nowadays sparing no efforts to establish customer satisfaction and loyalty.

Audi Belgium follows suit, and is taking a new step by launching personalized home deliveries. This service is offered in collaboration with Mobvious and is valid for both private customers and self-employed persons, for a fixed price of €300 incl. VAT.

“Customer experience is high on the agenda at Audi Belgium,” emphasizes Emanuele Bolacchi, Managing Director Audi Belgium. “Thanks to this new delivery choice, our customers no longer have to travel to receive their new Audi. We offer the opportunity to optimally fit the delivery of their new Audi into work-related life balance, which is becoming more important for more and more customers.”

Bolacchi is joined in this by Dieter Hannes, District Manager Audi and also the driving force behind this project;

“As a brand, we want to leave a lasting impression. To achieve this, we look beyond the sale of the car and create a unique and unforgettable experience that matches the luxury and quality that Audi guarantees.”

Thanks to this new partnership with Mobvious, Audi Belgium is able to offer a high-quality, personalized delivery service. Customers can now enjoy the comfort of receiving their new Audi at a place and time that is most convenient for them. Whether at home, at work or another location in Belgium. This aims to fully tailor to the unique needs of each customer.

Mobvious, which is part of D’Ieteren’s mobility ecosystem, is the first driver platform that takes care of the entire car delivery process. To achieve this, it relies on a team of intensively trained drivers, who always guarantee professional home delivery with a customer-oriented approach.

Kamal M’Rabet, CEO of Mobvious, commented:

“At Mobvious, our focus is always on the optimal customer experience. The distribution model is also evolving in the automotive sector, driven by the purchasing behavior of consumers who increasingly shop online and need home service. Mobvious is part of this transition and helps automotive professionals such as Audi Belgium.

On the one hand, we do this with advanced technology for digitalizing the entire delivery process, and on the other hand, there are our professional drivers who can provide customers with all the necessary explanations.”

Audi Home Delivery service is currently available on Audi Q4 e-tron, Audi Q8 e-tron, Audi e-tron GT, Audi Q5, Audi Q7, Audi Q8, Audi A6, Audi A7 and Audi A8 models.

After this first phase, in which 50 Audis are expected to be delivered to your home, this service will be expanded to the rest of the Audi range. 

Hans Knol ten Bensel

We drove the Fiat 500e “la Prima”: the endless fascination of a bestseller…

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

The Fiat Cinquecento has always been a car dear to our hearts, and we certainly are not alone in loving this car. It now continues since 2020 its successful career in EV form, and many say that this is the very best 500 ever. The popularity of the 500e is now indeed clearly written in the sales charts: it is an undisputed leader in the European A+B BEV segment with a market share of 14.7%.

Needless to say that we were very keen to take the wheel of this iconic city car for you here…

Just read further!

Hans Knol ten Bensel

Wonderful looks inside and out

The 500e is cute from any angle, and the “la Prima” version we tested has some extras which we came to like very much. Such as the full LED headlights with a special signature, making the front end even more attractive with its elegant round headlight contours. By the way, at night, the LED headlights offer of course excellent visibility.

We also loved the 17 inch alloy wheels with a diamond cut pattern, which suited our test car very well.

The proportions of the Cinquecento are nothing less than a stroke of genius. In the electric three door version now, the 500 has grown a bit in size, and thanks to a 60mm increase in length and width, it looks a more imposing car. It runs on a completely new platform, and it is also 4 cm taller, with a 2 cm increase in wheelbase. But the designers left the overall look untouched, and that is nothing short of an absolute masterpiece.

The interior is well finished, and the color patterns and textures of the surfaces were also pleasing to the eye. The finish level is also quite good. The instrument cluster houses very clear and “less is more” driver information, with a well positioned 10,25 inch touchscreen in the middle. Underneath this screen is thankfully an “analog” row of buttons for heating and ventilation.

