German Car Scene

Month: October 2013

  • BMW M5 Competition Package driven

    BMW M5 Competition Package
    This episode of Ignition sees Motor Trend’s Carlos Lago heading to the Hyundai Proving Grounds to stretch the legs of BMW’s M5 Competition Package.

    Output from the 4.4-litre biturbo V8 powerplant is raised by a modest 11 kW to 423 kW (575 hp), which shaves 0.1 seconds from the 0-100 km/h time and 0.2s on the sprint to 200 km/h.

    Sitting 10 mm lower than standard on exclusive 20-inch M light-alloy wheels, other upgrades include revised suspension, damping and steering settings, along with a new control unit for the Active M Differential on the final drive and specific M Dynamic mode for the Dynamic Stability Control system resulting in sharpened handling characteristics.
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  • Creation of the Porsche LMP1’s infrastructure

    Porsche LMP1
    Porsche has just released this video explaining the creation of the infrastructure supporting the its forthcoming LMP1 sports prototype which will compete in next year’s FIA World Endurance Championship and the 24h of Le Mans.

    Prepared at the Weissach Motorsport Centre outside of Stuttgart in new workshops and premises housing around 200 employees, the closed-cockpit machine turned its first laps on the circuit back in June.

    The video features Porsche works driver Romain Dumas, who will be joined on the grid in 2014 by Timo Bernhard, Neel Jani and Red Bull’s Mark Webber, who retires from F1 following the Brazilian Grand Prix on November 24.

    Porsche has also launched a dedicated microsite documenting the car’s development.
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  • BMW M Performance accessories for the M5 and M6

    BMW M Performance accessories
    BMW has announced details of an M Performance range of accessories for the M5 and M6 Gran Coupe as well as the M6 Coupe and Cabriolet, developed by M GmbH with input from DTM factory driver Martin Tomczyk.

    Components include M striping, carbon fibre mirror casings, gloss black kidney grilles, side skirts, a carbon boot lid spoiler and rear diffuser section. Moving inside, the cockpit receives a carbon trim package – including dashboard, centre console and gear selector, stainless steel pedals, floor mats and an Alcantara-trimmed steering wheel with carbon trim and race display, which relays speed change signals, longitudinal and lateral acceleration. Lap times are displayed in minutes, seconds and hundredths of a second and can be stored.

    For those with deeper pockets BMW also offers 20-inch M alloy wheels, along with the M Carbon-ceramic brake upgrade, which uses 410 mm discs gripped by six-piston calipers up front and 396 mm discs with single-piston floating caliper at the rear. Representing a weight saving of 19.4 kg compared to their steel counterparts, the reduction in unsprung mass instantly improves the vehicle’s driving dynamics. Finally, there’s a sports exhaust system developed jointly with Akrapovic, which is 10 kg lighter than the factory item thanks to its titanium construction.
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  • Mercedes S-Class previewed by Lorinser

    Lorinser Mercedes S-Class
    Waiblingen-based tuning specialist Lorinser has released renderings of its new program to suit the current Mercedes S-Class.

    Helping the S-Class to look like a melted Stormtrooper’s helmet, there’s a replacement front bumper featuring a trio of over-sized air intakes, widened and ventilated front wings, side skirts and a swollen rear bumper with air outlets and apertures for the double-tin tailpipes. There’s also a remarkably subtle spoiler for the boot lid.

    Customers can also expect Lorinser to offer its usual range of suspension and wheel upgrades along with performance packages and interior makeovers.
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  • BMW 4 Series Cabriolet revealed

    BMW 4 Series Cabriolet
    BMW has revealed images and details of the new 4 Series Cabriolet ahead of its debut at next month’s LA Auto Show (November 22 – December 1).

    Looking almost identical to the 4 Series Coupe, the Cabriolet will be offered with two petrol engines and one diesel available at model launch starting with the base 420d, which develops 135 kW (181 hp) and 380 Nm of torque from its turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel. On the road 100 km/h appears in 8.2 seconds, with top speed limited to 235 km/h. Next is the 428i with a TwinPower Turbo 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine delivering 180 kW (245 hp) and 350 Nm, which is good for a 6.2s sprint to 100 km/h and a limited 250 km/h top speed. The range-topping 435i utilizes the company’s delicious TwinPower Turbo 3.0-litre six-pot delivering 225 kW (306 hp) and 400 Nm to the rear wheels, allowing the same top speed and a 5.5s 0-100 km/h time.

    A six-speed manual transmission comes as standard, with BMW also offering an optional eight-speed Sports automatic that allows gear changes to be carried out manually via flappy paddles on the steering wheel. The all-wheel drive 428i xDrive will be mated to the eight-speed as standard, while an auto Start-Stop function is present on all cars.

    The three-piece retractable hardtop, which operates in twenty seconds and can also be lowered at speeds of up to 18 km/h, features a sound-absorbing headlining with integrated ambient lighting. For the first time there are optional neck warmers for the driver and front passenger, while the temperature in the cabin is automatically controlled in relation to the outdoor temperature and the speed of the vehicle.

    There will be three trim levels to choose from at launch: Luxury Line, Sport Line and M Sport. The Luxury Line features such trinkets as chrome kidney grille slats, window trim, rear bumper strip and tailpipes, while the Sport Line package comprises of high gloss black slats, pillar trims, black air intakes in the front apron, black tailpipes and sport suspension. Our choice, the M Sport version, includes Shadow Line trim along with M Sport suspension, brakes, bumpers, side skirts and the option of Estoril Blue Metallic paintwork. Larger 18 and 19-inch alloy wheels upgrades are available with each package.

    Due to hit dealerships in March, pricing for the 420d, 428i and 435i will start at €46,300, €48,200 and €54,000, with the 428i xDrive available from €50,700.
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  • MTM Audi A1 quattro reviewed

    MTM Audi A1 quattro
    Here’s a subtitled review of an MTM-tuned Audi A1 quattro by Auto-Top in the Netherlands.

    Propelled by a 2.0 TFSI engine, which produces 188 kW (256 hp) and 350 Nm of torque in standard guise, MTM fits its own turbocharger unit, along with a new exhaust system and remapped ECU software which results in a simply delightful 280 kW (380 hp) and 505 Nm.
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