German Car Scene

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  • BMW M3 Competition Edition in Frozen Silver


    To commemorate 40 years since the founding of BMW M GmbH, BMW of North America is releasing a special M3 Competition Edition model finished in Frozen Silver paintwork.

    Limited to just 40 units, as well as the usual Competition Edition equipment, these special M3s will also feature black bonnet vents, dark chrome kidney grilles, side gills, exhaust tailpipes, and black M3 GTS wheels. Inside, the cabin is treated to extended Novillo leather hide with with palladium silver accents and stitching, an Alcantara-trimmed multi-function M steering wheel, a handbrake lever embroidered with a M Power logo, and carbon fibre trim elements on the dashboard and centre console.

    Priced at $81,060 (€ 58,639), just one of the M3 Competition Edition models will find its way to each of the first 40 authorized BMW centers to become M Certified Centres in America.

    [Source: BMW]

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  • Fifth Gear: Audi RS 5 Coupe vs Mercedes-Benz C 63 AMG Coupe


    From tonight’s Fifth Gear, Tiff Needell conducts a shootout between Audi’s RS 5 Coupé and the Mercedes-Benz C 63 AMG Coupé. The rear-wheel drive 457 hp C 63 AMG and quattro-equipped 450 hp RS 5 both hit 100 km/h (62 mph) in 4.5 seconds, but which crosses the line first?

    Click image to view the video.

  • 2012 Porsche 911 GT3 RSR surfaces


    Porsche Motorsport has revealed its flagship customer racing vehicle for the 2012 season, the epic 911 GT3 RSR.

    Visually, the 911 GT3 RSR is 48 mm wider than its predecessor, and features air intakes within the rear arches – in a similar style to the 911 Turbo road car – rather than the previous engine cover scoop. The nose panel is adapted to meet the edges of those extreme arches, while the sill extensions and rear panel are connected by arches that house 310 mm (12.2 inch) wide rear wheels.

    Powered by a 4.0 L six-cylinder boxer engine, fitted with the mandatory air-restrictor, the 911 GT3 RSR develops 338 kW/460 hp, while steering wheel-mounted flappy paddles control the six-speed sequential transmission.

    “Our customer teams can expect a technically mature, high performance race car with which they will be highly competitive at international long distance races,” said Porsche’s Head of Motorsport, Hartmut Kristen.

    Available for delivery from January 2012, for € 498,000 (plus taxes), the 911 GT3 RSR could be used to race in the Le Mans 24 Hours, the FIA World Endurance Championship, the International GT Open and the Le Mans Series, amongst others.
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  • Volkswagen Tiguan R-Line


    Volkswagen R GmbH has created a range of R-Line options for its compact crossover vehicle, the Tiguan.

    The exterior pack includes special R-Line bumpers, rear diffuser, roof edge spoiler, colour-coded sill extensions with matt chrome inserts, and sill trims embossed with the R-Line logo. There’s also a set of new 19-inch ‘Mallory’ alloy wheels finished in ‘Sterling silver’.

    R-Line ‘interior’ pack: The R-Line ‘interior’ pack may be ordered as an extension pack. In this case, Tiguan features are supplemented by sport seats (front), ‘Kyalami’ style seat covers (front and rear) with lateral supports in ‘San Remo’ microfibre fabric (front), head restraints with integrated R-Line logo and a multifunction steering wheel with aluminium accents and R-Line badge. Additional interior pack components: a ‘Titan black’ roofliner and pedals with stainless steel caps. Price of the interior pack: 840 euros. ‘Vienna’ leather upholstery (2,120 euros), also in ‘Titan black’, is available as an option.

    The five colour choices available on the R-Line are ‘Pepper grey metallic’, ‘Reflex silver metallic’, ‘Deep Black pearl effect’, ‘Night blue metallic’ and ‘Candy white’.

    [Source: Volkswagen]

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  • Auto Express drives the Lamborghini Aventador


    Mat Watson and Owen Mildenhall, senior road tester for Auto Express, headed over to Bruntingthorpe Airfield to see what Lamborghini’s insane Aventador could do. Thanks to the car’s 700 hp V12, the Aventador cracks 100 km/h (0-62 mph) in just 2.9 seconds and has a top speed of 350 km/h (217 mph). (more…)

  • Opel reveals new Astra OPC


    Opel has put its pretty Astra GTC model on a course of steroids, and the end result is this; the Astra OPC.

    Powered by a 2.0 L turbocharged engine, which develops 206 kW/280 hp and 400 Nm/295 lb/ft of torque, the Astra OPC (Opel Performance Center) tops out at 250 km/h/155 mph – the highest top speed of any Astra.

    When it came to refining the Astra’s chassis, double 24 Hours Nürburgring winner and ex-Opel DTM driver, Joachim Winkelhock, was called upon. Many hours at the Northern Loop (“Nordschleife”) of the legendary circuit resulted in, according to Winkelhock, “A great package that will convince even the most experienced sports drivers – not just on the Nürburgring.”

    As well as the HiPerStrut (High Performance Strut) front suspension, which features on the Astra GTC, the OPC variant also benefits from the FlexRide chassis control system. This allows the driver to choose between “Sport” and “OPC” modes. These two options offer greater throttle response, tighter suspension and sharper steering, depending on your style of driving requirements at the time. The addition of a limited slip differential further improves stability and handling, reducing the dreaded torque steer that can occur in high-performance front-wheel drive cars, while a set of Brembo brakes also help to promote confidence.

    Visually, the OPC receives a more sculpted look, thanks to exclusive, more-muscular bumpers, side skirts, roof spoiler and twin trapezoidal-shaped tailpipes. Inside, there’s a leather-trimmed flat OPC steering wheel, special instruments, and OPC embossed seats and sill plates.

    [Source: Opel]

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