German Car Scene

Month: August 2013

  • Audi SQ5 TDI by B&B

    B&B Audi SQ5 TDI
    Birlenbach-based tuning specialist B&B Automobiltechnik has updated its Audi SQ5 TDI program, taking output beyond the 3.0 TFSI variant.

    Already developing a healthy 230 kW (313 hp) and 650 Nm of torque in factory form, the Level 1K Comfort package costs € 1,498 and involves a remapped ECU and mild boost increase to 0.15 bar which yields 254 kW (340 hp) and 720 Nm from the 3.0 BiTDI. For € 1,698 Level 1K Sport sees more boost, resulting in 272 kW (365 hp) and 750 Nm, while the Level 2 option, priced at € 4,950, includes high performance injectors and an uprated air intake and intercooler, making 295 kW (395 hp) and 800 Nm. For € 1,950, the stainless steel exhaust system adds around 4 kW (5 hp). Those changes see 100 km/h appear in 4.7 seconds (series 5.2s), 200 km/h in 19.4 s (22.5s), while the limited top speed climbs from 250 km/h to 270 km/h.

    Visually the Crossover wears B&B’s new aero package, which comprises of a front fascia with larger air inlets, wheel arch extensions and a rear bumper apron with diffuser section and trapezoidal tailpipes. Sports springs lower the SQ5 by 30 mm, while the factory wheels have been superseded by 22-inch B10 alloys wearing 265/30 Michelin rubber.
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  • Mercedes E 63 AMG vs Jaguar XFR-S

    Jaguar XFR-S vs Mercedes E 63 AMG
    This new video from Autocar sees Steve Sutcliffe compare a couple of supersaloon alternatives the BMW M5, Jaguar’s XFR-S and the Mercedes E 63 AMG.

    Propelled by a supercharged 5.0-litre V8 producing 405 kW (543 hp) and 680 Nm of torque, the Jaguar cracks 100 km/h in 4.6 seconds before reaching a limited 300 km/h (186 mph) top speed, while the E 63 AMG uses a 5.5-litre bi-turbo V8, developing 410 kW (557 hp) and 720 Nm, to hit 100 km/h in 4.2s and a limited 250 km/h (155 mph) maximum.
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  • Volkswagen Golf R announced

    2014 Volkswagen Golf R
    Volkswagen has released initial details and images of its flagship Golf R model.

    Producing 22 kW (30 hp) more than its predecessor, the Golf R is powered by a revised version of the GTI‘s 2.0-litre TSI unit, which receives a new cylinder head, pistons, high-pressure injection valves and beefier turbocharger. Those upgrades see 221 kW (300 hp) and 380 Nm of torque transferred to the road via an 4MOTION all-wheel drive system, loowing a 0-100 km/h time of 5.1 seconds with the six-speed manual gearbox and 4.9s with the six-speed DSG transmission, while top speed is limited to 250 km/h.

    The start-stop system and recuperation contributes to an 18 percent improvement in fuel consumption, with the manual car needing an average of 7.1 litres every 100 kilometres while emitting 165 g per km and the DSG requiring 6.9 l/100 km (159 g/km CO2).

    Visually, the Golf R wears a more aggressive front bumper with oversized air intakes, bi-xenon headlights, side skirts, matte chrome mirror casings, larger roof spoiler, subtle R badging, darkened LED tail-lights, and a diffuser section housing quadruple tailpipes. 18-inch Cadiz alloy wheels come as standard with 19-inch Pretoria available as an option. The interior boasts sports seats trimmed in Alcantara fabric, a three-spoke leather sports steering wheel, ambient lighting, climate control and touchscreen radio-CD system.

    Sitting 20 mm lower than standard, the R can be ordered with adaptive chassis control (DCC), which has three driving modes to choose from on the car’s touchscreen: Comfort, Normal and Sport. The system also offers a choice of four driving profiles: Eco, Normal, Individual – and Race, which firms up the suspension and sharpens throttle response for optimized input response. A pair of 340 x 30-mm and 310 x 22-mm discs are gripped by black calipers embossed with the R logo.

    Due to debut in Frankfurt, it will be available from the last quarter of 2013 in colours including Tornado Red, Pure White, Lapiz Blue Metallic, Reflex Silver Metallic, Limestone Grey Metallic, Night Blue Metallic, Deep Black Pearl Effect and Oryxwhite pearl effect, with pricing starting from €38,325.
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  • MEC Design Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Roadster

    MEC Design Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Roadster
    Berlin aftermarket specialist MEC Design has revealed its latest SLS AMG program displayed here on this Roadster model.

    The aero package consists of a sculpted front bumper with LED daytime running lights and carbon fibre splitter, side skirts, a carbon boot lid spoiler and Black Series-inspired rear bumper with a choice of Extreme, Formula or GT3 diffuser section. A pair of carbon mirror casings complete the aesthetics.

    MEC can also supply its adjustable coilover suspension system allowing a drop of up to 70 mm and a set of its mecxtreme3 alloy wheels, which measure 10.5 × 20 and 11.5 x 21-inches and come wrapped in 275/30 ZR 20 and 295/25 ZR 21 tyres.

    Moving inside, the cabin receives an Alcantara-trimmed sports steering wheel, leather edged floor mats and a carbon fibre trim package covering the flappy paddles, centre console, door panels, sills and seat cowls.
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  • DMC Lamborghini Aventador Roadster LP900

    DMC Lamborghini Aventador Roadster LP900
    Duesseldorf tuner DMC has revealed its LP900 program for Lamborghini’s Aventador Roadster.

    Visually, the Aventador wears DMC’s carbon fibre Molto Veloce aero package, which consists of a front spoiler with central splitter, side skirt extensions, an aggressive diffuser and tunnel, and a raised SuperVeloce-style rear wing.

    The Roadster’s performance upgrade sees DMC ditch the factory injection system in favour of 12 separate single intake throttle plates, uprated fuel pumps and nozzles and optimized ECU software. The 6.5-litre V12 is topped off with a titanium exhaust system that tips the scales at just 3.45 kg, resulting in an output of 671 kW (900 hp).
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  • Porsche 918 Spyder at Pebble Beach

    Porsche 918 Spyder at Pebble Beach
    Here’s a walk-around video from Javier Mota showing Porsche’s 918 Spyder on display at Pebble Beach Concours D’Elegance in California this weekend.

    Looking pretty much production-ready, the plug-in hybrid hypercar is constructed around a carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) monocoque interlocked with CFRP unit carrier, a two-piece Targa roof and fixed roll-over protection.

    Propulsion comes via a combination of a 453 kW (608 hp) 4.6-litre V8 engine along with a 115 kW (154 hp) hybrid module at the rear along with 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).

    It can also be used in electric-only mode, but would you, really?
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