German Car Scene

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  • Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class Edition 1

    Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class Edition 1
    Mercedes-Benz has announced that it will be offering an Edition 1 variant of its GLA-Class crossover.

    Available to order from November for just twelve months, with any petrol or diesel engine in the range, the GLA Edition 1 can be specified in either Cirrus White, Mountain Grey Metallic, Orient Brown Metallic or Designo Magno Mountingraum paintwork, with standard equipment including aluminum-look bumper panels, bi-xenon headlamps, 19-inch AMG alloy wheels, aluminum roof rails, a sportier radiator grille and chrome tailpipes.

    Moving inside, the cabin receives exclusive Desert Dust and Nut Brown leather upholstery, a leather-trimmed, flat-bottomed multi-function steering wheel and brushed stainless steel pedals.

    Pricing for the package starts at €6,307.
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  • BMW X6 M by Cam Shaft

    BMW X6 M by Cam Shaft
    Kempen-based aftermarket specialist Cam Shaft has created a BMW X6 M project to demonstrate the services it provides.

    Visually the SUV has been fitted with a Vorsteiner carbon fibre aero package comprising of a ventilated hood, front spoiler, tailgate spoiler and a diffuser section. The body was then wrapped in a combination of matte metallic anthracite and matte metallic black foil, while the alloy wheels are finished in metallic graphite with carbon-look spokes. Finally, the factory suspension was replaced by a Variant 3 coilover kit from KW Automotive.

    Underneath the hood, PP-Performance were called upon to fit a full stainless steel exhaust system including manifolds and racing catalysts, along with its remapped ECU software. Those tweaks see output from the 4.4-litre biturbo V8 powerplant rise from 408 kW (555 hp) and 680 Nm of torque to 529 kW (709 hp) and 1,000 Nm.
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  • Long-wheelbase Volkswagen up! on the way?

    Long-wheelbase Volkswagen up!
    According to reports, Volkswagen is planning to add a long-wheelbase variant to its range of up! models.

    Designed to increase rear passenger legroom as well as luggage capacity, Autocar says that the elongated citycar is unlikely to come to all markets and “not China and not Europe”, which suggests that it could be heading Stateside to grab a piece of the mini MPV market.

    [Source: Autocar]

  • BMW i8 Spyder rendered

    BMW i8 Spyder
    Singapore-based car fanatic and digital artist Theophilus Chin has taken the roof off BMW’s i8 Coupe to provide us with a glimpse of the forthcoming Spyder variant.

    Already seen in concept guise, the Spyder will once again utilize a lightweight carbon-fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP) passenger cell with power coming from a combination of a turbocharged 1.5-litre three-cylinder engine developing 170 kW (231 hp) and 320 Nm of torque along with an electric motor developing 96 kW (131 hp) and 250 Nm.

    The strengthened monocoque will add a little weight, meaning 0-100 km/h with arrive in a whisker over 4.5 seconds before the fun stops at a limited 250 km/h (155 mph) top speed. A removable targa roof design similar to the Porsche 918 Spyder‘s would be the most practical solution, dodging the need for unnecessary motors and mechanisms.

    We predict that it will surface in Shanghai next April before swinging into production towards the end of the year.
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  • DTM Oschersleben: victory for Farfus

    DTM Oschersleben
    BMW’s Augusto Farfus took the top step of the podium following today’s DTM race in Oschersleben, keeping his title chances alive in the process.

    Starting from second on the grid, Farfus passed the Audi RS 5 DTM of Jamie Green to take the lead by the very first corner, but unlike the chasing pack of Green, Bruno Spengler and Mike Rockenfeller, Farfus had started on the ‘option’ tyres and started to created a cushion for himself. By lap four, the mandatory stop window opened, resulting in the rest of the drivers also switching from the harder ‘standard’ rubber before attempting to reel Farfus in.

    Green and Rockenfeller spent the afternoon fighting over second and third, with Rockenfeller edging ahead towards the end finally crossing the line just over half a second ahead of the Briton. Filipe Albuquerque came home fourth to claim his first points of the season, followed by Timo Scheider and Gary Paffett, whose Mercedes was the only non-Audi car – along with Farfus’ BMW M3 DTM – to finish in the top ten.

    Now on 124 points, Rockenfeller can only be caught by Farfus (on 91), but a second-place finish in Zandvoort or Hockenheim will see him crowned Champion. BMW retains its lead in the Manufacturers’ Championship with 276 points, ahead of Audi (267) and Mercedes-Benz (237).

    “The key to happiness was my great start. I overtook Jamie Green and was directly in front. The stops were also perfect. I am very happy. We still have a mathematical chance of overall victory – and that’s why we fight,” said the Brazilian.

    “The second place feels good. For a brief moment, I was thinking that I might be able to win. But it soon became obvious that Augusto (Farfus) was a bit stronger than we. That’s why I took it easy on the car and brought second place home. These were important points for the Championship again. A podium in the DTM can’t be taken for granted,” said Rockenfeller.
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  • Ogier dominates Rally Australia

    Volkswagen Polo R WRC
    Following a disappointing Rally Germany, Sebastien Ogier took total control in Australia, winning the event, but dramatically missing out on the title – by just one point.

    The Frenchman dominated throughout, winning 19 of the 22 stages in his Polo R to finish with a cushion of over one and a half minutes. But his title celebrations were put on hold when Mikko Hirvonen’s Citroen picked up a puncture on the last stage, allowing Ford’s Thierry Neuville to move into second position with Hirvonen coming home third. Ogier also won the final power stage, but Neuville finished runner-up, grabbing two bonus points to keep his slim title hopes alive.

    Ogier’s Volkswagen team-mate Jari-Matti Latvala also suffered a puncture on the final stage, but held on for fourth, just ahead of Mads Ostberg and fellow VW driver Andreas Mikkelsen.

    “Of course we would like to celebrate here in Australia already the world title,” Sébastien Ogier said at the last entrance to the park service. “But it was ultimately not our fault that it did not work. We have done our best,” said the 29-year-old.
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