Drive it!: The Motor Magazine: Recent Episodes
DW.COM | Deutsche Welle
It's shiny and new, now on DW. Drive it!, the magazine all about cars: well told, well shot and well packaged.
Sport compacts are making a comeback. Whether newcomers, like Hyundai's i30N, or long-standing favorites, like VW's Golf GTI, they all face stiff competition from the likes of the Ford Focus ST. The 4th generation hot hatch was launched in 2019.
New models just keep coming for the SUV segment. One of the latest is the Citroën C5 Aircross. To stand out from the crowd, Citroën put its own spin on convention. The C5 Aircross' main selling points are design and comfort.
A dream is born - the BMW M850i convertible. Infotainment flagship - the Opel Insignia Sports Tourer; Get loud with the SEAT Ibiza Beats, Sports classic - the 'People's Porsche' 924
The BMW 8 series now has a dream convertible to go along with its similarly beautiful coupe. The M850i is powered by a 4.4 liter V8 turbocharged gasoline engine which delivers 390 kW of power. It sprints from 0 to 100 km/h in just 3.9 seconds.
The Insignia is Opel's flagship model and the first to be equipped with the latest-generation infotainment system. The big draw is a touchscreen up to 8 inches in size. We check out an Insignia with the top-of-the-line Multimedia Navi Pro system.
We test Nissan's urban crossover Qashqai in the second highest trim level "Tekna". With an opulent infotainment system and black leather seats, it offers a certain level of luxury. But how does it shape up on the road?
SEAT has developed a special Ibiza model with the premium BeatsAudio sound system. It boasts a 300 W amplifier with eight channels, a digital signal processor and seven high-end speakers. This car not only has great sound, but nifty design details.
After VW bailed out of a joint project in the 1970s, Porsche developed the 924 by itself. It was its first front-engine, rear-wheel-drive car. Dubbed the "People's Porsche", it became one of the biggest-selling sports cars in history.
The Opel Olympia was a technological trend-setter back in the 1930s. It made Opel the first German carmaker to build 100,000 models a year. Its exterior hides a modern chassis and engine.
The Hilux is part of Toyota's 50-year history on the pickup market. More than 18 million of the world's most popular pickup truck have been sold. The 8th generation Hilux has been given a facelift.
Driving in tough conditions takes courage and a sense for safety. The Arvidsjauer region of Sweden has frozen lakes that provide perfect conditions for taking VW’s Arteon out for a test spin.
The Tarraco is Seat's SUV flagship. It shares a platform chassis with the VW Tiguan Allspace and the Škoda Kodiaq. Drive It! tested the Tarraco on snow and sand.
A McLaren marked with an LT has been stripped down to its bare bones. The 600LT Spider is the lightest car in its class. The uncompromising development aim was reducing its weight by 90 kg.
Drive It! presents: SUVs for any kind of terrain, a radical new racing car that takes no prisoners, and a classic car that's gone down in automotive history.
The latest trends in tuning and the newest electric and hybrid-drive cars: Drive it! covers the contrasts of the automotive world.
Untamed wilderness, unforgettable good times and lots of challenges: that was the 2019 Land Rover Experience Tour. This year’s off-road tour started in Namibia and finished in the Kavango Zambezi Park, the world's largest cross-border nature reserve.
The 4th generation of the Mazda 3 stays true to the plain but stylish Kodo design language. It's coming to showrooms with a choice of a 2-liter gasoline engine or a 1.8-liter diesel. A mild hybrid system is standard for both.
The e-Tron, presented in late 2018, was Audi's first all-electric-powered vehicle. Now, Audi has rolled out a 2nd electric model: another SUV, but with coupé body contours. A 300-kW output gives the e-tron Sportback a range of up to 446 kilometers.
Essen's fairground halls welcomed auto tuning fans for the 2019 edition of the annual Essen Motor Show - the 52nd. More than 500 exhibitors and over 300,000 fair-goers took the opportunity to exchange ideas on the latest car customization trends.
After 3 years on the road, the Toyota C-HR, short for Coupé-High-Rider, has had a facelift. Its distinctive angular design language seems to have found its fans, and its 1st generation rapidly became a bestseller.
A US auto show yields to the age of electricity, we rough it with a genuine cross-country vehicle and, in Barcelona, the Smart City Expo looks at ways to get around town easier and faster.
