German Car Scene

Month: January 2013

  • Volkswagen Polo R WRC impresses in Monte Carlo

    Volkswagen Polo R WRC - Rally Monte Carlo 2013
    It wasn’t quite the perfect debut for Volkswagen’s new Polo R WRC car, but it wasn’t far off.

    After worsening weather forced the rally to be cancelled with two stages to go, Sébastien Ogier had to settle for the second step of the podium, finishing behind the Citroën of fellow Frenchman Sébastien Loeb, who was celebrating his seventh Monte Carlo victory. Now driving for Citroën, ex-MINI pilot Dani Sordo rounded off the top three, while Ogier’s Finnish team-mate Jari-Matti Latvala was looking good for a top five place, but the extreme conditions caught him out, along with a few others. The slush and large ice pieces at the legendary Col de Turini saw Latvala and co-driver Miikka Anttila sliding out of the rally and into retirement on special stage 14.

    Impressively, the #8 car of Sébastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia posted the fastest time on the first special stage, Moulinon – the longest in the event at 37.1 kilometres. They repeated the feat on the fifth special stage, La Batie D’Andaure, and completed top-three times in 14 of the 16 special stages.

    “I never was as happy about a second place as I was today. To reach the podium in our debut with the Polo R WRC is just great. These were probably the most difficult conditions in a Rally Monte Carlo I have ever experienced. It was just about keeping the car on the road. The entire team worked very hard during the last year, and I am happy to give something back to them,” said an upbeat Sébastien Ogier.
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  • China gets Audi R8 Limited Edition

    1_r8_ltd_ed
    Audi has announced details of another special R8 model for the Chinese market which will be limited to just 30 examples, named the R8 Limited Edition.

    Finished in exclusive Cool Nordic Gold paintwork, the car is based on Audi’s previous generation R8 and features a matte black radiator grille with matte titanium grey frame, along with other components the R8 GT model, including both bumpers as well as the front flics, enlarged diffuser, fixed rear wing and mirror casings in matte carbon fibre. A set of titanium-look 19-inch wheels in a five twin-spoke ‘Y’ design complete the exterior.

    Moving inside, there are carbon fibre door pulls and black Alcantara trim on the sports bucket seat and headlining, while the knee pad is covered in black shark skin. Body coloured sections adorn the door panels and centre console inlays, with the finishing touch being an aluminium gearknob bearing the car’s unique serial number from 1 up to 33 – without 4, 14 and 24.

    Sadly it doesn’t share the GT’s powerplant, but does have 386 kW (518 hp) and 530 Nm of torque at its disposal thanks the V10 5.2 FSI, which is mated to an R tronic gearbox and good for a 3.9 second 0-100 km/h time.

    Pricing starts at ¥2,628,000 (€317,435).
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  • Brabus B50-500 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe

    Brabus B50-500 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe
    Brabus, the Bottrop-based Mercedes-Benz tuner has been tuning the often-overlooked E-Class Coupe.

    Using the E 500 as a base, Brabus fits a its B50-500 tuning kit, which utilizes an auxiliary control unit to remap the car’s injection, ignition and boost pressure. A new exhaust system and large water-cooled intercooler were also added. Those changes see output from the 4.7-litre V8 bi-turbo engine rise from 300 kW (408 hp) and 600 Nm of torque to 368 kW (500 hp) and 720 Nm, meaning 100 km/h appears in just 4.3 seconds, 200 km/h in 13.3s and top speed is now limited to 300 km/h (186 mph).

    Further components include a front fascia with integrated LED daytime running lights, side skirts, a boot lid spoiler and rear bumper apron with diffuser section. Brabus provide a generous range of alloy wheels, including the Monoblock VI, Q, R S and the F items, which are pictured here sized 8.5 and 9.5 x 19-inches.

    Inside, the company can offer anything from a set of floor mats to a fully reupholstered cabin using materials such as leather, Alcantara, carbon fibre and finest woods.
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  • Opel Astra GTC by JMS Tuning

    Opel Astra GTC by JMS Tuning
    Walddorfhäslach aftermarket specialist JMS Tuning has released details of what it can provide for owners of the Opel Astra GTC.

    For now, the only bodywork addition is a Racelook front spoiler with integrated diffuser for €249, with further components currently being developed. JMS can also supply a KW Variant 1 inox-line coilover suspension kit for €999, which allows a drop in ride height of 50 mm at the front and 40 mm at the rear.

    Finally, a wheel and tyre package consisting of 20-inch Schmidt Gotham Shadow Green alloys wrapped in 245/35 series tyres can be had for €2,799.
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  • Audi S6 by SKN Tuning

    SKN Tuning Audi S6
    Salzhemmendorf-based SKN Tuning GmbH has created a range of products to bulk up Audi’s brilliant S6 model.

    The company offers various performance upgrades, beginning with Stage One, which is an ECU software tweak that results in 399 kW (542 hp) and 687 Nm of torque from the twin-turbocharged 4.0 TFSI V8, up from 309 kW (420 hp) and 550 Nm. Next, Stage Two sees the inclusion of a new exhaust system with Milltek motorsport downpipe, helping to make 405 kW (551 hp) and 696 Nm.

    Finally, Stage Three involves all of the above plus optimization of the intake system, which brings output up to 412 kW (560 hp) and 700 Nm, identical that of the new Audi RS 6.

    Pricing for the conversions are €2,990, €3,449 and €3,990 respectively.

    Other components available includes an adjustable lowering module allowing a drop of up to 40 mm, a rear spoiler, diffuser section and a range of alloy wheels in a 20 and 21-inch diameter.
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  • BMW M5 by Hartge

    Hartge BMW M5
    Beckingen-based BMW tuning specialist Hartge GmbH has developed a few options for the current BMW M5.

    The company’s performance upgrade sees output from the 4.4-litre biturbo V8 engine rise from 418 kW (560 hp) and 680 Nm of torque to 472 kW (642 hp) and 810 Nm. On the road, that translates to a 0-100 km/h time of 4.2 seconds, with 250 km/h appearing in 20.9s and a new top speed of 302 km/h (187 mph).

    Further components include a sport spring kit, which lowers the M5 by 25 mm at the front and 20 mm at the rear), a rear silencer, front spoiler, carbon fibre mirror casings and a choice of alloy wheels including the 21-inch Classic 2 items pictured here. Moving inside, owners can purchase velour floor mats and an aluminium pedal set.
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