German Car Scene

Month: July 2013

  • JMS Tuning BMW 5 Series

    BMW 5 Series by JMS Tuning
    Walddorfhäslach-based aftermarket specialist JMS Tuning has revealed details of what it can provide for owners of the F10/F11 BMW 5 Series.

    For now, the only bodywork addition is a Racelook front spoiler with integrated diffuser priced at €299. JMS can also supply a KW Variant 3 inox-line coilover suspension kit for €1,929, which allows a drop in ride height of 55 mm at the front and 45 mm at the rear. For €3,599 the wheel and tyre package consists of MB design KV1 alloy wheels measuring 9 and 10.5 x 20-inches. They come wrapped in 245/35 and 285/30 tyres.

    If you’re looking for an increase in performance, the company can provide ECU upgrades, air filters, exhaust systems and adjustable software to eliminate the delay that can be found in electronic fly-by-wire pedals.
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  • Last BMW M3 Coupe produced

    BMW M3 Coupe
    Today marks the end of an era with BMW announcing that its last fourth generation M3 Coupe has rolled off the production line.

    With the M3 Cabriolet due to end its life in September, the designation will live on with the M3 Saloon, but the E92 and E93 M cars have been put to sleep – like a litter of unwanted Labrador puppies – in favour of the forthcoming M4 Coupe and Cabriolets, which are due to hit showrooms in 2014. The company also hinted that an M4 DTM car may appear as soon as next season.

    BMW is likely to drop the 309 kW (420 hp) V8 engine currently powering the M3, with propulsion expected to come from a twin-turbocharged straight-six (developing around 331 kW/444 hp), which will be mated to either a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission or optional six-speed manual.

    Since its launch in 2007, BMW has produced over 40,000 units of the M3 Coupe, almost 10,000 Saloons and just under 16,000 Cabriolets, with many different special editions helping to make those numbers up, including the lightweight M3 CRT (Carbon Racing Technology) Saloon, the 331 kW (450 hp) 4.4-litre M3 GTS and the recent M3 DTM Champion Edition, which was created to mark BMW’s triumphant return to the DTM series last year.
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  • Mercedes-Benz A 45 AMG vs CLA 45 AMG

    Mercedes A 45 AMG vs CLA 45 AMG
    This new video from Auto Express attempts to pick a winner between Mercedes’ first four-cylinder AMG models: the A 45 AMG and CLA 45 AMG.

    Equipped with the same 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged AMG lump as the A 45 AMG, producing 265 kW (360 hp) and 450 Nm of torque, is the CLA 45 AMG anything more than a practical, big-booted sister to the A-Class?

    Which would you choose?
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  • Porsche 911 Turbo by Cam Shaft

    Cam Shaft Porsche 911 Turbo
    Cam Shaft, the Kempen-based vehicle wrap specialist, has joined in the celebrations of the Porsche 911’s birthday by creating this Gulf-themed 997 Turbo for your pleasure.

    Visually the 911 wears that familiar orange and blue livery, which you can have for €2,800 – or €3,500 if you want your sills and all visible edges covered, while the car now rides on fully adjustable Bilstein coilovers and a set of 19-inch O.Z. Ultraleggera alloy wheels.

    When it came to upgrading the power, the guys from respected tuninghouse 9ff were called on to work their magic. Fitment of a lightweight exhaust system – including sportkats and headers, along with a larger intercooler, uprated fuel regulator, air filer and revised ECU software sees output from the twin-turbocharged 3.6-litre unit jump from 350 kW (470 hp) and 620 Nm to 478 kW (650 hp) and a limited torque figure of 800 Nm.

    On the road 100 km/h happens in 3.8 seconds, with the journey from 100 to 200 km/h taking 6s and 100 to 300 km/h happening in 20.3s.
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  • Porsche announces ’50 years of 911′ option package

    Porsche 911 50 Years Edition
    Porsche has come up with yet another way of celebrating 50 years of the iconic 911 with its ’50 years of 911′ option package.

    The package, which can be added to 911 Carrera cars in the range – including the limited edition 50 years of 911 anniversary model [pictured here] – consists of the Sport Chrono package, heated front seats, Porsche Communication Management including GPS navigation, telephone module, and front and rear parking sensors.

    Available to customers across Europe, but not in Switzerland or Russia, the additional equipment can be purchased for €4,911, which represents a saving of up to 34 percent depending on the base vehicle.
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  • Jean-Philippe Dayraut third at Pikes Peak

    Pikes Peak MINI Clubman
    Unless you live in another galaxy you’ll know that Sebastien Loeb recently destroyed the Pikes Peak record in his Peugeot 208 T16 with a time of 8:13.878, slicing an unbelievable 1:33 off the record set last year by Rhys Millen.

    This year’s event saw Millen come runner-up with an impressive 9:02.192 in his RMR-built Hyundai Genesis PM580-T, followed by Jean-Philippe Dayraut rounding out the top three in his MINI Countryman clocking a 9:42.740.

    Having about as much in common with its road-going namesake as the 208 and Genesis, Dayraut’s vehicle has been constructed by Tork Engineering, who are responsible for creating trophy-winning ice, WRC and Dakar racercars. Built around a tube-frame chassis propulsion comes from a twin-turbo 3.8-litre V6 powerplant developing 671 kW (900 hp), while the Countryman bodywork features widened wheel arches, a clamshell opening and deleted rear doors

    The Frenchman, who had to had to ease off from the eight-kilometre mark, in order to look after his brakes, said: “It was a tough race, which I had to take a bit slower. That was why I was not able to challenge for second place.”

    Audi really needs to build an A1-based Pikes Peak racer with five-cylinder turbo power and Timo Scheider behind the wheel.
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