The Borgward Isabella, a stylish car produced in Germany from 1954 to 1962, was a strong competitor to well-known brands like Mercedes-Benz and BMW. It offered a combination of comfort, style, and exceptional build quality. While it may not be as rare as some other barn finds like the Bristol 408 or Daimler DB18, this black coupe is still a unique discovery. What sets it apart even further is its fascinating backstory – it was stored in a barn in Europe that caught fire, causing damage to its paint before it was imported to the US.
Tag Archives: Germany
Audi RS Q8 Refresh Spied Still Hiding New Face, Debut Coming Soon
The refreshed Audi RS Q8 is set to make its debut soon. The high-performance SUV, which sits at the top of the range, was recently spotted in Germany near the Nurburgring. Despite still being wrapped in camouflage, the latest photos provide a close-up view as the Audi drives at slower speeds.
In fact, this is the same prototype that was seen back in July, with the number plates, wheels, and black color remaining unchanged. Interestingly, Audi continues to conceal the four rings in the grille, even though the rest of the refreshed Q8 lineup was revealed in September.
Audi’s New Vehicle Safety Center Opens in Germany
Audi has recently unveiled its new Vehicle Safety Center at its technology park in Ingolstadt, Germany. This state-of-the-art facility will enable the automaker to conduct a variety of crash tests before introducing new car models to the market.
The construction of the facility took three years and cost approximately 100 million euros ($107 million). It currently employs around 100 staff members. Audi has designed the center to meet not only today’s crash standards but also future requirements that may arise in different markets.
Kawasaki To Release a Limited-Edition Ninja ZX-10RR WSBK Edition in Germany
Kawasaki Germany is set to release a highly exclusive Ninja ZX-10RR WSBK Edition for the 2024 model year. These bikes, developed by the Kawasaki Racing Team at its Friedrichsdorf headquarters, are not just a cosmetic upgrade but come with advanced features like a variable air intake system. Only 10 of these replica machines will be produced and sold to the public.
The Ninja ZX-10RR WSBK Edition is powered by a 998cc inline four-cylinder engine that benefits from upgraded internals provided by Pankl Racing Systems. These upgrades include lightweight pistons, titanium connecting rods, racing camshafts, piston pins with diamond-like coating (DLC), and lightweight yet sturdy valve springs. Additionally, the bike is equipped with Marchesini forged wheels to reduce unsprung weight and enhance its racing performance on the track.
One of the standout features of this limited edition Ninja is the variable air intake system installed in the airbox. While not constantly active, this system can be activated when using the racing engine control unit (ECU) and requires a special wiring harness. The intake funnels are lifted at high RPMs to allow more airflow into the combustion chamber, while at lower and medium speeds, they remain in a low position to optimize fuel-air mixtures for efficient combustion at all engine speeds.
Each of the 10 bikes will feature full World Superbike (WSBK) Kawasaki Racing Team (KRT) graphics, as well as a numbered plaque on the tank indicating its position in the lineup. Customers will also receive a WSBK Edition box containing various goodies, such as signatures from Kawasaki WSBK riders Jonathan Rea and Alex Lowes, a glass block with a laser-etched illustration of the bike, a customized key fob and I-clip, and decal sheets with Rea’s and Lowes’ racing numbers for personal customization.
The retail price for the Ninja ZX-10RR WSBK Edition in Germany is €33,145, including a 19 percent value-added tax (VAT). This approximately converts to $35,824 as of August 28, 2023. In comparison, the regular 2024 Ninja ZX-10RR is priced at €29,995 or around $32,416 in the German market.
Citroen Type Holidays Concept Debuts As Modern Camper With Retro Style
Campers and motorhomes are center stage right now at the 2023 Caravan Salon in Germany, and Citroen is there with a fresh concept that evokes the company’s past while pointing to the future. It’s called the Type Holidays, and beneath the ribbed-retro bodywork is a modern SpaceTourer van that previews a forthcoming line of adventure vehicles from the French brand.
