These Germans all have one thing in common: they take on another year in 2022 and all start a new decade! When some show the weight of years, others have not aged a bit. Here is a retrospective of the models released between 1962 and 2012.

TO HAVE. All German cars launched in 2022

Audi

Let’s take advantage of this article on birthdays by starting by celebrating Audi’s. The brand with the rings blows out its 90 candles in 2022. It was in 1932 that the Audi, DKW, Horch and Wanderer brands came together under the same coat of arms to form Auto Union. After the war, the factories were dismantled but some of the employees joined those of DKW in Ingolstadt, the city where Audi’s current headquarters are located.

• Audi 80 (B1) (1972-1978)
• Audi 100 (C3) (1982-1995)
• Audi RS6 (C5) (2002-2004)
• Audi A8 (D3) (2002-2010)
• Audi RS4 Avant (B8) (2012-2015)
• Audi S8 (D4) (2012-2017)
• Audi A6 Allroad (C7) (2012-2018)
• Audi S6 (C7) (2012-2018)
• Audi A3 (8V) (2012-2020)
  

BMW

2022 marks the anniversary of BMW’s sports division. This year, Motorsport is 50 years old! Who hasn’t dreamed of owning one of these sports sedans in their garage? One of them is just celebrating her birthday… The M3 E36 is 30 years old and thus officially obtains the status of “collector car”.

• BMW 1500 (1962-1964)
• BMW 3200 CS (1962-1965)
• BMW 5 Series (E12) (1972-1981)
• BMW 3 Series (E30) (1982-1991)
• BMW M3 (E36) (1992-1999)
  

Mercedes

The star brand is celebrating several model anniversaries in 2022. The Mercedes 190 or Baby-Benz – symbol of the constructor – celebrates its 40th birthday. The CLK-Class (W209) and the E-Class (W211) are 20 years old while the CL coupe (C140) is turning thirty. Finally, a second Mercedes legend is in the spotlight this year: the SL. A 70-year-old granny who hasn’t aged a bit!

• Mercedes-Benz SL (W194) (1952-1953)
• Mercedes-Benz SLC (C107) (1972-1981)
• Mercedes-Benz 190 (W201) (1982-1988)
• Mercedes-Benz CL (C140) (1992-1999)
• Mercedes-Benz E-Class (W211) (2002-2009)
• Mercedes-Benz CLK (W209) (2002-2010)
• Mercedes-Benz Class A (W176) (2012-2018)
• Mercedes-Benz Citan (W415) (2012-2021)
  

Opel

At Opel, the year 2022 marks the 60^e anniversary of the Opel Kadett A, one of the ancestors of the Astra! The German manufacturer is also celebrating the half-century of the Commodore B which, in 1978, was ousted by the Monza. The A2 generation, launched in 1982, is celebrating its 40th anniversary. We also wish “Alles Gute zum Geburtstag” to the first Opel Corsa of the name which also joins the club of forties.

• Opel Cadet (A) (1962-1965)
• Opel Commodore (B) (1972-1978)
• Opel Monza (A2) (1982-1986)
• Opel Corsa (A) (1982-1993)
• Opel Vectra (C) (2002-2008)

Porsche

A 911 celebrates its birthday in 2022, it’s the legendary Carrera RS 2.7! She blows out her 50 candles. Two unloved purists are also entering a new decade: the 944 (40 years old) and the 968 (30 years old).

• Porsche 911 Carrera RS (1972-1973)
• Porsche 944 (1982-1989)
• Porsche 968 (1992-1995)
  

Smart

20 years ago came out a real ORNI called Crossblade. A car without a roof, windscreen or doors, limited to 2,000 numbered copies, 50 of which are reserved for France. When it was released, the Crossblade demanded more than €25,000 from its future owner. His career was short-lived and Smart never renewed the project.

Volkswagen

Before it turns into a MPV, the Volkswagen Caddy was a pick-up. In 2022, he celebrates his 40th birthday. As for the Volkswagen 412, the little-known ancestor of the Passat, it joins the fifties club.