The LA Auto Show is just over. And E-mobility is the topic in Tinseltown. Not even the land of V8 engines and pickups can afford to ignore it. For carmakers it's a balancing act between present and future.
A decision to buy an SUV is not usually based on logic. Who really needs high ground clearance and off-road capability? It’s more about adventure – and looks. Audi now has a sporty, aggressive option in its range: The Q3 Sportback.
The Smart City Expo World Congress has been held in Barcelona. The goal was to change urban mobility while improving quality of life and reducing the environmental footprint - with concepts that combine technical, economic and social innovation.
The Mercedes G Class has survived for 40 years. Now, this cross-country vehicle has been thoroughly re-worked. The design language, with round headlights and fender-mounted turn signals, has not changed. But the interior and ride quality have.
Škoda has unveiled its new Octavia in Prague. The bestseller's fourth generation is larger, and more dynamic and modern. The engines offered range from gasoline or diesel, both mild and plug-in hybrids, to natural-gas versions.
Roadsters like the Mazda MX-5 are built for driving fun. The MX-5 is one of the bestselling roadster in the world. Now, Mazda has updated the engine. We tested the MX-5 with a 135-kilowatt gasoline engine.
VW is turning out a sports version of its T-Roc, giving the Crossover SUV the 221-kilowatt engine from the Golf R and exchanging the sport mode for a Race mode. The T-Roc is designed to resolve the comfort and sportiness conundrum.
Drive it! looks at a British legend, perennial favorites from Asia and an upscale city car from Germany.
For more than a century, the name Bentley has been the epitome of luxury. A brand fit for a queen it seems: Bentley is an official supplier to the British Royal Family. No wonder - the hand-crafted materials in the interior ooze comfort and luxury.
After nine years and more than 1.36 million sold, Mitsubishi has given its ASX a fourth facelift with a new look and a return to four-wheel drive. We test the refreshed ASX with the new two-liter 110-kilowatt gasoline engine.
Individual mobility still has its place in big cities, because not everyone can do everything by bus, train or bike. Enter Audi‘s A1 Citycarver, a taller version of its A1. Drive it! rides along with the new city car in Hamburg.
Toyota's luxury marque Lexus is celebrating its 30th anniversary. In 1989 its first model, the LS 400, launched in the US. The RX debuted in 1998 and was one of the vehicles that established the premium SUV segment.
We test the most powerful Audi R8. It shares a 5.2-liter V10 engine with the Lamborghini Huracán. 456 kW and 580 Nm of torque carry it from 0 to 100 km/h in just 3.1 seconds. But this gasoline dinosaur is doomed to disappear.
Mobility is changing. Toyota is bucking the trend and putting its hopes on hydrogen fuel cells. We test drove the hydrogen-powered Mirai at the Zero-Emission-Tour and learned more about this drive technology.
In 2018, Seat spun off its subsidiary sports carmaker Cupra. Now, they have added exclusivity to the mix. Limited to 1999 cars, the Cupra Ateca Limited Edition has rims and a carbon-fiber body finished with a distinctive copper-thread braiding.
The 3rd-generation Volvo S60 edition is flatter, lower, sportier and more aggressive than its predecessor. The first Volvo to be produced in the USA, it comes to Europe with a choice of two turbocharged gasoline engines or a plug-in hybrid version.
Drive it! presents brand new models and the latest generation of an old favorite. We also look at future mobility at the Tokyo Motor Show.
Taycan is Porsche’s first all-electric production sports car. Nicknamed the Turbo S, it boasts an impressive 560 kW and 1050 Nm of torque. It goes from 0 to 100 km/h in 2.8 seconds and top speed is limited to 260 km/h.
If European manufacturers are right, the future of mobility will be all-electric. But what about the Japanese manufacturers like Toyota, Mazda or Lexus? They showed off their rather different future concepts at the Tokyo Motor Show.
The Peugeot 508 is undoubtedly one of the world's most elegant mid-size sedans. A real eye-catcher from the outside, it also has a refined interior. Numerous assistance systems support the driver on long hauls. The 508 can even park itself.
The Golf has not only become Volkswagen's best-selling car in recent decades, but also a synonym for an entire vehicle class. Now VW is showing the eighth generation of the million-seller to the world for the first time.
