German Car Scene

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  • evo: Audi R8 GT Vs R8 LMS


    evo magazine’s Henry Catchpole offers a treat for Audi fans here. First, he takes a look at the limited edition, hardcore 552 hp R8 GT model. Weighing 100kg less than the regular R8, the GT hits 62mph in 3.6 seconds, 124mph in 10.8 seconds and has a top speed of 199mph. However, if you need something a little more brutal, your only option is the stripped-out R8 LMS race car. A snip at € 300,000. Marino Franchitti takes Henry for a few laps around Blyton Park. (more…)

  • Imperium creates unique Bentley Continental GT


    Imperium has designed a unique styling and tuning program for the Bentley Continental GT. The project was commissioned by a British entrepreneur who gave constant feedback throughout the development process.

    This resulted in a pair of more purposeful-looking bumpers and a range of carbon fibre add-ons, including discreet side skirts, a neat boot lid spoiler and a bold rear diffuser which ties in neatly with those aggressive tailpipes. The ultra light forged alloy wheels are also bespoke items.

    Apart from the new one-off sport exhaust, Imperium also reworked the Bentley’s ECU, and upgraded its brake system and suspension, resulting in a drop in ride height.

    Imperium explained that the interior had been upholstered to suit the owner’s states, using materials such as leather, carbon fibre and refined wood.

    [Source: Imperium]

    (more…)

  • Auto Express review: Audi Q3


    Jack Rix looks at the Audi Q3 for Auto Express. The newly-launched SUV is targeting the lifestyle/sports car segment, meaning it faces competition from the likes of Range Rover and BMW – but it costs less than the X1 and considerably less than the new Evoque. So, how does it square up? (more…)

  • 2012 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car unveiled


    Porsche has revealed what will be the last incarnation of the ‘997’ 911 GT3 Cup car before it makes way for the ‘991’ which will hit our showrooms next year. However, this Cup car will get a stay of execution, with Porsche offering it for competition use in the 2012 and 2013 race seasons.

    Endurance racers will benefit from the addition of the car’s new 100-litre FT3 safety fuel tank, which feeds an engine with a near-identical specification to the unit found in Porsche’s GT3 RS road car, namely a 3.8L naturally-aspirated six cylinder – good for 450 hp.

    Drivers taking part in the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup, which supports the Formula 1 circus, will be offered the luxury of Porsche Ceramic Composite Brakes (PCCB). This lightweight option is also available on the RS road cars (for around €6,000), and helps to shed 20 kilograms from the car’s weight when substituted for the composite cast brakes found on Carrera Cup and GT3 Cup Challenge cars.

    The price is € 161,750 – before taxes.

    [Source: Porsche]

    (more…)

  • EcoVelocity creates green VW Camper


    The guys behind the EcoVelocity show have taken a couple of vehicles, that they call “icons from the 1980s”, and virtually transformed them into green machines.

    One of them, a Volkswagen Camper, had 47 bhp from the factory, a top speed of 72 mph, a scarily low consumption figure of 20 mpg and emitted an equally shocking 338g of Carbon Dioxide per km.

    Exact details are a little vague, but EcoVelocity’s makeover involves the transplanting of a 90 hp Volkswagen 1.6 TDI engine, with hybrid and stop/start technology. We don’t know why they didn’t actually build it as a project. Their exact reason for only upgrading virtually (hypothetically) was to ensure that the “experiment was run in the ‘greenest’ possible fashion and in keeping with the ethos of the show”.

    So, actually taking a popular – but environmentally unfriendly – vehicle, and making it as green as a modern car goes against the ethos of the show – yet there will be people driving cars (some with diesel engines) around a specially designed track – all day long?

    A virtual car show would have been truly green…

    The event takes place from 8-11 September at Battersea Power Station, a decommissioned coal-fired power station, in South London.

    [Source: EcoVelocity]

  • Nicky Hayden tries out a Mercedes C-Class DTM car


    Ducati MotoGP rider Nicky Hayden recently paid a visit to Mercedes to hook up with AMG ambassador and current DTM driver, David Coulthard. The pair go out in a C-Class racecar, before Hayden gets behind the wheel himself, before getting a little drifty… (more…)