German Car Scene

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  • Volkswagen Caddy Cross edition


    Volkswagen has revealed details of the Caddy Cross edition ahead of its official début at Hanover’s IAA Commercial Vehicles show later this week.

    Finished in eye-catching Viper Green, the Caddy Cross edition features a rugged body kit which extends around the lower sections of the colour-coded bumpers and along the side sills and wheel arches. Other details include silver roof rails, offroader-style front and rear undercarriage guards and a set of 17-inch ‘Canyon’ alloy wheels.

    Moving inside the cabin, there are two-tone front seats with contrasting door panel inserts, an adjustable centre armrest and a leather-trimmed steering wheel.

    Due to hit showrooms in the first half of next year, there will be a large range of engines to choose from, along with the option of the company’s 4MOTION all-wheel drive.
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  • DTM: Oschersleben victory for Bruno Spengler


    Bruno Spengler turned his third pole position of the year into his third win for Schnitzer BMW, closing the gap on current DTM championship leader Gary Paffett who finished just 0.6 seconds behind him at this weekend’s Oschersleben round.

    The popular Canadian ran a perfect race from start to finish, building up a lead of 4 seconds at one point, with Jamie Green briefly slipping into second place, but it was Green’s HWA Mercedes team-mate Paffett who ended up finishing within sniffing distance of the M3 DTM’s tailpipes.

    Local hero Dirk Werner grabbed fourth for Schnitzer, with Brazil’s Augusto Farfus followed in fifth for RBM BMW, while the highest placed Audi driver was Mike Rockenfeller, who crossed the line to secure sixth place.

    “This course is really fun to me. She may be aggressive for the car, but everything held. Gary was very fast and I am happy to have brought victory to the finish,” said a jubilant Spengler.
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  • David Coulthard drives the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT


    Here’s mediocre DTM pilot, chirpy BBC sport pundit and former F1 star David Coulthard appearing in his latest Mercedes-Benz promotional video, this time driving the company’s € 204,680 SLS AMG GT Coupe at the Nürburgring GP track. Powered by a tweaked 6.2-litre V8 unit, producing 435 kW (591 hp) rather than the usual 571 hp (420 kW), 100 km/h appears in 3.7 seconds, with top speed limited to 320 km/h. And, as our Dave points out – it’s got some red stitching.
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  • Volkswagen introduces new entry-level Beetle engines


    Volkswagen UK has announced the addition of two more engine options to its Beetle line-up.

    From today, customers can specify a 1.2-litre TSI version, which produces 77 kW (104 hp), mated to a six-speed manual gearbox. OTR pricing starts at £15,195, meaning it undercuts the currently-offered 1.2-litre TSI with seven-speed DSG transmission by £1,405.

    Diesel fans are catered for with the 77 kW (104 hp) 1.6-litre TDI model. Featuring BlueMotion Technology, such as Stop/Start and battery regeneration, and a five-speed manual transmission, combined fuel consumption is 4.3 litres every 100 kilometres with a CO2 figure of 113 g/km emitted. Starting at £17,030, if you want a DSG gearbox, you’ll have to opt for the higher ‘Design’ trim level including 16-inch ‘Whirl’ alloy wheels, priced at 19,100.

    [Source: Volkswagen UK]

  • Porsche legends join the Boxster


    Here’s a new commercial from Porsche featuring the iconic cars and racing legends from the past that have helped to shape the current Boxster model. Filmed at Barber Motorsports Park, the precious metal stayed undercover until the rainstorm finally passed, then the magic happened. That 996 GT1 will always leave an unmentionable impression on us.
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  • smart forstars concept announced


    Following on from its for-us pick-up earlier in the year, smart has released details of its electric-powered smart forstars concept ahead of its Paris debut.

    As with its roofless counterpart, this SUC (Sports Utility Coupé) is larger than the fortwo, measuring 3,550 mm in length, 1,710 mm in width and standing 1,505 mm tall, allowing a wheelbase of 2,470 mm (plus 603 mm) and a track of 1475 mm all-round – an increase of 193 mm at the front and 90 mm out back.

    Visually, the body is finished in wet look ‘Alubeam Rouge’ paintwork with a contrasting titanium-coloured tridion cell and high-gloss black 21-inch three-spoke wheels. Visual highlights include a convex glass roof which extends over the cargo area, rhombic design headlamps with eyebrows and LED daytime running lights and tail-lights which open outwards, with the right unit revealing a charging socket and the left a beverage holder. Yes, that’s right; a beverage holder behind the light.

    A nice touch is the projector mounted behind that fake scoop in the hood. Operated by the driver’s iPhone via Bluetooth, a pair of high quality speakers located behind the doors means other road users will be able to fully experience your home movies as you use the truck in front as a screen. At the rear, the tailgate slides down in a parallel position, allowing easy access to the 900 mm cargo area.

    Powering the forstars is the same system as that found in the smart Brabus electric drive. Essentially the 17.6 kWh lithium-ion battery feeds a motor which delivers 60 kW (80 hp) and 135 Nm (100 lb/ft) of torque; enough for a top speed in excess of 130 km/h (81 mph).
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