German Car Scene

Author: admin

  • Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class by Carlsson

    Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class by Carlsson
    Mercedes-Benz tuning specialist Carlsson revealed its latest program to suit the current CLA-Class at this week’s Frankfurt Motor Show.

    For the body Carlsson offers an aero package comprising of a front spoiler with air inlets, sculpted side skirts, a larger roof spoiler and rear bumper apron with integrated diffuser and twin apertures to accommodate new quadruple tailpipes. A separate apron for cars fitted with the AMG body kit includes air outlet grilles, while electro-polished stainless steel grille inserts can be added as an option.

    Sport springs drop the CLA-Class by 35 mm, with an adjustable coilover option available for those with deeper pockets, while the factory wheels can be replaced with Carlsson’s 1/10 items in diamteters ranging from 18 to 20 inches.

    Inside, Carlsson can supply anything from aluminum door pins and pedal covers or floor mats to a completely bespoke interior using such materials as leather, wood and carbon fibre.

    The company also offers performance upgrades to suit all four-cylinder petrol-engined cars with its C-Tronic CB Plug & Drive module. Once connected to the car’s ECU output from the CLA 250 jumps from 157 kW (211 hp) and 350 Nm of torque to 189 kW (253 hp) and 420 Nm, while the CLA 200 goes from 116 kW (156 hp) and 250 Nm to 139 kW (187 hp) and 300 Nm.
    (more…)

  • SEAT Leon SC by JE Design

    SEAT Leon SC by JE Design
    Leingarten-based tuning company JE Design has released a range of options for the lovely SEAT Leon SC.

    Created for the sportiest FR variant, the aero package is constructed from carbon-look plastic and comprises of a front spoiler, side skirts and rear skirt insert with apertures for twin-double tailpipes attached to the new stainless steel muffler. The company’s sport spring kit provides a drop of 30 mm, but owners with deeper pockets can specify a KW coilover system, which is adjustable for rebound and compression-damping and takes the hatchback down by as much as 65 mm. A range of wheel and tyre packages are also available in 18 and 19-inch diameters.

    Under the hood, JE applies its own ECU software to the 2.0-litre TDI unit, which sees output rise from 135 kW (184 hp) and 380 Nm of torque to 154 kW (210 hp) and 430 Nm, meaning the 0-100 km/h is reduced from 7.5 seconds to 6.9s, while top speed remains the same at 228 km/h (142 mph).
    (more…)

  • BMW M135i by Tuningwerk

    Tuningwerk BMW M135i
    Puchheim-based performance specialist Tuningwerk has revealed details of its new program to suit BMW’s feisty M135i.

    Packing a turbocharged 3.0-litre straight six-cylinder, which churns out a delicious 235 kW (320 hp) in factory guise, Tuningwerk fits its own upgraded turbocharger unit along with an enlarged intercooler, an additional radiator, remapped ECU software and a complete exhaust system with 200-cell catalyst, resulting in 331 Kw (444 hp).

    Additional components include a single mass flywheel weighing 4.5 kgs less than the original item, a limited slip differential, a fully adjustable KW Clubsport coilover kit and a set of lightweight 18-inch alloy wheels wrapped in 245/40 and 265/35 Dunlop Direzza semi slick rubber. Behind them the BMW Performance brakes benefit from race-spec pads and stainless steel flexible hoses.

    Moving inside the cabin, there’s a pair of Recaro Pole Position racing seats with the company also offering an optional roll-cage for the more serious trackday enthusiasts.
    (more…)

  • Volkswagen e-load up! unveiled

    Volkswagen e-load up!
    Volkswagen chose Frankfurt to reveal its e-load up! concept, a very small van based on its electric e-up! model.

    Perfect for jobs where a large van would be simply inefficient, the e-load up! is perfect for the likes of service technicians, couriers, pizza deliveries or social services. The rear windows have been replaced by plastic panels, while the cabin features a driver’s seat and a fold-down passenger seat. That sparse interior sees the cargo capacity increase from 951 to over 1,400 litres, with a total load of 306 kg possible. That’s a lot of pizza.

    The motor propelling the e-up! develops 60 kW (80 hp) and 210 Nm of torque, allowing 100 km/h to appear in 12.4 seconds before the fun stops at 130 km/h. A range of 160 kilometres can be covered on one battery charge (18.7 kWh), with a mere 11.7 kWh of electricity used every 100 km. Working on today’s electricity price of €0.258 per kWh in Germany, that equates to a mere €3.02 per 100 km travelled.
    (more…)

  • Mercedes-Benz reveals Concept S-Class Coupe

    Mercedes-Benz Concept S-Class Coupe
    Mercedes-Benz has revealed a concept version of the forthcoming S-Class Coupe, which is set to replace the existing CL-Class early next year.

    With a wheelbase of 2945 mm, length of 5050 mm, width of 1958 mm and standing 1409 mm tall, it’s slightly shorter, wider and lower than the current S-Class, but is styled totally differently. The reverse-rake face takes cues from the CLA with its three-dimensional radiator grille, wide expanse of air intakes and diamond-shaped LED headlights. In profile the long hood, dome-shaped stretched roof line, frameless doors and sculpted waistline take centre stage, while the lightly flared wheel arches house 21-inch five-spoke alloy wheels. Finally, the stubby rear features wraparound LED tail-lights connected by a chrome strip spanning the width of the trunk lid, while the diffuser frames a pair of slimline tailpipes.

    Moving inside the cabin – which is said to be inspired by a whale’s fluke (not a euphemism), the instrument panel and seats are upholstered from supple calfskin, with the carpets and roof-lining hand-crafted from silk and the door panels from computer-milled aluminium. There’s a pair of ‘floating’ 30.7-cm (12.3-inch) colour displays, while the ventilation nozzles are finished in a mix of white and polished aluminium, with the centre console in a new ‘black diamond’ finish. The highly scratch-resistant surface is created by a chemical vapour deposit process, which deposits a precious metal on a high-sheen chrome surface at temperatures of 1000°C.
    (more…)

  • Porsche 918 Spyder secures Nurburgring lap record

    Porsche 918 Spyder secures Nurburgring lap record
    Following its big reveal in Frankfurt, Porsche has announced that the 918 Spyder recently recorded the fastest ever Nurburgring lap for a car with global road homologation, with a time of 6.57 minutes.

    Previously held for four years, the record was broken on the morning of September 4 by Porsche factory race driver Marc Lieb – on his first attempt. Lieb, who drove at an average speed of over 111 mph (179.5 km/h), was joined by Porsche test driver Timo Kluck and the legendary Walter Röhrl; with both of them also recording sub-seven minute times during the day.

    At the heart of this innovative hypercar is a 453 kW (608 hp) 4.6-litre V8 engine, which is based on that of the LMP2 RS Spyder race car and is backed up by a hybrid module at the rear along with a electric motor powering the front wheels. When using electric power alone, top speed is 150 km/h (93 mph) with a range of 25 kilometres achievable – depending on driving style but, with the full 661 kW (887 hp) a its disposal, 100 km/h appears in 2.8 seconds and 200 km/h in 7.9s, while top speed is 340 km/h (211 mph). All from a car capable of drinking around three litres of fuel every 100 kilometres.

    “The radical hybridisation of the 918 Spyder from the very outset is what made this lap record possible” said Dr. Frank Walliser, head of the 918 Spyder project. “The lap time on the Nordschleife is, and remains, the toughest measure of a super sports car. Posting a time of 6.57 minutes, we achieved a result of which everyone in the development team – and at Porsche as a whole – is rightly proud.”
    (more…)