BMW 330i Convertible Driving Report

Germany and Great Britain are the largest convertible markets in Europe. The tough living here? This year, hardness was not required, because to let the spring and early summer provided excellent opportunities to appear on the head of the sun while driving. We used the time in a BMW 330i Convertible, and it was a pleasure - without any harshness.

Maybe with one exception, because the 330i has already received a sporty suspension tuning with stiff on the road. However, he can tolerate in the face of the 200 kW/272 hp from the still as a model reacting spontaneously, silky smooth running six-cylinder. Despite the nearly 1.8 tons of unladen weight of the convertible moves in 6.7 seconds over the 100 km/h mark and gives him a top speed of 250 km/h.

Driving Report BMW X3 xDrive 35i: Able Company

Any friend socially acceptable SUV knows the cars of the X-series in Munich. Each car enthusiasts also know that the usual nomenclature classifies the X3 as something between X1 and X5. So there is still a world of BMW X3 above. The expectations of the BMW X3 35i iDrive slows a bit of a - quite wrongly, for he is greater than can be expected within the three and the external appearance.

While the BMW X3 35i iDrive with 4.65 meters, 1.88 meters wide and 1.66 meters far from being a Linnet. But we have already experienced other SUVs of this size, the inside does not convey the feeling of space, ample room for driver and up to four passengers and luggage. The X3 can also measure here with bigger ones.

Driving Report Mitsubishi L200: Class Primus

Actually, we match each other well, the Mitsubishi L200 and me. Both of us are not exactly dainty. 5.26 meters long, 1.82 meters wide, a height of 1.78 meters and a curb weight of more than two tons in the L200 makes her more impressive. He is one of the very powerful pick-ups in the country, and with great success: In the small German market for trucks in this class he holds in Germany for years the place as a class leader.

Driving Report Mazda2 1.5 MZR Sport-Line: Smiling dynamics

One of the most dynamically drawn small car he was before. After the facelift last year, he won it even further. The front end works through the narrow grille, the enlarged lower air intake and fog lamps changed now even stronger. The font headlight, brand emblem in the middle and the lower opening to give the Mazda2 a face that smiles at the viewer now formally.

The friendly presence continues in the interior, because the shows are exemplary in terms of ergonomic design. The shift lever extends conveniently quarter and high enough placed against the hand. The switches for radio and air conditioning are also positioned pleasantly high. The 12-volt power outlet and auxiliary input are optimally placed.

Driving Report Mercedes-Benz R 350 CDI 4Matic lang: Imposing

One walking around the Mercedes-Benz R 350 CDI in the long version, one is tempted to develop pride, although in the papers, Daimler AG reported as the owner. Ten square feet covered area and a ridge height of 1.67 meters and is elevated to 19-inch wheels - these are impressive values for a passenger car, especially on European roads.

Well, it is built in the United States. There are cars of this size to the normal street scene, but then with bulky eight-cylinder gasoline engines and not much more current consumption. Our R-Class is powered by a six-cylinder diesel engine with three liters and an output of 195 kW / 266 hp, accelerates the 2.3-ton in 7.7 seconds from 0 to 100 km / h and a maximum speed allowed of 235 mph.

Driving Report Nissan Pathfinder 3.0 dCi LE: Fixed size

He is not a icon like the Land Rover Defender or Toyota Land Cruiser, but the Pathfinder, Nissan has long been a fixture among the SUVs, it is understood in two ways. The Japanese edged offers generous space and seven seats as standard. Last year, the Pathfinder received some new body panels, emphasizing the powerful strength of character, without changing the known striking appearance.

The biggest changes are under the hood. Nissan offers an alternative in addition to the optimized 2.5-liter four-cylinder diesel also a V6 diesel engine with 170 kW / 231 hp and maximum torque of 550 Newton meters. The current model year can be made out on a new bonnet, a modified grille, the rounded front bumper and revised rear bumper with more angular corners.

Driving Report Alfa Romeo Mito 1.4 TB 16V Quadrofoglio Verde: Cultured lawn

Cars, where you can change the character of a button, there are now few. But the Alfa Romeo Mito 1.4 TB 16V Quadrofoglio Verde surprised us with the width within which the change occurred. The little one is an almost schizophrenic before. Because this can Takeshi Mito gentle as a lamb, so that one wonders just where to put Alfa genes, and then - after we reach for the adjustment slide on the center console - like a cheetah loszusprinten in the hunt.

Three change at the top of the vehicle registrations

Last month, there have been in Germany in three vehicle segments, a change at the top of the new registrations. Mercedes-Benz took with 3375 B-Class models sold back to the first in the minivan, which had been occupied in January, the Opel Meriva. In the upper class was the Mercedes-Benz CLS with 682 units on most approvals in the previous month it had been the BMW 7 Series.

In the utilities, there was a brand change: The Volkswagen Caddy replaced with 2120 new registrations for the T5 at the top. When the Minister was, according to the Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA), the Smart Fortwo with a piece of the most successful vehicle in 1971. With Polo (6329 registrations), Golf / Jetta (17 144 units) and Passat (8526 vehicles) and Touran (3991 pieces) and Tiguan (4361 units) certain Volkswagen the image in the small car, the compact and mid-range and in the Großraumvans and SUVs.

Driving Report Lexus RX 450h: Have fun and savings potential

He is next to the Toyota Prius as a symbol of the hybrid drive, the Lexus RX 450h. At 6.3 liters average consumption according to EU standard, the premium SUV with 143 kW sets / 249 hp gasoline engine and more than 2.1 tonnes unladen weight, the record in the segment. This fabulous value we obtained in the test but not everyday, but any 8.5 to 10.5 liters per 100 kilometers for a car of this class can definitely see, especially in the dormant Lexus not only fuel-saving technology, but also any Mange sporty dynamics.