German Car Scene

Month: May 2013

  • Japan gets special edition BMW 7 Series V12 Bi-Turbo

    BMW 7 Series V12 Bi-Turbo
    BMW has announced details of a special edition 7 Series V12 Bi-Turbo model exclusively for the Japanese market.

    Propelled by a twin-turbocharged 6.0-litre twelve-cylinder unit developing 400 kW (536 hp) and 750 Nm of torque, this luxury barge cracks 100 km/h in just 4.5 seconds before reaching a limited a top speed of 250 km/h (155 mph). Sitting on 21-inch V-spoke alloy wheels, the body wears an M Sport package including front apron and rear skirt, dark chrome kidney grilles, door handle finishers, badging, trunk handle and dual tailpipes.

    Special sill plates invite occupants to a cabin that features an anthracite Alcantara BMW Individual roof liner, Exclusive Oyster Nappa leather upholstery, Piano Finish Black inlays, a ceramic finish on the iDrive controller, air conditioner switch and selector lever, and a 1200W Bang & Olufsen high-end surround sound system feeding 16 speakers.

    Priced at ¥22,600,000 (€172,054), orders are now being taken. Just 52 examples will be created. We’re just as upset as you about that, but you’ll just have to deal with it and move on.
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  • Leh Keen’s rain dance at the Nurburgring

    Porsche 911 GT3 R
    This video from the DRIVE channel sees Leh Keen at the wheel of a 368 kW (500 hp) Porsche 997 GT3 R during last weekend’s 24 Hours of Nurburgring, just before a nine-hour red flag stop to racing due to atrocious conditions. Keen was competing in the SP9 GT3 class for Farnbacher Racing.
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  • Vorsteiner BMW M5

    Vorsteiner BMW M5
    Following on from its cheeky teaser images, here’s aftermarket specialist Vorsteiner’s BMW M5 program in the flesh.

    The package comprises of a clear-coated carbon fibre add-on front spoiler, GT centre splitter, finned rear diffuser section and a carbon fibre trunk lid spoiler. Alternatively, a complete replacement trunk lid with integrated spoiler can be purchased.

    Other components available include custom floor and trunk mats, a stainless steel sports – or titanium race – exhaust system, along with a choice of wheels ranging from 20 to 22-inches such as the company’s new Flow Forged items in 9 and 11 x 20-inch dimensions.
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  • Audi R8 V10 plus vs Nissan GT-R Track Pack

    Audi R8 V10 plus vs Nissan GT-R Track Pack
    In this new episode of Motor Trend’s Head 2 Head, Carlos Lago and pro racing driver Randy Pobst visit the Streets of Willow racetrack to pit the Audi R8 V10 plus against Nissan’s GT-R Track Pack.

    Both are big-power all-wheel drive vehicles, but the front-engined Nissan uses a twin-turbocharged 3.8-litre V6 developing 404 kW (542 hp) and 632 Nm of torque, while its mid-engined counterpart from Ingolstadt utilizes a naturally aspirated 5.2-litre V10 producing 404 kW (550 hp) and 540 Nm.
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  • Porsche launches Project 50

    Project 50 Porsche 911
    As part of its anniversary celebrations, Porsche GB has announced the launch of Project 50; the idea to run a 1965 short wheelbase race 911 on some of the most famous circuits in Europe.

    Porsche Cars GB Marketing Director, Ragnar Schulte explains the thinking behind the stunning vehicle along with some of the places it will be appearing, including the Brands Hatch Masters Festival, Goodwood Festival of Speed, Silverstone Classic and the Nürburgring Oldtimer Grand Prix.
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  • Schumacher pilots F1 car at the Nurburgring

    Schumacher at the Nurburgring
    As part of the program for last weekend’s 24-hour race at the Nurburgring, Mercedes-Benz put on a special event highlighting the difference in performance between a Formula 1 car, an SLS AMG GT3 and a selection of the company’s AMG road cars.

    First out on the 20.832 kilometre track was Bernd Maylander in an A 45 AMG driven, followed by the E 63 AMG S of Karl Wendlinger, Nico Rosberg in the SLS AMG Black Series, and Bernd Schneider piloting an SLS AMG GT3.

    Finally, it was the turn of seven-time Formula One World Champion Michael Schumacher to reel them in his 750 bhp Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 W02 – which hits 100 mph in 2.7 seconds.

    Notably, the last time a Silver Arrow graced the Nordschleife was in 1954 with a certain Juan Manuel Fangio behind the wheel. Judging by the quality of this film, we’re guessing they’ve used a camera from that era for nostalgic reasons.
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