German Car Scene

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  • VAD Porsche 911 RSR Turbo

    VAD Porsche 911 RSR Turbo
    British styling specialist Vogue Auto Design has developed an RSR body program to suit Porsche’s outmoded 997 model.

    As with Champion Motorsport’s car, VAD’s package is based on genuine Porsche Motorsport GT3 RSR components, but the company revised its front bumper by adding a GT3 air outlet and deleting the flics and splitter, while smaller air intake surrounds for the rear quarter panels were created in order to avoid cutting the wheel arch extensions. The aggressive package also consists of a wider rear bumper, front fender flares and side skirts.

    Along with a 485 kW (650 hp) performance upgrade, this 911 Turbo sits on a custom Bilstein PS10 coilover suspension set-up and wears 11 and 14 x 20-inch VAD VM1 forged alloy wheels fitted with 255/30 & 345/25 tyres.

    Interested parties can contact VAD for details and pricing.
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  • smart fourjoy heading to Frankfurt

    smart fourjoy
    Following on from its forstars concept, smart has revealed another design study, the fourjoy, which will be officially unveiled in Frankfurt.

    Measuring 3494 mm in length, 1978 mm in width and standing 1494 mm tall, the futuristic-looking four-seater dispenses with unnecessary ballast, meaning no doors, no rear window and no roof section. Fuelling the urban buggy is a lithium-ion battery with a capacity of 17.6 kWh which powers the same magneto-electric motor – developing 55 kW (74 hp) and 130 Nm (96 lb/ft) of torque – found in smart’s current fortwo electric drive.

    Said to feature design elements and dimensions similar to the next generation production model, the fourjoy looks much more organic, most noticeably that polished tridion cell, the exposed headlamps with U-shaped LED daytime running lights and LED turbine tail-lights and door mirrors that appear to float on aluminium arms. Wearing contrasting pearlescent white bumpers, hood and tailgate, the car sits on 19-inch double three-spoke alloy wheels, which are pushed out to each corner resulting in extremely short overhangs.

    Moving inside, there’s a pair of curvy front seats along with a rear bench in the style of lounge furniture (from The Jetsons), both with black chrome backs, and two smartphones mounted on the dashboard and centre tunnel at the rear.

    Now for the good part. A detachable high-definition camera and two skateboard helmets are located behind the rear seat, while a pair of electric longboards are fastened to the roof of the car, meaning occupants can film themselves riding before sharing the footage on social networks with people they went to school with and haven’t seen for twenty years, but still feel the need to portray a fulfilling and enjoyable lifestyle.
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  • Volkswagen Golf GTI vs Golf GTD

    half and half
    Auto Express magazine’s latest video sees James Disdale compare Volkswagen’s Golf GTI with its diesel-sipping sibling, the Golf GTD.

    The GTI is powered by VW’s 2.0 TSI engine, developing 162 kW (220 hp) and 350 Nm of torque, allowing a 0-100 km/h time of 6.5 seconds and a 246 km/h top speed, while the GTD uses a 2.0 TDI that produces 135 kW (181 hp) and an impressive torque figure of 380 Nm. On the road 100 km/h appears in just 7.5 seconds with top speed also slightly slower at 230 km/h.

    However, its combined fuel consumption, which works out at 4.2 litres per 100 km, overshadows the GTI’s figure of 6.0l/100 km, and it is also around €1,000 cheaper.

    Which one would you choose?
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  • Mercedes CLA 45 AMG Racing Series announced

    Mercedes CLA 45 AMG Racing Series
    Mercedes has announced details of the new CLA 45 AMG Racing Series ahead of Frankfurt.

    Based on the CLA 45 AMG road car, Mercedes says that the customer sports race car could also be adapted to suit the technical specifications and regulations of different racing series. Propelled by the most powerful series production 4-cylinder engine currently available; that all-aluminium, turbocharged AMG lump, which produces a delicious 265 kW (360 hp) and 450 Nm of torque in series guise. As in the factory vehicle, the AMG SPEEDSHIFT DCT 7-speed sports gearbox takes care of power transmission.

    The suspension level, spring rate and damper characteristics are adjustable, as are the track and camber at the front and rear axles.

    In race trim, the car wears panels constructed from carbon-fibre reinforced plastics (CFRP), including an extensive, widebody aero package, huge front splitter and colossal rear wing and deeper diffuser, while the stripped-out interior features a full roll-cage, a Recaro carbon-fibre P 1300 GT racing bucket seat from Recaro, integrated fire extinguishing system and racing steering wheel with flappy paddles.
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  • Audi Sport quattro concept announced

    Audi Sport quattro concept
    Audi has announced initial details of its plug-in hybrid Sport quattro concept which is set to be unveiled in Frankfurt next week.

    With a wheelbase of 2,784 millimetres, it is 4,602 mm long, 1,964 mm wide and stands just 1,386 mm tall, meaning it bears dimensions not too dissimilar to those of the Bugatti Veyron. We like the aggressive styling, including that huge hexagonal single-frame grille, the Audi Matrix LED headlights with wrap-around daytime running lights, the colossal vertical vents cutting into the front fascia and purposeful CFRP splitter lip. The blistered wheel arches and subtle hood louvres are a nice nod to the original Sport quattro, which debuted in Frankfurt 30 years ago, while the CFRP sill flairs, diffuser, large oval tailpipes and LED tail-lights bring its namesake roaring into the present day. Other nice touches include automatically extending power door handles, the functional air outlets behind the front wheels and the 21-inch five twin-spoke centre-locking wheels, which hide a set of carbon fiber-ceramic brake discs.

    Moving inside, the cabin is awash with carbon fibre trim and features racing bucket seats with folding backs, a digital instrument cluster and head-up display. The multifunction sport steering wheel is used to switch between a range of virtual 3D displays including a Race mode with central speedometer, detailed track information and a stopwatch, while the air conditioning controls and temperature displays are integrated within the air vents.

    As mentioned, the Sport quattro concept utilizes a plug-in hybrid drive that makes use of the twin-turbo V8 from the RS 6 Avant, which develops 412 kW (560 hp) and 700 Nm of torque, along with a disc-shaped electric motor. Located between the 4.0 TFSI and the transmission, it produces a peak output of 110 kW and 400 Nm and is fed by a 14.1 kWh liquid-cooled lithium-ion battery in the rear, allowing a range of 50 km (31 miles) on electric power alone.
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  • TechArt updates Porsche Cayman program

    TechArt Porsche Cayman
    Leonberg-based Porsche tuning specialist TechArt has revealed its updated program for the current Cayman model ahead of next week’s Frankfurt Motor Show.

    Based on the package revealed earlier this year, TechArt has added the Rear Spoiler II, which is constructed from high-quality PU-RIM and mounted on aluminium struts that allow the angle of the wing to be adjusted.

    The rest of the kit comprises of a two-piece front spoiler with integrated splitter, mirror casings, side air intake fins and a diffuser section for the rear bumper. TechArt can also provide customers with its five-spoke Formula wheel or the lightweight Formula III forged wheel in a five-double spoke design measuring 21-inches in diameter, which offers a weight advantage of around 40 percent compared to the factory wheel.

    The company’s sport spring kit lowers the Cayman by 30 mm on the front and 20 mm at the rear. The final mechanical upgrade is a stainless steel exhaust system with adjustable valve control and a muffler with twin tailpipes.
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