German Car Scene

Month: March 2013

  • Volkswagen e-up! revealed

    Volkswagen e-up!
    Volkswagen has announced that its new e-up! will be at the International Autoshow in Frankfurt following a showing at the Annual Press and Investors Conference in Wolfsburg.

    With an underfloor-mounted 18.7 kWh lithium-ion battery feeding the electric motor, continuous output is 40 kW (54 hp) with a peak power figure of 60 kW (80 hp) achievable, while the 210 Nm of torque is available from the first revolution. On the road, 100 km/h appears in a respectable 14 seconds before the silent citycar hits its top speed of 135 km/h.

    The e-up! can be recharged to as much as 80 per cent of its energy storage capacity within just 30 minutes, while the car’s low weight of 1,185 kg helps it cover a range of 150 kilometres on a single charge.

    Visually, the e-up! differs from its petrol-driven sibling thanks to the aerodynamically optimised front, sills and underbody. There’s also a set of machine-polished 15-inch alloy wheels, c-shape LED daytime running lights in the front bumper and blue-backed badging.

    Moving inside, the cabin features light-grey seat covers with blue stitching, leather trim on the steering wheel and lever gaiter and chrome accents.
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  • Bentley Continental GT Speed and Audi S4 compared

    Bentley Continental GT Speed and Audi S4
    Today’s offering from the DRIVE channel sees Chris Harris compare Bentley’s Continental GT Speed with the Audi S4. But not like that.

    Clearly, the cars have been designed to suit two totally different demographics – and budgets, but the fact that both are Volkswagen Group products leads Mr Harris to look at how their characters are managed, with varying degrees of success.

    A quandary for many companies trying to juggle their diversified brands.
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  • 2013 Porsche 911 GT3 R revealed

    2013 Porsche 911 GT3 R
    Porsche has revealed its 2013-spec 911 GT3 R race car, which is based on the 997 model for another season.

    The augmented carbon fibre kevlar aero package has been fine-tuned in the wind tunnel, with the front bumper, all fenders, sill covers, diffuser and under-body panelling all revised for 2013. The rear wing has also been repositioned and stretched to match the width of the body.

    Beneath the 911’s skin the suspension has been modified, with the track of the front and rear axles growing by 50 mm, the wheelbase stretching by 10 mm and width of the front wheels increasing from 10.9 to 12-inches. Saucy.

    The outgoing car‘s 368 kW (500 hp) 4.0-litre six-cylinder flat engine has been retained, which sends power to the rear wheels via a six-speed sequential dog-type gearbox operated via flappy-paddle shifters on the steering wheel.

    Porsche is offering kits for €45,500 (plus taxes) to customer teams wanting convert their cars to the latest specification.
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  • Mercedes-Benz A-Class by Vaeth

    Vaeth Mercedes-Benz A-Class
    Hösbach Mercedes-Benz tuning specialist Vaeth has released details of its program for the new A-Class A 250 model.

    For €940 the company’s V25 performance upgrade, which is based around remapped ECU software, sees output from the 2.0-litre turbo four-cylinder rise from 155 kW (211 hp) and 300 Nm of torque to 180 kW (245 hp) and 390 Nm, enough for a 5.9 second sprint to 100 km/h and 250 km/h top speed. For an additional €5,450 customers can add a complete stainless steel exhaust system including downpipes, 200 cell tri-metal catalyst and silencer with adjustable valve.

    Other components include a -30 mm suspension spring kit for €333, stainless steel brake lines and Castrol SRF racing brake fluid for €464, and a wheel and tyre package (€2,545) comprising of 8.5 and 9.5 x 19-inch alloys wrapped in 235/35 and 255/30 tyres.

    A carbon fibre front spoiler (€1,416) completes the exterior, with Vaeth also able to provide a leather-trimmed sports steering wheel and inlays constructed from wood or carbon fibre on request.
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  • BMW M6 by G-Power

    G-Power BMW M6
    Bayern-based tuning specialist G-Power has released further details of its program to suit the current BMW M6.

    The company’s performance upgrade uses the same Bi-Tronik III software as seen on its M5 program, which means output from the turbocharged 4.4-litre V8 jumps from 418 kW (560 hp) and 680 Nm of torque to 477 kW (640 hp) and 777 Nm; enough for a 315 km/h (195 mph) top speed and a 3.8 second sprint to 100 km/h.

    Also included in the package is G-Power’s coilover suspension kit and a set of its 21-inch Silverstone RS alloy wheels wrapped in 265/30 and 305/25 Michelin Pilot Super Sport tyres, while optional goodies include a carbon ceramic front brake upgrade with six-piston calipers and 420 mm discs, and a -12 kg titanium exhaust system with a choice of titanium or carbon fibre tailpipes.
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  • Carlsson shows Mercedes-Benz SLK 340 race car

    Carlsson SLK 340
    Carlsson has hailed the world premiere of its Mercedes-Benz SLK-based hill climb racer a complete success.

    Débuted at The Geneva motor Show, Swiss team Meisel Motorsport are handling the project, headed by team leader and driver Reto Meisel, who will compete in national and international hill climb races in the E1 category.

    A total of 1,800 hours of development has gone into the SLK, which builds on the success the 190 EVO, including time in the wind tunnel developing its carbon fibre wide-body aero package and closed under-body layout.

    Propulsion comes from a 3.4-litre V8 Judd engine, tuned to develop an impressive 455 kW (610 hp) and 430 Nm of torque, which is mated to a Hewland transmission operated by flappy paddle shifters.

    Other features on this 780 kg machine include a complex safety cage, a Fibreworks racing seat, lightweight braking system, 3-way adjustable KW competition suspension and a set of BBS racing wheels, measuring 10 and 13 x 18-inches and wrapped in sticky Avon rubber.

    “We developed the design over a long period of time and with lots of feeling. As an engineer, it is a pleasure to contribute to such a project, and we can show everything that is technically possible in the vehicle in cooperation with Carlsson,” said Markus Schuster, Managing Director of Carlsson. “The premiere was a complete success,” added Carlsson’s Mathias R. Albert.
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