German Car Scene

Month: July 2011

  • BRABUS E V12 CABRIOLET


    Known for producing insanely powerful vehicles from the Mercedes-Benz stable, Brabus has now focused its attention on the E-Class cabriolet, with this, the Brabus E V12 Cabriolet, being the result.

    With the company’s awesome V12 Biturbo sitting in its engine bay, the E-Class now produces 800 hp; enough to propel it to 63 mph in just in just 3.7 seconds before running out of steam at a jaw-dropping 231 mph!

    The unit itself is a heavily reworked version of the one found in the current S600 model, with Brabus enlarging the capacity to 6.3L, and adding its own biturbo system and four intercoolers. Transmission is a reinforced five-speed auto system.

    All body add-ons are created from carbon fibre, including the front apron and rear wing and diffuser. Replacement front wings and rear quarter flares extend the cabriolet’s track and help to house those new Brabus wheels (9.5×19 front, 10×19 rear), which in turn do their best to hide the new, uprated brakes featuring 6-piston calipers.

    The E V12 Cabriolet is built to order, and starts at… €478,000

    [Source: BRABUS]

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  • ‘BLACK PEARL’ GOLF R BY SIEMONEIT RACING


    Stade tuning specialist Siemoneit Racing has been working on Volkswagen’s Golf R model, giving it a huge hike in power, to create – what it calls – the ‘Black Pearl’. Even in standard form the R’s four cylinder TSI unit produces 265 hp, but thanks to ECU reprogramming, a new air intake, stainless steel exhaust and intercooler, Siemoneit takes the Golf into supercar territory by releasing 530 hp.

    If that’s not enough, the company also offers a tailored program for the car’s DSG transmission, altering such features as launch control, rev and torque limiter points, gear shift times and gear shift points to suite the driver’s preferences.

    There’s also a carbon fibre bonnet for the weight-conscious amongst us.

    [Source: Siemoneit Racing]

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  • RECORD SETTING RUN AT PIKES PEAK IN THE PORSCHE 911 GT2 RS


    Following on from his ‘Journey’ video, here’s seven-time Pikes Peak Champion Jeff Zwart beating his own 2010 record run by 10 seconds in the Porsche 911 GT2 RS. He also took the record for the fastest street-legal car to ever race at the legendary event. Producing over 600 BHP, the GT2 RS is the fastest and most powerful road-going sports car ever built in the history of Porsche; it’s capable of hitting 60 in 3.4 seconds, and boasts a top-track speed of 205 mph. (more…)

  • JAY LENO DRIVES A 1938 AND A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE


    While over in Europe, chat show host Jay Leno visited Wolfsburg to drive the oldest Beetle in existence – a 1938 model, and its brand new 2012 sibling. The 200 hp 2.0L turbo model he tests is cool, but that early version is something really special (more…)

  • SEAT IBIZA WINS SMALL CAR CATEGORY IN AUTO BILD’S LONG TERM TESTS


    Germany’s Auto Bild magazine has named the SEAT Ibiza as the best small car in its long-term tests. After covering 103,445 kilometres across Europe, the Ibiza’s repair bill came to just €4.58 – for a failed number plate light.

    The SEAT Ibiza 1.4 16V Sport scored an overall score of “1”, classing it as “highly recommended”, with the magazine remarking that it was still on its original set of discs and pads, and had used no oil at all. They also joked that the seats were still so fresh and firm after its marathon journey that people could be forgiven for thinking SEAT had sneaked in and replaced them.

    [Source: SEAT]

  • PORSCHE WORLD CUP: ON BOARD WITH SEAN EDWARDS


    Awesome video from the 911 of Sean Edwards at the recent Nurgburgring round of the Porsche World Cup. It’s not hard to see why Sean now leads both the Porsche Supercup and German Carrera Cup, but it is hard to believe that this is his first time racing at the circuit in those conditions. Amazing drive. (more…)