German Car Scene

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  • Audi RS 7 Sportback revealed

    Audi RS 7 Sportback
    Audi has released details and images of its stunning new RS 7 Sportback model to coincide with the car’s début in Detroit.

    Sharing the same twin-turbocharged 4.0 TFSI V8 engine as the current RS 6 Avant, the RS 7 has 412 kW (560 hp) and 700 Nm of torque at its disposal, which is delivered to all four wheels via a specially tuned eight-speed tiptronic transmission, allowing an impressive 0-100 km/h time of 3.9 seconds and a limited 250 km/h top speed, which can be raised to 280 km/h (174 mph) with the optional dynamic package and 305 km/h (190 mph) with the dynamic package plus. The thermal management and eco start-stop system help to achieve an average fuel consumption of 9.8 l/100 km (24 US mpg), with Audi claiming that its innovative cylinder on demand (COD) system can reduce consumption by as much as 20 percent, depending on how heavy your right foot is.

    The RS 7 rides on adaptive air suspension with controlled damping, which lowers the body by 20 mm and constantly adjusts to suit the condition of the road, but if you require something a little sharper there’s the sport suspension plus option with Dynamic Ride Control which uses springs and adjustable shock absorbers. Helping to slow the Sportback down is a quartet of vented discs, with 390 mm front discs gripped by six-piston calipers, but if you’re thinking about hitting the track we’d go for the 420 mm carbon ceramic option.

    Sitting on 20-inch five twin-spoke forged wheels, the RS 7 wears xenon plus headlights, an aggressive front fascia with matt aluminium air intakes and high-gloss black honeycomb grilles, while the rear gains an extending spoiler, diffuser section and a pair of large, elliptical tailpipe. Inside the cabin, there’s a pair of black Alcantara and leather-upholstered RS sport seats with integrated head restraints and RS 7 logos, three-zone automatic air conditioning, MMI navigation plus, parking system plus and cruise control.

    carbon styling package, the front splitter and the diffuser are somewhat more boldly shaped. Other options include the exterior mirrors with exposed carbon housings and the all-LED headlights

    Notable options include all-LED headlights, carbon fibre mirror casings, splitter and diffuser, honeycomb-quilted Valcona leather trim, a head-up display, Bang & Olufsen’s Advanced Sound System and the Bluetooth online car phone – delivering web-based information.
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  • Volkswagen CrossBlue Concept

    Volkswagen CrossBlue Concept
    Volkswagen has chosen to debut its new CrossBlue Concept model at this year’s Detroit Motor Show.

    The midsize diesel plug-in hybrid SUV measures 4,987 mm in length, 2,015 mm in width and stands 1,733 mm tall, meaning it will slot between the company’s Tiguan and Touareg vehicles in a segment that will see it compete against the likes of the Ford Explorer and Toyota’s Highlander in the American market. Sitting on Volkswagen’s MQB platform, propulsion comes from the new 142 kW (190 hp) 2.0-litre EA288 diesel engine mated to a six-speed DSG along with a pair of electric motors. A tunnel-mounted 9.8 kWh lithium-ion module feeds the 40 kW (54 hp) unit on the front axle and one rated at 85 kW 114 hp) on the rear. On the road, 100 km/h appears in 7.5 seconds, while the top speed of 204 km/h (127 mph) is reduced to 120 km/h (75 mph) when running purely on electricity.

    In electric mode – using the rear motor only, a range of 33 kilometres and 89 MPGe is achievable; when running on diesel alone the combined consumption is 6.7 l/100 km (35 US mpg), but running in hybrid mode, Volkswagen estimates that you will get through just 2.1 litres of fuel every 100 km (112 US mpg).

    Seemingly nearer to a production model than the previously seen Cross Coupé Concept, the CrossBlue looks like an Americanized Touareg with its bold aluminium radiator grille and flared wheel arches that appear to have been borrowed from the Jeep Grand Cherokee. Rumoured to hit dealerships by 2015, those three rows of two seats will morph into seven, meaning the eleven families that bought a Routan will be able to replace it with one of these.
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  • mcchip-dkr MC700 Mercedes SLS AMG

    mcchip-dkr MC700 Mercedes SLS AMG
    Obergartzem tuning specialist mcchip-dkr has revealed more details of its MC700 program for the Mercedes-Benz SLS 63 AMG.

