German Car Scene

Month: January 2014

  • Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee: Jay Leno

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    In this new episode of Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee, Jerry picks up fellow comedian and petrolhead Jay Leno in a 1949 Porsche 356/2.

    The 356 was originally created by Ferdinand ‘Ferry’ Porsche (son of Dr. Ing. Ferdinand Porsche, founder of the company). Like its cousin, the Volkswagen Beetle, the 356 made use of a four-cylinder, air-cooled engine, but with an increased capacity and Porsche’s own cylinder head. Fewer and fewer parts were shared between Volkswagen and Porsche as the car evolved.

    Very early bodies were hand crafted out of aluminium, but later constructed from steel by Reutter Carosserie-Werke, who also built Beetle bodies and later went on to become the seat manufacturer Recaro GmbH & Co following Porsche’s acquisition of the body factory.
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  • Hartmann Mercedes-Benz Citan

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    Hartmann Tuning has revealed its interpretation of how an urban delivery van should look, using the Mercedes Citan as a base.

    Produced by the company’s Vansports sub-brand, the MetroStream program includes a front spoiler, side skirts and rear apron, along with a replacement radiator grille section and suspension system dropping the Citan 25 mm closer to the road. The vehicle is finished in (what the company calls…) an attractive coloured foil.

    Vansports can also provide owners with ECU software upgrades, optimized electronic accelerator kits and accessories such as wheel and tyre packages.
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  • Audi R8 LMS ultra vs R8 V10 road car

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    This new video from DRIVE sees Chris Harris experience what most people would class as a dream day: comparing Audi’s R8 LMS ultra racecar with the road-going R8 V10 – on the Nurburgring Grand Prix Circuit.

    Both propelled by that muscular 5.2-litre V10 engine, the S tronic-equipped road car has 386 kW (525 hp) and 530 Nm of torque to play with, while regulatory restrictors bring that figure down in the LMS ultra. It does, however, make up for that deficit thanks to such goodies as that extreme aero package, fully adjustable traction control and braking software, and a sequential, pneumatically activated 6-speed transmission.

    No wonder he’s begging Audi to give him a seat.
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  • 1957 Porsche 356A Outlaw reviewed

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    The latest episode of Jay Leno’s Garage sees the chatshow host checking out a 1957 Porsche 356A Outlaw before taking it for a drive.

    Spending around 2000 hours of time over seven years, owner Chuck Olenyk turned this once desolate Coupe into a classic Speedster with all factory parts – by himself in his home garage!

    We love it, especially the stance and early 911 Fuchs alloy wheels.
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  • A history of quattro GmbH

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    The latest video from DRIVE provides a brief history of quattro GmbH.

    A subsidiary of AUDI AG, quattro GmbH exists to develop specialist and high performance automobiles for the Ingolstadt company, including the RS 3, RS 4, RS 5 and the R8 supercar. Taking its name from the iconic four-wheel drive Audi Quattro, a lower-case ‘q’ was used in honour of that innovative vehicle which went on to spawn such machines as the Group B Sport quattro S1 and Sport quattro S1 Pikes Peak.
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  • Audi confirms plans to produce the R8 e-tron

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    Audi has given its strongest indication yet that the company’s R8 e-tron will be built.

    Previously citing the car’s 200 kilometre (124m) range as a stumbling block, insiders at Ingolstadt are now claiming that advances in lithium-ion battery technology featuring an alternative chemical process has increased that figure to almost 400 kilometres.

    Attending the Detroit Motor Show, Audi’s new head, Ulrich Hackenberg, confirmed that he was discussing the project with the board, adding: “I think electric drive has a big future. With battery tech now it is vital to have plug-in hybrids, but as batteries improve we will move more towards all-electric.”

    In its current incarnation the R8 e-tron utilizes a A 49 KWh lithium-ion battery to feed electric motors generating a total output of 230 kW (308 hp) and 820 Nm of torque. 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).

    No date for sale has been set, but we believe that it will be added to the next-generation R8 range towards the end of next year.
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