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While the Chinese manufacturer Dongfeng is gradually withdrawing from the capital of the former PSA group as part of the latter’s merger with FCA to form the giant Stellantis, certain models designed by the Dongfeng Peugeot joint venture for the Chinese market are continuing their career in unexpected ways. In the Middle Kingdom, the Peugeot 408 – already unknown to us – changes its name and becomes electric.

From 308 to 408

The second-generation Peugeot 408 was launched in China in 2014 and then restyled in 2018. This notchback sedan based on PSA’s EMP2 modular platform featured a front end similar to that of the second 308 of the name. Its taillights – at the ends of an elongated stern – were also reminiscent of the compact. It was exclusively offered with a turbocharged petrol engine. The Peugeot 408 is no more, but now it is resurrected under the name Dongfeng Fukang ES600 with some aesthetic evolutions, but also a 100% electric motorization if one relies on recent leaks from the administration responsible for the approval of vehicles in China.

No electric 408 in Europe, but an e-308

In the operation, the ex-408 changed grille. Its front air intake has been replaced by a body-colored mesh panel, in the center of which stands the Dongfeng Fukang emblem. According to the site Autohome, the sedan is 4.75 m long, 1.82 m wide and 1.52 m high. It is based on 17-inch rims and its engine develops 150 hp. Nothing has yet filtered concerning its autonomy. Obviously, the rear bumper has been redesigned since no more exhaust outlets are to be integrated. In Europe, those who expect a Peugeot “zero emission” in the C segment will have to wait until the arrival of the e-308 and e-3008 scheduled between 2023 and 2024.

TO HAVE. French women abroad: unknown models in France

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Mileage is an essential part of the value of a used car. Fraud consisting of modifying the vehicle’s odometer to artificially increase its value is unfortunately commonplace, all the more so since it is a relatively easy operation to perform.

5 to 12% of used vehicles sold in Europe are the subject of mileage fraud according to the latest report by the Automobile Club Association (ACA) published on the issue in 2016. France is no exception to this phenomenon. Between 280,000 and 625,000 cars would be affected out of more than 5.5 million used vehicles sold each year. However, the law protects the purchaser regardless of the origin of the vehicle or the quality of the seller (private or professional). Civil action for the resolution of the sale or for a reduction in the price or even a criminal complaint for deception, there are remedies.

TO READ. Mileage scams. L’argus calls for testimonials

A non-conformity justifying the resolution of the sale or the reduction of the price

Most of the time, a vehicle whose odometer has been tampered with will be subject to mechanical failures which will be declared in advance with regard to the mileage recorded on the dashboard. This is often what will arouse the suspicions of the buyer who will then notice that he has acquired a vehicle with a higher actual mileage.

In this case, the purchaser can, at the option, request the reduction of the price or the resolution (cancellation) of the sale of the vehicle in court. Indeed, the fact of selling a vehicle by announcing a mileage different from the actual mileage constitutes a breach of the seller’s obligation to deliver compliant, whether or not he is aware of the fraud. In addition, the mention “non-guaranteed mileage”, sometimes written on sales announcements or purchase orders, cannot exonerate the seller from his responsibility.

In addition to rescinding the sale or lowering the price, the person who is the victim of the reduction in the mileage of the vehicle can claim damages if it establishes that it suffers additional damage. This is for example the case when the vehicle is the subject of an immobilizing breakdown due to its obsolescence due to its actual mileage.

The essential element to win the case is proof of the change in mileage. It does not matter whether or not the seller is the author of the fraud or whether he was aware of it before the sale. The action will therefore be possible whether the seller is in good or bad faith.

TO READ. Second-hand cars. The end of odometer fraud?

How to prove the falsification of the mileage?

It is up to the buyer to report proof of the modification of the mileage of which he claims to be a victim in the context of the sale. This proof can be reported by any means. It will therefore not be essential to go through an amicable contradictory expertise or even a judicial expertise. Means exist to prove fraud.

HistoVec, the free platform put online by the authorities, can be used to check the mileage reduction. Since January 2021, this site lists the technical inspections undergone by vehicles registered in France. Among the information available, we find in particular the date of each technical inspection as well as the mileage recorded during it. The elements thus collected may constitute proof of the manipulation of the mileage. HistoVec’s limit: imported vehicles. Technical inspections carried out abroad are not listed on this site, which only lists technical inspections carried out in France.

