From 28 August to 30 September 2023, follow our two Volkswagen ID Buzz crew, demonstarting the industry’s progress in electromobility under extreme conditions.
The Tour d’Excellence is a testament of the GIMS long-standing values of excellence, innovation and pioneering spirit.
Geneva – Venice – Dubrovnik – Tirana – Alexandropolis – Istanbul – Cesme – Piraeus – Amman – Aqaba – Neom – Tabuk – Alula 08.28-09.30.2023 They made it! After 8’000 kilometers and 12 countries, the Tour d’Excellence team finally arrived in Doha. This was…
Piraeus – Amman – Aqaba – Neom – Tabuk – Alula 09.09-23.2023 The Tour d’Excellence officially started. Follow our drivers accross continents as the cars leave Geneva on the 28th February 2023. About the GIMS Tour d’Excellence: The Tour d’Excellence stands as a living testament…
09.10.2023 – Day 14 – Athens – 45 km 9:15 a.m. After a well-deserved lie-in, we enjoy breakfast together in beautiful sunshine. The following hours will be productive behind the computer: answering e-mails, posting the story of our adventures on LinkedIn, viewing photos and films,…
09.09.2023 – Day 13 – Piraeus – Athens – 91 km 6:00 a.m. We docked at the port of Piraeus. The sheer number of gigantic ferries was impressive! We’ve never seen anything like it! < > 7:10 a.m. After breakfast in the port of Piraeus…
09.08.2023 – Day 12 – Çeşme to Piraeus, via Chios – 135 km (road) / 275 km (ferry) 7:15 a.m. We set off early in the morning towards the port of Çeşme to take the ferry to Chios. Customs clearance from Turkey was swift. However,…
09.07.2023 – Day 11 – Güre/Balikesir to Çeşme, via Izmir – 290 km 8:45 a.m. We set off for Izmir with the battery fully charged. Short film/photo stop (avenue of trees) just after leaving the hotel. After that, we drive along Edremit Bay on the…
09.06.2023 – Day 10 – Istanbul to Güre/Balikesir – 497 km 8:05 a.m. We left the hotel with 100% battery power and an announced range of 352 km, with 24 degree weather and under very cloudy skies. We crossed Istanbul’s northernmost bridge, the Yavuz Sultan…
09.05.2023 – Day 9 – Tour of Istanbul – 101 km We were so lucky with the weather! Over breakfast, we learned that the road from Thessalonica to Alesandroupolis, which we took two days ago, has been badly hit and devastated by storm “Daniel”. 10:30…
09.04.2023 – Day 8 – Alexandroupolis to Istanbul – 292 km 9:05 a.m. With our battery fully charged for a 365 km range, we set off for Istanbul. We traveled more than twenty kilometres on the motorway through a desolate landscape destroyed by fire. 9:40…
09.03.2023 – Day 7 – Thessaloniki to Alexandroupolis – 341 km 9:02 a.m. Departure in the direction of downtown Thessalonica to capture a few monuments: the Arch of Galerius, the Bank of Greece, the White Tower. Battery level: 100%, autonomy: 420 km, 24° C <…
09.02.2023 – Day 6 – Tirana to Thessaloniki – 421 km 09:03 a.m. After a typical Albanian breakfast (omelette, cucumbers, tomatoes, feta cheese and fruit juice), we set off for stage 6. Albania is one of the poorest countries we’ve visited so far. Agriculture is…
Alexandropolis – Istanbul – Cesme – Piraeus 09.04-09.2023 The Tour d’Excellence officially started. Follow our drivers accross continents as the cars leave Geneva on the 28th February 2023. About the GIMS Tour d’Excellence: The Tour d’Excellence stands as a living testament to the enduring…
Geneva – Venice – Dubrovnik – Tirana – Alexandropolis 08.28-09.04.2023 The Tour d’Excellence officially started. Follow our drivers accross continents as the cars leave Geneva on the 28th February 2023. About the GIMS Tour d’Excellence: The Tour d’Excellence stands as a living testament to the…
09.01.2023 – Day 5 – Dubrovnik to Tirana – 401 km 8:40 a.m. After breakfast, we set off on the 5th leg of our journey to Albania. 9:59 a.m. Entrance into Montenegro, with a brief customs visual check of Rainer’s trunk. Then off we go…
08.31.2023 – Day 4 – Zadar to Dubrovnik via Split – 387 km 7:30 a.m. Departure under sunny skies and 21.5°C. Since we couldn’t recharge overnight, we set off in search of a charging point. The first we found? Taken. The second? Faulty. The third?…
08.30.2023 – Day 3 – Mestre, Venice, then Zadar via Rijeka – 520 km 8:45 a.m. Departure from the Hilton Garden hotel for Venice. Staff sent us to park in the upper level of the San Marco parking lot. Despite help from the co-pilots, our…
08.29.2023 – Day 2 – Ascona to Mestre via Bergamo – 372 km 08:35 a.m. Departure from the Park Hotel Eden. It’s 17 degrees out. The overnight charge restored 92% of the battery (a range of 389 km) for our second leg to Mestre. First…
08.28.2023 – Day 1 – Geneva to Ascona, via the Simplon Pass – 315 km 6:15 a.m. Wake-up call – It’s departure day! 7:00 a.m. Appointment at Franco-Swiss customs to obtain authorisation for Sandro Mesquita to drive the German-registered ID Buzz in Switzerland. The customs…
As GIMS is embarking on a new chapter, venturing off its native country, the road to Qatar will be connecting the 100-year legacy to the inaugural show in Doha taking place from 5-14 October 2023.
