German Car Scene

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  • Audi TT RS and RS 3 Sportback tuning by APR


    Widely acknowledged for making Porsche, Audi and Volkswagen vehicles go faster, Alabama-based tuning specialist APR has created an ECU upgrade for the Audi TT RS and RS 3 Sportback.

    Already producing an impressive 250 kW (335 hp) and 450 Nm (332 lb/ft) of torque from its turbocharged 2.5-litre five-cylinder engine in standard form, APR’s Stage 1 program delivers 309 kW (414 hp) and 583 Nm (430 lb/ft), resulting in – what APR calls “the best power per dollar modification for the new 2.5 TFSI”.

    The US retail price is $ 899.

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  • BMW M3 DTM back in black


    BMW Bank GmbH has been announced as the new “Premium Partner BMW Motorsport”. One of Germany’s leading automotive banks, BMW Bank GmbH will support a matt black M3 DTM car for all 11 races beginning with Hockenheim on April 29.

    The M3 will be run by BMW Team Schnitzer and piloted by popular French-born driver Bruno Spengler. “I am thrilled by the design of the BMW Bank M3 DTM. When BMW presented its car back in 2011 I thought to myself: Wow, that black is fantastic. The fact that I will be contesting the season in this car only serves to increase my anticipation ahead of the first race,” said a positive Spengler.

    [Source: BMW Motorsport]

  • Audi teases next R8 in celebratory video


    Six models, one milestone in the history of design and sportscar evolution. As Audi celebrates five years of its legendary R8 supercar, this new video teases its successor. Kind of.

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  • BMW 7 Series Individual Pure Black


    BMW has created a special edition of its 7 Series for the Russian market, just 50 examples of the 7 Series Individual Pure Black will be built and distributed at authorised dealerships across Russia.

    Based on the long-wheel-base 750Li xDrive, which uses a 300 kW (407 hp) 4.4-litre, twin-turbo V8 engine, the 7 Series Individual Pure Black is painted Black Sapphire and features bi-xenon headlights, 19-inch alloy wheels and the ‘Black Chrome’ exterior package for the grille, door surrounds, handles, mirror casings and exhaust pipes.

    Inside the cabin there are piano black trim elements, an alcantara rooflining, electrically-adjusted seats with memory and massage function for the driver, four-zone automatic climate control, Bluetooth, HiFi Professional System, internet access via the BMW ConnectedDrive system and a head-up display.

    Other features include an attack alarm, active cornering lights and a rearview camera. The price works out at around € 123,301.

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  • Top Gear trackday car comparison


    From this week’s Top Gear, Jeremy, James and Richard head over to Donington Park Circuit each armed with a stripped-out trackday car – the Audi-engined KTM X-Bow, Caterham’s R500 and a three-wheeler from Morgan.

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  • New Volkswagen eco up!


    Volkswagen has confirmed the addition of a natural gas-powered model to the up! range.

    Using a 1.0 litre three-cylinder unit from the EA211 engine range, which was designed to fit Volkswagen’s brand new MQB platform, the eco up! is fuelled by compressed natural gas (CNG) and produces 50 kW (67 hp) along with 90 Nm (66 lb/ft) of torque.

    Performance was never going to be blistering, but the 168 km/h (104 mph) top speed is bearable. The 0-100 km/h time of 15.8 seconds less so. Clearly, the eco up!’s strong point is fuel consumption, and it doesn’t disappoint. Thanks in part to the BlueMotion Technology, which includes a Stop/Start function, lower ride height and battery regeneration system, it gets through a mere 2.9 kg of natural gas every 100 kilometres and generates 79 g/km of CO2. One kg of natural gas is the equivalent to around 1.5 litres of petrol.

    Fuel is stored in two underfloor tanks (totalling 72 litres/11 kg CNG) near the rear axle. The first tank is in front of the axle along with a 10 litre reserve petrol tank, while the second tank sits in the spare wheel well.

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