It is also possible to push open the door of a vehicle brand dealership to request a history of operations carried out on the latter or even a diagnostic case examination.

The information held by the manufacturers may relate to maintenance and repair operations carried out abroad, but only within the network. Thus, if the vehicle has been mainly maintained and repaired outside the network, which is frequent after the expiry of the manufacturer’s warranty, it will not be possible to reconstruct the history and therefore the evolution of the mileage of the vehicle. A technician from the brand can also interrogate the vehicle’s computers using the diagnostic case to detect fraudulent manipulations. However, some brands only allow limited access to vehicle electronics, so this is not a foolproof way.

If these steps did not provide relevant information, it will then be necessary to seek expertise. Automotive experts can ask manufacturers for permission to access the entire electronic system of the vehicle where information is stored that is sometimes inaccessible to the technicians themselves.

Fraud constituting the offense of deception

The mileage scam constitutes an offense punishable by 2 years imprisonment and a fine of € 300,000. It is therefore also possible to file a complaint for deception against the dishonest seller, whether private or professional. For this offense to be constituted, it is necessary to prove that the seller is at the origin of the falsification of the mileage. This proof, difficult to report, will be obtained as part of the police or gendarmerie investigation conducted under the authority of the Public Prosecutor. If the investigation results in serious charges, the seller will then be sued and the buyer may seek compensation during the criminal trial.

What are the deadlines for taking action?

Civil action seeking the resolution of the sale or the reduction of the price must be brought within the 5 years from the sale of the vehicle if it is directed against the individual.

If the buyer is acting against a professional seller, the rule is somewhat different and has evolved recently. For sales concluded from 1^is January 2022, the buyer must take legal action within 2 years of the discovery of the fraud, and this within a maximum of 5 years from the sale. For sales prior to 1^is January 2022, it will be imperative to act within 2 years of the acquisition of the vehicle.

In criminal matters, the complaint may be filed within 6 years of the sale. Unfortunately, cases closed without further action are legion in this area, due to a lack of sufficient information. It will therefore be necessary to file a complaint as soon as possible to hope for a favorable outcome.

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Car prices continue to rise at many manufacturers and the bestsellers of generalist brands are no exception. At the start of 2022, the Volkswagen Golf sees its prices increase by around 600 € in its standard finishes, without any change in its equipment except for the improvement of its infotainment system and in particular of its voice commands. The increase varies depending on the version. For the station wagon, the increase is of the same order as for the compact.

A further reduced range for the Golf

The entry-level Golf and Golf Business variants, provisionally withdrawn from the catalog last November, are still missing. Only the combination of the TSI 110 unit and the Life or Life Business finish makes it possible to stay under € 30,000, excluding options. Four other versions of the compact disappear. The TDI 115 manual transmission engine is no longer offered with Active and Style finishes. It is now reserved for the Life and Life Business models which currently constitute the access offer. Still diesel, the two-wheel drive TDI 150 DSG7 is no longer available with the Life and Active finishes.

More and more expensive sports

As for sports golf courses, the price increase is even more substantial. It amounts to

• € 890 for the GTI,
• € 1,045 for the R version,
• 885 € for the diesel GTD,
• 950 € for the plug-in hybrid GTE,
• and even € 1,665 for the GTI Clubsport.

In addition, the ecological penalty for 100% petrol models has increased by around € 1,000 with the entry into force of the 2022 scale. The GTI thus receives a minimum of € 3,331. CO tax₂ minimum on the GTD goes from € 125 to € 230. The GTE always benefits from a bonus of € 1,000 for any order placed before June 30th. Still no Golf R SW in sight for France, this muscular station wagon remaining reserved for a handful of countries of which ours is not part.

TO READ. Extreme test: Volkswagen Golf 8 R takes on the Nürburgring

Volkswagen Golf Price (January 2022)

* micro-hybrid

Volkswagen Golf Sports Awards (January 2022)

Volkswagen Golf SW Price (January 2022)

* micro-hybrid

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After a slight drop at the end of last year, fuel prices have picked up again and are now reaching record levels in France. According to the latest official government data, the liter of diesel costs on average € 1.59 when that of SP95-E10 requires € 1.66 and that of SP98 € 1.75, an increase of about 25% compared to the beginning of January 2021. According to the site carbu.com, their respective prices per liter are even € 1.62, € 1.68 and € 1.77.

