German Car Scene

Month: April 2013

  • eGarage looks at a rare Porsche 959

    Porsche 959
    Frazer Spowart and eGarage have joined forces to produce a great video about Porsche’s laudable 959.

    The regular 959 is scarce enough, but this example, owned by the Brumos Collection, is one of just six prototype versions built for Porsche’s former research and development division, the late Helmuth Bott. Interviews from Hurley Haywood, Don Leatherwood, and Peter Shutz provide a great insight into how this innovative machine made it into production.

    Manufactured between 1986 and 1989, firstly as a Group B rally car and later as a street legal production car to meet FIA homologation regulations, the 959 uses a 2.85-litre twin-turbocharged six-cylinder boxer engine developing 331 kW (444 hp). On the road it cracks 100 km/h in a mere 3.7 seconds and can reach 317 km/h (197 mph).
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  • Audi A5 program by JMS

    JMS Audi A4 Coupe
    German styling specialist JMS has released details of its options for the current Audi A5 range.

    The aero package includes a €299 front spoiler to suit the Coupe, Sportback and Cabriolet variants, along with a €279 rear diffuser section for the Coupe and Cabriolet.

    Dropping the Audi 55 mm at the front and 45 mm at the rear is a KW V3 coilover suspension kit for €1,899, while the factory wheels have made way for a set of MB Design’s KV1 items, measuring 10.5 x 20-inches and wrapped in 255/30 tyres. They are available as a package for €3,500.

    The only performance upgrade is an Eisenmann stainless steel exhaust system with quadruple 90 x 70 mm tailpipes, which will lighten your wallet by €1,797.
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  • Behind the scenes of Bugatti’s record-breaking run

    Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse
    Following on from yesterday’s announcement that Bugatti had secured the world record for the fastest open-top production sports car, here’s an exclusive video from evo magazine’s Harry Metcalfe, who was there to witness the achievement and also sample the Vitesse.

    Anthony Liu reached 408.84 km/h (254.04 mph) in the Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse, which uses the same 8.0-litre W16 engine as the Super Sport, meaning it produces an elephantine 895 kW (1,200 hp) and 1,500 Nm of torque.
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  • Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse takes speed record

    Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse
    Bugatti’s epic Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse has been recognised as the world’s fastest open-top production sports car after reaching 408.84 km/h (254.04 mph) at Ehra-Lessien.

    Chinese racing driver Anthony Liu, who was chosen to pilot the Veyron for the record attempt, said: “This was a very exciting moment. The car is even at such high speeds incredibly comfortable and stable. With an open top, you can really experience the sound of the engine and yet even at higher speeds I did not get compromised by the wind at all.”

    Using the same 8.0-litre W16 engine from the 431 km/h (267 mph) Super Sport – complete with four upgraded turbochargers, the Vitesse enjoys a colossal 895 kW (1,200 hp) and 1,500 Nm of torque, rather than the usual 746 kW (1,001 hp) and 1,250 Nm seen in the regular Grand Sport.

    To mark the achievement, a special black and orange-themed World Record Car (WRC) Edition will be produced. Limited to just eight vehicles, the price has been set at €1.99 million – plus taxes.
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  • Dubai police force unveils Lamborghini Aventador patrol car

    Police Aventador
    The people of Dubai are known for not doing things by halves, and that attitude has been adopted by the country’s police force, as demonstrated by the addition of a Lamborghini Aventador to its fleet.

    Finished in the familiar green and white livery, the Aventador also features a roof-mounted LED light bar as well as that delicious 6.5-litre engine, which develops 515 kW (700 hp) and allows a 2.9 second sprint to 100 km/h and a top speed of 350 km/h (217 mph).

    The Lamborghini was apparently purchased to be used on external roads and in locations that require fast, sporty cars, but will also be present around tourist areas as a showpiece within the force’s upgraded fleet. Deputy police director Gen Khamis Matter al-Muzaina has boasted that the heavyweight supercar would illustrate “how classy Dubai is”.

    What recession?
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  • Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Electric Drive reviewed

    Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Electric Drive
    This latest episode of DRIVE sees Chris Harris climb behind the wheel of the SLS AMG Electric Drive at Paul Ricard circuit to see how it compares with the regular 6.2-litre V8-engined version.

    Half of the video sees Chris testing the car on track, clearly enjoying the experience, before he heads indoors to chat to the Strategic Project Manager, Jan Feustel, about this interesting machine.

    Producing an astonishing 552 kW (740 hp) and a maximum torque figure of 1,000 Nm from a quartet of electric motors, the electric-power gullwing is capable of cracking 100 km/h (62 mph) in just 3.9 seconds.
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