Sound volume can be adjusted with a manual rolling button on the centre console, very neat and practical. On the left side of this sound volume control, you can choose between the different driving modes. Indeed, you can select either “Normal”, “Range” or “Sherpa”. The regeneration function when you release the throttle increases gradually, and in the “Sherpa” mode, you can easily drive without touching the brake pedal at all, as the deceleration is then quite marked. It takes only a little practice to learn this…Needless to say that this has a very positive effect on brake pad wear…who said that EV’s emit more brake dust than “classic” IC cars?

Stepping into the car, one notices immediately some big improvements. The driving position is now comfortable – it’s set lower and has a decent range of movement to the wheel and seat.

The front seats, elegant with their “Fiat” embossed finish are generously dimensioned, and indeed two up to 1,95 m persons can find a good position behind the wheel. This cannot be said for passengers in the back seat. Children and dogs can find a good home though, but anybody taller than 1,60 m will find life in the back seat rather cramped.

Thankfully, through the third door on the right side of the 500e “La Prima”, it’s easier to reach the back seat, and parents with toddlers will only appreciate this, as it makes (re)moving the baby safety seat more of a breeze.

Smooth performance…

The 500e “La Prima” has a 118 HP/87 kW electric motor, and a 42 kW battery pack. The motor drives the front wheels through a single gear transmission, and this means ultra smooth progress. Indeed, e-power refinement is also to be had in this iconic 500. Almost totally silent and of course vibration free, the 500e offers lively performance. However, we should not forget that with its batteries, the 500e puts somewhat more kilos on the scales, and it weighs 1,4 tonnes. Nevertheless, the 118 HP/87 kW motor develops a healthy 220 Nm of torque, so acceleration from lower speeds is quite brisk indeed. For example, it will jump from 15 to 30 km/h in merely one second and the classic sprint from 60 to 100 km/h costs only 5 seconds. Standing acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h is done in 9 seconds. This is (very nearly) as fast as the early Porsche 911… and indeed, subjectively, one has the impression that the 500e is fast in getting up to speed.

Top speed is limited at 150 km/h, but for cruising at legal motorway speeds, the 500e is well suited. Of course, as EV’s go, the range will dwindle dramatically at high cruising speeds. Remember, the 500e has this Sherpa mode, which limits the speed to 80 km/h. But then you have to get very friendly then with the big Scania’s and MAN’s who will overtake and outrun you…

Handling is quite good, with excellent stability in all driving situations. Comfort is adequate, rough sections with potholes and ridges will be felt quite clearly, so the 500e is not a comfort miracle, but it is not bad either.

Steering is pleasantly light, which is welcome for this urban car, and brakes are also very well up to the task.

A reasonable urban range

Speaking of range, maybe some BEV knowledge is useful here. Did you know that the outside temperature plays a significant role? Maybe more than you think. Let’s take a close look here for this “La Prima” with a 42 kW battery.

If we take (very) cold weather, with -10 sub zero temperatures, the range in urban driving is 230 km, when you are venturing on the highway in these wintry conditions, this dwindles down to 165 km. We want to tell here that for the highway, a constant speed of 110 km/h is assumed.

In summer, at a temperature of some 23 degrees with no A/C being used, city consumption rises to a rather impressive 355 km. On the highway in warmer spring weather, now 215 km are possible, but still with no airco. So you will just make a Brussels-Knokke quick retour. Not so formidable it? In winter, you can forget this. What’s more, if you have to make an unforeseen quick retour, it is hardly realistic to expect that your car is fully charged. Keep this in mind when you need to reach in emergency a sick parent or child at a certain distance…

So this means practically that this 500e is a town car, and fit for short commutes only, if you don’t have charging possibilities at home or your destination and/or want to make a quick (evening) retour with no time for recharging “en route”.

When it comes to consumption, the following figures are more realistic: for urban traffic 13,6 kW/100 km, on the open road approx. 18,0 and on the motorway 19,5 kWh/100 km. The official WLTP consumption is given at 14,4 kWh.

Smooth recharging

The 500e offers however the possibility of fast recharging, as it can recharge at up to 85 kW/h. Then you will charge in less than 30 minutes from 10 to 80 pct of the 42 kW battery charge. Practically, one will charge at 11 kW on most public charging points, and then it will take about 4 hours to get fully charged.