The price of crude oil is on the rise

This increase is still due to a combination of factors and is strongly linked to the pandemic. Among other things, after lockdowns synonymous with slowdowns in fuel production and traffic around the world between the spring of 2020 and 2021, demand has picked up sharply while stocks were smaller than usual. Recently, the Omicron variant of the coronavirus responsible for the Covid-19 pandemic has generated new industrial-economic disruptions. The price of a barrel of Brent, which serves as a benchmark in the petroleum products market, currently costs around $ 80, whereas it fell back below $ 75 last December after two months spent between $ 80 and $ 85. In one month, the price of a liter of fuel has increased by around 6 euro cents in France.

TO READ. Rising fuel prices. France compared to 4 neighboring countries

40 Million Motorists appeal to the President

Last December, the Government began to pay a one-off “inflation allowance” of € 100 to people whose individual income is less than € 2,000 net. The date of receipt of this aid depends on the professional category of the beneficiaries (employees, civil servants, farmers, retirees, job seekers, students). According to the association 40 Millions d’Automobilistes, this exceptional boost is insufficient. ” The government intervention will have only extinguished the media fire fueled by the anger of road users unarmed by the soaring prices, without giving them a real solution to face this situation. “, She said in a press release. She calls on the President of the Republic, Emmanuel Macron, to take additional measures.

Pierre Chasseray, general delegate of the organization, wrote an open letter for the attention of the Head of State. This is written in verse. ” We don’t want the obole, just go to school, drop our children off without leaving our teeth there. / Tell us where the vice is! We want to go to work without having to beg at the gas station », Can we read in particular. Beyond the price of fuel, the manager addresses more generally the constraints weighing on motorists such as the multiplication of speed cameras, the lowering of certain speed limits or even the disgrace of diesel … even if it means diluting his message first ? While Emmanuel Macron’s statements take on more campaign airs every day three months before the next presidential election, 40 Million Motorists hope to capture the attention of the tenant of the Elysee Palace. Regarding the price at the pump, remember that taxes represent about 60% and that no reduction in these seems to be on the agenda.

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The compact SUV segment is on the rise more than ever. In France, in the year 2021, one model has carved out the lion’s share: the Peugeot 3008 with 50,399 units sold. It occupies seventh place in sales when its cousin the Citroën C5 Aircross, with whom it nevertheless shares its platform and its mechanics, is in seventeenth position. The herringbone SUV is half as successful as its rival. So, at the dawn of the year 2022, Citroën is finally offering it a little makeover, the first since its launch in Europe in 2018. Will it be sufficient to attract customers? Let’s see this in detail.

A redesigned front panel

If the C5 Aircross does not make its revolution, the changes are however clearly visible on the SUV. The manufacturer has modified the entire front part of the adventurer by erasing its hitherto characteristic curves. Citroën wanted ” assert a more statutory, modern and dynamic personality »By playing with more structured lines. The grille thus gains in verticality. The optical units, which benefit from a new design, have been darkened to give more depth to the look. Their unique light signature – made up of two thin bands – helps make the vehicle visually wider.

In the center of the front face, the rafters are more spaced and now lacquered in black. They are no longer connected to the optics by a chrome bar, this one giving way to a fine chiseled strip. Finally, the lower part of the shield benefits from two more imposing air intakes, including the one located above the location of the license plate. On either side of the latter, the side scoops are enlarged. Now open, they play a real aerodynamic role. The protective ski, also redesigned, wants to be more visible and qualitative. It is available in black or chrome depending on the finish selected.

