In this edition of Drive it! we look at Audi's new A3 Sportback, take a Smart Electric Drive for a spin, and look back at four decades of motorsport tradition at BMW.
Sporty, versatile and functional - that's how Audi describes their new A3 Sportback. At first glance, the A3 Sportback doesn't seem to have changed much. It's slightly longer, wider and taller than its predecessor. But getting into the details reveals many significant differences. For instance, the new model's wheelbase is 5.8 centimeters longer than before.
The Chevrolet Orlando hit the market for two years, joining Europe's growing segment of family vans. The designers reworked the traditional van concept to create a compact, multi-purpose vehicle, or MPV. Its low roofline and sloping silhouette help make the Orlando a true crossover vehicle.
By 2020 the German government hopes to see one million electric cars on the country's roads. But electric-powered vehicles are still a rare sight in traffic here. Now Daimler is hoping to win over the hearts of drivers with its new Smart Electric Drive. We took the car out for a test drive to see whether it's the wave of the future.
A routine traffic stop in a small German city shows that many motorists still aren't wearing seatbelts. The excuses are many and varied. Many people wrongly believe that an airbag alone provides adequate protection. We put that theory to the test with Germany's automotive club, the ADAC.
A family reunion at the legendary Nürburgring track: BMW's M division looks back at 40 years of success. The founding father of the line, the 3.0 CSL, is a star attraction. A former racing champion, it now looks almost square and old fashioned by BMW standards.
