Rolling Soviet Bloc automotive relics seek a new home

Widow Galina Brunner (left) and her son Alex Brunner with a prized Russian-made Gaz limousine from more than 50 years ago at the family’s private Cold War museum in Harnekop north of the German capital Berlin.By Haiko PrengelThe village of Harnekop, deep in the Brandenburg countryside north of Berlin, not only boasts a former top secret nuclear bunker but also one of the most impressive known collections of former Soviet Bloc cars and trucks.The vehicles all belong to a family which is keen to see the cherished vehicles find their final home in a dedicated museum.There are several collections in Germany of vehicles made in the old communist bloc which collapsed in 1989. But the array assembled by the Brunner family is unique. Items range from a humble, smoke-belching Trabant mini-car in the former East German Army (NVA) version to a state limousine once used by the East German leader, Erich Honecker.There is also a Ukrainian-built Lada used by police: a far cry from the powerful Mercedes and BMW police cruisers used in western Germany.There are 75 cars and 90 motorcycles on the premises and experts reckon that the Brunners have gathered together the largest number of former Eastern Bloc vehicles in the whole of Germany. “And not only that, they are all in working order,” said Alex Brunner as he shows a visitor around.The vehicles are parked on a site which was once at the heart of communist East Germany’s defence system. The property was owned by the defence ministry and includes the nuclear bunker with walls up to 4.5m in thickness.The East German top brass hoped to survive an atomic war in this concrete labyrinth and to co-ordinate the deadly response. Today a tour of the bunker represents a nostalgic day out for those interested in recent history.Many of the cars stand in the former barracks area and Brunner opens the bonnet of a shiny black limousine manufactured by Russian carmaker Volga. The car has a blue warning light on the roof. “This one was used by the Stasi (the much-feared East German secret police),” he says.It seems the spies were often in a hurry since the original Russian engine was swapped for a more powerful V6 unit from a contemporary Volvo, explains Brunner, who has a day job working for a leading German carmaker.Many of the motor vehicles in Harnekop have their own special story to tell, some of them going back to the 1950s. A number of the cars were only made shortly before the Berlin Wall came tumbling down in 1989. Some Russian Ural-branded trucks are in virtually as-new condition.These huge load carriers boast a 7-litre engine and were made for the now-long-defunct NVA army.  “One of them has only covered 1,300km and the other has 11,000km on the clock. That’s nothing,” said Alex Brunner before stepping over to a Zil 157. The olive green truck appeared in the war film ‘Stalingrad’.Other vehicles at Harnekop have had roles in an German TV detective series or in popular feature films set in communist days.Brunner’s father Lothar used to buy up cars and lorries when he worked at a vehicle recycling plant in East Berlin. After Germany’s 1990 reunification, he began purchasing them privately and together with his wife Galina he expanded the collection regularly. The couple soon ran out of space in the crowded city and moved to the former barracks site in 2008 where they filled the sheds and workshops with eastern-bloc steel.Lothar died suddenly at the age of 61 and the family is now faced with the problem of what do with his automotive inheritance. Galina Brunner is determined to keep the vehicles together.  “After all, it’s not just any old collection, it’s our raison d’etre.”The Brunners would like to make the vehicles more accessible to the public since at the moment most of those who view them have actually come to see the bunker and stumble across the vehicle collection without expecting it.The family would like to see a genuine museum in Harnekop with an entry fee to help finance the upkeep of the exhibits. It might be possible to also found a “friends of” association, said Alex Brunner.Among the cars and lorries, a visitor from former East Berlin is fascinated by a row of elderly Volga limousines of a type that he remembers in use as taxis in the former communist half of the once-divided city.  “That must have been 25 years ago and suddenly you see one of them again,” said the visitor from the now trendy Friedrichshain part of town. Yes, these are rolling relics from East Germany, a state that simply stopped existing nearly a quarter of a century ago. — DPAInfiniti FX adds fun to practicalityBy G Chambers Williams IIIThe Infiniti FX is a rare bird in the premium crossover segment: It’s just as much fun to drive as it is practical for everyday family duties.One of the hallmarks of Infiniti from the start has been the brand’s BMW-like focus on the driving experience, and the five-passenger FX is a prime example.While crossovers generally are meant to be more carlike than the traditional truck-style SUVs they’ve mostly replaced, with the FX, Infiniti created a combination of SUV and sports car that offers a behind-the-wheel experience that’s completely unexpected in this class.Now in its second generation, the FX is offered in two versions: a V-6 and a V-8, each with the choice of rear- or all-wheel drive.For 2013, the V-6 model got a new engine and a slight name change: It’s now the FX37; before, it was the FX35. The name reflects the switch this year to a 325-hp 3.7-litre V-6 engine, replacing the 303-hp, 3.5-litre that was used in the previous model.The new engine has the same basic design as 3.5-litre; it’s just bored out to make it bigger and give it more horsepower. Torque is now 267 foot-pounds, up just slightly from last year’s 262.The V-8 version is the FX50, which packs a 390-horsepower, 5.0-litre V-8 under its stylish hood. It has 369 foot-pounds of torque.This is the crossover for those who enjoy performance as much as luxury, a quality that European automakers such as BMW and Jaguar have long been known for, but one that has mostly eluded the Japanese premium brands.Prices for 2013 range from $44,950 (in the US) for the entry FX37 RWD (rear-wheel drive) model, to $61,500 for the FX50, which comes only with all-wheel drive. In between are the FX37 AWD and the FX37 AWD Limited Edition.Besides the new V-6 engine, the 