Volkswagen's T-Roc has been on the road for 2 years. Now the auto giant is creating a new variant of the compact SUV: the T-Roc convertible. That's helping VW expand its model range in the industry's fastest-growing segment.
Subaru has given its mid-size Levorg station wagon a major facelift. The name Levorg is a portmanteau of the words 'LEgacy', 'reVOlution' and 'touRinG'. This Subaru aims to win over buyers with its roominess, creature comforts and sporty elegance.
In 1924, Friedrich Rometsch set up a shop in Berlin as a custom coachbuilder. In 1957 he introduced the Lawrence, named after designer Bert Lawrence. Underneath its beautiful, two-tone exterior the car relied on the VW Beetle's dependable technology.
Mitsubishi's rolled out a thoroughly reworked L200 pickup. The automaker calls it a facelift, but it's far more than skin-deep. Brand-new under the hood is a 2.2-liter turbo-charged diesel engine. It puts out 110 kW.
The 208 offers a choice of gasoline or diesel-powered engines, or electric drive. We tested the most powerful gasoline engine, with 96 kW, as well as the e-208. At a fast charging station, the batteries can be charged to 80% in just half an hour.
At 500 kilowatts, this is the most powerful production Cayenne that Porsche has to offer. And it's a hybrid. This monster of a car has an electric motor. The 2.5 ton Cayenne can travel 40 kilometers on all-electric drive. Then the 4-liter V8 takes over.
Mazda has developed the new Skyactiv-X engine for its CX-30. It makes gasoline act like diesel, increasing the ratio of air to fuel and resulting in savings of up to 30 percent.
2019 is shaping up as a record year for recreational vehicles. The proof can be seen at the Caravan Salon in Düsseldorf, one of Europe's most popular RV trade fairs. This year's fair-goers are interested in the compact models.
This week Drive it! puts one of the most powerful SUVs out there through its paces in Iceland, and also takes a close look at a classic car from the 1920s that was built using strikingly sustainable principles.
VW’s Touareg V8 TDI is one of the most powerful SUVs on the market. But do you really need one? Our car tester says you do – if you live somewhere challenging like Iceland.
Opel has re-launched the Astra, but the changes to the exterior are nothing dramatic. A lot more has happened under the hood. The German carmaker now offers it with one of two different three-cylinder gasoline-powered engines or a diesel.
Based in what’s now the Czech Republic, Tatra ranks among the world’s oldest automakers. Launched in 1936, the Tatra 87 was one of the fastest series-production vehicles of its day. And when it comes to style, it’s still a standout.
Fiat’s cult roadster is now built at the same plant as the Mazda MX-5 in Japan. The two cars, which share a platform, have a lot in common. But the differences outweigh the similarities.
Even the technical data takes your breath away: 467 kW, from zero to 100 km/h in 3.8 seconds, 333 km/h top speed. Plus exclusive luxury including diamond-knurled rotary knobs and a triple-rotating display instrument in the dashboard.
The new EQV from Mercedes-Benz is a multi-purpose vehicle based on the conventional V-Class, a large-capacity sedan. The EQV is fully electric, delivers 150 kW of power, and Mercedes promises a range of over 400 kilometers.
Many people dream of owning a motorhome, where they can head out and explore. Thelonious Herrmann and Tara Wissel are living that dream. And they have a piano on board too, so they can give impromptu open-air concerts whenever they feel like it.
The Ford Ranger Raptor is a robust off-road pick-up that we already put through its paces in Morocco. But how does it handle on and off the road in Germany?
Quattroporte means four-door - a boring name for a luxury car. But back in 1963, four doors were extraordinary for Maserati. This DW test was also extraordinary - with two experts trying out the new version of Italy's answer to the Mercedes S-Class.
Small SUVs are booming - but Skoda didn't have one in its range, unlike stablemates Seat and VW. The Czechs are now changing that with the Kamiq. What makes the Skoda different and possibly better?
The VW Bus was the right car at the right time. In 1948, the mini transporter filled a gap in the market and quickly became a global bestseller. The vehicle was incredibly versatile. Christoph Bauer takes the pickup version, the T1 Doka, out for a spin.
Can you buy a real sports car for under €30,000? Drive it! decided to find out. We tested Toyota's GT86 to see if it's a real racer or just a poser.
