German Car Scene

Month: September 2013

  • BMW 4 Series Coupe driven

    BMW 4 Series Coupe
    The latest video offering from Auto Express sees Paul Bond spending a few days living with BMW’s 4 Series Coupe as he travels from Inverness to London.

    The 420d SE on review, the entry-level, entry-spec diesel model, is propelled by a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel powerplant, which develops 135 kW (181 hp) and 380 Nm of torque. Gears are changed via a six-speed manual unit with owners offered the option of an eight-speed automatic transmission.

    Pricing in the UK starts at £31,575 for the 420d but, as seen here, that figure rises sharply once the trinkets are added.
    (more…)

  • Audi hints at future R8 e-tron production

    Audi R8 e-tron
    According to reports, Audi’s R8 e-tron could make it into dealerships after all – if the battery can be improved upon.

    The electric supercar, which recorded a time of 8:09.099 minutes at the Nurburgring, cannot currently achieve the type of range to justify its mass production, but the fleet of ten vehicles were kept in service for testing and development purposes with future road cars, such as the A3 Sportback e-tron, benefitting from its creation.

    However, Audi’s Dr. Ulrich Hackenberg recently stated that he liked driving the car, and confirmed that it was merely mothballed until the technology to increase the 200 km/h (124m) range existed, adding: “Maybe in the future if we have some batteries that are better, there could be some real potential…so let’s see, give it some time.”

    A 49 KWh lithium-ion battery feeds electric motors generating a total output of 230 kW (308 hp) and 820 Nm of torque, with around 490 Nm transferred to the rear wheels from a near-standing start. At 1,780 kg it’s 220 kg heavier than the R8 V8, but performance is still impressive, with 100 km/h (62 mph) happening in just 4.6 seconds, while top speed is governed to 200 km/h (124 mph).
    (more…)

  • Bufalos TV visits RWB

    RWB Porsche 911
    The regulars amongst you will be familiar with the crazy world of RWB’s nicotine-driven Akira Nakai and his extreme Porsche 911-based creations. Here’s another piece of film focusing on his Rauh-Welt Begriff workshop in Japan, this time by Bufalos TV.

    Responsible for building some attention-grabbing machines, Akira’s cars are probably known more for their visual impact rather than their track credentials, but they do get thorough workouts at the Idlers 12 hour endurance races. And even if his products are not to your taste, it’s hard not to admire his dedication and attitude.

    It’s great that he believes his brand will never become mainstream but, judging by some of the RWB cars that have recently appeared around the world, it already has. With examples cropping up in places such as America, Thailand, Russia and the Philippines, he’s gone from being somewhat of a cult figure to part of the establishment.
    (more…)

  • Pair of Porsche 918 Spyders spotted in LA

    Porsche 918 Spyder
    Supercar fanatic Barrett Mitchell was lucky enough to catch this pair of Porsche 918 Spyders cruising north on the 405 from LAX airport on his way to this year’s Targa Trophy California 1000, with the second one featuring the optional Weissach Package.

    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 1640 kg plug-in hybrid hypercar can crack 100 km/h in 2.8 seconds and 200 km/h in 7.9s, while top speed is 340 km/h (211 mph).
    (more…)

  • Volkswagen’s take on a classic A-Ha video

    Take on Me
    Volkswagen has a habit of making some unforgettable commercials, and this A-Ha-inspired offering is no exception.

    Using the Norwegian synthpop band’s 1984 hit Take on Me as its background theme, Volkswagen recreates that iconic pencil-sketch animation, but adds a Passat to the new film which promotes no-charge scheduled maintenance on every new model.
    (more…)

  • Porsche 918 Spyder production begins

    Porsche 918 Spyder
    Porsche has started production of its new 918 Spyder model at the company’s Zuffenhausen plant today, with initial deliveries expected before the end of the year. Just 918 examples will be built, with prices starting at 845,000 USD (€633,000) for the base model, rising up to 929,000 USD (€696,000) if you specify the Weissach Package.

    Tipping the scales at 1640 kg, 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.

    At the heart of this innovative machine is a 453 kW (608 hp) 4.6-litre V8 engine, which is based on that of the LMP2 RS Spyder race car and is backed up by a hybrid module at the rear along with a electric motor powering the front wheels. When using electric power alone, top speed is 150 km/h (93 mph) with a range of 25 kilometres achievable – depending on driving style but, with the full 661 kW (887 hp) a its disposal, 100 km/h appears in 2.8 seconds and 200 km/h in 7.9s, while top speed is 340 km/h (211 mph).
    (more…)