Citroen fans will instantly recognize the distinctive exterior design as a hommage to the classic Type H panel vans, built from the late 1940s through the early 1980s. It’s certainly a way to stand out at an event that also featured new Ford Transit Nugget and Volkswagen T7 California Concept pop-top campers, but there’s nothing retro about the interior. Based on the SpaceTourer, Citroen adds a pop-up roof for extra headroom in the living space and sleeping accommodations for two. A bench seat in the back folds for a second bed, giving the Type Holidays enough room for four people to relax.
Like the VW California Concept, Citroen adds a second sliding door on the left side of the van. That’s also where the kitchenette is located, allowing access both inside and outside. A sink and refrigerator are included, and a fold-down table with front seats on a 180-degree swivel create a cozy dining area. As for the outside, Citroen partnered with Italian coachbuilder Caselani for the old-school look.
It’s important to note that the Type Holidays is a concept at this point. As such, Citroen doesn’t offer details regarding onboard power, water tanks, or powertrain options. And while the Type H styling is certainly interesting, we doubt such a look would carry over to production.
Ruf Tribute – A 550-HP Homage to Classic Air-Cooled Porsches
In 1998, the production of Porsche 911s with air-cooled flat engines came to an end. The last model, known internally as the 993, marked the end of an era for waterless engine-powered two-door cars.
Porsche enthusiasts who share a deep love for air-cooled engines, tracing back to the original Volkswagen Beetle, are willing to spend a significant amount of money on well-preserved or special edition air-cooled 911s. Recognizing this passion, Ruf, a renowned Porsche specialist and maker of the iconic Yellowbird, has decided to revive the air-cooled flat-six engine in the Ruf Tribute, coinciding with the 60th anniversary of the model.
The Ruf Tribute features a rear-mounted 3.6-liter powerplant, designed by Alois Ruf Jr., the company’s founder. The engine is equipped with twin turbochargers, billet-aluminum heads, four-cam three-valve technology (a first for air-cooled engines according to Ruf), variable valve timing and lift, and a dry-sump oil system.
Audi Trainees Convert Classic NSU Prinz into an All-Electric Sports Car
This year, Audi’s Neckarsulm factory in Germany commemorates its 150th anniversary. To mark this occasion, the luxury automaker, based in Ingolstadt, decided to do something extraordinary—an electric car project that does not feature the well-known four rings logo on its hood.
Prior to becoming the modern luxury carmaker we know today, Audi was known as Auto Union. The Neckarsulm plant, which currently produces the A6 and A8 sedans, belonged to NSU. NSU was a company that manufactured bicycles, motorcycles, and cars. At one point, NSU was the largest motorcycle manufacturer globally and introduced the world’s first-ever passenger car powered by a Wankel engine. In short, NSU held significant importance in its time.
However, NSU remained a relatively small company compared to other German car brands. In 1969, Volkswagen acquired NSU and merged it with Auto Union, reviving the Audi brand and discontinuing NSU-branded cars, which continued to be sold only until 1973.
One of the final models produced was the NSU Prinz 4, a compact two-door sedan featuring a rear-mounted 598 cc air-cooled two-cylinder engine that generated approximately 30 horsepower when it was originally introduced.
For the 150th anniversary of the factory, Audi chose to revive and modernize the NSU Prinz 4L model from 1971. Interestingly, Audi entrusted this task to a team of 12 trainees, who were able to accomplish an incredible feat: electrifying this aging classic car.
During the transformation, only a portion of the original car was retained. The old two-cylinder engine was replaced with a 240 hp electric motor sourced from a 2020 Audi e-tron. Additionally, the front hood’s fuel tank was removed and replaced with a high-voltage battery pack from the plug-in hybrid Audi Q7 TFSI e quattro.
Shell and Volkswagen push ahead the expansion of charging infrastructure: Opening of the first innovative Flexpole charging station
Shell Germany and the Volkswagen Group are jointly driving forward the expansion of the charging infrastructure for electric mobility: On May 4, 2023, the first innovative 150 kW Elli Flexpole charging station was put in operation at a Shell service station in Göttingen. The charging station of the Volkswagen brand Elli has a unique battery storage system that enables connection to a low-voltage grid. Thanks to this new technology, the charging stations can be installed easily and flexibly, and the grid expansion can be accelerated. Following a successful test operation, Shell and Volkswagen also plan to install the Flexpole charging station at other locations in Germany and Europe.
