German Car Scene

Month: June 2011

  • MINI COUPÉ OFFICIALLY REVEALED, STARTING AT €18,845


    After endless teaser shots, MINI has finally unveiled its Coupé. The latest in a constantly-expanding range of MINI models, the Coupé is the first “three-box” and two-seater version of the gang.

    Models and powerplants begin with the 122 hp MINI Cooper Coupé, priced in the UK at £16,640 (€18,845), and the 184 hp Cooper S Coupé at £19,775 (€21895), right up to £23,795 (€26,948) for the 211 hp, 149 mph JCW version. There’s also a 143 hp Cooper SD for the diesel fans, with an OTR price of £20,510 (€23,228).

    The Coupé’s A-pillars and windscreen are sharply raked by 13 degrees compared to the current MINI Hatch, which results in a smaller frontal area that gives the Coupé excellent aerodynamic properties, and an extremely distinctive appearance.

    [Source: MINI]

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  • WORLD DRIFTING RECORD SMASHED AT MERCEDES-BENZ WORLD


    Mercedes-Benz test driver, Mauro Calo, has slid his way into the Guinness Book of World Records after keeping his 457 hp C 63 AMG sideways for almost eight laps of the Handling Circuit at Mercedes-Benz World in England. Calo’s distance of 1.43 miles, achieved on June 19, eclipses the previous record, held by Vaughn Gittin Jr., by around one-quarter of a mile. (more…)

  • AUTO BILD: CABRIOLET COMPARISON


    After a break of nine years, the newly-reintroduced Golf Cabriolet from Volkswagen has thrown its hat into the ring. Germany’s Auto Bild sees if it was worth the wait, and how it compares to competition in the form of BMW’s 1 Series and the Peugeot 308. (more…)

  • DTM LAUSITZRING: TOMCZYK TAKES THE WIN


    Audi Sport Team Phoenix driver Martin Tomczyk took his second consecutive win at the Lausitzring in this weekend’s DTM round, and snatched the championship lead from Mercedes driver Bruno Spengler while he was at it. Fellow Audi driver Timo Scheider finished second, while Spengler took the third step of the podium.

    Tomczyk had been in third during the early stages, but outbraked the Mercedes of Jamie Green to grab second place on lap three. Running two laps further than Spengler on his opening stint and a speedier maiden stop helped Tomczyk to secure Audi’s first win at Lausitz since 2005.

    [Source: Mercedes-Benz]

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  • PRIOR DESIGN LAMBORGHINI GALLARDO


    German styling house Prior Design has revealed its new program for the Lamborghini Gallardo. Manufactured from FRP (Fiber reinforced plastic) package is upto Prior’s usual quality standards, but if we’re honest, we’re not keen on kits that turn stunning supercars into wannabes, and this is one such case. The replacement bumpers look like the result of a drunken one night stand between an Aventador and Reventón. We like the sill extensions though.

    [Source: Prior Design]

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  • MOTORWEEK REVIEW: LAMBORGHINI GALLARDO SUPERLEGGERA


    John Davis takes a look at Lamborghini’s Gallardo Superleggera for long-running American car show, MotorWeek. With a 10 bhp gain on the Gallardo LP 560-4, and a 70 kilograms (154 lb) weight loss, the Superleggera takes care of the 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) dash in just 3.4 seconds before running out of steam at 325 km/h (202 mph).Nice. (more…)