German Car Scene

Month: July 2011

  • OPEL LAUNCHES LPG INITIATIVE


    Opel is launching its new LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas) initiative, beginning with the Corsa 1.2 LPG ecoFLEX. Developing 61 kW/83 hp in LPG mode and 63 kW/85 hp in petrol mode, the Corsa is built by the OSV (Opel Special Vehicles GmbH), the subsidiary of Opel that specialises in vehicle modifications and special editions.

    The Meriva, Astra, Zafira Tourer and Insignia models will also be made available as LPG variant models at a later date, but will be powered by engines based on the 1.4-liter turbo petrol unit.

    [Source: Opel]

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  • STaSIS CHALLENGE EXTREME EDITION AUDI R8 V10: SIGHTS AND SOUNDS


    Who says Audis have no soul? MotorTrend’s Associate Editor Nate Martinez brings you proof that this 710 BHP supercharged, STaSIS Audi R8 5.2 Challenge Extreme Edition has a soul all it’s own… (more…)

  • MINI’S PRODRIVE ROLL CAGE PROMISES TO MAKE IT THE WRC’S SAFEST CAR


    Banbury-based motorsport legends Prodrive went back to the drawing board to come up with a new roll cage design for the MINI John Cooper Works WRC car. Incorporating new materials, weld geometry and manufacturing processes the most notable change is the new configuration for the side impact bars, which curve outward – away from the occupants. This not only helps to provide more cabin space, but the bend actually helps withstand higher impact forces than the straight bars usually used in cage construction.

    [Source: MINI Motorsport]

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  • BMW M3 DTM TURNS A WHEEL FOR THE FIRST TIME


    In readiness for the 2012 season, BMW’s M3 DTM racer completed its first roll-out at the company’s test track in Aschheim. The car itself will be presented to the media in the Olympic Stadium on the 15th of July along with the M3 DTM Concept car. Comprehensive testing will follow, before the cars are handed over to BMW Team RBM, BMW Team RMG and the BMW Team Schnitzer team.

    Trust us when we says we’ve begged every department at BMW for just one photo of the car, but the answer was always “You’ll have to wait!”

    So you’ll just have to look at the M3 GT2 instead.

    [Source: BMW Motorsport]

  • LAMBORGHINI AVENTADOR LP700-4 ‘QUALITY’ PROMO


    Here’s Lamborghini’s new ‘Quality’ promo featuring its monster Aventador LP700-4. Thanks to the car’s 700 hp V12 unit, the Aventador hits 100 km/h (0-62 mph) in just 2.9 seconds and has a top speed of 350 km/h (217 mph). But – as this video demonstrates – long before it rolled off the production line in Sant’Agata Bolognese, the Aventador was merely a sketch in a designer’s pad. (more…)

  • BMW E60 M5 DARK EDITION BY EDO COMPETITION


    Ahlen-based tuners edo competition have been working their (black) magic on the already-powerful E60 M5 Touring model to create the edo M5 Dark Edition.

    Thanks to an ECU tweak, sports air filter, new sports cats and a new exhaust system power is upped from 500 to 555 hp. This equates to a 0-100 km/h time of just 4.2 seconds and a top speed of 305 km/h (190 mph).

    Externally, the Touring receives revised front and rear bumpers, a new rear spoiler and chrome tailpipe trims. The new 20-inch wheels (that look like OZ Botticelli IIIs to us) wear colour-coded centres and Dunlop rubber. Inside, edo promises that it is able to re-trim the interior in any way to suit the customer’s wishes.

    [Source: edo competition]

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