A new light signature on the back

On the stern side, the main novelty is to be credited with the lights. If the general shape remains ovoid, the whole takes on relief and appears clearly more sculpted. The light signature also evolves, revealing three-dimensional rectangular shapes. A design that helps to seat the vehicle more on its wheels. From a dimensional point of view, Citroën has not changed anything. The C5 Aircross still benefits from a ground clearance of 230 mm. It rises to 1.67 m high, 1.84 m wide and measures 4.50 m long. On the sides, we find the Airbumps that the manufacturer dresses with new colored straps. Speaking of color, a new Eclipse blue shade enriches the catalog. What to change from the current white, gray and black offered. To complete its look, the herringbone SUV can now fit 18-inch biton diamond rims (Pulsar).

A more modern interior and more comfortable seats… again!

In the passenger compartment, Citroën has redesigned the dashboard, where a new 10-inch touch screen – common with the C4 – takes place on the versions equipped with the navigation function. In this configuration, the slab is then no longer surrounded by aerators. The latter, whose design is now rectangular, find refuge just below the tablet. Direct access to certain functions such as air conditioning or the car radio are still available. What to facilitate the use in the long run. The other novelty is located at the level of the central console.

On automatic transmission versions (EAT8), which now represent 80 to 85% of sales, the “cobra” gear lever disappears in favor of a tilting gearbox control. The same as in the C4 and 308. This change, which contributes to ergonomics, also makes the atmosphere more refined and makes it possible to offer an additional liter of storage (24 l in total on board).

Behind the steering wheel, the digital counters (12.3 ”) are still present. Only the entry-level finish escapes it. Already renowned for its comfort, thanks in particular to its suspension with progressive hydraulic stops, the C5 Aircross takes it up a notch by increasing the density of the foam on the seats (+ 15 mm). The seats can be decorated with new materials (Alcantara, perforated leather, etc.). In the rear seats, Citroën still offers three independent, sliding and reclining seats. Equipment that the competition does not offer, but which is hardly enough to transcend its habitability, definitely average! The boot volume always fluctuates between 580 and 720 l depending on the position of the bench (460 to 600 l on the PHEV).

An unchanged range of engines

Under the hood, Citroën has not changed anything. The SUV still benefits from a petrol (PureTech) and diesel (BlueHDi) of 130 hp each, which team up with the six-speed manual or eight-speed automatic.

A single plug-in hybrid version, strong 225 hp, completes the trio. This variant, which offers a range of 55 km in all-electric mode, allows the C5 Aircross to be eligible for an ecological bonus of € 2,000 until next June 30 (€ 1,000 thereafter). Note that this engine is enjoying great interest. It now represents 36 to 37% of sales in France, while diesel is losing ground (42% of the mix in 2021, against 56% in 2020).

Slightly increasing prices

In the financial chapter, Citroën has not yet unveiled the range and should do so by the end of the month. According to the information gleaned during the presentation of the restyled SUV, prices are expected to increase slightly. Because on January 4 the car had already seen its prices climb by 700 €. Now count at least € 27,350 to acquire the SUV in a thermal version and € 41,250 to own the PHEV model. The C5 Aircross remains less expensive than its cousin the Peugeot 3008 while offering almost similar services: less dynamism, more comfort! The restyled SUV should be marketed at the end of the first quarter.

Citroën C5 Aircross review

The Citroën C5 Aircross has lost its joviality. It attenuates what made its difference to better blend in with the mold and attract customers eager for products with more assertive design. You just have to see the commercial success of the 3008! In addition, the positioning of the Citroën SUV – straddling a 3008 and a 5008 (7 seats) – may make some buyers hesitate since, as mentioned above, livability is not the strong point of this model. In contrast, it remains a benchmark in terms of comfort and has once again proven it to us during this static presentation. There remains a challenge for the Chevrons: to find a clever idea so that the second generation of the C5 Aircross – scheduled for 2025 and still assembled in France (in Rennes) – dethrones its cousin.

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It’s never too late to do it right. Road Safety has finally published the 2020 toll of traffic violations, a year during which a little more than 24 million offenses were detected, both by automatic devices and by the various police forces, including municipal ones (excluding parking meters, since these are no longer fines but Post-Parking Packages).

Of this total, the automated control devices alone made it possible to observe 12.9 million infringements (+ 3% in one year), knowing that the radars flashed at the same time 18.5 million times. That is to say about 30% of infringement messages which did not make it possible to draw up a notice of contravention for various reasons: radar blinded intentionally or not, illegible plates, doubt about the vehicle at fault, foreign plates outside the European Union, etc. .

