Marc Klaver: nothing but highlights
For me, 2025 was extra special because after 27 years as a freelance journalist, I joined DPG Media as an editor for AutoWeek. From working at home behind my desk to an office workplace, among colleagues I’ve known for a long time. It feels like a warm bath, and to this day, I feel completely at home there. The classic car year begins in January with Interclassics in Maastricht, shortly followed by a visit to the Bremen Classic Motorshow, where nothing is as enjoyable as browsing the offerings of private individuals and small traders in the adjacent parking garage. Wonderful!
Furthermore, many trips were on the agenda again, numerous test drives for AutoWeek Classics, and countless interviews for the “Klokje rond” (Around the Clock) section, both regular and classic. In addition, there’s driving many test cars and long-term testers. The greatest moment of happiness was a visit to Ferrari in Maranello, where I could test the 296 Speciale on public roads and on the famous Fiorano circuit. No other brand builds cars that can touch you as a car enthusiast with a love for ultimate driving characteristics in the same way. A day later, you’re back on solid ground in Carrec’s workshop in Soesterberg, where the recordings for “Klokje rond” take place. In short, the diversity is enormous, and actually, the entire year was full of highlights.
Frank Jacobs: three times not to China
I am crazy about China. Mind you, I’m not blind to the abuses in that country, but the rapid rise, also in our industry, fascinates me. I was as happy as a child when I was allowed to go to the Beijing Motorshow earlier this year. Bureaucratic hiccups threw a wrench in the works, as my visa wasn’t ready in time. Fortunately, in October, I got a second chance with an invitation from Chery. However, they didn’t want to cooperate with the application for a journalist visa and deemed a business visa sufficient. The Chinese customs authorities think very differently about this, and because I didn’t want to risk a red mark against my name, I declined the honor.
Shortly thereafter, a third chance came in the form of an invitation from BYD. Would I finally make it to China this year? Unfortunately, the departure date was brought forward, exactly to the day my new house was to be delivered. Luckily, I did go to Austria with the Budget Brigade. No offense to previous editions, but this one was a party like old times again. Enjoyable tinkering and traveling with old cars where anything can go wrong. It didn’t get any better than this in 2025.
Marco Gorter: chart your own course
In principle, I have no objection at all to sharing components between different brands. As a chassis technician once confided in me: “Give us our dampers, springs, and anti-roll bars, and we can make it exactly how you want it.” In other words: put a little attention and love into the same parts, and you can still create distinctive cars with them. This year, however, it seemed as if the will to give that love and attention was somewhat lacking in some brands. Slap our logo on it, and it’s done. If the basic foundation is still very good, fine. But if you take a rather outdated car from China and stick your own emblem on it, in my opinion, you’re undermining your own brand. That’s a shame, because diversity is precisely what makes cars so enjoyable.
Fortunately, it can also be different, and there are brands that do continue to chart their own course. From the incredibly clever Hyundai Inster, via the technical perfection of the Porsche 911 Turbo S, to Dacia, which unashamedly showcases that you can buy a spacious, inexpensive car there and doesn’t hide it under marketing jargon or sales pitches. Refreshing. Just like the (return of the) small car and, due to adapted regulations, the possible arrival of kei-cars in Europe. As far as I’m concerned, in a small country like the Netherlands, it’s the solution to multiple problems. The smaller the car, the less space it takes up and the less energy it costs to move it. And guess which Romanian brand recently presented a kei-car concept car…
Damiaan Hage: idly chatting about cars with 180 readers
It was a huge pity that there was only room for 180 people, but that was really the only thing that wasn’t fun about the AutoWeek Fan Day in June. From the moment the door opened until I politely had to send the last visitor home in the evening, I only saw happy people. Young and old could enjoy special cars and a unique behind-the-scenes look at our editorial office. Come on, what could be more fun than a day of idly chatting about cars? For me, this was truly a golden-edged day.
The disappointment of 2025, in my opinion, is that the average price of a new car in the Netherlands this year exceeded €50,000. In ten years, nearly €20,000 has been added to that average, so it’s not surprising that only one in five new cars is bought by private individuals. Below €20,000, there is virtually no choice left in showrooms. The flip side, however, is that an exceptionally large number of used cars are traded – well over two million. Because, of course, we still want a new car every now and then.
