Preview: Balance sheets, slim british bikes and a big chunk

Next week, the Volkswagen Group and the core brand will take stock of 2023 at their annual press conferences, and the ZIV industry association will also present the figures for the past year for the bicycle industry.

Skoda is rolling out the new Superb Combi, with the hatchback variant to follow in the middle of the year. The Czech estate was developed under the leadership of the new VW Passat Variant, with which it also rolls off the production line at the Slovakian VW plant in Bratislava. In addition to petrol and diesel engines, there will be a mild hybrid version for the first time and a plug-in hybrid drive with a purely electric range of more than 100 kilometers exclusively for the estate. Frank Wald goes for a spin.

After the Toyota Yaris Hybrid, the identical Mazda 2 Hybrid is now also getting a facelift. The model overhaul includes visual touch-ups to the exterior and interior as well as an update in terms of safety. Our author Guido Borck reports on exactly what has changed in his driving report. The Renault Scénic has been around since 1996, and just one year later the car was awarded the title of "Car of the Year" in Europe. At the IAA 2023, after a number of generation changes, the French presented a fully electric version for the first time, which will be available at the beginning of June 2024 and also received its ancestor's award this year. Our author Hans-Robert Richarz drove the Renault, which has mutated from a van to a crossover, in the south of Spain. Next week, Ralf Bielefeldt will also describe his first riding impressions of the Triumph 400, with which the British company is not only bringing back a single-cylinder motorcycle for the first time since its relaunch in the 1990s, but also a lower mid-range model. The 40 hp machines are available as a roadster and a scrambler and are very attractively priced.

At well over five meters long and with a battery with a capacity of almost 100 kWh, the Kia EV9 is a real beast. In the practical test, we find out whether the SUV is still any good in the city and what the range is like.

As usual, we will also keep you up to date with the latest news from the world of cars, motorcycles and transport policy. (aum)