Infotainment and practicality

The Fiat 500 boot is pretty small, although there is underfloor storage for one of the two standard charging cables provided. In standard form, the boot space is some 200 liters; using the space until the roof, one has some 35 liters extra. Folding  the rear seats down and loading until the height of the window base, one can pack 460 liters.

You have a DAB+ radio, Bluetooth, 2x USB-A and 1x USB-C connections, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and an inductive Smartphone charging station. The navigation informs you about actual traffic situations and charging points. Via a Fiat-app you can heat/cool the car before you leave and be informed about range and charging points on your journey. Last but not least there is a nice JBL Premium-Soundsystem with 320 W system power…

 Conclusion

A formidable, cute looking, absolutely iconic urban BEV, that’s what this Cinquecento Elettrica “La Prima” is. Not the roomiest, nor the most comfortable, but then, with its possibility of having three doors, and even a cabrio version, it will continue to steal many hearts, as it has done so since it rolls of the production lines in the Mirafiori plant in Turin.

Hans Knol ten Bensel

Photographers’ notes: We used for the photos again our Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ1000. The 16 x Leica designed zoom lens (a massive 25-400 mm based on 35 mm equivalent) is pin sharp, the color and contrast rendition with this low winter sun was also excellent, needing minimal corrections in postproduction.

We spoke with Pierre Voineau, Managing Director Citroën Belgium & Luxemburg

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“On BEV-mobility In the B segment, we will indeed be the spearhead for the Stellantis Group.“

On the recently held Stellantis  Press conference where it unfolded its strategy, results and future plans for its brands, we had the opportunity to talk with the leading managers of the several brands. As Citroën is the linchpin of the group in terms of European volume sales, we were keen to talk with Pierre Voineau, more specifically about a very important EV for Citroën, the new ë-C3.

Just read on…

 Hans Knol ten Bensel

HKTB: The new electric C3 will be a very important car for Citroën on our market…

PV: Indeed, it is the most important model launch for the Citroën brand over the last decade. Of course, the C3 is the most popular car here in Belgium, and has been already over the last few years. We also want to revolutionize the EV market with this car, making it accessible for everybody and at the same time producing the car in Europe…

We are at the crossroads of a decisive moment both for the Citroën brand as well as the car market in general.  

HKTB: For you it is also a mini-SUV, the C3 has grown taller…

PV: Indeed, we have injected the DNA of an SUV into the well known C3, but we did not make the car any longer or wider. This was very important. The car does not take up more room on the road than the present C3, just by a few centimeters at most. But we heightened the ground clearance of the car by 3 centimeters, and raised the roof line considerably with 10 centimeters. The passengers sit higher and indeed the front end is more imposing with a styling reminiscent of the OLI prototype you saw in Paris. The OLI embodies the strategy of the brand in terms of the total technical concept and styling in the long term, but indeed, some elements are already incorporated in this new C3.

HKTB: Which extra market segments or client groups do you want to attract besides the existing Citroën buyers?

PV: We will not in the first instance attract other client groups. It is rather the mobility itself which changes. With this, the needs of our existing client base also evolve. Now the need arises for cheap EV mobility, and we respond to that.

HKTB: The problem for you as a brand and certainly for a big automotive group like Stellantis is that the public charging infrastructure is still insufficient to meet all the mobility requirements. What do you put forward strategically here as a brand and a large group?

PV: We have Free2move eSolutions within the Stellantis group, which accompanies the client from A to Z in purchasing and installing his home charging point. When the client is in a particular situation and has no home or office charging point, or otherwise, it is good to know that in the spring we will also offer a thermal version of the C3.

Having said this, we will also have a special application, called e-ROUTES, on our electric C3. The route planner knows how many kilometers you need to travel, it will calculate a stop at say 20 % of the battery left, indicating the position of a charging point and also whether this charging point is available. It will indicate the recharging time needed, depending on the power of the charging station. One can charge up to 100 kW by the way. This will give the customer peace of mind when traveling over longer distances. With a battery of 44 kW and a range of some 320 kilometers one responds to almost all needs. On average, customers don’t travel more than 80 km per day.