Jan Lemkes: saving, saving…
The urge to save in the automotive world is still rampant, and that became very clear at times in 2025. For example, with the Ford Capri and its cheap-looking interior, but also with Mini. The fast John Cooper Works version of the electric Mini Cooper turned out to be essentially just a regular Cooper with a bit more power and without any form of suspension comfort. Older JCW versions distinguished themselves much more from other Minis and also drove better than this one, which, due to its rock-hard chassis, is essentially unusable and not really fun.
Its competitor in the same test, the Lancia Ypsilon HF, is precisely a highlight. The ‘hot hatch’ is certainly not my favorite genre, and there’s plenty to criticize about the regular Ypsilon, but Stellantis’ new sporty models even convince me that such a compact brawler can be very entertaining. Challenging, fast, sharp, and distinctive: it’s still possible! As for me, I’d take the Abarth 600e, because I found that even more fun. A personal highlight was the unexpected purchase of (another) Lexus SC 430, a white one this time. A wonderfully old-fashioned ‘enjoyment machine’ with a refined V8, and thus very different from modern test cars.
Cornelis Kit: is Hyundai the new Alfa Romeo?
The North Italian country roads were inviting at the beginning of this year, that’s not the problem. But the Alfa Romeo Junior Ibrida Q4 by no means offers the driving pleasure that Alfa stands for (or once stood for). I had hoped for more. Quickly forgotten and onward… to South Korea. On a deserted, sometimes cunningly winding coastal road, I get to push the Hyundai Ioniq 6 N to its limits. This electric sedan drives like an explosive racing car with a 660 hp gasoline engine. Is that possible? Yes, it is! Chasing to my heart’s content, from corner to corner.
And if that wasn’t enough, the joy is further enhanced on the former Formula 1 circuit of Yeongam. First neatly following an instructor, then I had the entire track to myself to find out where the limits of this electric bomb lie. It’s not just the impressive motors and the super dynamic chassis; it’s also the electronics that I can manipulate in every way to make it a party. Depending on the chosen settings, I’m almost a passenger in the car, or I have everything in my own hands, and the Hyundai turns out to be a difficult brute to tame. Is Hyundai picking up where Alfa Romeo left off?
Michiel Willebrands: desired and undesired sounds
A small low point within a major highlight was the fact that nothing broke down during this year’s Budget Brigade, formerly Barrel Brigade. Nobody wants car trouble on the road, but with the Budget Brigade, you secretly hope for it. Not terminal damage, but misfortune that can be fixed with a bit of improvised tinkering. ‘Unfortunately, ‘Joys’ Renault Twingo, Frank’s Mercedes CLK, and my Citroën XM all remained intact during our trip to the Austrian Grossglockner, and I was crowned the winner of the Budget Brigade. How wonderful it is to tinker around with old cars! Especially when it’s on the boss’s time.
I also tinkered a lot with new cars this year, but in the wrong way. The sheer number of so-called safety systems and their accompanying warning sounds have driven me almost to madness many times. Fortunately, nowadays I can ‘detox’ in a car where driving pleasure is unequivocally number one: my 2002 Mini Cooper S, which, apart from the roof color, is exactly the car I drove during its introduction in Portugal. The only ‘warning sounds’ I hear in it are the whine of the supercharger and the rumble from the exhaust!
Lars Krijgsman: successful retro design
Intuitively, the automotive landscape increasingly consists of interchangeable, electric or non-electric, SUVs and crossovers. Although they are responsible for only a small portion of registrations, the growing number of Chinese brands plays a role in this perception. No matter how friendly the price tags may be, consumers are hardly drawn to Aiways’, Firefly’s, or Nio’s. From a professional perspective, I am therefore less and less curious about how brands like Changan, Jaecoo, or Omoda will develop here.
Also a pity: the disappearance of the Prius. I fully understand Toyota’s choice, but it hurts me a little that an iconic model name like the Prius no longer has a future here. Aside from the fact that I think the latest Prius is a cool car to look at. I am positive about the new Renault Twingo. You can wake me up at night for successful retro design, and the Twingo is a beautiful example of that. Friendly, practical, mature, and relatively inexpensive. Cheerfully packaged Dacia mentality, I like that. Even more personal: I’ve been itching to buy a different car for ages, and thanks to our used car long-term tester, I finally know what it – probably – will be: a Lexus IS 300h. What a great car!