Audi's Q8 aspires to be a vehicle for all occasions – one that performs just as well on country roads or the highway as it does off-road. We put the luxury crossover to the test, to see if it delivers on its promises.
The Ioniq is one of the most future-oriented models in Hyundai's lineup. The compact is available as a hybrid, a plug-in hybrid and as an all-electric vehicle.
Big station wagons with a lot of space, like the Citroën DS Break and the Peugeot 503 wagon, have long been a French specialty. Can the new Peugeot 508 SW wagon keep up with these legends? After all, it's not only practical, it's good-looking.
A highlight of the Blancpain GT Series is a gruelling 24-hour endurance race. And the weather is a force to be reckoned with in this Belgian town.
The fifth generation of the car that set the design tone for all other Audi models was released in 2015. After four years it's time for a new version to hit the showrooms. Visually streamlined and sportier, it now comes with a mild hybrid system.
Audi presents its newly facelifted Audi Q7. An impressive design with SUV-features, dynamic driving qualities and modern technology help the Q7 surpass its predecessor. The new Audi Q7 was built to excel in both comfort and performance.
British carmaker MINI presents the new John Cooper Works Clubman with an impressively powerful engine. The now compulsory gasoline particulate filter requires changes to engines, inspiring MINI to build their biggest powerhouse yet.
Mercedes AMG presents a new super-compact-sports car, the A45. The 2.0-liter 4-cylinder turbocharged engine is newly developed in two versions with 285 or 310 kW outputs. We tested the more powerful one, the A45 S 4Matic+.
Skoda has unveiled the facelift of its flagship model Superb. Next year, the sedan and station wagon will come in a newer look. In addition, they’ve been equipped with new assist systems, all-LED headlights and modern infotainment and connection systems. We take the Superb Sportline sedan with the strongest engine for a spin.
Toyota brought a legend back to life with the new GR Supra. It’s the fifth generation of this popular sports car. We take a look at the Supra’s past, its technical origins and previous models. The two-seater comes with rear-wheel drive and a lively three-liter turbocharged engine under the hood.
The I-Pace is Jaguar's first all-electric vehicle and a completely independent model. Its specs are impressive: a combined system output of 294 kilowatts and maximum torque of 696 Newton meters. It can also fly from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.8 seconds.
Opel is rolling out the fourth generation Opel Zafira. This is the Life! It comes in small, medium and large and two wheelbases, giving it more space and more versatility than its predecessors.
The Sportback is Audi's crossover coupé offshoot of its compact Q3 SUV. It’s some three centimeters lower and digital: analogue instruments are out, but a virtual dashboard and touchscreen controls are in. The Alexa virtual assistant can even ride along.
When BMW first rolled out the X5 in the late 1990s, it had little competition. Now, it seems everyone's offering a luxury SUV. What does this one have that others don't? A Back-Up Assistant. Once you drive into a space, it can back you out automatically.
The VW T-Roc is something like a Golf-SUV: just a little shorter, a little wider, quite a bit higher, but just about the same price. DW test-drove it with a 1.5-liter gasoline engine and a six-speed manual transmission with the Style trim level.
Thick and fast: Audi comes up with a sports version of its flagship Q8 SUV. World premiere: the electric Mini Cooper SE. Less is more: Mercedes powers its E350 Coupé on 4 cylinders. Racing uphill: the Goodwood Festival of Speed in England
Around 200,000 people from the world over came to the 2019 Goodwood Festival of Speed. It's one of the most eccentric auto events going. VW hopes to break the record for the hill climb in front of Goodwood House with its ID.R electric car.
The name Mercedes E350 would normally suggest a 3.0-liter, six-cylinder engine. But in this car it's a 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine doing all the work. Can it live up to a traditional Mercedes E-Class?
MINI presents its new baby in Rotterdam: The all-electric MINI Cooper SE. It has an official range of up to 270 kilometers, and the 135kW electric motor delivers a maximum torque of 270nm.
Audi's new SQ8 is its biggest SUV but also a sports car. How can these two diametric opposites be combined? Does it really deliver the power, agility and fun we'd expect of a sports car? Ex-race-car driver Klaus Niedzwiedz finds the answers.
In 2011, the Range Rover Evoque kicked up a storm on the SUV market. As one of the innovators of the SUV coupe class, it has received numerous awards. Can the second-generation Evoque replicate its predecessor’s success?
