German Car Scene

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  • Mercedes-Benz Viano Vision Diamond


    Mercedes-Benz has presented its Viano Vision Diamond at this year’s Beijing Auto Show.

    Designed to be a luxurious, chauffeur-driven vehicle, the body is finished in black with a diamond white lower half, two-tone five-spoke alloy wheels, LED daytime running lights and a black radiator grille with chrome slats. Moving inside, the decadence begins with a pair of sumptuousness seats equipped with heating, cooling and massage functions and footrests. Nestled between the seats are holders for the silver Champagne flutes, while the side panelling houses a cooling system capable of accommodating five bottles.

    Keeping the occupants entertained – behind the Magic Sky Control glass partition – is a Bang & Olufsen high-end sound system, which can be operated via the iPhone or iPad media devices, a 40-inch screen and web access thanks to the Viano’s W-LAN system. In acknowledgement of the number considered lucky in Chinese culture, eight diamonds have been embedded within the trim.

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  • Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Wei Long


    Bugatti has revealed a special edition of its open-topped Veyron model in China, named the Grand Sport Wei Long.

    Built to acknowledge the year of the dragon, Bugatti has once again joined forces with Königliche Porzellan-Manufatur Berlin (KPM) – as it did for the L’Or Blanc – who have created porcelain inlays for this exclusive vehicle, including the oil and fuel caps as well as the wheels centre caps. Inside the carmine red interior there’s a bold porcelain section, between the seats, featuring a dragon emblem, while that theme continues on the headrests and handcrafted 100 % silk floor mats. Obviously.

    Anyone interested in purchasing the Wei Long will need a spare € 1.58 ($ 2.07) million to drive it away.

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  • Shanghai Volkswagen reveals new Lavida


    Shanghai Volkswagen has unveiled its new Lavida at Beijing’s Auto China 2012 today.

    The original Lavida, which was mainly designed by its Chinese partner, was launched in June 2008 and has proved popular in China’s A-segment, with 700,000 units being sold by the beginning of 2012. This new car, which is similar to the Passat, has a new, sharper body and features such safety equipment as ABS and ESP as standard. Four equipment lines and three engine options will be available when it goes on sale later this year.

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  • Audi A6 L e-tron concept revealed


    Following on from last month’s launch of the long wheelbase A6 in China, Audi has revealed its A6 L e-tron concept model.

    Standing 5.02 m (16.47 ft) long, 1.87 m (6.14 ft) wide, 1.46 m (4.79 ft) tall and with a 3.01 m (9.88 ft) wheelbase, the e-tron concept shares the same dimensions as the production car but is styled slightly differently; wearing 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 21-inch e-tron alloys wheels.

    Propelling this A6 L is a 155 kW (211 hp) 2.0 TFSI engine and an electric motor with a peak power output of 70 kW (95 hp) which is fed by a rear-mounted liquid-cooled lithium-ion battery. Travelling at a constant speed of 60 km/h (37 mph), the A6 L e-tron concept can travel up to 80 km (50 miles) with the hybrid control module choosing the most suitable operating mode to maximize driving range.

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  • SEAT Ibiza Cupra Concept


    SEAT has revealed the Ibiza Cupra concept ahead of its world début at this week’s Auto China Show in Beijing.

    Sitting on 17-inch alloy wheels, the Ibiza Cupra Concept wears Crono Yellow paintwork with high-gloss black mirrors, bi-xenon headlamps with LED daytime running lights, and large fog lamps with integrated indicators. The rear also receives LED light units, while the aggressive matte black diffuser surrounds a large, centrally-mounted trapezoidal exhaust.

    Moving inside, there’s a new flat-bottomed steering wheel and leather sports seats with contrasting yellow sections along with the same SEAT Portable System – first seen in the Mii city car – which can be used to organise the navigation, enjoy entertainment, or make telephone calls via its 5-inch touchscreen.

    Power comes courtesy of the same turbocharged and supercharged 1.4 TSI petrol engine as seen in Volkswagen’s Polo GTI. Developing 132 kW (178 hp) and 250 Nm (184 lb/ft) of torque, gears are changed via a flappy paddle-operated seven-speed DSG transmission, while an XDS electronic differential lock improves handling when driving quickly through bends.

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  • MINI John Cooper Works accessories


    Details of the new MINI John Cooper Works accessories have just been revealed, along with a handful of images, before they appear at the Tuning World Bodensee fair later this month (28 April to 1 May).

    Externally, fans of the JCW Countryman can now buy a retrofit version of its aero kit for their own car, while owners of other models can add carbon fibre components such as a replacement air intake, boot lid handle, rear apron and a raised wing for the Coupé and Roadster models. Moving inside, past the sill plates, there are extra dashboard instruments, new door handles, a shift knob and hand brake handle and sports steering wheel. John Cooper Works sports seats can also be added, trimmed in either leather or Alcantara.

    Depending on the year of your car, the John Cooper Works tuning kit can release 141 kW (192 hp) or 147 kW (200 hp), and aside from the remap there’s a complete exhaust system.

    Chassis upgrades include a lower sport suspension kit, strut brace and red brake calipers. To complete the look, MINI offers a range of JCW alloy wheels, in 17- and 18-inches or 19-inches for the Countryman.

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