German Car Scene

Author: admin

  • car2go providing Amsterdam with all-electric carsharing fleet


    The Netherlands will be following in North America’s footsteps next month, when 300 smart fortwo electric drive vehicles hit the streets of Amsterdam as part of the Daimler subsidiary’s car2go scheme.

    Hiring the fortwo couldn’t be any easier: the car doesn’t have to be returned to a rental station, and it doesn’t even have to be recharged before you give it back. Statistics have shown that the range of these electric drive vehicles is between eight and ten times further than the average customer’s requirements.

    The third-gen fortwo electric drive has a 17.6 kWh Lithium-ion battery powering its 55 kW electric motor, helping the tiny city car to hit 60 km/h (37 mph) in 5 seconds and reach a top speed of 120 km/h (75 mph).

    [Source: smart]

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  • Skoda wins its first World Rally Championship title


    Skoda Motorsport has secured its first FIA World Rally Championship title after Juho Hänninen and Mikko Markkula finished 1st in S2000, and 10th overall, last weekend, at the RACC Rally de España.

    After Ott Tänak retired on the opening day in Spain; Hänninen, driving for Red Bull Skoda, had to finish clear of Nasser Al-Attiyah, which he duly did. He can now add the SWRC champion crown to his 2010 Intercontinental Rally Challenge title, and is strongly-tipped to drive for Volkswagen in the new Polo R WRC car, which enters the WRC from 2013.

    “This is a perfect day for all of us and an excellent achievement, one of the milestones of my career. Everything worked perfectly, and although we didn’t have to play it risky, we were at the head of the pack throughout this rally,” said an ecstatic Hänninen.

    [Source: Skoda]

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  • DTM: BMW confirm Spengler for 2012


    BMW Motorsport has just confirmed Bruno Spengler as its third driver for the 2012 DTM season. Spengler will join Andy Priaulx and Augusto Farfus in piloting the new M3 DTM car. It has yet not been decided if he’ll join BMW Team Schnitzer, BMW Team RBM or BMW Team RMG.

    Born in Strasbourg, France, 28-year old Spengler made his DTM (Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters) début for Mercedes back in 2005, and stayed with them until 2011. In that time, he’s enjoyed nine victories, eleven pole positions and twelve fastest laps – as well as being linked to various F1 drives.

    “Outside our current line-up, Bruno Spengler was one of our top choices. Despite his youth he has a lot of DTM experience, which will greatly assist us during our development phase and on race weekends,” said a delighted BMW Motorsport Director Jens Marquardt.

    [Source: BMW Motorsport]

  • Porsche 962 on track at Rennsport Reunion


    Here’s Mark Hotchkis driving the epic Hotchkis Racing Porsche 962 at Mazda Laguna Seca Raceway, during 2011’s Rennsport Reunion. This machine has previously competed at Daytona, Sebring and Le Mans. Turn your speakers up! (more…)

  • Mercedes-Benz CLS 63 AMG and Nissan GT-R drift session


    New video from 0-60 magazine, featuring 1080 hp and eight tyres. That tortured rubber is attached to two very different cars: Nissan’s 530 hp GT-R and the Performance Pack-equipped 550 hp Mercedes-Benz CLS 63 AMG. (more…)

  • MINI Countryman guides Airbus A380 home


    A China Southern Airlines Airbus A380 landed at Guangzhou Baiyun Airport last Monday, marking the double-deck, wide-boded jet’s first commercial flight in China, and it was guided to safety by the MINI Countryman.

    Finished in special Chengming yellow paintwork with black checks, the trio of special MINI Countryman models are hard to miss. The addition of roof-mounted amber lights, sirens and the words “FOLLOW ME” emblazoned across its rear window also help pilots to pick out the popular crossover models, before being guided to the superjumbo’s designated parking bay.

    [MINI China]

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