German Car Scene

Month: December 2013

  • Porsche 911 Turbo vs Ultra Four Buggy vs Mustang

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    Following the recent SEMA Show, this latest offering Motor Trend video sees Fred, Finnegan and Greg meet up at El Toro Marine Base to drag race vehicles from their respective worlds.

    Fred brought an LS3-powered Ultra Four Buggy from Bomber Fabrication, while Finnegan showed up in a kick-ass 1970 Harbinger Mustang built by Agent 47. Banging the drum for the tuners, Greg took a 2007 Porsche 911 Turbo, which has been fettled by BBi Autosport to churn out 600 horsepower at the wheels

    Which is your money on?
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  • Porsche 918 Spyder at Catalunya

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    Here’s a video from Option Auto featuring Ian Kuah in the Porsche 918 Spyder as he tackles Catalunya Circuit following Matthias Hoffsümmer in a new 991 GT3.

    At the heart of this plug-in hybrid hypercar 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).
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  • BMW 4 Series Coupe by Hamann

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    Laupheim-based tuning specialist Hamann Motorsport has revealed its range of options to suit the BMW 4 Series Coupe.

    Performance upgrades based on ECU software optimization are available for all models including both rear-wheel drive and xDrive variants. Starting with the 420i, output is raised from 135 kW (184 hp) and 270 Nm to 153 kW (208 hp) and 315 Nm, with the 428i jumping from 180 kW (245 hp) and 350 Nm to 200 kW (272 hp) and 392 Nm, and the range-topping 435i from 225 kW (306 hp) and 400 Nm to 256 kW (348 hp) and 449 Nm.

    Diesel fans aren’t overlooked either, with the 420d now producing 161 kW (216 hp) and 440 Nm – up from the series figures of 135 kW (184 hp) and 380 Nm, the 430d from 190 kW (258 hp) and 560 Nm to 217 kW (295 hp) and 605 Nm, and the meaty 435d from 230 kW (313 hp) and 630 Nm to 260 kW (355 hp) and 695 Nm.

    Other items include a choice of lowering spring kits, which provide a drop in ride height of either 20 mm or 30 mm, and the company’s ANNIVERSARY EVO multi-spoke alloy wheels. They’re available in either a silver or matte black finish and come wrapped in Vredestein Ultrac Vorti R tyres. Moving inside, owners can also purchase aluminium pedals, a foot rest and floor mats.
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  • Audi crossover concept previewed ahead of Detroit

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    Audi has released a handful of renderings of a new crossover set to be unveiled at next year’s North American International Auto Show in Detroit (January 18 – 25).

    Measuring 4.20 metres in length – almost identical to the company’s Crosslane Coupe, the sculpted three-door concept rides on 19-inch multi-spoke alloy wheels and features raised suspension for additional ground clearance, Matrix LED headlights, a trademark e-tron single-frame grille with finer chrome bars and rugged aluminum underbody guards at the front and rear.

    The short overhangs, sloping roof line and coupe-like rear all serve to provide an athletic appearance, while the badging indicates a plug-in hybrid drivetrain beneath the skin. Perhaps the system in Audi’s forthcoming A3 e-tron, namely a 110 kW (150 hp) 1.4 TFSI mated to a newly designed six-speed e-S tronic transmission which also houses a 75 kW electric motor, could be utilized.

    The previously seen Crosslane Coupe used a 95 kW (130 hp) 1.5-litre three-cylinder TFSI along with a pair of electric motors developing 50 kW (68 hp) and 85 kW (116 hp).
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  • Skoda developing Fabia R5 rally car

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    Skoda has announced that it is developing a new Fabia R5 rally car for the 2015 season.

    Set to replace the current Fabia Fabia Super 2000, the R5 is seen by many as the future of rallying, which is currently in a downward spiral due largely to many manufacturers refusing to spend the kind of money required to fund a competitive team.

    Earlier this year, Volkswagen agreed to freeze WRC car development in order to keep Citroen and M-Sport in the championship, but with Citroen, Peugeot and Ford already putting the finishing touches on their own R5 class cars, there’s no doubt that Volkswagen will follow suit, especially given its connections with Skoda.

    With a 1.6-litre turbocharged engine, the R5 is said to be around one second per kilometre slower than a WRC car – while costing as much as forty percent less thanks to the fact that it shares many more components with its road-going counterpart.

    “Through the many international successes it has enjoyed, the current Fabia Super 2000 has been demonstrating our technical prowess for years, but the R5 category succeeds the Super 2000 class. This way, we are able to continue to compete successfully in international championships and to push ahead with our customer program. Entering the R5 class is a logical step for Skoda. As it stands, we are assuming that the new car will be homologated by mid-2015,” said Skoda Motorsport Director Michal Hrabánek.

    [Source: Skoda]

  • Bugatti sells its 400th Veyron

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    Bugatti is celebrating another milestone today after selling its 400th Veyron, meaning just fifty remain up for grabs.

    The car, one of the three Jean-Pierre Wimille editions from the company’s ‘Les Legendes de Bugatti’ range, has gone to a lucky customer in the Middle East who had to part with €2.13 million to get his name on the log book.

    Based on the Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse, the special variant is finished in blue clear-coated carbon fibre and light Wimille Bleu paintwork as a nod to Wimille’s victorious Type 57G tank-bodied racer and features that elephantine 8.0-litre W16 from the 431 km/h Super Sport, which develops 895 kW (1,200 hp) and 1,500 Nm of torque, rather than the usual 746 kW (1,001 hp) and 1,250 Nm seen in the regular open-topped model.

    “With the Veyron, Bugatti has established itself as the most exclusive and most luxurious super sports car brand in the world. The Veyron is a unique success story and sets a high standard for the future of Bugatti,” said the President of Bugatti Automobiles Dr Wolfgang Schreiber.
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