2013 FX also gets Infiniti’s next-generation Around View Monitor system, which now has Moving Objection Detection. It provides additional safety by giving the driver visual and audible warnings of moving objects around the vehicle as the FX begins moving. It’s standard on the FX50, and optional on FX37 as part of the Premium Package, which was included on our tester.Infiniti introduced the current FX generation for 2009, but made some styling changes and added some new technology just last year. Changes last year included a new grille and front fascia design, new dashboard lighting, and standard heated front seats on all models.The Limited Edition was added last year, as well, and comes with special features such as an exclusive Iridium Blue exterior colour; 21-inch, 10-spoke aluminum-alloy wheels; and a hard-drive navigation system with Infiniti’s nifty Around View Monitor.Also new last year were a Graphite Shadow exterior colour; a 20-inch wheel design for the FX37 Deluxe Touring Package, included on our tester; adaptive headlights in the FX50 Sport Package; and a move of the quilted-leather, climate-controlled front seats to the FX37 Deluxe Touring Package from the Premium Package.All FX models come with a smooth-shifting seven-speed automatic transmission. Included with the Limited Edition are steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters that allow for manual shifting (without a clutch).FX is one of three crossovers for Infiniti, the premium brand of Nissan. The entry model is the smaller EX35, which starts at $36,900.Just added to the lineup last year was the 2013 JX, which starts at $41,250. The EX and FX have seating for up to five, while the JX comes with a third row, and can handle seven people. The JX shares its architecture with the redesigned 2013 Nissan Pathfinder.Infiniti originally introduced the FX for 2003. It has an outward appearance similar to that of the Nissan Murano crossover, but the two are completely different vehicles. The Murano, also introduced for 2003 and redesigned for 2009, is built on Nissan’s front-wheel-drive “D” vehicle platform, which also is the basis of the Altima and Maxima sedans.The FX rides on the rear-drive chassis of the Infiniti G37 sedan. The only Nissan-branded vehicle that uses that architecture is the rear-drive 370Z sports car. The EX, which also is built on the G37 chassis, is aimed at women, while men are the target audience for the FX.Nissan says FX buyers typically are in their early to mid-40s, married, with household incomes of about $150,000 for the base model and $300,000-plus for the V-8 version.The V-6 engine has all the power anyone really needs, and it also offers the best fuel economy — 17 mpg city/24 highway with rear drive, and 16/22 with all-wheel drive.For the V-8, EPA ratings are 14 city/20 highway. One advantage is that with the V-8, the FX will tow a trailer weighing up to 3,500lbs; the V-6 is limited to 2,000 lbs, but only the all-wheel-drive model is rated for towing.Inside, the FX is luxurious without being ostentatious. Leather seats are standard on all models, with buckets up front and a three-person bench in the rear with a pull-down centre divider/armrest that turns it into a comfy two-passenger seat with plenty of legroom.The intelligent all-wheel-drive system is designed for all-weather driving and all road surfaces, wet or dry, but is not intended for serious off-road use.Optional high-tech safety features include intelligent brake assist, which provides forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking. It’s part of the Technology Package for the FX37, which also was added to our test vehicle.Also in the Technology Package are adaptive headlights, radar cruise control and a lane-departure warning and prevention system, designed to help keep the vehicle from drifting into adjacent lanes. When the system’s sensors detect the vehicle drifting out of its lane — by reading the lane markings on the road — it gives audible beeps, then gently begins to move the vehicle back in line.The Limited Edition’s price includes the items in the FX37 Premium Package, which brings the in-dash navigation system with a rear back-up camera, in addition to the Around View Monitor, which shows up on the navigation screen.Also are a two-position driver’s side memory for mirrors/seat/steering wheel; dual automatic tilt-down for the outside mirrors; a power tilt/telescopic steering column; upgraded leather; roof rails; XM NavTraffic and NavWeather; a 9.3GB Music Box hard drive; Bluetooth streaming audio; and front and rear parking assist.Our vehicle also had a heated 10-way power driver’s seat and eight-way power passenger seat, aluminum pedals, adaptive headlights, a Bose premium audio system with 11 speakers, and dual exhaust tips.The FX ride can be a bit harsh, which is a trade-off for the vehicle’s tight, responsive handling. Serious drivers will appreciate it on twisty country roads and when whipping through traffic; some passengers won’t.Standard was a power-operated rear hatch, a great convenience when loading or unloading cargo. The one-piece tailgate flips up to open, and it’s quite heavy to lift without help. Infiniti added the power hatch on all FX models during the 2011 production run.We wished the FX had included some storage spots up front for cell phones and iPods. You can put them in the two cupholders between the front seats, but then when you have drinks to put there, the electronic devices have no place to go.Other available options, not on our vehicle, include a rear-seat DVD entertainment system, with two screens in the backs of the front headrests; and a towing package. — Fort Worth Star-Telegram/MCT* Price and technical specifications may vary in locally available models.In a nutshellThe package: Midsize, four-door, five-passenger, V-6 or V-8 powered, rear- or all-wheel-drive premium crossover utility vehicle.Highlights: Now in its second generation, this is Infiniti’s top-end crossover offering, with lots of power, luxury, safety and (mostly optional) high-tech gadgetry. A new, more-powerful 3.7-litre V-6 engine has been added for 2013, changing the name of the base model to FX37.Negatives: Somewhat harsh ride; requires premium fuel, even for the V-6.Engines: 3.7-litre V-6; 5.0-litre V-8.Transmission: Seven-speed automatic.Power/torque: 325 horsepower/267 pound-feet (V-6); 390 hp/369 pound-feet (V-8).