From the Alps of Switzerland to the sand dunes of Qatar, the Tour d’Excellence will cover nearly 6,500 km, crossing 12 countries and 2 seas, all without any assistance
Part 1 – Europe / Asia
Part 2 – Western Asia
Heir to the VW Combi, an icon of freedom and adventure since the 1950s, the ID Buzz perpetuates tradition by combining it with the modernity of electric propulsion – while committing to carbon neutrality.
While charging infrastructure is well developed in Europe today, the Middle East is still in its early stages. Crossing 2,500 km in the Arabian Peninsula requires creativity and flexibility in order to access electrical power.
The Tour d’Excellence is to prove that even under such challenging circumstances, long distance trips with electric vehicles remain feasible.
Like the Olympic torch travelling around the world to the host city of the Olympic Games, the GIMS Cube will be displayed in each of the stopover cities of the Tour d’Excellence.
It symbolises the connection between Geneva and Doha and acts as an ambassador for GIMS. As it arrives at destination, the Cube will unfold more surprises.
Two teams of extraordinary individuals are making this adventure possible. With their expertise and determination, they will navigate through various terrains and climates, facing challenges head-on.
Frank M. Rinderknecht (born 1955) is the founder and CEO of Rinspeed Inc. – based in Zumikon/Switzerland – which he has established in 1977 as young student at the ETH (Technical University of Zurich). While the import of sunroofs from the USA was his first business activity, Rinspeed soon became a pioneer and first mover in the then newly created tuning industry. In 1995 Rinspeed started to build proprietary prototypes and concept cars. The invention of the steering wheel with integrated controls for radio or other functions, sustainable powertrains and driver assistance systems are amongst noteworthy milestones in the company’s history. After having sold all tuning activities in 2008 to a German competitor, Frank’s activities are centered today on being a Think Tank of the automotive and other industries, and create and promote concept vehicles, innovative technologies, materials, and mobility means of tomorrow. He is also a multiple World Record holder. Privately, Frank and his wife Michèle are passionate about spending their time on or at the sea, preferably in the Med.
Pictured with his wife and teammate Michèle Ramseier
Rinspeed AG
Rainer Zietlow founded his agency, CHALLENGE4 GmbH in Mannheim/Germany, in 2004. He is a specialist in planning and executing worldwide automotive projects with Volkswagen cars. Rainer Zietlow’s automotive success includes several long-distance world records and six Guinness World Records™. Its electric world record drives started in 2020, when Rainer Zietlow completed the longest journey to that date within a country in an all-electric vehicle. He drove in a VW ID.3 over 28.000 Km and visited 830 VW dealers in Germany within 65 days. One year later, in 2021 he undertook a similar tour in the United States, visiting 650 dealers by driving more than 58.000 Km within 97 days, doubling the record of 2020 record and setting a new Guinness World Record. In 2022, Rainer Zietlow set his second Guinness World Record in Bolivia. In an all-electric VW ID.4 GTX, he climbed the dormant Uturuncu volcano to a height of 5,816 meters above sea level. In 2023 he set his third Guinness World Record for crossing Canada from East to West with 18 charging stops. Returning from West to East he visited all 145 VW dealers with an over 29.000 Km long drive.
Challenge4
“The Minoukis” – having just finished their own middle eastern journey – cover the “Tour d’Excellence” with their professional eyes and lenses. At their young age of just 22, they represent the “Generation Z” in the small and international team.
Instagram @minoukis
