German Car Scene

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  • On track in the DTM AMG Mercedes C-Coupé


    Following on from its official début yesterday, here’s some footage of the brand new DTM AMG Mercedes C-Coupé attacking the track. (more…)

  • Audi S5 Sportback by Senner Tuning


    Benno Senner, president of Senner Tuning AG, and his team in Ingelheim have created yet another package for an Audi vehicle, this time for the 8TA model S5 Sportback.

    Visually, the body receives extremely subtle changes, mainly the de-chroming of the window frames and fog lamp surrounds. The grille also loses its shine thanks to a ‘Black Edition’ replacement featuring anodised bars. Senner fits its own Elegant TS-7 alloy wheels, sized 9.5 and 11×20-inches, the spokes are anodized silver with black inserts, while the rim is polished. The car is brought 35-40 mm closer to the road thanks to an adjustable suspension kit from specialists Bilstein.

    The company’s performance kit – consisting of an ECU remap, performance air filter and stainless steel sports exhaust helps to output from 245 kW/333 hp and 440 Nm of torque up to 327 kW/445 hp 530 Nm. A power converter is also added, which solves the delay that can often be experienced in cars with fly-by-wire accelerators

    The whole conversion will set you back around € 15,000.

    [Source: Senner AG]

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  • Brabus Rocket 800


    If you thought Bottrop-based Mercedes-Benz tuner, Brabus, had turned its back on insane autobahn-stormers after seeing its electric E-Class recently, there’s no need to worry – the Brabus Rocket 800 is here.

    Based on the Mercedes-Benz CLS, the Rocket 800’s powerplant is a heavily reworked version of the one found in the current S600 model, with Brabus enlarging its capacity to 6.3L, and adding its own biturbo system – complete with four intercoolers. As you’d expect, this results in 800 hp/588 kW and a crazy torque figure of 1,420 Nm/1,047 lb-ft, which is electronically limited to 1,100 Nm/811 lb-ft. Transmission is a seven-speed quick-shift gearbox which can be shifted via steering wheel-mounted paddles, or automatically.

    Performance is quite brisk, with 100 km/h (62 mph) appearing in 3.7 seconds, 200 km/h (124 mph) in 9.8 s and 300 km/h (186 mph) in 23.8 sec. 370+ km/h (230 mph) is achievable, but Brabus limits top speed to a mere 350 km/h (217 mph) to prolong the life of the tyres. Don’t ask about fuel economy.

    Visually, the Rocket 800 receives a carbon fibre aerodynamic body package. The aggressive front bumper features colossal air intakes, as does the new grille shell, while around the rear there’s a diffuser attached to the bumper, and a purposeful rear wing bolted to the boot lid. Replacement front wings with wider arches help to increase track width – and stability – as do the discreet rear flares.

    [Source: Brabus]

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  • Audi A5 DTM trailer


    Here’s the new trailer from Audi featuring its 2012 DTM car. Based on the facelifted A5 coupé model, the DTM machine is based around a carbon-fibre monocoque, combined with a steel tube cage. Power comes from a near-identical version of the 340 kW (460 HP) V8 engine curently being used in this season’s A4 car. (more…)

  • Volkswagen reveals 6 concept cars – all based on the up!


    Not content with débuting its new up! at this year’s Frankfurt Auto Show, Volkswagen has revealed six variations based on Wolfsburg’s baby.

    The buggy up! is inspired by those glass-reinforced plastic-bodied Beetle-based beach machines from yesteryear. Apart from its face, this 21st century buggy concept is barely recognisable as an up!. Featuring rugged grey bumpers and enlarged side sills, and a fully waterproof interior – right down to the neoprene coated shell seats – complete with water drains; you’ll never be sitting in a puddle…

    Next, is the open-topped up! azzurra sailing team. Taking its name from a yacht club on the Costa Smeralda, it was designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro and Walter de Silva as the perfect vehicle for travelling around the world’s marinas. Trimmed in white-blue leather, with a mahogany dashboard and plenty of chrome components, we can just see Hugh Hefner buzzing around on the deck of his luxury yacht in one.

    Then there’s the cross up!. Designed for big city driving, it’s the only concept that features four doors. With a raised ride height and those satin effect dark grey arch extensions and black side strips along the flanks, the cross up! portrays a bulkier persona. The silver theme on both bumpers is carried on underneath the car, providing underbody protection. Volkswagen has hinted that this prototype is very close to production, and would fit in perfectly with the CrossPolo, CrossGolf and CrossTouran range.

    Having owned several early Mk1 Golf GTIs, the GT up! was always going to be our favourite. As Volkswagen points out, the up! wasn’t exactly designed to tear up tarmac, hence the range of low-power engines. But in a car weighing barely 900 kg, 100 PS would feel like a whole lot of fun – and probably the closest thing to a 1970s GTI. Wearing a wide honeycomb grille, roof spoiler, 17-inch alloys and twin exhausts – we want one!!!

    Next is the natural gas-powered eco up! Volkswagen has already stated that this car will be on our roads by next year, but for now, it’s a concept. Powered by a new 1.0L three-cylinder engine, combined with the BlueMotion’s battery regeneration and Stop/Start system, the eco up! gets through just 2.5 kg of natural gas every 100 km, while emitting an unbelievable 79 g grams of carbon dioxide per kilometre. The natural gas is stored in 2 tanks under the floor, with a combined fuel capacity of 72 litres.

    Another car marked for production is an electric version of the up!. Due to hit dealerships in 2013, the e-up! With 18 kWh capacity batteries – housed in the car’s underbody – feeding the 60 kW (continuous: 40 kW) and 210 Nm electric motor, the e-up! has a range of up to 130 km – depending on your driving style. The driver simply activates the forward or reverse gear by selected the desired button located on the centre console.

    [Source: Volkswagen]

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  • Lamborghini Sesto Elemento heading for production


    Lamborghini CEO, Stephan Winkelmann, has announced that the featherweight Sesto Elemento will go into production. Tipping the scales at just 999 kg (2,202 lb) and powered by a 570 hp V10 unit – resulting in a power-to-weight just 1.75 kg per hp – the Sesto Elemento hits 100 km/h in just 2.5 seconds and exceeds 300 km/h.

    The sub-1000 Kg figure is down to the extensive use of carbon fibre throughout the car’s construction, including the forged composite monocoque. Even parts such as suspension components and control arms have made use of carbon fibre, resulting in items 30 percent lighter than their comparable aluminum counterparts. Sadly, the car is destined for track use only, and is limited to just twenty examples.
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