German Car Scene

Month: August 2013

  • Mercedes-Benz E 500 Coupe by M&D Exclusive Cardesign

    Mercedes E 500 Coupe by M&D Exclusive Cardesign
    The Dinslaken styling company M&D Exclusive Cardesign has revealed a Mercedes E 500 Coupe that it converted for a customer using Prior Design’s PD850 Black Edition program.

    Constructed from high quality Dura-Flex FRP (Fibre Reinforced Plastic), the PD850 Black Edition package consists of an aggressive front fascia with large intakes and detachable spoiler, vented fenders, side skirts, rear wheel arch extensions and a wider bumper with diffuser section. A ventilated hood and boot lid spoiler completes the transmutation.

    An H&R sports spring kit lowers the Calcite White Coupe over a set of gloss black PD1 alloy wheels, which measure 9 and 10.5 x 20-inches and wear 235/30 and 285/25 Falken FK452 tyres. Final details include red brake calipers, SL 655 AMG Black Series tailpipes and LED underfloor lighting.

    Moving inside, the cockpit receives an AMG steering wheel and selector lever, and a wooden trim package finished in in black piano lacquer.

    M&D also upgraded the car’s performance; optimizing the ECU software and fitting its own stainless steel exhaust system, which saw output from the 5.5-litre V8 unit rise from 285 kW (387 hp) and 530 Nm of torque to 299 kW (401 hp) and 560 Nm.
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  • Porsche LMP1 sports prototype images released

    Porsche LMP1 sports prototype
    Following on from its initial handful of LMP1 sports prototype images Porsche has released a further batch.

    The closed-cockpit racecar, which features Porsche’s trademark four pronged LED headlights and ultra-thin vertical lights mounted within the rear wing edges, will be gunning for Audi during next year’s Le Mans 24 Hours and sports car World Endurance Championship with Red Bull’s Mark Webber recently announcing that he will be joining the driver line-up of Timo Bernhard, Romain Dumas and Neel Jani.

    “Our newly formed team has worked with utmost concentration on getting this highly complex vehicle on the track as soon as possible. This allows us a few additional weeks for more testing and further development,” commented Fritz Enzinger, Head of LMP1.
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  • BMW 330d by BBM Motorsport

    BBM Motorsport BMW 330d
    Senden tuning specialist BBM Motorsport has released details of its latest project based on BMW’s E91 330d model.

    Visual changes include a body wrap applied by the guys from SFT Carwrap using matte red foil for the main sections of the Estate with contrasting matte black for the roof, mirror casings, air intake edges and kidney grille surrounds. A KW Street Comfort coilover suspension kit drops the vehicle over a set of BBS CH-R alloy wheels, which measure 8 and 9 x 19 inches and wear 225/35 and 225/30 rubber.

    Beneath the hood BBM fits its own ECU software along with a full SuperSprint exhaust system and Pipercross air filter, resulting in output from the turbocharged six-cylinder jumping from 170 kW (231 hp) and 520 Nm of torque to 201 kW (274 hp) and 659 Nm.
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  • Skoda Rapid StylePLUS revealed

    Skoda Rapid StylePLUS
    Skoda has announced details of a StylePLUS version of its popular Rapid model.

    Available in Candy White, Sprint Yellow, Corrida Red, Rally Green and Denim Blue, the special edition features black gloss detailing on its boot lid spoiler, rear-view mirrors and the bars on the front bumper and side doors, while the black and silver 17-inch ‘Ray’ alloy wheels complete the car’s exterior.

    Moving inside, the satin black cabin receives sports seats, stainless steel pedals, a leather trimmed steering wheel, gear stick and handbrake. The steering wheel also features also a piano lacquer finish to match the piano black dashboard inserts. A radio/CD player comes as standard.

    There are six engines to choose from; starting with the 55 kW (74 hp) 1.2 MPI, a 1.2 TSI developing either 63 kW (84 hp) or 77 kW (103 hp) (with six speed transmission), and a 90 kW (121 hp) 1.4 TSI (available with the DSG gearbox). Diesel fans get the choice of a 66 kW (89 hp) or 77 kW (103 hp) 1.6 TDI.

    Available to order immediately, optional extras include the Amundsen+ navigation system with DAB function and xenon headlights and front fog lights with ‘cornering light’ function.
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  • Rally Germany results

    WRC Rally Germany 2013
    Before the start of Rally Germany many were expecting Sebastien Ogier to wrap up the title with a few events to spare, but it was Jari-Matti Latvala who stepped up to the plate following Ogier’s departure off-road on day two.

    Damaged suspension saw the Frenchman retire and rejoin on Saturday under Rally 2 regulations, instantly taking two stage wins, but the 25 minutes of penalty time meant he was way back in 25th place – a world away from the leading pack of Latvala, Neuville and Sordo. Latvala maintained his position throughout the day – despite clipping a massive concrete block in a forest section.

    Things later deteriorated for Volkswagen after the damage to Latvala’s Polo meant that his co-driver Anttila had to hold the passenger door closed during stage 12. Communication problems contributed to Latvala sliding off the track and tearing his rear brake off, forcing him to pull out of the rally before returning in seventh place on Sunday, while Ogier finished the day in 24th. Thierry Neuville went off at the same rain-soaked left bend, but moved to the head of the field after completing the stage with a log jammed beneath his Fiesta. The second loop of the ‘Arena Panzerplatte’ stage was cancelled following a fatal accident during the historic rally being held in the forest.

    Sunday saw a tense duel between Dani Sordo and Thierry Neuville, with Sordo pulling out a slender lead early on. Brake and set-up problems for Neuville affected his performance, but he held on to second place behind the Spaniard, who secured the first victory of his 10-year WRC career. Mikko Hirvonen ran a steady rally to make it two Citroen’s on the podium, while Ogier and Latvala could only manage 16th and 7th, but did win three bonus points and one point respectively following the final Dhrontal Power Stage. Sordo split the Volkswagen pair with two points.

    The third Polo of Andreas Mikkelsen was withdrawn due to co-driver being diagnosed with a fractured seventh vertebra and partially fractured eighth vertebra, presumably caused during Rally Finland three weeks ago.
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  • Magnus Walker disturbs the peace

    Magnus Walker
    Following on from the brilliant Urban Outlaw film, here’s Yorkshire’s finest export Magnus Walker with his hot rod-inspired Porsche 911.

    Shot late at night around Downtown LA and Little Tokyo as part of a feature for the new Hong Kong-based Obscura magazine, Magnus shares his philosophy regarding this timeless icon as he gives it the beans in his uniquely modified – but unrestored – 1971 911T.
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