Michio Suzuki founded the company Suzuki Loom Manufacturing as early as 1920. The original loom manufacturer has grown into one of the most important motorcycle, car and outboard engine manufacturers in the world over the last few decades.
The Vitara has been part of the universally usable SUV, which is designed for everyday use and off-road use, since 1988. The fourth generation of the on- and off-roader can now be found on the streets with a facelift from 2018. As with all manufacturers, Suzuki relies on downsizing and mild hybrid technology for all car models to reduce exhaust emissions in conventional gasoline engines.
Two classics on the European market for e-cars have once again been heavily revised for the current model year. On the one hand, there is the Renault Zoe ZE 135 in the small car segment, which this year will compete with the revised e-Up and the Opel Corsa-e. On the other hand, the Nissan Leaf e + is the direct competitor to the new VW ID.3 in the compact car class.
Mercedes Benz has been defining its electrified car models using the abbreviation "EQ" since 2016 and promoting the new concept with the slogan "Electric Intelligence". Over the next few years, the premieres of the BEV models will be in the foreground of the concept models presented. The plug-in hybrids already have a permanent place in the Mercedes product portfolio. From the A to the S class, there are versions with petrol and diesel engines. The test reveals the character traits of the new A-Class with two drives.
The E-Golf, the purely electric variant of the VW Golf class, is lagging behind in terms of registration numbers. Volkswagen customers are waiting for the all-electric ID3. This year the e-Golf is over. The Golf 8 is still available as a partially electrified version - as a hybrid, which is always equipped with an internal combustion engine in addition to an electric motor. After the list price was reduced to 31.900 euros, the last e-Golfs are now available as bargains well below 20.000 euros. In our practical test from 2018, we placed emphasis on suitability for everyday use in cooler weather conditions.