German Car Scene

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  • Mercedes-Benz SLK program teased by ML24

    ML24 Mercedes SLK
    Ontario-based automotive design and body kit specialist ML24 has thrown this Mercedes SLK design study out to gauge a response from potential customers.

    Designed to suit the 2004 – 2011 SLK Class (R171), the widebody package takes inspiration from the Mercedes-Benz Black Series and DTM race cars with the main objective to revitalize the older generation variant with more modern and extreme styling.

    The company admits that the finished article is unlikely to be this wild, but certain design elements will definitely make it into production. We like the aggressive fascia with monster air intakes and heavily-ventilated hood and fenders. That wing may need toning down just a little for road use.

    [Source: ML24]

  • Audi Q3 by Kahn Design

    Audi Q3 by Kahn Design
    Straight from Afzal Kahn’s headquarters in Yorkshire, here’s the company’s restrained S-Pack program to suit Audi’s Q3 SUV.

    Complementing the Amalfi White paintwork is a set of Kahn’s RS-XF alloy wheels in Silver Platinum, which measure 10 × 20-inches and wear 255/45 tyres along with enamel badges on the wings and tailgate. Moving inside the cabin, past the aluminium sill plates and foot pedals, the seats have been re-upholstered in quilted and perforated black leather with red sections and quilted detailing, while the speedometer and rev counter are now finished in red.

    This actual Q3 2.0 TDI quattro SE example can be purchased from Kahn for £31,875.
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  • Developing the Porsche LMP1’s hybrid drivetrain

    Porsche LMP1 hybrid drivetrain
    Porsche has released this video explaining the process involved when it comes to developing the all-new hybrid engine for the company’s forthcoming LMP1 sports prototype.

    As with Audi’s R18 e-tron quattro, Porsche’s vehicle will use a combustion engine to drive the rear wheels along with an electric motor powering the front axle. The 911 GT3 R Hybrid also utilized a similar set-up that harnessed kinetic energy via an electric flywheel accumulator.

    Prepared at the Weissach Motorsport Centre outside of Stuttgart in new workshops and premises housing around 200 employees, the closed-cockpit machine turned its first laps on the circuit back in June and will be ready to compete in next year’s FIA World Endurance Championship and the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

    Porsche works driver Romain Dumas will be joined on the grid in 2014 by Timo Bernhard, Neel Jani and Red Bull’s Mark Webber, who retires from F1 following the Brazilian Grand Prix on November 24.

    Porsche has also launched a dedicated microsite documenting the car’s development.
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  • evo searches for this year’s ultimate track car

    Porsche Cayman S
    This new video from evo features the magazine’s Jethro Bovingdon and eight machines at Blyton Park all contending for the accolade of 2013’s Track Car of the Year.

    Up against such track-focused weapons as the McLaren 12C GT Can-Am, BAC Mono, Caterhan Seven 620R, Radical RXC, supercharged Ariel Atom 3.5 it was always going to be a big ask of the Cayman S to take the title, but it does receive major praise for its all-round ability with Jethro actually putting it ahead of the 911.

    Impressively, it’s just a couple of seconds behind the bonkers 283 kW (380 hp) Radical RXC, which tips the scales at an anorectic 900 kg.
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  • 850 hp Mercedes C 63 AMG Black Series by GAD Motors

    Mercedes C 63 AMG Black Series by GAD Motors
    Following on from its tuned Brabus Bullit, Fellbach tuning house GAD Motors has really gone to town on the Mercedes C 63 AMG Black Series.

    Rather than tune the series naturally-aspirated 6.2-litre V8 engine, GAD implanted the twin-turbocharged 5.5-litre M157 V8 unit usually seen in the likes of the E 63 AMG, but things didn’t stop there.

    A pair of upgraded turbochargers were fitted, along with remapped ECU software and an uprated cooling system, resulting in a monumental 625 kW (850 hp) and 1,350 Nm of torque. A revised 4MATIC all-wheel-drive system and MCT 7-speed transmission allows that power to be fully exploited, meaning 100 km/h arrives in just 3.1 seconds, 200 km/h in 8.7s and 300 km/h in 22.7s.

    Chassis enhancements consist of a fully adjustable KW Suspension coilover kit and carbon ceramic brakes which bring this Coupe to a halt from 100 km/h in 33 metres and from 200 km/h in 132 metres.

    Interested parties will need to check their bank account for €180,250 if they’d like the same conversion.
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  • Mercedes-Benz S-Class Estate rendered

    Mercedes-Benz S-Class Estate
    With his latest work, Singapore-based car fanatic and digital artist Theophilus Chin has asked a valid question: should Mercedes build an Estate version of its flagship S-Class model.

    As Theophilus points out, the roofline of the CLS Shooting Brake appears to flow pretty seamlessly into the bodywork of the S-Class, so it really makes you wonder why the company don’t already manufacture one.

    Offered with the usual S 400 HYBRID, S 500, S 350 BlueTEC and S 300 BlueTEC HYBRID powerplants, we think that an S 63 AMG version propelled by that epic 430 kW (585 hp) AMG 5.5-litre V8 biturbo engine would make for pretty spectacular family transport.
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