German Car Scene

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  • DTM: Paffett wins at the Lausitzring

    Gary Paffett
    Britain’s Gary Paffett took the win for Mercedes following today’s Lausitz DTM round – his first since last year’s race at Brands Hatch.

    Starting from second on the grid Paffett enjoyed a rocket of a start, passing team-mate Christian Vietoris on the first corner. Meanwhile, Mike Rockenfeller’s Audi RS 5 DTM came in on lap three to switch from standard to the softer ‘option’ tyres, which saw him jump from sixth to second position leapfrogging Vietoris. Paffett pitted for harder rubber and came back out with his lead intact, eventually finishing the race almost seven seconds ahead of Rockenfeller.

    Polesitter Vietoris took third, while Robert Wickens, who had initially been looking good for a podium place, couldn’t stay with the pack on standard tyres and had to settle for fourth. Jamie Green came home fifth – his best since signing for Audi.

    BMW saw a reversal of its recent form, with Bruno Spengler’s sixth the best it could muster. Spengler now shares the championship lead with Mike Rockenfeller on 59 points but is classed as second due to countback.

    “After a disappointing start to the season, the team has worked tirelessly in recent weeks and this victory is the best reward for all the hard work of our team,” said the race winner.
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  • Mercedes A 45 AMG goes flat out

    Mercedes-Benz A 45 AMG
    Here’s a pair of videos from Autocar and Auto Express featuring the feisty Mercedes A 45 AMG.

    The first is a review by Steve Sutcliffe which sees the A 45 stretching its legs on the track, while the second piece of film, with Mat Watson, focuses on a drag race with the company’s mighty CLS 63 AMG Wagon. Enjoying 410 kW (557 hp) 720 Nm of torque thanks its 5.5-litre bi-turbo V8, surely the CLS will destroy its cheeky sibling?

    Equipped with the most powerful 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine in the world, the A 45 AMG is propelled by an all-aluminium, turbocharged AMG lump producing 265 kW (360 hp) and 450 Nm of torque, which sends power to AMG’s 4MATIC all-wheel drive via a SPEEDSHIFT DCT seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox.

    On the road, 100 km/h appears in 4.6 seconds and top speed is limited to a meagre 250 km/h, with consumption working out at 6.9 litres per 100 kilometres in NEDC combined mode and CO2 emissions of 161g/km.

    So – given the choice – would you choose this, the 235 kW (320 hp) BMW M135i or Audi’s 250 kw (340 hp) RS 3 Sportback?
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  • Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Borrasca Roadster by Inden Design

    Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Borrasca Roadster
    Flammersbach-based tuner Inden Design has released details of its Borrasca program for the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Roadster.

    Looking pretty much indistinguishable from the SLS AMG Black Series body package, Inden’s conversion includes a restyled hood, new front fascia with carbon fibre splitter, wider fenders with carbon inserts, vented side skirts and rear bumper with air outlets and diffuser section. The quadruple tailpipes are genuine AMG items, funnily enough. A set of sport springs drop the Roadster 15 mm over a set of the company’s 10.5 and 11.5 x 21-inch alloy wheels wrapped in 265/30 and 295/25 Continental tyres.

    Performance-wise, Inden adds a stainless steel exhaust system with electronic valve control, along with remapped ECU software, which sees output from the 6.2-litre V8 unit jump from 420 kW (571 hp) to 474 kW (635 hp).
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  • BMW 4 Series Coupe surfaces

    BMW 4 Series Coupe
    Here are the first images of BMW’s brand spanking new F32 4 Series Coupe.

    Measuring 4,638 mm in length, it’s slightly longer than the 4,620 mm 3 Series Coupe that it replaces, with a wheelbase of 2,810 mm – 50 mm over the E92’s. 43 mm wider at 1,825 mm, it possesses a 45 mm wider front track (1,545 mm) and 80 mm wider rear track (1,593 mm) while stands 16 mm lower at 1,362 mm.

    We’d like to have seen more of the Concept‘s styling details filter through to the production version, but this well proportioned Coupe still features a few nice touches, including a bold kidney grille and aggressive front fascia with larger central intake, C-shape outlets in the front fenders to aid cooling while improving airflow over the arches, a sloping roofline and more fluid wrap-around rear lights than the 3 Series Saloon.

    Three engines will be available at 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. Next is the 428i with a TwinPower Turbo 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine delivering 180 kW (245 hp) and 350 Nm, followed by the range-topping 435i utilizing the company’s delicious TwinPower Turbo 3.0-litre six-pot delivering 225 kW (306 hp) and 400 Nm. A 135 kW (184 hp) 420i will follow later in the year along with a 430d and 435d using different versions of the 3.0-litre six-cylinder diesel engine producing 253 hp (189 kW) and 230 kW (313 hp).
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  • Prodrive tests the MINI RX

    Prodrive MINI RX
    Prodrive has been testing its new MINI RX at Turweston aerodrome today ahead of this month’s X Games in Munich where Liam Doran will be behind the wheel.

    The Banbury motorsport specialist didn’t provide exact figures, but pointed out that the RX is 50% more powerful than its 224 kW (300 hp) WRC counterpart, while enjoying a 10% reduction in weight, a far better chassis and more controllable throttle. To quote Prodrive – it shifts.

    “The acceleration is phenomenal. When combined with the inherent balance of the MINI WRC chassis and its ability to be driven so precisely, it is going to give the 2.0 litre cars something to think about,” said Prodrive WRC Team principal Dave Wilcock.

    Following Munich, the MINI will then head to America for the Los Angeles X Games and two Global Rallycross events.
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  • Volkswagen groove up!

    Volkswagen groove up!
    Volkswagen has announced details of its groove up! model, which comes complete with an upgraded Fender sound system.

    Externally the groove wears orange paintwork with contrasting black mirrors along with tinted side windows, while the 16-inch ‘upsilon’ alloy wheels are standard fare. Moving inside past the aluminium sill plates, the cabin features leather on the handbrake lever, steering wheel and shift lever – all with orange stitching. The orange theme continues on the dashboard panel and piping on the new ‘groove’ design seating.

    As with Volkswagen’s Beetle Fender Edition, the groove up! enjoys the benefits of a sound system from the instrument and amplifier specialist. Packing 300 watts of power, there are two tweeters with neodymium magnets in the A-pillars, two woofers in the front doors, two full-range speakers in the rear and dual voice coil subwoofer located in the spare wheel well.

    Available immediately, the groove can be specified with either a 44 kW (60 hp) and 55 kW (75 hp) petrol unit. Pricing starts at €13,775.
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