German Car Scene

Month: March 2012

  • MINI Rauno Aaltonen


    There’s a Y in the day, so that usually means that BMW has another special edition MINI ready to be unleashed onto the unsuspecting public. And here it is, the MINI Rauno Aaltonen.

    Named after the 1967 Monte Carlo Rally winner Rauno Aaltonen, this special version can be specified in both Cooper and Cooper S guise but is only available with Chili Red paintwork. Visually, the MINI Rauno Aaltonen wears a white air intake, with matching stripes on the front and rear. This theme continues down the flanks and side scuttles, blending into chequerboard decals, while the 17-inch ‘Infinite Stream Spoke’ wheels and twin spot lights complete the exterior.

    The interior gets a specially badged leather-trimmed steering wheel, while the speedometer features a red outer ring and image of the original Flying Finn’s signature. A nice touch – included in the price of the Cooper S – is a day learning to drive on ice at the rally school owned by Rauno and his son Tino Aaltonen.

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  • Bugatti Veyron picks up another ticket


    No matter how many times we see a Bugatti Veyron, it never ceases to amaze us just how much attention it grabs. Whilst stopping off for a coffee we spotted this example in the UK. The owner clearly has deep pockets, but judging by the amount of times that we’ve seen it in the British press – picking up a parking ticket – we’re guessing that he could have spent the fine money on a second Bug! The traffic warden was obviously a car nut, explaining the history behind the Veyron’s development to the elderly couple – as he wrote out another ticket for the Porsche 911 behind it.

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  • Audi R18 e-tron quattro testing at Sebring


    After recently destroying the competition at Sebring, Audi stayed there to tests its new R18 e-tron quattro and ultra Le Mans weapons. DRIVE’s Leo Parente was in attendance to observe and talk with the people behind its development, including Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich, Ulrich Baretsky and Allan McNish.

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  • Friday eargasm


    20-year old supercar fanatic Jorrik Aben is regularly uploading automotive pornography for our delectation, and today is no different. While attending a Gumball promotional event at Zandvoort circuit he filmed a little track action, managing to capture a test session with Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3 and Porsche 911 GT3 Cup racers.

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  • 2013 Mercedes-Benz GLK revealed


    Mercedes-Benz has revealed its freshened-up version of the GLK compact SUV ahead of its début in New York next month.

    Not too dissimilar to its predecessor, the 2013 GLK features a slightly softer set of curves along with the now-familiar two-slat radiator grille, restyled bumpers with the front wearing a new underride guard and LED daytime driving lights. The revised headlights and tail lights also feature LED technology, as does the license plate lamp. For the first time, an aerodynamically optimised 17-inch alloy wheel is available, with newly-designed 19- and 20-inch wheels also on offer in a range of colours or a high-sheen finish. The AMG Exterior Sports package consists of sportier front and rear aprons, chrome radiator grille, 19-inch 5-spoke alloy wheels, sports suspension and exclusive AMG LED daytime driving lights.

    Inside, there’s LED ambient lighting, sports seats coated in black ARTICO leather – or real black leather as an upgrade, multifunction steering wheel in nappa leather, aluminium or optional wood trim, SLS AMG-esque vents and stainless steel pedals, while cars with the 7G-TRONIC automatic transmission, which is standard on all 4MATIC models, get a steering column-mounted DIRECT SELECT lever. Notable features include the COMAND Online multimedia system which can be specified with a TV tuner for digital TV reception, Active Parking Assist and a 360° camera.

    Prices start at € 36,235 for the GLK 200 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY, which develops 105 kW (143 hp) and 350 Nm of torque, right up to € 50,099 for the GLK 350 4MATIC BlueEFFICIENCY, which produces 225 kW (306 hp) and 370 Nm. The GLK 250 BlueTEC 4MATIC impresses us; touted as the most powerful four-cylinder diesel engine in the SUV world, it churns out 150 kW (204 hp) and 500 Nm from its relatively humble 2.1-litre unit, at a price of € 46,142.

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  • Motor Trend rides in the Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse


    Today’s episode of Motor Trend’s Wide Open Throttle series sees John Carey heading to South Africa to hitch a ride in the world’s fastest roadster – Bugatti’s mental Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse. Using the same enlarged turbochargers and intercoolers as the Super Sport, output rises from 746 kW (1,001 hp) and 1,250 Nm (922 lb/ft) to 895 kW (1,200 hp) and 1,500 Nm (1,106 lb/ft). Seriously.

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