Month: October 2013

Mercedes-Benz CLA 45 AMG reviewed

by

Mercedes-Benz CLA 45 AMG
This episode of Ignition sees Motor Trend’s Carlos Lago heading to the Hyundai Proving Grounds to stretch the legs of the Mercedes CLA 45 AMG.

Propelled by an all-aluminium AMG 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged engine developing 265 kW (360 hp) and 450 Nm of torque, power is transferred to a revised version of the AMG 4MATIC all-wheel drive system via a SPEEDSHIFT DCT seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. Those figures translate to a sub-five second 0-100 km/h time and a limited top speed of 250 km/h.

Read more

Volkswagen Beetle by MR Car Design

by

Volkswagen Beetle by MR Car Design
Erftstadt-based tuning specialist MR Car Design has been tweaking Volkswagen’s current Beetle model to demonstrate what it can go for your Bug.

Visually MR can provide a body wrap service in a colour of your choice, along with a range of alloy wheel styles, including these five-double-spoke items, which measure 8 x 19-inches and come wrapped in with 225/35 tyres.

When it comes to lowering the Beetle customers can opt for either a coilover set-up or the company’s more elaborate G-Ride air ride system. Once fitted, the driver can raise the car by as much as 90 mm or drop it to the ground at the flick of a switch, allowing practicality and a reduction in monthly sump replacement costs.

MR also offers ECU software upgrades, an example being the 2.0 TDI, which can be massaged to produce up to 154 kW (207 hp) and 420 Nm of torque.

Read more

Rally France: double celebrations for Sebastien Ogier

by

2013 Rally France
Volkswagen Motorsport had cause for double celebrations in France today after newly-crowned World Champion Sebastien Ogier put the icing on the cake with a win on home soil.

Ogier had wrapped up the title by the end of the first stage of the rally and appeared to lose focus the following day, dropping down to fifth place on Friday. Ford’s Thierry Neuville had been holding a commanding lead until he destroyed a tyre after running wide on Saturday afternoon, leaving Sordo, Latvala, Loeb and Ogier to fight it out on the final day with just five seconds separating the four cars.

Sebastien Loeb crashed out of his last ever event on Sunday morning, while the muddy conditions saw Latvala slip down to third and his team-mate Ogier pick up the pace to overtake Dani Sordo before ending the day over twelve seconds ahead of the Citroen driver.

“I did not find any rhythm on day one. We were almost 30 seconds off the pace by the evening, and I never thought that we could still win this rally. Then I thought: I can’t just give up without a fight. So I pressed my internal reset button and started driving fast,” said a jubilant Ogier.

Read more

Mercedes G 63 AMG 6×6 crops up with €534,310 price tag

by

Mercedes G 63 AMG 6x6
Here’s the first example of Mercedes’ insane G 63 AMG 6×6 that we’ve seen for sale, but you’ll need to dig deep to meet the €534,310 asking price.

Featuring a colossal 15.75 inches of ground clearance, the mammoth machine is propelled by a 5.5-litre AMG V8 biturbo engine, which sends 400 kW (544 hp) and 760 Nn of torque to a AMG SPEEDSHIFT PLUS 7G-TRONIC automatic transmission on the way to the innovative 6×6 drive with central through-drive axle. If that seems a little under-powered to you, there’s always Brabus’ 515 kW (700 hp) B63S-700 6×6.

Production will be limited to just thirty example, so don’t hang around. And don’t be misled by the photo as the dealership, Berlin’s AB Luxury Cars, notes that it will actually be taking delivery of a metallic black model. Don’t say you weren’t warned.

Read more