German Car Scene

Month: October 2011

  • Mercedes-Benz CLS 63 AMG and Nissan GT-R drift session


    New video from 0-60 magazine, featuring 1080 hp and eight tyres. That tortured rubber is attached to two very different cars: Nissan’s 530 hp GT-R and the Performance Pack-equipped 550 hp Mercedes-Benz CLS 63 AMG. (more…)

  • MINI Countryman guides Airbus A380 home


    A China Southern Airlines Airbus A380 landed at Guangzhou Baiyun Airport last Monday, marking the double-deck, wide-boded jet’s first commercial flight in China, and it was guided to safety by the MINI Countryman.

    Finished in special Chengming yellow paintwork with black checks, the trio of special MINI Countryman models are hard to miss. The addition of roof-mounted amber lights, sirens and the words “FOLLOW ME” emblazoned across its rear window also help pilots to pick out the popular crossover models, before being guided to the superjumbo’s designated parking bay.

    [MINI China]

    (more…)

  • MINI reveals special Crystal edition


    MINI has created a special edition Crystal model for the Japanese market. Named after the iconic cast-iron and glass Crystal Palace building in London, production will run until next August.

    Finished in High-Class Grey Metallic with a black roof, the body features ‘Crystal’ bonnet stripes and mirror caps. The wheels are ‘twin-blade’ 17-inch items.

    Crystal motifs adorn the sides of the sports seats, which are finished in Satellite Grey with Carbon Black elements and piping, as is the multi-function steering wheel. The lower dashboard section, door panels and floor mat edges are also finished in leather, however, owners can specify a completely covered dashboard as a ¥ 110,000 (€ 1,036) option.

    The Crystal is available in Cooper and Cooper S form from today, with prices ranging from ¥ 3,170,000 (€ 29,861) for the 6-speed manual Cooper and ¥ 3,300,000 (€ 31,086) for the 6-speed automatic, up to ¥ 3,510,000 (€ 33,064) for the manual Cooper S and ¥ 3,690,000 (€ 34759) for the auto.

    [Source: MINI Japan]

    (more…)

  • Lamborghini Aventador vs twin-turbocharged Ferrari 458


    This new video from Underground Racing sees the company’s twin-turbocharged Ferrari 458 Italia take on a stock Lamborghini Aventador. The Lamborghini’s 6.5 L V12 helps it to hit 100 km/h (0-62 mph) in just 2.9 seconds. Top speed is a pleasant 350 km/h (217 mph). Scarily, UR has just announced that a twin-turbocharged Aventador is on the way… (more…)

  • GRIP BMW M5 review


    Matthias Malmedie takes a look at the new BMW M5 for Germany’s GRIP show, before seeing how it stacks up against it’s V10-powered predecessor. Now propelled by a 560 bhp twin-turbocharged V8, the F10 model is no slouch; capable of hitting 100 km/h [62 mph] in just 4.4 seconds, while 200 km/h [124 mph] appears in 13.0 seconds. (more…)

  • Audi’s new A5 DTM joins 2012 contenders on track


    Audi’s Le Mans winning driver, Tom Kristensen, hit Hockenheim Circuit at the weekend, giving fans a glimpse of the new A5 DTM car ahead of next season.

    Joined by the new BMW M3 DTM and C-Class Coupé DTM car from Mercedes, Kristensen completed several laps of the Hockenheimring before and after the season finale, which saw Audi secure the 2011 team title.

    The A5 DTM is based on a state-of-the-art carbon-fibre monocoque, which features a high-strength steel tube cage. The outgoing A4 DTM’s V8 engine is retained for 2012, and remains largely unchanged, fitted with 28 mm air intake restrictors it develops 340 kW (460 HP). Gears are changed by steering wheel-mounted paddles via a pneumatically operated six-speed transmission.

    [Source: Audi Motorsport]

    (more…)