German Car Scene

Month: May 2012

  • Project Visio.M reveals Prototype MUTE


    BMW has released details of a joint research project, the Visio.M, which it is the lead manager of, working with scientists at Technische Universitaet Muenchen (TUM), along with leading figures from the automotive field, including such companies as Daimler AG, the Federal Highway Research Institute, Continental, E.ON, Siemens and Texas Instruments.

    The aim of the project, which has € 10.8 million of funding from the German Federal Ministry for Education and Research, is to overcome obstacles that may arise when mass manufacturing electric cars, ensuring that are they are efficient, safe, and inexpensive. Clearly, the majority of today’s electric vehicles have derived from petrol-powered models and are usually too cumbersome, requiring large and expensive batteries to propel them, and this needs to be addressed.

    Their vision for an environmentally-friendly mode of urban transport, which will meet the requirements of the European regulatory category L7e, is a vehicle with a power output of 15 kW and a maximum curb weight of 400 kg (minus battery).

    The prototype MUTE, developed by the TUM, will be used as a test carrier by the consortium participants to develop new technologies in relation to vehicle safety, propulsion and energy storage.

    [Source: BMW]

  • Friday eargasm: Heffner twin turbo Audi R8 V10


    We had to share this with you; Heffner Performance demonstrate its solution for those Audi R8 V10 owners who feel that their car is a little too pedestrian for their liking. Basically, the company’s program sees a pair of Garrett GT35R turbochargers bolted onto that glorious 5.2-litre unit, which results in a figure of 544 kW (730 hp), and a beautiful ten-cylinder symphony.

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  • Autocar’s long term test: BMW 1 Series M Coupe


    Autocar magazine’s Steve Sutcliffe explains the highs and lows of having a Valencia Orange BMW 1 Series M Coupe in his life for 14,000 miles. Powering the Baby M is a 246 kW (335 hp) biturbo 3.0-litre straight-six, which allows it to hit 100 km/h (62 mph) in 4.9 seconds, and 200 km/h in 17.3 s, while top speed is limited to 250 km/h (155 mph).

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  • Bentley Continental Audentia GTC by Imperium


    Edinburgh-based stylinghouse Imperium has revealed its program for Bentley’s Continental GTC model, named the Audentia – a Latin word for boldness and courage.

    Constructed from carbon fibre, the body package consists of a lower front bumper section with redesigned grille and air vents, vented side skirts, a boot lid spoiler and rear bumper apron with an integrated diffuser and apertures to accommodate those trapezoidal twin tailpipes.

    Inside, Imperium can provide you with a fully reupholstered cabin, using such materials as leather, ultra suede, carbon fibre and refined wood trim available to utilize. Other goodies include illuminated door sills, ambient LED lighting, aluminium foot pedals and bespoke floor mats.

    Performance upgrades include an ECU upgrade, performance exhaust system and an adjustable suspension kit.

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  • Porsche Boxster ‘True Spirit’ commercial


    Well known for cutting nostalgic footage into its promos and commercials, Porsche has once again delved into its archives to create this new TV advert for the latest Boxster (981). The story begins with Porsche’s still beautiful 356 model, which was the company’s primordial production automobile, before acknowledging its commendable motorsport pedigree, leading to the birth of the Boxster, its first specifically-design roadster since the 550 Spyder.

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  • KEM Racing Audi quattro in action


    Here’s some footage of the Keith Edwards Motors’ Audi in action at last month’s Isle of Man Manx Classic Hillclimb and Sprint Series. We remember this car starting out as a Dialynx-shortened quattro, but it’s gradually evolved into an even more extreme animal. Now wearing Pikes Peak bodywork and a new roof with that Sport quattro-esque screen, the last time we heard about it, it was pushing out around 800 hp. We’re just happy that companies such as KEM are keeping these cars alive.

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