German Car Scene

Month: July 2012

  • smart BRABUS 10th anniversary


    To mark a decade of collaboration between smart and renowned tuning specialist BRABUS, the two companies have joined forces one again to create the imaginatively entitled smart BRABUS 10th anniversary model.

    All the bodywork, including the tridion safety cell, front grille frame, mirror casings, BRABUS front spoiler and side skirts are painted liquid silver, while the headlamps are titanium-coloured and the funky BRABUS Monoblock VII alloy wheels finished in matt grey. Other elements to the comfort and light package include LED daytime driving lights, electric power steering and heated seats. Inside, the black leather seats are embossed with the car’s name, with exclusive red contrasting components and an exclusive (xx/100) plaque highlighting the anniversary’s rarity.

    Just one hundred examples of the anniversary will be built, with power coming from the 75 kW (102 hp) turbocharged engine mated to a sport transmission, allowing a 0-100 km/h time of 8.9 seconds and a 155 km/h (96 mph).
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  • Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee: Larry David


    In this first ever episode of Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee, Jerry picks up long-time friend and collaborator Larry David in his beautiful, 1952 split window Volkswagen Beetle. There’s also a little history lesson for the Curb Your Enthusiasm star when they pull alongside a Bugatti Veyron. As you can imagine, he’s not really that interested…
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  • ABT AS1 Sportback


    Kempten-based VAG tuning specialist ABT Sportsline has released details of its AS1 program for Audi’s A1 Sportback model.

    Visually, the five-door hatchback wears a carbon fibre front lip, hideous fender vents, subtle side skirts and an aggressive rear diffuser section with an aperture to accommodate the new, centrally-mounted twin tailpipes. ABT also offers a range of alloys wheels, including these 18-inch DR items.

    Apart from a performance exhaust system, the company’s Power Kit caters for most models in the A1 range, for example the 185 hp (136 kW) 1.4 TFSI version can be tweaked to produce 210 hp (154 kW), with the less powerful 122 hp (90 kW) model enjoying a lift to 160 hp (118 kW) and even the basic 86 hp (63 kW) 1.2 TFSI being persuaded to make 110 hp (81 kW). Diesel fans aren’t ignored either, with the 105 hp (77 kW) 1.6 TDI jumping to 125 hp (91 kW) and the brawnier 2.0 TDI churning out 170 hp (125 kW) rather than the factory car’s 143 hp (105 kW).
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  • 1,000th Lamborghini Aventador built


    A milestone moment took place today at Lamborghini’s Sant’ Agata Bolognese factory when the 1,000th Aventador rolled off its production line.

    Lamborghini’s dashing President and CEO, Stephan Winkelmann, was in attendance to hand over the keys to this historic Argos Orange vehicle to its brand new owner, Bavarian architect Hans Scheidecker. Initially constructing three units a day in Q3 2011, production has sped up to meet demand, with the Audi-owned company now building 4.5 a day, meaning the Aventador has reach this point almost twice as fast as its Murciélago counterpart did.

    Propelled by a 6.5-litre V12, which develops 515 kW (700 hp) and 690 Nm (510 lb/ft), the Aventador sprints to 100 km/h (0-62 mph) in a mere 2.9 seconds, and onto a top speed of 350 km/h (217 mph).
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  • Switzer F900 Porsche 911 Turbo


    Ohio-based Porsche tuning specialist Switzer Performance has released details of its latest piece of work, the F900.

    The 671 kW (900 hp) F900 was built to satisfy the needs of a Canadian customer who had previously owned one of the company’s 746 kW (1000 hp) Switzer Sledgehammer, a car best known for running 9-second passes and a standing mile top speed approaching 200 mph. This time, he wanted a “flex-fuel fire-breather,” a heavyweight machine that combined the characteristics of Switzer’s pump gas P800 package with the R911 race car that consumed 109 octane race-fuel and its Ethanol-burning E900 Nissan project car.

    “He didn’t want a race-gas package or a street gas package or an E85 package. He wanted a car that he could throw anything at. A real, usable, daily-drivable street machine that, at a moment’s notice, could pull up to an E85 station and rip off a pass in the low 10s. Or 9s, ideally,” explains Tym Switzer.

    Modifications to the 997 Turbo include the addition of voluminous intercoolers, a CNC-machined y-pipe intake, a pair of upgraded Switzer turbochargers, sport exhaust system and additional engine sensors operated by a stand-alone ECU, adjusting the timing and injection in accordance with the fuel being used at that time.
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  • Porsche 918 Spyder spied at the Nurburgring [video]


    This short clip featuring Porsche’s forthcoming 918 Spyder has just dropped into our lap.

    Sadly, it’s only a few seconds long, but it’s incredibly clear, and looks to be in a much more advanced stage of development than when Harry Metcalfe had a look around it. It sounds fantastic and we’re also loving the Martini Racing livery and the fact that Walter Röhrl is behind the wheel.

    At the heart of this carbon fibre machine is a 425 kW (570 hp) 4.6-litre V8 engine, which is complemented by a 90 kW (121 hp) electric motor on the rear along with a 80 kW (107 hp) unit driving the front wheels.
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