German Car Scene

Author: admin

  • Audi offering fans R8 GT content with real bite next week


    Audi has announced that next week will be “R8 GT Week” as a celebration of the company’s limited-edition, hardcore supercar.

    Beginning on Monday, Audi will release daily videos featuring the R8 GT, with one of its racing drivers, Emanuele Pirro, giving his verdict on the lightweight, 552 hp model.

    “Audi surprised me once again by building the limited-edition R8 GT. The result is a fantastic car both on the race track and on the road which is very difficult to achieve. It is a fantastic pleasure to drive this car,” said Pirro.

    The GT reaches 62mph in just 3.6 seconds and 124mph in 10.8 seconds. Top speed is an admirable 199mph. (more…)

  • Autoweek drives the Audi TT RS by ABT Sportsline


    Dutch motoring magazine Autoweek drives the 501 hp Audi TT RS by ABT Sportsline. Thanks to a larger intercooler and re-working of the engine’s management system, the company’s stage one Power option releases 420 hp, while the next step, the Power S, involves the addition of an ABT-spec turbocharger. This give the TT RS a power output not far behind the R8 V10’s. And the R8 is 175 kg heavier… (more…)

  • BMW extends X3 engine range


    From autumn 2011 BMW will be adding two models to its X3 SUV range; the BMW X3 xDrive20i and the BMW X3 xDrive35d.

    Producing 184 hp and 270 Nm of torque from its twin-turbocharged 2.0L four cylinder unit, the BMW X3 xDrive20i will be the range’s entry-level version. A six-speed manual gearbox is standard, though an eight-speed automatic can be specified as an option.

    The diesel-engined BMW X3 xDrive35d is powered by a 3.0L straight-six unit, again makes use of the company’s TwinPower Turbo technology – two-stage turbocharging (Variable Twin Turbo) system. This results in 313 hp and 630 Nm of torque which is available from as low as 1,500 to 2,500 rpm down the rev range. Eight-speed automatic transmission comes as standard on the BMW X3 xDrive35d, as does the Auto Start-Stop function.

    [Source: BMW]

    (more…)

  • Autocar drives the Audi R8 GT


    Autocar’s Matt Prior gets to grips with Audi’s limited edition, 552 hp R8 GT model. Weighing 100kg less than the regular R8, the hardcore GT cracks 62mph in 3.6 seconds and 124mph in 10.8 seconds. Top speed is a pleasant 199mph. (more…)

  • Volkswagen’s VR6 is twenty years old


    It’s hard to believe, but it’s now twenty years since Volkswagen’s narrow angle VR6 engine made its début in the Mk3 Golf. The 12 valve, 172 bhp 2.8L unit – VW’s first six-cylinder petrol engine – was designed to be as compact as possible in order to fit transversely in the Golf’s bay. An enlarged, 188 bhp 2.9L version was later produced for the Corrado and 4WD Passat Syncro – for Europe only.

    The original VR6’s modern-day successor lives on in the four-wheel drive (4MOTION) Passat R36, which uses a 296 bhp 3.6L engine. That’s enough to launch the DSG-equipped Passat to 60 mph in just 5.6 seconds and on to a top speed of 155 mph.

    As Volkswagen fanatics, we personally remember when VR6 engines started to appear in the classifieds, still mounted in discarded (crashed) Golfs and Corrados. They soon found their way into earlier Golf models. Two of our favourites were Dubsport’s Rallye Golf, that had not one – but two VR6 units, and its Mk1 Golf, which had a rear-mounted, turbocharged VR6, producing over 400 bhp. Sadly, the only video we can find is of Dubsport’s Mk3 Golf (with Cabriolet 3.5 facelift), which had a pair of turbocharged VR6s – producing 650 bhp.

    Happy birthday VR6!

    [Source: Volkswagen Germany]

    (more…)

  • Quite tight parallel parking


    Here’s German driver Ronny Wechselberger on the set of Guinness World Records, breaking the record for parallel parking. He managed to slide into the spot with just 26 cm to spare – cutting 1 cm from the previous record. (more…)