“With VW’s Elli Flexpole charging stations, we can make an important contribution to the necessary expansion of the charging infrastructure. And in locations where it would be otherwise difficult for fast charging. Shell is already one of the largest providers of charging infrastructure at home, at work, at on-street lamp posts and at our service stations. We want to do our part to enable customers to switch to an electric vehicles and thus reduce CO2 emissions in the transport sector,” says Tobias Bahnsen, Head of Shell E-Mobility responsible for Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
Simon Löffler, Chief Commercial Officer at Elli, adds: “The rapid expansion of the charging infrastructure is a prerequisite for the success of e-mobility. We contribute to this journey with our innovations such as the Elli Flexpole. It can be set up almost anywhere without major construction work, making it ideal for quickly setting up fast-charging options. We are pleased to have found a strong partner in Shell who, like us, wants to expand the charging network in Germany and across Europe.”
Accelerated network expansion thanks to innovative Elli Flexpole technology
The German government has set itself the goal of having at least one million charging points available to drivers of electric cars by 2030. According to the Federal Network Agency, the number of charging points rose significantly last year by around 21,000 to a total of over 80,000. Of these, around 67,000 are standard charging points and around 13,000 are fast charging points. A faster expansion of the charging infrastructure is delayed due the need of a special transformers with currently long delivery times. In addition, around 900 German distribution system operators have different requirements for the transformers.
With the Elli Flexpole solution, one of the biggest hurdles of expansion could be overcome. The Flexpole chargers can be connected directly to the low-voltage grid thanks to the integrated battery system, without the need for a special transformer or costly construction work. As a result, the installation time is significantly reduced. At the same time, Flexpole charging stations enable a charging speed of up to 150 kW. Depending on the vehicle, a range of up to 160 kilometres can be charged within 10 minutes.
Shell expands charging network throughout Germany
Shell aims to become a company with net-zero CO2 emissions by 2050. One important strategy component for achieving this ambition is the development of diverse infrastructure for electric vehicles. Cornerstones have been set already few years ago. In 2017, the company bought NewMotion, then Europe’s largest charging provider, which has since been later renamed to Shell Recharge Solutions. In 2019, Shell started building Shell Recharge fast charging stations (HPC) at Shell service stations. In 2021, Shell bought the Berlin-based startup ubitricity, which enables charging at lampposts on the street. Recently, Shell acquired SBRS GmbH, a leading provider of charging infrastructure solutions for commercial electric vehicles. In 2022, Shell opened the first Shell Recharge fast charging stations at the parking lots at REWE and PENNY supermarkets. In addition, Shell has a close cooperation with IONITY, the joint venture of Audi, BMW, Daimler, Ford, Hyundai, Porsche and Volkswagen, to set up fast-charging stations along motorways in European countries.
Worldwide, Shell aims to install over 500,000 charging points by 2025 and 2,500,000 by 2030.
Group Technology: The Volkswagen Group’s technology powerhouse
Volkswagen Group Technology bundles the Group-wide activities in the areas of battery, charging and e-components and supports the Group brands as an in-house technology supplier along with its subsidiaries PowerCo (battery) and Elli (charging & energy). With the network of the charging and mobility brand Elli, the Group provides access to Europe’s largest charging network for electric mobility. At over 500,000 charging points at around 950 providers in 28 countries, customers receive a convenient and cross-border charging experience.
The Volkswagen Group’s goal is to become the leading provider of an intelligent charging and energy ecosystem. By 2025, a global network of a total of 45,000 high-power charging points (HPC) with an output of up to 350 kW will be established. By the end of 2022, the Group had already connected a total of around 15,000 fast-charging points to the grid with its subsidiaries IONITY, Ewiva and strategic partners BP and Iberdrola in Europe, Electrify America in the USA and CAMS in China. By the end of 2023, around 10,000 HPC charging points are expected to be available in Europe and up to 25,000 worldwide.