29% fewer flashes than in 2017

Despite the implementation of new, more sophisticated radars, it is still 10.5% fewer infringement messages than in 2019, again for several reasons: sharp drop in traffic due to the two confinements and the multiple periods of curfew, equipment still inoperative after the wave of vandalism that raged during the yellow vests crisis of 2018/2019. In comparison with the record year 2017, the number of flashes in 2020 thus shows a plunge of 29%, with the number of radars however almost equivalent.

With the fleet reaching 4,224 automated devices at the end of 2020, this means that each of them flashed an average of 4,383 times, or 12 times per day. But beware, this average hides huge disparities. Among the ten types of equipment scattered along the roads of France, some border on overwork while others are on the watch peacefully. Here, from the most active to the quietest, the list of the effectiveness of these ten kinds of materials.

>> 2020 ranking of radars flashing the most by device type <<

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SUV that can! The unalterable success of the all-road pushes manufacturers to launch elevated variants of all types of models. Fiat is no exception to the rule. Thus, after the enhanced Tipo Cross compact, the Italian firm is today launching the station wagon “ leggy »Tipo Cross SW.

The break in adventurer’s outfit

This SW variation takes over the attributes of the Tipo Cross. Strict traction, it has increased ground clearance, roof bars, front air intakes with specific mesh, sill guards, as well as brushed chrome details such as the skis of the shields and the door handles.

It is also characterized by specific 17-inch rims and receives standard LED headlamps. Inside, the black and gray upholstery is badged “Cross”. The boot volume, bench seat in place, amounts to 550 l, as on board the classic Tipo SW.

TO READ. Opel Astra Sports Tourer (2022). First official photos of the station wagon

Two finishes for the Tipo Cross SW

In France, the Tipo Cross is available in two finishes. The first is called Plus and includes in particular:

• automatic air conditioning
• 7 inch digital dashboard
• 10 inch central touch screen
• reversing camera
• fog lights
• adaptive cruise control
• Lane departure warning
• fatigue detector

The second is a special series (RED) designed in partnership with the eponymous organization which fights against pandemics, in the tradition of the 500, 500X and 500L (RED). This edition can be recognized by its red mirrors, its specific logos and its black upholstery with red stitching made from recycled plastic. Its key also has a matching shell. Its sales will help raise funds for the organization (RED).

Tarifs Fiat Tipo Cross SW

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Commonly referred to as a “water pump,” the coolant pump can leak on many Mercedes diesel models. A leak between the coolant circuit and the vacuum circuit has been detected. The prestigious German daily image was one of the first to raise this issue, which would affect more than 800,000 cars worldwide and precisely 38,897 in France, excluding utilities. With, in the most serious cases, the risk of a fire breaking out. Fortunately, the brand with the star is not the type to have their ears pulled for long to organize an official recall. It is even the one that organizes the most in Europe, by far, which nevertheless testifies to a certain desire for transparency. Mercedes plans to rectify the situation quickly and has already warned its customers. But the actual launch of this campaign is now suspended due to a lack of documents.

A good part of the range concerned

While waiting for a return to normal, which could take place shortly after mid-January, the network has therefore received a work instruction document. This already allows him to check the affected vehicles and to check whether a repair should be immediately initiated. The intervention provided for by this recall consists of updating the software of the cooling pump and, if necessary, replacing the electrical switching valve of this part, which allows the flow of liquid to be controlled. The fault only affects cars powered by the 2.0 diesel OM 654 four-cylinder and the OM 656 3.0 diesel in-line six, produced between June 2017 and October 2021.

The “small” Mercedes with transverse engines are however spared, but almost all of the rest of the range can be affected: the old C-Class (type 205), the current E-Class (213 and coupe or convertible 238) and the last two generations of the S-Class (222/223), the CLS “four-door coupe” (227), not to mention the GLC (253), GLE and GLS (167) SUVs, as well as the second-named G-Class ( 463).

TO READ. Mercedes diesel reliability (OM 654): wear of rocker arms

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