German Car Scene

Month: November 2013

  • Porsche 991 Turbo by TechArt

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    Leonberg-based tuning specialist TechArt has announced details of its Porsche 991 Turbo program ahead of The Essen Motor Show (November 30 to December 8).

    Constructed from a lightweight fibre composite of carbon and polyurethane RIM, the body package comprises a lower front spoiler, rear wing, roof-mounted spoiler, diffuser and side skirts. Other components include headlight trims and sport tailpipes. As well as its usual wide choice of alloy wheels, including the Formula and Formula III forged designs in 20 and 21-inch diameters, TechArt will be debuting the new Formula IV five-double-spoke wheel. All can be specified in bicolour, custom colours or in a ceramic burnished glossy coating.

    Moving inside, the company can provide anything from a simple carbon fibre inlay package or three-spoke multi-functional steering wheel to a completely reupholstered cabin in such materials as leather and Alcantara with decorative stitching. Extra pieces include aluminium sill plates and pedals, dial faces and trim rings.

    The company’s Noselift System allows 60 mm more ground clearance at the touch of a button, while the only engine modification currently available is a valve-controlled exhaust system which culminates in a sports muffler, but there will be power upgrades available at the beginning of the year.
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  • Audi R8 V10 plus by B&B

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    Siegen-based tuninghouse B&B Automobiltechnik has detailed its new programs to suit the Audi R8 V10 plus.

    Already developing 404 kW (550 hp) and 540 Nm of torque from its 5.2-litre V10 FSI engine is series guise, B&B’s Stage One conversion uses remapped ECO software to release 595 hp (438 kW) and 560 Nm, while the next level involves carbon air filters, optimized air intakes and a stainless steel racing exhaust system with remote-controlled flaps, resulting in 449 kW (610 hp) and 570 Nm.

    The final BB R8 M20/3 package requires further massaging of the car’s electronics, including a modified injection system and ignition, allowing the wick to be turned up to 462 kW (628 hp) and 585 Nm. Those tweaks mean 100 km/h arrives in just 3.2 seconds, with the 0-200 km/h time dropping to 9.6s and a new top speed of 328 km/h (203 mph).

    Other available components include an adjustable coilover suspension kit and light alloy wheels measuring 9 and 11 x 20-inches and wearing 235/30 and 305/25 rubber.
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  • Lamborghini Gallardo by xXx Performance

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    Bochum tuning specialist xXx Performance has revealed its latest project based on a 2005 Lamborghini Gallardo.

    Wrapped in black chrome foil, the supercar features LSD gull-wing door hinges and wears a wide body package consisting of fender flares and side skirts, while the factory bumpers have been replaced by later LP560-4 items along with the carbon fibre mirror casings, engine cover and rear wing from the Gallardo Superleggera. An aggressive diffuser completes the conversion. Inside, the cabin has been reupholstered in black leather finished with decorative stitching and the company logo.

    The H&R coilover set-up was modified to work in conjunction with a G-Ride air ride system, allowing the Coupe to be slammed at the touch of a button over those humongous new rollers. Measuring 9 and 12 x 20-inches, and featuring body-coloured foil, the mbDesign KV1 Deep Concave wheels wear 235/30 and 305/25 Hankook S1 Evo tyres.

    Lurking beneath the engine cover xXx has fitted a performance exhaust system with Bluetooth-controlled flap, a BMC carbon airbox and remapped the 5.0-litre V10’s ECU software to see power rise from 373 kW (500 hp) to 418 kW (560 hp), but if that doesn’t float your boat you can always opt for the twin-turbocharger program, which yields 882 kW (1,200 hp).
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  • Mercedes-Benz reveals GLA 45 AMG Concept

    Mercedes-Benz GLA 45 AMG Concept
    Mercedes-Benz has unveiled a GLA 45 AMG Concept version of its GLA-Class crossover in Los Angeles.

    Utilizing the same platform and drivetrain as the A 45 AMG, the GLA has 265 kW (360 hp) and 450 Nm of torque at its disposal thanks to that all-aluminium AMG 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged engine.

    That power is transferred to a revised version of the company’s AMG 4MATIC all-wheel drive system via a SPEEDSHIFT DCT seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox, resulting in a sub-five second 0-100 km/h time and a limited top speed of 250 km/h.

    Uprated hardware includes an AMG braking system with cross-drilled 350 x 32 mm front discs and 330 x 22 mm rears, tweaked speed-sensitive sports steering, stiffer steering knuckles and more rigid bearings in the lower link plane for increased cornering properties.

    Visually the Concept wears a matte grey twin blade radiator grille, AMG front apron with oversized air intakes and carbon flics, a rear apron with air outlets and diffuser, raised roof spoiler, twin trapezoidal tailpipes and matte 21-inch AMG light-alloy wheels with red flanges.

    “With the Concept GLA 45 AMG, we are setting a stake firmly in the ground of the strongly growing market segment of compact SUVs. The most powerful four-cylinder engine in the world and the AMG Performance 4MATIC all-wheel-drive system add up to make the Concept GLA 45 AMG a unique proposition,” said Tobias Moers, Chairman of the Board of Management of Mercedes-AMG GmbH.
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  • Porsche 911 Turbo S vs Nissan GT-R


    This latest video from Auto Express sees the new Porsche 911 Turbo S and Nissan’s GT-R heading to the circuit to fight it out.

    Both are big-power all-wheel drive vehicles, but the Nissan uses a biturbo 3.8-litre V6 developing 404 kW (542 hp) and 632 Nm of torque, while the 911 is propelled by a twin-turbocharged 3.8-litre flat-six engine churning out 412 kW (560 hp) and 710 Nm.
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  • Alpina B4 BiTurbo Coupe revealed


    Alpina has unveiled its new BMW 4 Series Coupe-based B4 BiTurbo Coupe at The Tokyo Motor Show earlier today.

    Propulsion comes from a twin-turbocharged straight-six 3.0 litre engine, which delivers 306 kW (410 hp) and 600 Nm of torque to the road via a 8-speed SWITCH-TRONIC sport-automatic transmission. Performance is impressive with 100 km/h arriving in just 4.2 seconds and top speed a rather tasty 305 km/h (190 mph), while average fuel consumption works out at 7.6l/100km with 177g/km CO2 emissions.

    Visually, Alpina adds an embossed front apron with lip spoiler, a boot lid spoiler, a stainless steel Akrapovic sports exhaust system and 20-inch Alpina Classic alloy wheels wrapped in Michelin Pilot Super Sport tyres.

    Chassis upgrades include a front strut brace and Alpina’s adaptive sport suspension with electronically adjustable dampers, while the uprated braking system utilizes 370 mm front discs and 345 mm rear discs gripped by 4-piston and 2-piston aluminium brake calipers.

    Available to purchase from May, Alpina will also offer a version with BMW’s xDrive system on LHD cars.
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