German Car Scene

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  • TechArt Porsche 911 Carrera 4S

    TechArt Porsche 911 Carrera 4S
    Leonberg-based Porsche tuning specialist TechArt has revealed images and details of its new 911 Carrera 4 program ahead of its official début in Geneva next month.

    Visually, this Emerald Green and black model wears a front spoiler with integrated splitter, side skirts, mirror casings, a ducktail spoiler, raised wing and diffuser section for the rear bumper. For now, the only engine modification is a valve-controlled sports exhaust system which culminates in a pair of centrally-mounted tailpipes. The company’s new Noselift System allows 60 mm more ground clearance at the touch of a button, helping to stop that front spoiler from being lunched by speed bumps.

    TechArt offers a wide choice of alloy wheels, including its five-spoke Formula wheel or the lightweight Formula III forged wheel in a five-double spoke design, which offers a weight advantage of up to 15 percent compared to a cast wheel. Both wheels are available in 20- and 21-inch diameter sizes.

    TechArt promises that it can create any interior for your 991, but its show car will be wearing black leather and Alcantara with contrasting green elements and stitching, carbon fibre inserts and a three-spoke sports steering wheel with flappy paddle shifters. The sill plates and seat shells were also colour-matched to the body.
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  • BMW Concept 4 Series Coupe commercial

    BMW Concept 4 Series Coupe
    As part of its new campaign focusing on design, BMW has released this new commercial featuring its stunning Concept 4 Series Coupe.

    “Our products promise sheer driving pleasure. But the anticipation of what can be experienced with a BMW, begins at first sight. The new campaign showcases the dynamics of design in a surprisingly different way,” explains Andreas-Christoph Hofmann, head of BMW Brand Communications.

    Designed the be the two-door counterpart to BMW’s F30 3 Series, the 4 Series is 2,810 millimetres in length, making it 50 mm longer than the E92 3 Series Coupe and 44 mm wider at 1,826 mm. Visually, the F32 is well proportioned with a long hood, muscular wheel arches housing 20-inch wheels, a sloping roofline and minimal overhangs.

    Can you imagine it as a DTM car? Ooh. We’d do a rendering for you, but we’re a bunch of incompetent buffoons, so that won’t be happening.
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  • New Porsche 911 RSR concludes successful Sebring test

    2013 Porsche 911 RSR
    Following its latest session at Sebring International Raceway, Porsche has announced that development of the new 911 RSR, based on its 991 generation model, is nearly complete.

    Set to compete at this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans and in the World Endurance Championship, two cars will be fielded in the GTE category by Porsche AG Team Manthey, with Olaf Manthey in the role of team manager.

    Porsche works drivers Richard Lietz and Patrick Pilet shared driving duties at the Florida circuit. Lietz will take part in the WEC as well as Le Mans with Marc Lieb in car number 92, while Pilet joins forces with Joerg Bergmeister in the number 91 vehicle. It will celebrate its race début on April 14 at the WEC season-opener in Silverstone.

    Porsche has yet to give any specification details, but in a recent Pistonheads‘ interview, the company’s R&D chief Wolfgang Hatz confirmed that it will use the same 338 kW/460 hp 4.0-litre unit that saw service in last year’s 911 GT3 RSR.

    “We are very pleased with how the testing has gone so far. Our goal is to be well prepared for the challenges of the very strong GTE class in the WEC and at Le Mans,” said Hartmut Kristen, Porsche’s Head of Motorsport.
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  • Volkswagen to launch the XL1

    Volkswagen XL1
    Volkswagen has just confirmed that its XL1 Super Efficient Vehicle will go into production at the company’s Osnabrueck plant in Germany.

    Measuring 3,888 mm in length, 1,665 mm in width and standing just 1,153 mm tall, the plug-in hybrid two-seater is similar in length and width to Volkswagen’s Polo, but its low-slung body is actually 129 mm lower than that of Porsche’s Boxster. The most aerodynamic car ever made, with a Cd figure of 0.189, the XL1 tips the scales at a mere 795 kg, helping it to return an insane fuel consumption figure of 0.9 l/100 km (around 313 mpg) and 21 g/km of CO2.

    Powering this quirky machine is a combination of an 800 cc two-cylinder TDI engine, developing 35 kW (48 hp) and 120 Nm of torque, mated to a seven-speed DSG transmission, along with an electric motor producing 20 kW (27 hp) and 100 Nm. On the road, a top speed of 160 km/h is achievable, with 100 km/h appearing in 12,7 seconds. Amazingly, the XL1 is able to cruise at 100 km/h using a mere 6.2 kW (8 hp), while in electric-only mode it requires less than 0.1 kWh to cover one kilometre, and can cover a range of up to 35 kilometres.

    This is fantastic news, if only because it will result in Prius owners weeping into their Starbucks’ soy no-foam caramel macchiatos.

    On a side note, we can’t wait for Volkswagen release its up! with this engine, as Ulrich Hackenberg claimed it would be doing, last year.
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  • BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe by 3D Design

    3D Design BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe
    Japanese styling specialist 3D Design has revealed its new options for BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe models fitted with the M Sport Package.

    The aero package comprises of a front spoiler with carbon fibre lip, diffuser section and boot lid spoiler. There’s also a new stainless steel exhaust system, which culminates in quadruple 100 mm tailpipes, a set of metal foot pedals and a choice of alloy wheels, including the Type 3 forged items pictured here, available in 19 and 20-inch diameters.
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  • Audi A3 e-tron heading to Geneva

    Audi A3 e-tron
    Audi has revealed that it will taking the new A3 e-tron to Geneva next month, providing what Audi calls, “a realistic glimpse into the future of mobility.”

    Based on the new five-door A3 Sportback, the A3 e-tron is a plug-in hybrid with a system output of 150 kW (204 hp) and 350 Nm, allowing a 0-100 km/h time of 7.6 seconds and a top speed of 222 km/h (138 mph), while consuming a average of 1.5 litres of fuel every 100 kilometres and emitting 35 grams per km.

    Propelling the A3 is 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. Depending on the journey, the driver can choose to use the combustion engine alone, or just the electric drive or in hybrid mode. In electric mode alone the A3 can reach a top speed of 130 km/h and cover a maximum range of 50 kilometres.

    Visually, this A3 wears a revised, single-frame grille with finer bars, with similar strips over the air intakes and a special rear diffuser. The look is completed with those familiar-looking multi-spoke e-tron alloys wheels.
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