The Citroen 2CV was to France what the VW Beetle is to Germany. The minimalist model was designed in the 1930s as a car for the common people, and the French couldn’t resist. No wonder - it was built to meet the demands emerging from one of the first big marketing surveys, conducted in 1922.Michelin had asked tens of thousands of respondents what their ideal "people's car” would be like.

A revolution at Porsche and pro-environment changes in trucks, too. Drive it! keeps up with the times.Present it! Porsche 911 Carrera convertibleThe 911 Carrera has been one of the world's best-selling sportscars ever since its launch in the early 1970s. This is an automotive icon whose designers saw little reason to change much over the decades. There has recently been a minor revolution, however.This 911 convertible sounds somehow different. No wonder, because instead of a naturally aspirated engine you'll now find a 3-0 liter biturbo boxer unit. It may be smaller, but delivers an extra 15 kW of power. That sounds less spectacular than it feels, because the turbo gives the car far more torque, and has a faster response over a wider revs range. Depending on the model, this will cut fuel consumption by up to 12 percent, says Porsche.

Test it! Mazda 6 SedanMazda has given its 6 model a facelift, which now has a rather striking front section. The radiator grille has been restructured and now is even more dominant. The flowing lines of the exterior have prompted 75,000 drivers in Europe to purchase a Mazda 6 since early 2013. The interior has been updated, too.The 7” touch display gives the dashboard a contemporary look, while the chrome trim and leatherette seats give the interior a superior feel. Drive It! takes a closer look at the Mazda 6.

Picture it! Mercedes Efficiency Run - CO2 Reduction in TrucksThe European Union has set a goal for 2030 of reducing CO2 emissions from road freight transport by 30% from the 2005 level. Implementing this will require more than improvements to engines alone. Together with the independent testing company DEKRA and three leading German shipping companies, Mercedes staged the "Efficiency Run".It used realistic conditions to pit current conventional Actros trucks from shipping firm motor pools against a Mercedes truck optimized for CO2 reduction, using components already commercially available. The results were astounding: small changes already reduced emissions by up to 14%!

Taste it! BMW X3These days practically all carmakers have a presence in the booming SUV segment. Off-roaders big and small and in all manner of variations are now popping up like mushrooms. Among the older hands here is the BMW X3. It's been on the market for 12 years now, four more than one of its biggest rivals, the VW Tiguan.We check out the xDrive20i version of the X3 with all-wheel drive. Its ample interior space makes the model a versatile companion around the city, but also a sound performer off road.

Vintage: Citroen 2CVThe Citroen 2CV was to France what the VW Beetle is to Germany. The minimalist model was designed in the 1930s as a car for the common people, and the French couldn’t resist. No wonder - it was built to meet the demands emerging from one of the first big marketing surveys, conducted in 1922.Michelin had asked tens of thousands of respondents what their ideal "people's car” would be like.

The Volkswagen Beetle convertible is a popular choice among fans of open-top driving. The first prototype was made back in 1936, but it was not until 1949 that volume production began.The convertible versions were always based on the most powerful and expensive Beetle available at the time. Drive It! puts the 1979 edition through its paces. It is driven by the 1.6-liter engine taken from the 1303 S, produced as of 1972. Delivering 50 hp it was the most powerful production Beetle engine of its era.

Winter is a challenging time for car drivers in continental Europe and elsewhere. But some people still think that they can get away with summer tires, if they live in the city and in an area where it rarely snows.It's understandable because a second set of tires costs a lot of money. But bear in mind that the rubber compound in summer tires begins to harden as soon as temperatures dip close to zero, which can reduce traction considerably.

BMW presents the new generation of the C 650 GT maxi scooters. Among the many safety features is a blind spot assist that makes riding through city traffic less hazardous.At speeds of between 25 and 80 km/h, the Side View Assist or "SVA" informs the rider of any other vehicles within a 5-meter vicinity. The system then flashes up a warning triangle on the mirror stalk of the C 650 GT.

