Month: June 2011

Donzdorf tuning specialists Hofele Design has created a cosmetic and performance upgrade package for the latest Volkswagen Touareg. Externally, arch extensions are added, along with a new Hofele Bear-badged front grille, while at the back there’s a direct replacement rear apron. A range of wheels between 20 and 22-inch are available, and owners with air suspension can choose the electric lowering module, which takes the touareg 40 mm closer to the ground.

Engine tuning for the 3.0L TDI model involves a little ECU tweaking, which results in a 35 PS upgrade to 275 PS (271 hp), meaning the sprint to 100 km/h takes just 6.9 sec. Top speed is 229 km/h.

[Source: Hofele-Design]

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Koblenz-based Wetterauer Engineering has been tweaking MINI’s Countryman model in an ongoing project. Specializing in chip tuning, one of the first modifications to the Cooper S ALL4 was an upgrade resulting in 215 HP. Performance-wise there’s also a BMC carbon air box and sports exhaust with racing cat. The Countryman is dropped thanks to H&R springs, while ATS provides those 18-inch ‘Precision’ alloys.

Externally, a wrap was applied – mainly in matte brown – with elements, such as the roof, wing vents, sills and lower bumper lips finished in carbon. The carbon theme continues inside, cladding those four Cobra bucket seats. And if that’s not enough, there’s always the multimedia dock for your iPad – perfect for checking out GermanCarScene…

[Source: Wetterauer]

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Opel’s HydroGen4 has just hit the 2,000.000 mile mark, making it the most travelled fuel cell car fleet in the world. The HydroGen4 has a fuel cell with an output of 93 kW. The hybrid powertrain also contains a nickel-metal-hydride battery producing 1.8 kWh/35 kW and a three-phase synchronous motor with 73 kW continuous power and 320 Nm of torque.

The demo vehicle, which was jointly developed by GM and Opel, has been in service since 2009, used by Europe’s largest roadside assistance organization, ADAC.

[Source: Opel]

Audi has just released this trailer featuring its pornographic R8 GT Spyder. Powered by the company’s glorious 560 hp 5.2L V10 engine, the Spyder is obviously brisk; with a 0-100 km/h (62 mph) time of just 3.8 seconds and a top speed of 317 km/h (197 mph), it’s more of a weapon than a car. As with the coupé model, the GT Spyder will be limited to just 333 units, with a base price of €207,800. (more…)

Styling specialist JMS has created a new styling package for the current Audi A4 models in both standard and S-Line spec. A front lip for either car will set you back €239, as will the rear apron, while a stainless steel exhaust system for the S-Line costs €1740. A stainless steel silencer system, with quad tailpipes, is available for the basic model at €849.

H&R lowering springs drop the Audi 40 mm closer to the road, and a change of wheels completes the program, with a choice of 19-inch Barracuda T6 rollers, or the (much easier on the eye…) 3-piece 20-inch OZ Botticelli III items.

[Source: JMS]

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Synonymous with extracting additional power and performance from BMW cars, AC Schnitzer has produced a MINI – capable of embarrassing many a supercar.

Taking a MINI John Cooper Works as a base vehicle, the technicians at Aachen not only turned its wick up to 260 HP, but also adopted the ‘less is more’ philosophy by erasing an astonishing 80 kg from the car’s weight, to create the AC Schnitzer Eagle.

The result is a little MINI that can lap the Sport Auto-H&R Tuner GP, hosted at Hockenheim Circuit, in just 1:13.341 min. To put that into perspective, that’s faster than an Audi RS 4 (1:15,4 min), BMW M3 (1:14,3 min), Porsche 911 Carerra S (1:14,3 min), and even the Ferrari California (1:13,5 min).

AC Schnitzer value the Eagle at €62,000.00, but, sadly it’s not available to buy as it’s nothing more than a development test vehicle.

[Source: AC Schnitzer]

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