German Car Scene

Month: April 2012

  • Harry Metcalfe drives the Pagani Zonda 760 RS for evo


    evo magazine’s founder and Editorial Director Harry Metcalfe recently visited Pagani to get his hands on the psychotic Zonda 760 RS. Propelled by a Mercedes-AMG V12 engine, the 760 RS unsurprisingly makes 567 kW (760 hp), which is delivered to the road via a sequential transmission, resulting in a 350 km/h (217 mph) top speed. McLaren F1 driver Lewis Hamilton is clearly a fan of Mercedes-powered vehicles, having ordered a 760 RS – with manual transmission – for when he wants to terrify Nicole Scherzinger.

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  • Volkswagen releases Polo R Line


    Volkswagen UK has launched the Polo R Line model, based on the Polo Match but fitted with the company’s sportier styling pack.

    The Polo’s body receives R Line front and rear bumpers, sill extensions, a high-gloss black radiator grille with R Line badge and 16-inch Mallory alloy wheels. Moving past the brushed aluminium scuff plates, the sports seats are trimmed in ‘Kyalami’ cloth, while the steering wheel is wrapped in leather. There’s also a set of aluminium pedals.

    Standard equipment includes a six-speaker sound system connected to a RCD 310 radio/CD unit with MP3 player connectivity, air conditioning, trip computer, electrically operated mirrors with heating function and a multifunction trip computer.

    Available with just the one engine option, a 77 kW (104 hp) 1.2-litre TSI unit, 100 km/h (62 mph) appears in 9.7 seconds while top speed is 190 km/h (118 mph). OTR prices start at £ 15,195 for the three-door model and £ 15,815 for the five-door version.

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  • Audi Sport quattro S1 Pikes Peak preparation


    As we told you last month, legendary racing driver Walter Rohrl will be returning to Colorado this July to relive his Pikes Peak success from 25 years ago. If that’s not enough, Mr Rohrl’s mode of transport will be the actual 441 kW (591 hp) Audi Sport quattro S1 that he piloted to victory on the day. Part of this iconic car’s preparation sees the Audi Sport Team’s Thomas Bauch and Frank Friedmann placing it in an altitude chamber to simulate the thinning air experienced at 4,000 metres. We’re really hoping that this is the first of many videos from Audi.

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  • evo video: Lamborghini Gallardo LP550-2 on ice


    evo magazine’s Jethro Bovingdon heads over to Inner Mongolia armed with Lamborghini’s rear-wheel drive Gallardo LP550-2 to see how it performs on a little snow and ice. Developing 405 kW (550 hp) from that glorious 5.2-litre V10, it won’t be hitting 100 km/h in 3.9 seconds on this occassion…

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  • Lorinser wide-body Mercedes-Benz ML-Class


    Waiblingen Mercedes-Benz tuning specialist Lorinser has unveiled its wide-body program for the current ML-Class (W166) SUV ahead of the official unveiling at Tuning World Bodensee fair this weekend.

    The aero package includes an aggressive front bumper with exorbitant air intakes, 30 mm arch extensions, side skirts and a rear apron with integrated diffuser. The ML’s ride height is reduce by 40 mm thanks to a set of sports springs or the addition of a lowering module for cars equipped with Airmatic suspension, while the new wheels are Lorinser’s RS9 light-alloy items, sized 10 x 22-inches and wrapped in 295/30/22 Yokohama tyres.

    Interior upgrades can range from a personalised set of floor mats right through to a completely reupholstered cockpit, while the company assures us that performance enhancements for the ML are currently being developed.

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  • Skoda Fabia S2000 vs Noble M600


    Autocar’s Steve Sutcliffe finds out whether the Noble’s 650 hp, rear-wheel drive M600 supercar can compete with a 265 hp, four-wheel drive Skoda Fabia S2000 rally car on the magazine’s handling course. The Noble is propelled by a twin-turbocharged 4.4-litre V8 engine, while its gravel-chomping counterpart uses a 2.0-litre 16 valve unit. Odd comparison, but there you go.

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