Note from the editor: This new app, developed by Free2move Charge, is a trip planner that utilizes real-time data from the car and charging points on the driver’s planned route. e-ROUTES is available via an exclusive smartphone app. It is compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. To access e-ROUTES services, customers will need to use their MyCitroën account, either through the app on their smartphone or the car’s touchscreen, using the mirroring function.

HKTB: EV driving also needs a different state of mind and driving style…

PV: Indeed, one will embrace a different, anticipative, more leisurely and “zen” driving style… What’s more, we focus at Citroën also on comfort: the new electric C3 has a so-called Progressive Hydraulic Cushions® suspension, ensuring that you enjoy the legendary ‘magic carpet ride’ feeling of comfort on the road, thanks to the use of progressive Hydraulic bump stops.

Note from the editor: Two stops are used on each corner of the vehicle in conjunction with the shock absorber and spring instead of mechanical stops – one for compression the other for decompression.  

PV: We also have a manual airco on all the equipment versions of the C3, including a rear-end sensor. This combination of e-refinement with comfort and lavish standard equipment has great appeal and indeed the European wide orders for the new car at the end of December last year amounted to not less than 20,000. This year, we have chalked up already 1,000 orders in Belgium only. On BEV-mobility In the B segment, we will indeed be the spearhead for the Stellantis Group.

PV: I would like to comment also a bit more on the interior of the C3. Just look at the display. It reflects vehicle information onto a glossy black section between the top of the dash panel and the bottom of the windscreen. This smart solution ensures there is no duplication of information as there would traditionally be between a Head Up Display system and instrument cluster, and ensures drivers can easily access all the key information they need without taking their eyes off the road. The new multi-function steering wheel is also smaller, and so does not obstruct the head-up display.

Owners of the ‘You’ model have as standard equipment the ‘My Citroen Play with Smartphone Station’ dedicated App to access music, radio, calls and navigation via their own device.

HKTB: The clever use of the smartphone was also a solution found on the OLI prototype… actually, this C3 has everything of a compact “grande routière”…

PV: Indeed, as said, standard on ‘You’ models and features a built-in smartphone holder that allows drivers to ‘dock’ their device and auto launch the dedicated new App using NFC (Near Field Communication) wireless technology. Via this app, owners use their device to access shortcuts to Phone, Radio, Navigation and Music App services. The ë-C3’s steering wheel controls ensure drivers keep their hands on the wheel, and the ‘Home’ button makes it easy to navigate back to the homepage of the App.     

Indeed, she has everything of a “petite grande”…

HKTB I thank you for this interview.

Hans Knol ten Bensel

Porsche celebrates the 60th anniversary of the 911 with a special purist edition: the 911 S/T

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The 911 S/T here in black, with the Special Heritage Edition in the background. The new exterior colour Shoreblue Metallic and the wheel rim colour Ceramica are exclusive for this special edition.

The 911 is now already 6 decades with us. As soon as your servant hit 18 years, he sat behind the wheel of a 911 S 2,4 press car. What a legendary experience it was. My love for this car has remained unbroken ever since. Already the hissing sound of its (then air-cooled) flat six made you addictive. So Porsche takes us back to the “pure” original, with of course the power and panache of the modern day 911.

In a limited run of 1,963 examples, the Porsche 911 S/T offers lightweight design and the sound and fury of the high-revving engine from the 911 GT3 RS. The purity lies in the fact that it delivers its power to the road via a manual gearbox and lightweight clutch.

The naturally aspirated, 386 kW (525 PS) 911 GT3 RS engine has a capacity of 4 litres, and the gearbox has – noblesse oblige – short ratios. This is complemented by a resolutely lightweight construction and a running-gear setup optimised for agility and drivability. The 911 S/T weighs just 1,380 kilograms (DIN kerb weight, incl. all fluids), so you can imagine that this Porsche is to be enjoyed more than ever.

Unlike the 911 GT3 RS, the focus of the development of the 911 S/T has been not for track use, but rather for journeys on public roads. The name marks out the new 911 S/T as the descendant of a particularly performance-focused version of the first 911 generation. From 1969, Porsche offered a special race version of the 911 S. Internally, these vehicles were called 911 ST.

