German Car Scene

Author: admin

  • BMW 6 Series Coupe by Hamann


    Laupheim-based tuning specialist Hamann Motorsport has revealed its range of goodies for the third generation (F13) 6 Series Coupé.

    The Coupé’s aero package includes a replacement front bumper that features sculpted intakes, an integrated spoiler and LED daytime running lights, and a pair of side skirts. At the rear there’s a spoiler and lower trim panel for the boot lid along with a vented rear bumper with apertures for those twin double tailpipes attached to the stainless steel muffler.

    Completing the look is a -30 mm suspension spring kit and a choice of the company’s wheels, including the silver, one-piece Anniversary EVO items and Edition Race ‘Anodized’ in black with a polished lip. Sized 9 and 11 x 21-inches, the new rollers are wrapped in 255/30 ZR and 295/25 ZR rubber.

    Moving inside the cabin, Hamann can provide you with a new three-spoke steering wheel, carbon fibre kit for the dashboard, handles and centre console, a set of anodized aluminium pedal covers and velour floor mats.

    (more…)

  • Volkswagen Scirocco 2.0 TFSI by BBM Motorsport


    BBM Motorsport, the chip tuning specialist from Münsterland, has developed three stages of tune for Volkswagen’s 149 kW (200 hp) Scirocco 2.0 TFSI.

    For € 790, you get the Stage One package which results in 183 kW (245 hp). The next two programs also include the fitment of a full stainless steel exhaust system, which helps to provide 201 kW (270 hp) and 231 kW (310 hp) respectively. Their price is available on request.

    [Source: BBM Motorsport]

  • CarBuyer drives the Volkswagen up!


    Mat Watson has driven Volkswagen’s up! for CarBuyer, the new sister website of Auto Express. Designed to take on the likes of Fiat’s 500 model, the up! uses a new 1-litre, three-cylinder engine and can also be bought in five-door form. Already named CarBuyer’s 2012 City Car of the Year, Volkswagen isn’t resting on its laurels, with the introduction of a natural gas-powered model, the eco up!, and a sportier GT version on the way.

    (more…)

  • BMW i8 Concept Spyder


    Following on from its its i3 and i8 Concepts, BMW has released details of a third model to its i model range, the i8 Concept Spyder.

    As with the Coupe, the i8 Concept Spyder is a plug-in hybrid that utilizes two separate power sources. Driving the rear wheels is a turbocharged three-cylinder petrol unit which develops 164 kW (223 hp) and 300 Nm of torque, while at the front a lithium-ion battery – which takes just 1.45 hours for a full charge – supplies electricity to a 96 kW (131 hp) motor allowing a range of 27-30 km (17 – 19 miles) on its own. With the two powerplants combined, the Spyder can hit 100 km/h (62 mph) in just 5 seconds and reach a limited top speed of 250 km/h (155 mph), and that’s from a car capable of consuming a mere 3 l/100km (94 mpg imp) in the European test cycle. A major contributor to those figures is the use of lightweight materials; with a passenger cell constructed from carbon-fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP) and drive modules made predominantly from aluminium, this open-topped machine tips the scales at just 1630 kg – not much more than the current 3 Series.

    Apart from the obvious lack of a roof, the low-slung Spyder is near identical to its hard-topped sibling, with its most striking feature being those upward-swivelling, windowless doors. A notable feature is the fact that remote functions can be accessed via the owner’s smartphone. Basically, this allows owners to set the operating temperature of the interior before they reach their car, locate it in a large car park or transfer a route so the smartphone can give directions once the driver becomes a pedestrian. Eerily, it can access your diary (like a four-wheeled, obsessive partner) and, when plugged into a power socket, ensure that you have a full charge so you won’t miss your appointment.

    (more…)

  • BMW turns your car into a coach


    As an official sponsor of the London 2012 Olympics, BMW has developed a device to help athletes get the most out of their training time.

    Using a combination of BMW’s ConnectedDrive and surround view cameras mounted to the bodywork, the driverless Running Coach feature allows your car to follow you – at a safe distance – while you hit the streets. For added motivation a set of integrated exterior speakers boom out words of encouragement, while the Lock Out Logistics feature ensures that no sneaky shortcuts are taken.

    “It’s a car gym but not as we know it,” said BMW’s Head of Futile Innovations, Alvin Alaff. And, if you believe a single word of this article, we urge you to seek immediate psychiatric attention.

    (more…)

  • Six Porsche 964s went to Spa


    Here’s a cool video created by the guys at Onyx Media Group documenting the journey to Belgium’s legendary Spa Francorchamps circuit carried out by six friends and their Porsche 964s. We’re massive fans of the 964, but also love the added footage of classic Porsches, and there’s even a clip of Steve McQueen in the 1971 film Le Mans.

    (more…)