Drive it!: The Motor Magazine

This time, Drive it! presents a brawny American SUV, an all-electric French supermini and sporty German classics. We also hitch a ride in one of the most powerful cars ever made.Present it! Ford EdgeBig and brawny -- the Ford Edge is a truly American SUV. The mid-sized crossover is 4.8 meters long and weighs in at over 1.9 tons. Now, in its second generation, the crossover is taking on the European market. The know-how for developing the suspension came from Cologne and Ford is offering the Edge with a choice of two diesel engines in Germany. But can the SUV edge out the competition?We put the Sport Edge through its paces to find out.Test it! Renault ZoeThe Renault Zoe was the bestseller of all Renault's electric models in Europe in 2015 - reason enough for Drive it! to take the French supermini for a spin. The Zoe is powered by a 65-kilowatt electric motor. Its top speed is electronically limited to 138 km/h to optimize range.The car's recipe for success may have to do with its 21,500 euro starting price, which makes e-mobility affordable for a much broader range of buyers. Taste it! Mazda CX-3The CX-3 is Mazda's entry into the booming compact SUV market. The concept for the engine is "rightsizing" instead of "downsizing". This means, increasing efficiency rather than reducing capacity. We test drove the stronger 110-kW engine. This crossover's interior elegantly combines elements of a sedan and an SUV. The wraparound rear window also makes for improved visibility.Examine it! The 2016 VW Golf GTI FestivalThe VW Golf GTI festival was held for the 35th time at Lake Wörthersee in Austria. The event also celebrated the 40th anniversary of the Golf GTI. The model has been a success from the time it was introduced. Inspired by the car's sportiness, generations of GTI fans have customized their beloved vehicles. The VW GTI has been improved over time, as well.With an output of over 228 kW, the new Golf GTI Clubsport S is among the fastest front-wheel-drive production models on offer.Vintage! Shelby AC Cobra Mark VIThe AC Cobra is one of the fastest and most powerful cars ever built. It has more than 500 horsepower, but weighs only 1,000 kilos, so it's hard to hold it on the road. In 1961, Texan Carroll Shelby mounted an American V8 engine in an English sports car, and the legend was born. Harry Utesch, a dealer of classic cars, has been a Cobra driver and enthusiast for more than a quarter of a century.He took us for a drive.