The Q30 is an attempt by Nissan’s luxury division, Infiniti, to boost brand awareness in Europe. The new model was developed in close cooperation between Nissan/Renault and Daimler, and is based on the platform of the Mercedes A-Class.The Q30 uses the latter’s engines, but goes its own way on the design front. Its low-slung roofline gives it a coupe-style profile. Drive It! tests the Q30 with a 155 kW gasoline engine and 7-speed dual clutch transmission.

A new compact model born from an international collaboration, plus a sportscar in classic British style. Drive It! brings you the fast and the fabulous.Present it! Infiniti Q30The Q30 is an attempt by Nissan’s luxury division, Infiniti, to boost brand awareness in Europe. The new model was developed in close cooperation between Nissan/Renault and Daimler, and is based on the platform of the Mercedes A-Class.The Q30 uses the latter’s engines, but goes its own way on the design front. Its low-slung roofline gives it a coupe-style profile. Drive It! tests the Q30 with a 155 kW gasoline engine and 7-speed dual clutch transmission. Test it! Jaguar F-Type S AWD ConvertibleJaguars are known for their power and elegance, but the new F-Type will have pulses racing even faster than with earlier models. We check out the open-top four-wheel-drive S version of the sporty two-seater, complete with a fancy fabric roof.Under the hood there’s a 3.0-liter supercharged V6 with 280 kW of power. Starting up the engine is a roaringly thrilling experience - whether with the roof up or down. That noise level might be too much for some people, however. Examine it! Driving safety in winter - Having the right tires is importantWinter is a challenging time for car drivers in continental Europe and elsewhere. But some people still think that they can get away with summer tires, if they live in the city and in an area where it rarely snows.It's understandable because a second set of tires costs a lot of money. But bear in mind that the rubber compound in summer tires begins to harden as soon as temperatures dip close to zero, which can reduce traction considerably.Spot it! BMW C 650 GTBMW presents the new generation of the C 650 GT maxi scooters. Among the many safety features is a blind spot assist that makes riding through city traffic less hazardous.At speeds of between 25 and 80 km/h, the Side View Assist or "SVA" informs the rider of any other vehicles within a 5-meter vicinity. The system then flashes up a warning triangle on the mirror stalk of the C 650 GT. Vintage: VW Beetle ConvertibleThe Volkswagen Beetle convertible is a popular choice among fans of open-top driving. The first prototype was made back in 1936, but it was not until 1949 that volume production began.The convertible versions were always based on the most powerful and expensive Beetle available at the time. Drive It! puts the 1979 edition through its paces. It is driven by the 1.6-liter engine taken from the 1303 S, produced as of 1972. Delivering 50 hp it was the most powerful production Beetle engine of its era.

Jaguars are known for their power and elegance, but the new F-Type will have pulses racing even faster than with earlier models. We check out the open-top four-wheel-drive S version of the sporty two-seater, complete with a fancy fabric roof.Under the hood there’s a 3.0-liter supercharged V6 with 280 kW of power. Starting up the engine is a roaringly thrilling experience - whether with the roof up or down. That noise level might be too much for some people, however.

Few four-seater convertibles can reach speeds over 300 kilometers an hour. The Bentley Continental GT Speed Convertible is one of them, with a top speed of 327 kilometers an hour.And the open-top British car shoots from zero to 100 in 4.4 seconds. Its 6.0 liter W12 engine produces 467 kilowatts and a maximum torque of 820 Newton meters. In Germany it runs about a quarter of a million euros. But does this high-flyer have its feet on the ground? Drive it took a close look at this pricey beast.

Since BMW opened its Energy and Environment Test Center in 2009, the aerodynamics of countless prototypes and production models have been tested and optimized. The wind tunnel can simulate speeds of up to 300 kilometers an hour, at a wide range of temperatures.If the tunnel can analyze turbulence around cars, it ought to be able to do the same for luges, think luge racers of the German national team. So they came to the BMW center to test their luges for the coming season. Of course the BMW aerodynamics experts gave them all the support they needed. We watched what was done at the tests: the slightest changes make a differeence -- in luges just as in cars.