German Car Scene

Month: January 2012

  • 4.2 TDI V8 tuning by MTM


    Wettstetten-based tuner MTM has developed a program for the 4.2 TDI V8 engine seen in Audi’s A8, Q7 and the Volkswagen Touareg.

    Developing an impressive 258 kW (350 hp) and 800 Nm (591 lb/ft) in standard form, MTM can fit its V-Cantronic – to the A8 only, which disables the car’s speed limiter, meaning a new top speed of 282 km/h (175 mph). That will set you back € 1,400.

    For € 1,800, MTM will remap your existing engine management system, resulting in 306 kW (410 hp) and a whopping 930 Nm (686 lb/ft) of torque. Alternatively, you could opt for MTM’s M-Cantronic device. Achieving the same performance figures as a remap, but for € 100 less, the M-Cantronic is much more refined than chip tuning; tapping the RPM signal from the CANbus to recalculate parameters of the engine´s characteristic diagram before specifying and applying new figures for fuel and boost pressure. For € 2,700, A8 owners can enjoy both the V-Cantronic and M-Cantronic.

    MTM can also provide you with wheel, brake, exhaust and chassis upgrades for the A8, Q7 and the Touareg.

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  • Volkswagen Beetle by JE Design


    Leingarten tuning specialist JE Design has released a range of options for the 2012 Volkswagen Beetle.

    Visually, the Beetle receives a rear bumper diffuser insert for € 476, which features openings for the twin double 90 mm tailpipes attached to JE Design’s € 952 rear silencer. The sixteen-spoke alloy wheels are sized 8 x 19-inches and available in four different finishes: matt black or matt graphite with a matt silver lip, shadow silver, or high-gloss black with a shiny silver lip and start at € 2,810 a set. The € 219 spring kit drops the Bug by around 35 mm.

    An engine upgrade is also available for the Beetle Sport’s 2.0 TFSI powerplant. Developing 147 kW (200 hp) and 280 Nm (207 lb/ft) in standard form, JE installs its additional control unit, which results in 176 kW (240 hp) and 310 Nm (229 lb/ft), enough to cut the 0-100 km/h (62 mph) time from 7.5 seconds to 6.9 s and increase top speed from 223 km/h (138 mph) to 230 km/h (143 mph). That particular conversion will set you back € 1,280.

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  • evo drives the Lamborghini Gallardo Super Trofeo Stradale


    Roger Green recently got his hands on Lamborghini’s LP570-4 Super Trofeo Stradale for evo magazine. At 1340 kg , the hardcore version of its racing car from the single-make series is 70 kg down on the regular LP 570-4 and can hit 100 km/h (62 mph) in a mere 3.4 seconds before reaching a top speed of 320 Km/h (198 mph). Just 150 examples of the winged wonder will be built at a price of € 189,100 plus taxes, but that rises when options such as ceramic brakes and a roll cage are added.

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  • Five-door Skoda Citigo heading to Geneva


    Skoda has announced that a five-door version of its baby Citigo model will make its world début at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show next month.

    Based on Volkswagen’s up!, the Citigo will appear in European dealerships along with its three-door counterpart from mid-May 2012 and will initially be available with a choice of 1.0 L three-cylinder petrol engines in 44 kw (60 hp) and 55 kw (75 hp) guise returning an impressive 4.2 l/km and 4.3 l/km respectively.

    [Source: Skoda]

  • Castrol EDGE BMW M3 DTM unveiled


    BMW has revealed one of its six M3 racers ahead of the company’s return to DTM this year. The BMW M3 DTM will be wearing Castrol EDGE and Aral livery, marking an extension of the long-term partnership between BMW Motorsport and Castrol, and Aral Ultimate as partner of BMW Motorsport in the Championship. Since 2005, DTM cars have been using Aral Ultimate high-performance fuel.

    “The DTM is one of the most spectacular racing series worldwide and pushes the drivers, teams and cars to the very limit. It is because of these high-performance demands that we research and develop our products through the extremes of motorsport,” said Castrol’s Michael Hansen.

    [Source: BMW Motorsport]

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  • BMW Z8 by Senner Tuning


    The Ingelheim am Rhein-based tuning company Senner Tuning has been tuning BMW’s ultra-rare – and still expensive Z8 Roadster.

    The program sees Senner add a sports air filter, along with stainless steel manifolds and a full exhaust system, which sees the 4.9 L, 32-valve V8 produce 337 kW (452 hp) and 535 Nm torque (395 lb/ft) of torque – up from 300 kW (402 hp) and 500 Nm (370 lb/ft). The 9 x 19- and 10 x 19 inch wheels are Work Schwert SC1 items with and anodized silver faces, Diamond Black edges and chrome rims, while behind them lies an adjustable KW Variant 2 inox-line coilover suspension kit. Senner also tightened things up with a front strut brace.

    The conversion will set you back € 18,900.00.

    [Source: Senner Tuning]

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