Volkswagen has a habit of keeping old models around for as long as there is a demand for them regardless of how outdated they are compared to the competition. The obvious examples are the Type 2/Transporter, which is still part of the Volkswagen lineup in Brazil, the Type 1/Beetle, finally phased out in 2003 in … Continue reading »
.The per-capita income in China has been steadily rising over the past couple of years and a sizable middle class with a healthy appetite for consumer goods has emerged. As a result, the few vehicles that were built locally during the 1980s and the 1990s have largely disappeared and automotive landscape is dominated by late-model … Continue reading »
Car-based vans have been incredibly popular in Europe since the end of World War II. Generally cheaper to buy, register and insure than larger vehicles, these city-friendly vans have been widely used as delivery vehicles, work mules and passenger haulers over the past couple of decades. Almost every automaker has offered one at one point … Continue reading »
This Volkswagen 1500 Variant (known as the Squareback in the United States) is in the same ditch as the Renault 17 TS, the 4 TL and the 4 L that we have featured over the last week. It is the only non-French car in the ditch and the only one that appears to have caught fire. Continue reading »
The E36 increased the distance between the BMW 3-Series and the 2002 that inspired it by moving the nameplate up a notch on the market. Bigger, faster and more opulent than its predecessor, the E36 alienated a small group of purists that longed for a simple, nimble and relatively affordable rear-wheel drive machine. Continue reading »
The city of Velaux, France, held its second annual car show last weekend. It was one of the first car local shows of the year which is risky because in April the weather can change for the worse with very little notice. However, the sun stayed out and the organizers’ gamble seemingly paid off: The … Continue reading »
Volkswagen went on a special edition spree in the early 1970s. Some, like the 1303 Big and the 1303 S GSR, were aimed at the top end of the Beetle market, but the Jeans was based on the smaller 1200cc model and targeted at a young audience. Introduced in late 1973 as a 1974 model, … Continue reading »
BMW started experimenting with electric drivetrains in 1969 when it asked its top engineers to design a battery-powered version of the popular 1602. The car took several years to complete and it didn’t make its public debut until the city of Munich, Germany, held the Olympic Games in 1972. The electric coupe worked as engineers … Continue reading »
This Mercedes-Benz 250D (w124) blends in with the decor during the week because it is sitting on an unpaved plot of land that serves as a makeshift parking lot for a nearby helicopter factory. On weekends and on holidays, the Mercedes is the only car left in the lot and it becomes immediately evident that … Continue reading »
The medium-sized Ford Sierra was revolutionary in a number of ways when it landed in showrooms across Europe in late 1982. Previewed by the futuristic Probe III concept that was presented at the 1981 Frankfurt Motor Show, the Sierra’s aerodynamic silhouette placed it lightyears away from the aging Cortina and Taunus that it was tasked … Continue reading »
