German Car Scene

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  • Porsche 911 GT3 by Cam Shaft

    Martini Racing Porsche 911 GT3
    Cam Shaft, the oddly-named Kempen styling specialist, has revealed its latest project based on the recently superseded Porsche 997 GT3.

    The transformation begins with Cam Shaft applying a Pearl White foil to the body for €2,400 – or €3,150 if you want your door edges covered too. And that’s before the Martini Racing livery is added, which adds another €900 to the cost. The company can also powder coat your wheels in matte black for €480.

    For €1,899 Cam Shaft’s in-house performance arm provides an ECU software upgrade for the 3.8-litre flat-six, which sees output climb from 305 kW (415 hp) (305 kW) to 320 kW (435 hp), with the aftermarket specialist also recommending a KW Variant 3 KW coilover suspension kit.
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  • Porsche Panamera GrandGT by TechArt

    Porsche Panamera GrandGT by TechArt
    Leonberg-based Porsche tuning specialist TechArt has released details of its GrandGT program for the current Porsche Panamera model.

    Constructed from a carbon and polyurethane RIM composite, the aggressive aero package comprises of a ventilated hood, front bumper with integrated splitter and colossal air intakes, wheel arch extensions, side skirts, roof and tailgate spoilers, and a rear bumper with air outlets and diffuser. LED daytime running light units and trims for the headlights and side gills complete the conversion.

    TechArt can provide wheel and tyre packages ranging from 20 to 22-inches in size, including its Formula II GTR, Formula IV and Formula III items (pictured). Moving inside, the company offers anything from a 3-spoke sport steering wheel – complete with flappy paddles, to carbon fibre trim elements, to a completely reupholstered cabin in leather and Alcantara.

    As well as a new stainless steel exhaust system with adjustable valve control, TechArt specializes in performance upgrades across the range, with a Power Kit for the Turbo model about to be released, which sees output from the 4.8-litre biturbo V8 jump from 388 kW (520 hp) to 432 kW (580 hp).
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  • 2014 Bentley Continental GT V8 S announced

    2014 Bentley Continental GT V8 S
    Bentley has tweaked its V8-powered Continental GT a little to create with the Continental GT V8 S and GTC V8 S.

    Due to be unveiled in Frankfurt, the regular car’s 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 unit has been massaged to produce 389 KW (522 hp) and 680 Nm of torque – up from 373 kW (500 hp) and 660 Nm, and returns an average fuel consumption figure 10.6 litres per 100 kilometres with CO2 emissions of 246 g/km (Cabriolet 10.9 l/100 km and 254 g/km). On the road, those figures translate to an impressive 0-100 km/h time of 4.3 seconds for the Coupe (4.5s) along with a 309 km/h (308 km/h) top speed, especially when you realize that the 6-litre twin-turbocharged W12-engined Continental GT takes 4.6s to 100 km/h and is only 9 km/h faster.

    Other performance upgrades include lowered sports suspension (by 10 mm), revised damping, increased spring rates (45% front, 33% rear), a stiffened rear anti-roll bar, and recalibration of the steering, Continuous Damping Control (CDC) system and Electronic Stability Control.

    Visually the S models can be identified by their black radiator grille with chrome divider bar, along with a front splitter, side sill trims and rear diffuser finished in Beluga gloss.’V8 S’ fender badging and exclusive 20-inch alloy wheels complete the aesthetics.

    Deliveries begin in early 2014 with pricing yet to be confirmed.
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  • Porsche confirms 918 Spyder for Frankfurt

    Porsche 918 Spyder
    After what feel like several hundred years of development, Porsche has announced that its innovative 918 Spyder will be revealed in production form at Frankfurt next Tuesday.

    At the heart of the 1640 kg hybrid is a 453 kW (608 hp) 4.6-litre V8 engine that revs to over 9000 RPM, which is complemented by a hybrid module at the rear along with an electric motor driving the front wheels. Top speed in electric mode is 150 km/h (93 mph) with a range of 25 kilometres achievable – depending on driving style. However, with the full-on 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.

    If the 845,000 USD (€633,000) starting price of the 918 Spyder is a little out of your league Porsche will also be taking its new 911 Turbo and celebratory ‘50 years 911’ edition to the show.
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  • BMW i8 photos surface

    BMW i8
    Following on from a cheeky teaser video, here’s a couple of the first BMW i8 photographs showing the car in production guise.

    Due to make its world debut in Frankfurt in exactly seven days, the i8 utilizes the company’s i LifeDrive architecture, which focuses around a lightweight carbon-fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP) passenger cell connected to the aluminum Drive module.

    Propulsion comes via a TwinPower turbocharged 1.5-litre three-cylinder combustion engine that sends 170 kW (231 hp) and 320 Nm of torque to the rear wheels via a six-speed automatic transmission, along with an electric motor developing 96 kW (131 hp) and 250 Nm driving the front wheels through a two-stage automatic gearbox.

    It can hit 100 km/h in 4.5 seconds and reach a top speed of 250 km/h (155 mph) in all-wheel drive mode, with a maximum of 120 km/h (75 mph) and a range of 35 kilometres (22m) achievable in electric-only mode.
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  • BMW X3 by Hamann

    Hamann BMW X3
    Laupheim-based tuning specialist Hamann Motorsport has revealed its range of options to suit the current BMW X3 SUV.

    Performance upgrades based on ECU software optimization are available for petrol models including the xDrive 20i, 28i and 35i, with the xDrive 35i now producing 266 kW (348 hp) and 449 Nm – up from the series figures of 225 kW (306 hp) and 400 Nm. Diesel fans aren’t overlooked either, with the xDrive 18D, 20D, 30D and 35d all benefitting from a tweak. An example of this is the 35d, which enjoys a jump in output from 230 kW (313 hp) and 630 Nm to 260 kW (355 hp) and 695 Nm.

    Other items include a lowering kit, which provides a drop in ride height of 35 mm, and the company’s ANNIVERSARY EVO multi-spoke alloy wheels. Measuring 9 and 10.5 x 22-inches, they’re available in either a silver or black/chrome finish and come wrapped in Vredestein Ultrac Vorti R tyres.
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