    Available in two levels of tune, the company fits its supercharger kit, along with optimized ECU software and a Capristo performance exhaust system with adjustable flap control. Priced at €69,900, Stage One sees the 6.2-litre V8’s output rise from 420 kW (571 hp) and 649 Nm (479 lb/ft) of torque to 507 kW (680 hp) and 770 Nm (568 lb/ft), while the brawnier Stage Two option, which is only available for export and costs an additional €9,099, involves sports catalysts and more aggressive ECU tweaking to produce 526 kW (706 hp) and 793 Nm (585 lb/ft).

    The company can also provide a complete KW sports suspension kit with HLS 4 (Hydraulic Lift System), allowing both front and rear axles to be raised back to factory height at the flick of a switch, avoiding potential sump and floor damage. Pricing – including installation – stands at €12,999.

    Finally, this particular vehicle has been covered in a matte grey body wrap by CoverEFX. If you feel that your life would be incomplete without it, you’ll need to part with €5,999.
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  • Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class revealed

    Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class
    Following on from the company’s Concept Style Coupe, Mercedes-Benz has released images and details of its new CLA-Class model which makes its official world premiere at the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week (January 15 to 18) in Berlin.

    Boasting dimensions of 4,630 mm in length, 2,032 mm in width and standing 1,348 mm tall, the CLA, which is almost identical to Volkswagen’s CC in size, shares the same MFA (Mercedes Front-wheel [drive] Architecture) platform as its A-Class sibling and takes styling cues from the five-door hatchback, displaying a similar mix of fluidity and muscularity. We’re particularly like the aggressive diamond-look grille, LED-infused headlights, large air intakes and frameless side windows. The slippery design also returns a class-leading Cd figure of just 0.23.

    The CLA 250 and CLA 250 4MATIC will be offered at launch in the United States, with power coming from a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo engine, producing 155 kW (211 hp) and 350 Nm of torque, which is mated to a 7-speed Dual Clutch Transmission. Europe gets a wider choice of engines, starting with the CLA 180 and CLA 200, which develop 90 kW (122 hp) and 115 kW (156 hp) respectively from a fuel-injected 1.6-litre unit combined with a six-speed manual. Diesel fans are catered for the 2.2-litre CLA 220 CDI, which churns out 125 kW (170 hp) and 350 Nm with cogs switched via the 7G-DCT gearbox.

    Standard equipment includes a 5.8-inch multimedia display, Attention Assist, Brake hold function and Hill-Start Assist, radar-based Collision Prevention Assist and 17-inch five-spoke alloys. Options such as the high-resolution 7-inch display with COMAND system, satellite radio, a surround sound system, heated front seats, dual-zone climate control, auto dimming mirrors can also be added, while the Sport Package comprises of 18-inch AMG wheels, lower suspension, Sport body styling and perforated front discs.

    Due to hit dealerships in the second half of the year, pricing for this baby CLS will start at a pretty reasonable €28,977.
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  • Mercedes-Benz C 63 AMG by Vorsteiner

    Vorsteiner Mercedes-Benz C 63 AMG
    Following on from its kit for the Mercedes-Benz C 63 AMG Coupe, Vorsteiner has developed an equally subtle program to suit the Saloon version.

    Constructed from autoclaved pre-preg carbon fibre, the clear coated aero package comprises of a front spoiler, side skirts and rear diffuser section. There’s also a set of embossed floor mats to rest your feet on. Sadly, we don’t have any photos of the mats, and cannot apologise enough for letting you down.
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  • Flamin’ Lamborghini Aventador

    Lamborghini Aventador
    We’ve nothing to add to the title, really. It’s basically a stock Lamborghini Aventador demonstrating its flaming abilities using its stock 515 kW (700 hp) 6.5-litre V12 engine. Doesn’t sound too bad either; just needs a bag of marshmallows for toasting.
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