German Car Scene

Month: April 2012

  • Opel Insignia OPC by MR Car Design


    Erftstadt-based styling company MR Car Design has once again joined forces with its tuning division, Reil Performance, to create their latest project based on Opel’s Insignia OPC.

    Visually, the Insignia wears a set of Oxigin alloy wheels, measuring a considerable 8.5 and 9.5 x 20-inches, while the ride height is taken to ground level thanks to an adjustable G-Ride air suspension system, which helps to keep those monthly sump replacement bills to a minimum…

    Already producing an impressive 239 kW (325 hp) and 400 Nm (295 lb/ft) of torque from its turbocharged 2.8-litre V6 engine, Reil Performance optimizes the car’s software, adds a sports air filter and exhaust system with racing cat, resulting in 280 kW (375 hp) and 495 Nm (365 lb/ft).

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  • Volkswagen Polo GTI by Superchips


    Volkswagen Racing UK’s official tuning partner Superchips has announced an ECU remap for the current Polo GTI.

    Equipped with the company’s turbocharged and supercharged 1.4 TSI petrol engine, the Polo GTI has 132 kW (177 hp) and 250 Nm (184 lb/ft) of torque to play with in factory form, but Superchips’ tweak sees an improvement of 20 kW (27 hp) and 35 Nm (26 lb/ft) from the twincharge unit.

    The conversion is available immediately from any Superchips performance centre at a price £ 455 (€ 552) fitted.

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  • 2013 Porsche Cayenne GTS


    Porsche has revealed its latest version of the mighty Cayenne GTS ahead of its official début in Beijing later this month.

    Visually, the GTS now wears the hood and front fascia from the Cayenne Turbo, Bi-Xenon headlights, wide side skirts and wheel arches and a roof spoiler with fixed bi-plane wing profile, while the window surrounds and trim are finished in high-gloss black paintwork. Other defining features include 20-inch RS Spyder wheels and matte black tailpipes. Two new colours, Peridot Metallic and Carmine Red, have been made available for the GTS.

    Moving inside, the cabin is upholstered in a mixture of leather and Alcantara, with standard equipment including eight-way adjustable sports seats and a SportDesign steering wheel with flappy paddle gear changers operating that eight-speed Tiptronic S transmission.

    Power comes courtesy of a reworked 4.8-litre V8 engine, which develops 309 kW (420 hp) – 15 kW (20 hp) up on its predecessor, allowing a 0-100 km/h time of just 5.7 seconds, 0-160 km/h (100 mph) in 13.3 s and a top speed of 261 km/h (162 mph). An auto start/stop function helps the GTS to consume a respectable 26.4 mpg (10.7 l/100 km).

    Due to hit European showroom this July, prices will start at € 90,774, while buyers in the States will have to pay $ 83,025 when it goes in sale in August.

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  • ABT Sportsline Volkswagen T5


    Kempten tuning specialist ABT Sportsline GmbH has revealed a range of options for Volkswagen’s popular T5 Multivan.

    Owners of the 150 kW (204 hp) 2.0 TSI model can upgrade their van to produce 176 kW (237 hp) and 400 Nm (295 lb/ft) of torque, allowing it to crack 100 km/h (62 mph) in just 9.4 seconds. Diesel fans are well catered for, with the 62 kW (83 hp) 2.0 TDI jumping to 81 kW (108 hp) and the 75 kW (101 hp) version rising to 96 kW (128 hp). Finally, the 103 kW (138 hp) model is able to produce 125 kW (168 hp) and 400 Nm (295 lb/ft) of torque after receiving ABT’s Powerkit. There’s also a new exhaust system with twin double tailpipes.

    Visually, the company’s suspension spring kit improves handling while dropping the ride height, while those gunmetal DR rims are 19-inch in diameter. Body add-ons include a grille, front spoiler, side and rear skirts and a rear wing.

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  • Audi A1 Sportback review


    Mat Watson takes to the road in Audi’s new A1 Sportback model for CarBuyer, the sister title of Auto Express magazine. We’ve seen a few around and feel that the two extra doors don’t denigrate the A1’s styling too much, and the fact that it’s capable of transporting five people around in comfort and offers a further 11 cm of headroom, really help to open it up to a whole new market.

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  • Volkswagen summer wheels collection


    Volkswagen has released a new range of alloys for summer 2012, offering complete wheel and tyre packages for several of its models.

    Options begin with the ‘Upsilon’ for the company’s new up! model, which are in a seven-double-spoke style and wrapped in 185/50 R16 ContiPremiumContact 2s. These are followed by the 18-inch ‘Preston’ wheels multi-spoke wheels, which have been designed for the Jetta and Golf. Finished in the same black/silver scheme as the ‘Upsilon’, they are fitted with 225/40 R18 Pirelli P7 Cinturatos.

    The final two Brilliant Silver designs are suitable for the Eos and Passat models: the 17-inch ‘Newport’ wheels with alternating inwardly curved spokes, wrapped in Pirelli P7 Cinturato 235/45 R17 tyres and larger 18-inch ‘Milagro’ alloys. The five-double-spoke layout makes these our personal favourite, and we’re also fans of the high-performance Dunlop SP SportMaxx RT tyres, which are sized 235/40 R18.

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