Month: June 2011

Merzig-based car tuner Kelleners Sport, has been tweaking the BMW Z4 sDrive35is, giving it an impressive upgrade from 335 to 400 bhp – the type of power that its looks deserve.

Sports springs drop the roadster closer to the ground (20 mm front/10 mm rear), while a choice of 19 or 20-inch wheels help to fill out those ample arches.

Inside the Z4, there’s a new three-spoke steering wheel, alloy pedals, velour mats and carbon trim pieces. For owners with deeper wallets, Kelleners boasts that its saddlery department can provide them with the interior of their dreams.

[Source: Kelleners Sport]

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The sumptuous Charles Hotel, in Munich, has taken delivery of two specially-ordered BMW Individual 7 Series models. Based on the 544 hp BMW 760Li, the Individual cars are finished in Ruby Black Metallic, while inside, occupants are treated to Full Merino leather upholstery in Platinum – with Mugello Red piping on the seats and head rests. The roof lining is finished in Alcantara.

In case the guests forget whose car they’re being chauffeured around in – the hotel’s logo has been embroidered into the car’s head rests, cushions, rear sun blind, and also finds its way onto the illuminated scuff plates and iDrive controls…

[Source: BMW Germany]

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Volkswagen has signed an agreement with the GAZ Group today which will lead to the assembly of Volkswagen and Škoda vehicles at the Nizhny Novgorod GAZ plant. The deal, running until 2019, will see an initial output of 110,000 units, beginning with Skoda’s Yeti, towards the end of next year. Production of the Octavia and Volkswagen Jetta will follow later.

GAZ has also announced plans to increase capacity at its Kaluga plant in anticipation of an expected boom in the Russian market.

[Source: Volkswagen]

Winterlingen-based tuner, Lumma Design, has been tweaking the latest Porsche Cayenne model. Based around the CLR 558 GT body kit, the modified SUV receives an aggressive front bumper and vented bonnet, rear bumper with a diffuser, and wide arch extensions, which house the new 10×22-inch wheels. A lowering module, suitable for cars with air suspension, is capable of bringing the Cayenne 40mm closer to the ground. The obligatory growl is provided by a new sports exhaust – complete with triple tailpipes reminiscent of the Ferrari 458’s.

[Source: Lumma Design]

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Volkswagen is dangling a special launch edition under the noses of potential Beetle owners – but only those taking part in its Vehicle Pre-Order program. The VPO program asks for a $495 reservation fee, which ultimately leads to the keys to a Beetle Black Turbo model. Limited to just 600 units, the Black Turbo is powered by a 200 hp 2.0L TSI engine, and will start at $24,950.

Externally, there’s a set of 18-inch alloy wheels, larger brakes – with red calipers, foglights, and a rear spoiler. Inside, there’s an additional “kaeferfach” glovebox – based on the original Beetle’s, alloy pedals and a RCD 310 sound system.

[Source: Volkswagen]

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Auto Express’s Owen Mildenhall has driven Porsche’s swansong to the 997 model range – the epic GT3 RS 4.0. Producing an astonishing 500 bhp from its naturally aspirated 4.0 unit, the GT3 RS 4.0 hits 60mph in just 3.8 seconds and devours the Nürburgring-Nordschleife in a rather splendid 7 minutes and 27 seconds. Just 600 examples will be created. (more…)