German Car Scene

Month: July 2011

  • Mercedes-Benz CLS by MEC Design


    Following on from its recent reworking of the SLS AMG, Berlin tuning house MEC Design has released images and information detailing its new program for the first generation of the Mercedes-Benz CLS (W219).

    The package focuses on giving the CLS a more aggressive look, this is achieved by way of a new front bumper with side slats and four LED lights, and rear bumper in a similar style – but wearing a carbon fibre diffuser. There’s also a pair of sill extensions, and spoilers for the boot lid and rear window. The whole body is finished in a matte black wrap, which seems to be de rigueur these days. MEC also supplies the 2010-spec grille and mirror covers.

    The company’s adjustable suspension allows the driver to choose their own ride height, while those monster mecxtremeIII 10.5×20-inch wheels have been painted to match the bodywork.

    Inside the car there’s a new steering wheel – wrapped in carbon and leather, and full set of tufted velour floor mats.

    [Source: MEC Design]

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  • Fully Restored 1973 Porsche 911 awaits its lucky new owner


    The guys from Porsche Club Service and Porsche Classic have saved a classic air cooled Porsche from the scrap heap and created a raffle prize in the process. The car, a 1973 US-spec 911 T Coupe was discovered in a “pitiful condition” – missing its windows and lights – but complete with bird’s nest, near Los Angeles before being shipped off home to the Porsche classic workshops in Stuttgart, where it had every single one of its 38 years wound back.

    Now, after almost a year of restoration work, the vintage narrow-bodied model is like new again, finished in silver with a black interior and powered by a 2.4L flat six, producing a modest – but glorious, 140 hp. And some lucky member of the Porsche Club of America will get their paws on it early next month, as it’ll be a raffle prize at the 2011 Porsche Parade. Wow.

    [Source: Porsche]

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  • Volkswagen extends Sharan Trendline engine range


    Volkswagen has just announced the addition of a new diesel engine to its basic Sharan model range. Buyers of the Trendline version of the MPV can now opt for a new 2.0L TDI engine.

    Coupled to a 6-speed manual gearbox, the 115 hp common rail TDI meets Euro 5 emissions regulations and returns 5.5L/100km (51 mpg). As you can imagine, performance isn’t exactly brisk, but with a 0 – 100 km/h (62 mph) time of 12.6 seconds and a top speed is 183 km/h (113 mph), it’s pretty respectable.

    Prices start at € 30,975.

    [Source: Volkswagen]

  • North America gets car2go all-electric carsharing fleet


    car2go announced today that San Diego will be the first city in North American city to enjoy its electric vehicle carsharing program. The operation will start before the end of this year with 300 smart fortwo electric drive vehicles set to hit the road.

    The smart fortwo “car2go edition” vehicles are the world’s first series-produced cars designed specifically to be used for car sharing. Each vehicle is fitted with a solar roof and an onboard computer with an easy-to-use touch screen with radio and GPS controls.

    [Source: smart]

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  • Romeo Ferraris MINI Countryman Cooper S


    Known for its racecar preparation as well as its road car tuning programs, Milan-based Romeo Ferraris has been making cars go faster since the 1960s. Its latest offering is a complete package for the new MINI Countryman Cooper S, designed to mark the 150th anniversary of Italy’s unification.

    An ECU remap, new intercooler, and exhaust with high-flow catalytic converter and WRC-style exhaust tips help to give the MINI 227 hp (up from 184). The chassis is also upgraded thanks to fully adjustable suspension, while the floating 328 mm front brake discs, from Brembo, are gripped by 4 piston calipers.

    External changes to the Countryman centre around matte blue paint with a contrasting chrome roof and twin stripes. The headlights are customised black with graphite frames. Graphite paintwork also finds its way onto the car’s side badges and centres of the three-piece OZ Racing Superleggera III wheels. The rims have been colour-coded with the bodywork.

    Inside, the seats have been trimmed in leather with blue piping, and have the Italian tricolour stitched into them. The company’s Sagittarius logo is also embroidered into the headrests.

    [Source: Romeo Ferraris]

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  • Second successive win for Audi on the Silvretta Electric Car Rally


    Audi has repeated last year’s victory on the recent Silvretta Electric Car Rally, by taking a second successive win on the event. Where as the 2010 rally was won by the company’s R8 e-tron, this year saw its baby brother, the A1 e-tron, take the top step of the podium. The rally, held in Austria’s Montafon region, lasted three days, and saw all 32 competitors cover a total of 307 kilometres.
    “The car ran flawlessly. We’re now looking forward to the 2012 rally. We already have a few ideas about the kind of concepts we’ll enter with, of course,” remarked Franciscus van Meel, Head of Audi’s Electromobility Strategy.

    The A1 e-tron is propelled by a 75 kW electric motor which draws power from a lithium-ion battery with a capacity of 12 kWh. The battery allows a range of 50 kilometres and can be completely charged in 30 minutes (quick charge), or in less than three hours (standard charge).

    [Source: Audi]