Modifications to the chassis, wheels, engine and body then significantly improved acceleration, braking, traction and cornering grip. The anniversary model combines elements of the 911 GT3 RS with the body of the 911 GT3 with Touring Package and supplements it with lightweight components specially developed for the 911 S/T.

Of course, performance is paramount: coupled with a six-speed manual transmission with shorter gear ratios compared to the 911 GT3, the high-revving engine in the 911 S/T propels the 911 S/T to 100 km/h in just 3.7 seconds. It achieves a top speed of 300 km/h. With that comes the beautiful sound of the flat 6 through the lightweight sports exhaust system… need we say more?

A Heritage Design Package

The 911 S/T is offered with an optional exclusive Heritage Design Package. The new exterior colour Shoreblue Metallic and the wheel rim colour Ceramica are exclusively available for this variant. On the doors, a starting number from 0 to 99 as well as a decorative foil can be applied on request. The classic-design Porsche crest from the original 911 that adorns the front, the hub caps, the steering wheel, the headrests and the car key underscores the historic roots of the 911 S/T.

The interior also features cloth seat centers in Classic Cognac with black pinstripes, which are another homage to heritage. Two-tone semi-aniline leather trim in Black/Classic Cognac leather with extensive leather surrounds, a roof lining in perforated Dinamica, and other elements from Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur round out the package. The Porsche logo and the 911 S/T model designation on the rear of the car are in Gold.

Porsche Design is also offering customers the 911 S/T the Chronograph 1 – 911 S/T.

Featuring a titanium case, uncoated and blasted for weight-saving reasons, this exclusive timepiece goes all in on the lightweight design principle of the new purist 911 special edition.

The heart of the chronograph is the Porsche Design WERK 01.240 with its COSC certification and flyback function. It is operated with a rotor in the design of the magnesium wheel of the 911 S/T.

Already dreaming? We invite you to just look at the photos…and it is good to know that in Belgium this anniversary edition can now be ordered for 327.743,04 euro including VAT. With the chronograph 1 – 911 S/T included…  

Hans Knol ten Bensel

We drove the Volkswagen ID.Buzz: the “E”- renaissance of an Icon …

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 Volkswagen designers and engineers recreated the iconic “Bulli” and made it fitting for our modern E-Times. Their ID.Buzz is a indeed a car which brings at least the aura and panache of the original VW bus, and is adding even more character to it. It underlines the stylistic hallmarks of the original, and has masterfully translated it to steal the hearts of many of us. But not only that: this ID.Buzz now also brings along the well proven VW E-technology. We drove it for you, just read further…

Hans Knol ten Bensel

Cool functionality…

The ID.Buzz has character indeed, and the two tone paintwork of our test car even accentuated its early heritage. The cool character of its predecessor goes even further. Indeed, the original “Bulli” was very functional in its interior, and VW designers have somehow continued this approach in the interior of the Buzz.

Everything is functional, the “less is more” philosophy is applied in every detail.

The instrumentation is wonderfully simple, and even the size of the central touchscreen is also kept within reasonable limits. The instruments and screens are put on a wooden finished large dashboard panel, which is set in a large matte aluminum band, running horizontally across the whole width under the windshield.

This certainly looks stylish, but also brings lot of reflections on bright sunlit days, so be sure to wear your sunglasses when you are behind the wheel. A lot has been said about the practical functionality of the “haptic” controls of VW’s ID generation, and indeed it takes a delicate hand to use them with success. But soon, one gets the hang of it.

The finish of the bodywork and interior is of the usual very high VW standards, the upholstery of the seats, certainly in the front, is also quite appealing. There is less padding on the plastic panels in the interior, certainly also in line with the “practicality first” philosophy of the original icon, but then we must not forget that this is a car commanding a price tag of around 75.000 Euros. But we personally think that very few users/buyers would have any objections here, as indeed the unique character of its original icon is preserved and this is what the lovers of the ID.Buzz want to experience and feel.

