While the Netherlands was extensively building Vinex districts, two remarkable compact cars appeared on the market shortly after each other. The Mazda 121 caused a stir in 1991, and the Renault Twingo followed in its wake. How did they fare? Blending into the crowd. For some, the ultimate wish; for others, a horror. Gaining attention […]
Japanese Banana as First Car You never forget your first love. That’s why we look back with enthusiastic car owners at their first ride. When René van Winden was 18 years old, he took over his father’s Datsun 120Y. The Datsun proved to be extremely loyal. Your father bought a brand-new Datsun in 1977. Five
Past More Relevant Someone once said: “Western car manufacturers have an important trump card compared to Chinese ones; they have a rich history to draw inspiration from.” They are happy to do so, and recently even more so. Think, for example, of the Renault 5 and the Volkswagen ID Buzz. The past is becoming more
In 2023 we celebrated fifty years of Passat, in 2024 fifty years of Golf, in 2025 fifty years of Polo, and in 2026 it’s fifty years of Golf GTI. But wait a minute: isn’t there another important milestone? Exactly, fifty years of Golf diesel! In 1976, the German hatchback with its spirited diesel engine garnered
Did you know that the Fiat Panda is the first commercially available EV ever? As early as 1990, Fiat had the audacity to equip the city car with an electric motor. A forward-looking vision, although it was too far ahead of its time. Now Turin is trying again with the Grande Panda. This statement, spread
The “Intel Inside” of Cars Startup DeepDrive claims to have reinvented the electric motor with an innovative hub motor. Is this the drive of the future? Alex Rosen, one of DeepDrive’s founders, has a clear goal: “We want to become a brand so strong that car manufacturers refer to our motor and state ‘DeepDrive inside’
Yet you’re going to invest heavily in options Once you could easily find a large limousine without any luxury at the Germans, but nowadays that proves difficult. The newest Mercedes-Benz S-class is already packed with goodies as standard, although many buyers will still invest a considerable amount in options. Mercedes-Benz S 450 e – €136,361
Unthinkable in Europe Imagine this: an end to all CO2 emission requirements for cars, and with it, all measures related to fuel consumption. Absolutely unthinkable in Europe, but a reality in the US. In the European Union, it was already quite remarkable that the total ban on non-electric cars by 2035 was ultimately shelved. CO2
Too much focus on Euro NCAP A collision while driving at 35 kilometers per hour turns out to be more dangerous than a collision at higher speeds. This illogical phenomenon is the fault of the automotive industry, according to ADAC, the German counterpart of the ANWB. The lower the speed in a traffic accident, the
A lot of Swedish in your restomod series If it can’t be Swedish enough for you, you should pay close attention now. Niels van Roij’s ‘Autoforma’ is launching a series of restomods based on the Volvo 1800 ES, cars that showcase their Swedish heritage in every possible way. Winding roads with moose on them, Ikea