We may ask, how much car do we really need? A Swiss start-up’s answer: The Microlino – electrically powered, inspired by bubble cars from the 1950s. A building block for future urban mobility, but how useful is it really?
Carmakers are focusing on electric cars as they look at environmentally friendly transport. But one alternative that has been neglected is compressed natural gas. We had a look at the Seat Arona, the first CNG-powered SUV.
Following the success of its i30N, Hyundai decided to release a second compact sports car. We take a closer look at this new hatchback version, the i30 Fastback N. We know it's got a lot of zoom - but is it practical?
When it comes to beauty and design for cars, Chantilly in France is the place to be. The biannual event honors car makers and car collectors. Vintage cars stand alongside futuristic concepts in the chateau gardens.
The Audi TTS is small, but fast. Its bright orange finish and four tailpipes give just a hint of its power. An integrated front lip, side skirts and a widened diffuser emphasize its sportiness from every angle.
The Volvo XC60 is one of the best-known compact SUVs. The second generation succeeded a vehicle that was Volvo’s best-seller for almost a decade. Drive it! finds out if the current model still has what it takes.
The last Formula 1 race in Bern was held in 1955, as Switzerland banned car races a year later. Now, an exception has been made for electrically powered cars. We accompanied Swiss driver Sebastien Buemi on his home turf.
Mercedes unveils a luxury SUV, while Audi presents an energetic sports car. In France, enthusiasts of automotive elegance meet and in Switzerland, car racing history comes alive again.
Mercedes presents the second generation of the GLS. The luxury SUV has grown by eight centimeters, meaning the interior is more spacious. The third row folds into the trunk and enables a maximum capacity of 2400 liters.
A standard-setter, revamped – the VW Passat. We also test BMW’s summer classic and look at an electrified tour de force from Lexus.
Nearly every carmaker has at least one SUV in the stable. SEAT’s are the Tarraco, Ateca and the Arona – each named for a place in Spain. Drive It! checks them out on tour. Join us to see Spanish sights and learn more about the cars.
The Lexus ES is celebrating its launch in Europe, and is finally hitting dealerships in Germany. What’s special about the luxury sedan is that it’s powered by a late-generation hybrid drive.
Convertibles give drivers the ultimate summer experience, so this summer Drive It! decided to take out BMW’s 430i. With 185 kilowatts of power under the hood and an adaptive suspension, driving fun is the first priority.
More than 30 million Passats have been sold since 1973, making it one of the most successful mid-size models around. Now after a facelift, VW’s introducing the latest version of the vehicle. The real novelties are under the hood.
The lakeside of Wörthersee in Reifnitz, Austria, turns into a great automobile playground every year. At the International VW-GTI-Meet, we discover that real GTI-fans are water-resistant.
The L 319 is one of the oldies among transport vans. Since 1995, the Mercedes Benz’ big van has been the Sprinter. The third generation can be configured in more than 1700 ways. We take a look at the numerous safety and assistance systems.
The Skoda Karoq is the successor to the Yeti. While the Yeti was rather unique, the Karoq fits in neatly in Skoda’s SUV-Matrix. The 1.5 liter four-cylinder engine delivers 110 kilowatts. Our emphasis lies on the flexibility of its interior space.
Toyota is known for ecologically-friendly, fuel-efficient vehicles. But the Japanese manufacturer can do things differently, too. The Yaris GRMN aims to bring the thrills of the rally to performance fans. This Yaris may be small, it packs a wallop.
Jaguar is giving its entry-level model a facelift for 2020. The XE P250 has 18-inch wheels, LED headlights, a rear view camera, and a range of electronic assistants. Car tester Emmanuel Schäfer took the XE on a test drive.
Mercedes has revamped its powerful AMG GLC 63 S Coupé. The 375 kW, 4-liter twin-turbo V8 hurls the SUV from 0 to 100 kilometers per hour in just 3.8 seconds. Also high-powered is the almost €99,000 price tag in Germany.
On the Nürburgring track’s legendary North Loop, Volkswagen set out to break a record with its zero-emissions all-electric I.D. R racecar. Drive It tagged along with the crew, careful not to break their intense concentration.
BMW’s 5-Series Touring is one of Germany’s most popular station wagons for long-haul trips. Why? Five reasons: ease of use, design, handling, load capacity and fuel efficiency. How does it really measure up on each point?