In terms of connectivity driver and passengers cannot complain. Of course one has DAB+ radio, Apple Play and Android Auto, and enough USB slots for passengers fore and aft. The navigation system with online functions and Live Traffic helps the E-driver wonderfully. It calculates also when and where to recharge the batteries. It will also recalculate them continuously in function of driving style and traffic conditions.

Driving

The ID.Buzz has the power, 150 kW of it and not less than 310 Nm of torque, but it has also the weight: 2,4 tons of it. Not that the Buzz is a slow car, far from it: it will accelerate with zest from 0 to 100 km/h in merely 10,2 seconds, and has powerful intermediate accelerations. But it does not invite you to use all this power. It rather suggests a more relaxed driving style, and this is indeed where this ID.Buzz excels. The gear lever can be turned either in “D” or in “B” position, and in the latter it will regenerate the kinetic energy when you lift the throttle. We used it actually all the time, and soon one learns to adopt fully “one pedal” driving with this setting. On motorways and higher cruising speeds, wind resistance of this ID.Buzz takes its toll, and wind and road noise are rather prominent. This will let you intuitively cruise at legal speeds of 120 km or thereabouts, and even slightly lower. The ID. Buzz has by the way an electronically limited top speed of 145 km/h. This makes absolute sense, as kW consumption rises markedly above these legal cruising speeds. Driving with some restraint, we averaged a test consumption in the neigbourhood of 19-20 kW/100 km, and this is very creditable indeed. A driving range around 450 km is achievable indeed.

The ID.Buzz is very stable, with a rather firm, but not uncomfortable suspension. Steering is precise, cornering/handling indeed being very predictable, with a tendency towards understeering. For the moment, the ID.Buzz cannot be had with adaptable suspension, but then the standard setting strikes a very good compromise for most.

Brakes are also OK, and the transition between engine braking and “pure” proper braking is very well balanced. One might be surprised that the Buzz has drum brakes at the rear, but then the electric engine sitting at the rear assists the drum brakes with its regeneration somewhat, so that even under more sporting driving no fading or diminishing efficiency occurs.

What we liked very much was the very small turning circle of merely 10,9 meters, which makes the Buzz a very nice car to drive in urban traffic.

Practical

When it comes to charging, the ID.Buzz has a 77 kW battery, and can be charged with the AC Type 2 plug or the DC type CCS unit. AC charging on a 11 kW wallbox takes some 8 hours, with DC charging one can go clearly much faster. The ID is fit for charging up to not less than 180 kW. So after a short break for a coffee or light meal one is on the road again, with the batteries up to about 80 pct charged…

The ID.Buzz has of course a (very) strong point: it is roomy. Fore and aft, the driver and his passengers have ample head- and legroom, one has to be taller than 2,15 meters to brush the front seats or the roof.

The boot space is also cavernous. Up to the cover, the boot space is 1.160 liters. When you stow things further until the roof, it is 1.760 liters. When you fold everything down, one has a massive 2.835 liters at its disposal.

There is no “Frunk” in front, so be careful that you have your charging cables stowed elsewhere when you load your Buzz fully, and consider also that avoid (parking) situations where you cannot open the rear lid, and cannot reach the cables…

We also liked the armrests on the front seats. Be sure to order the armrests on both sides of the seat, as the armrest in the door is set too high to achieve a comfortable position.

There is a large bin between the front seats, where you can also charge your smartphone, and of course there is storage space for large 1,5 and 1 litre bottles in the doors.

Conclusion

We were very much charmed by this ID.Buzz, and we truly liked it. Indeed, it invites you to take your everyday driving with a “Zen” and restful mindset. Listening to the excellent audio system, looking at the world around you with a smile. The other road users are doing the same by the way when they encounter you. Such is the sympathy of this ID.Buzz. It is also remarkably frugal when you drive it responsibly, to the joy and delight of everyone who drives with you. They find comfort and lots of room…

Add to all this the absolutely timeless character of this ID.Buzz. Its shapes and contours have instant “classic” status, and this will be a desirable car for so many across the years. So keep and cherish it as a family treasure, you will hear a never ending “buzz” of joy from young and old across the generations…

Hans Knol ten Bensel