German Car Scene

Month: July 2013

  • Six Porsche 918 Spyders invade Monaco

    Porsche 918 Spyders
    While it was making its production-readyish debut at this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed, a grand total of six Porsche 918 Spyder prototypes were buzzing around the streets of Monaco, as this video from Marchettino testifies.

    With production due to start on September 18, the 918 Spyder can be yours for as little as €781,155 – or €853,155 if you specify the track-focused Weissach package, which removes 40 kg and includes six-point harnesses, a carbon interior pack, flame-resistant material on the seats, deletion of the air-con system and stereo, a lightweight braking system and foil on the body rather than paintwork.

    Using a 453 kW (608 hp) 4.6-litre V8 engine along with a 115 kW (154 hp) combined with a 95 kW (127 hp) electric motor, the Spyder can hit 100 km/h in 2.8 seconds and 200 km/h in 7.9s, while top speed is 340 km/h (211 mph). In electric mode top speed drops to 150 km/h (93 mph) with a range of 25 kilometres achievable.

    Production will be limited to 918 examples.
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  • A1 S line Style Edition announced

    A1 S line Style Edition
    Audi UK has announced a colourful variant of its Audi A1 and A1 Sportback models called the A1 S line Style Edition.

    Based on the higher S line versions, the Style Editions can be specified in either Ice Silver, Phantom Black, Misano Red or Glacier White with a gloss black roofline, mirror casings and grille surround, with matte black grille, fog light surrounds and number plate holder. Xenon headlamps with LED daytime running lights and 17-inch bi-colour double-five spoke alloys are also included in the package.

    Moving inside, there’s the usual S line goodies, including part leather sports seats, three-spoke S line sports steering wheel, electric windows and mirrors, and the Concert CD audio system with 6.5-inch retractable screen, SD card slot and Bluetooth connection. Misano Red, Glacier White or gloss black air vent housings complete upgrades in the cabin.

    Available with a 63 kW(86 hp) 1.2 TFSI, a 90 kW (122 hp) 1.4 TFSI or 77 kW (105 hp) 1.6 TDI engine, prices start at £18,125 for the 1.2 TFSI with six-speed manual transmission.

    [Source: Audi UK]

  • Porsche 911 GT3 storms the hill at Goodwood

    Porsche 911 GT3
    As well as taking a stunning 918 Spyder to this year’s Festival Of Speed, Porsche also gave its new 911 GT3 a workout up the hill, and supercar fanatic Shmee150 was there to capture the occasion.

    The footage includes a launch control demonstration from the start line, the car flying up the course, and a powerslide that could have ended up a little messy.

    The hardcore 350 kW (475 hp) track weapon cracks 100 km/h in a mere 3.5 seconds, 200 km/h in less than 12 seconds, and hits a top speed of 315 km/h (195 mph). It also eclipses the current 911 GT2’s ‘Ring time.
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  • New Mercedes-Benz S 63 AMG teased

    2014 Mercedes-Benz S 63 AMG
    Mercedes-Benz is continuing to tease its new S 63 AMG model based on the 2014 S-Class with this brief video clip.

    Visually the company’s flagship Saloon is more aggressively styled than its regular counterparts with larger air intakes, quadruple tailpipes and multi-spoke AMG alloy wheels.

    Power comes from the same 5.5-litre bi-turbo V8 unit propelling the E 63 AMG, meaning 410 kW (557 hp) and 720 Nm of torque, with the S version developing 430 kW (585 hp) and 800 Nm. Mated to the AMG SPEEDSHIFT MCT 7-speed transmission, customers can also opt for the all-wheel drive variant that utilizes AMG’s 33 to 67 percent front/rear biased 4MATIC all-wheel-drive system.
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  • Porsche 918 Spyder hits Goodwood

    Porsche 918 Spyder
    Porsche’s stunning 918 Spyder made its public debut at this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed, giving the crowds something to really talk about as it tackled the event’s famous hill.

    Priced from €781,155, or €853,155 with the hardcore Weissach package, the plug-in hybrid hypercar is propelled by a 453 kW (608 hp) 4.6-litre V8 engine along with a 115 kW (154 hp) hybrid module at the rear and a 95 kW (127 hp) electric motor driving the front wheels. With all systems go and the full 661 kW (887 hp) a its disposal, the Spyder can hit 100 km/h in 2.8 seconds and 200 km/h in 7.9s, while top speed is 340 km/h (211 mph).
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  • Spyder comparison: Audi R8 V10 vs McLaren 12C vs Ferrari 458

    Top Gear supercar test
    The current season of Top Gear has been decidedly mediocre, but last night’s show was a highlight featuring a comparison between three open-topped ‘budget’ supercars from Audi, McLaren and Ferrari.

    The V10-engined R8 Spyder has 386 kW (525 hp) and 530 Nm at its disposal, enough to achieve a 0-100 km/h time of 3.8 seconds and an official top speed of 313 km/h (194 mph), putting it in direct competition with its rivals here.

    It looks and sounds fantastic, doesn’t fall apart within a few days, and – unlike the Macca – it didn’t have to be instantly revised because motoring journalists criticized it on its debut.

    Also factor in the fact that it costs £70,000 less than the other two and it’s a no-brainer. That’s virtually the price of a brand new Porsche 911.
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