This brand spanking new episode of DRIVE sees Chris Harris travel to Portugal to sample BMW’s 435i Coupe on the road and at Estoril circuit.
Until the flagship M4 variant arrives the 435i is the top of the tree; propelled by the company’s TwinPower Turbo 3.0-litre six-pot delivering 225 kW (306 hp) and 400 Nm of torque, 100 km/h happens in 5.4 seconds (xDrive 4.9s) with top speed electronically limited to 250 km/h (155 mph).
(more…)
TouriClips recently spotted this striking matte black Porsche 918 Spyder really stretching its legs through the little Karussel and Galgenkopf sections on the Nurburgring.
Using a 453 kW (608 hp) 4.6-litre V8 engine along with a 115 kW (154 hp) combined with a 95 kW (127 hp) electric motor, the Spyder can hit 100 km/h in 2.8 seconds and 200 km/h in 7.9s, while top speed is 340 km/h (211 mph). In electric mode top speed drops to 150 km/h (93 mph) with a range of 25 kilometres achievable.
With production already started, the 918 Spyder can be yours for as little as €781,155 – or €853,155 if you specify the track-focused Weissach package.
(more…)
Ahrweiler-based motorsport and tuning specialist Alpha-N Performance has announced details of its ALPHA-N BT92 program to suit the current BMW M3 Coupe.
Visually, the car wears a carbon fibre body package, which shaves 250 kg from its weight, consisting of a replacement front bumper with lower spoiler, muscular hood, wider fenders and rear arch extensions, side skirts, boot lid and back bumper with integrated diffuser and aperture for the centrally-mounted exhaust system. The M3 now rides on Ohlins coilover suspension system and wears a set of three-piece 19-inch S3 alloy wheels wrapped in 255/35 and 295/35 Hankook Ventus S1 Evo tyres. Moving inside, the cabin receives a pair of Alcantara-trimmed Recaro Sportster CS sport seats with corresponding door panels and rear bench.
Under the hood Alpha-N fits a new crankshaft, connecting rods and pistons taking displacement up from 4.0-litres to 4.6-litres. Remapped ECU software and a prototype MAC carbon fibre air box helps to increase output from 309 kW (414 hp) and 400 Nm of torque to 360 kW (490 hp) and 470 Nm, enough for a 0-100 km/h time in the region of 4.5 seconds and a 315 km/h 195 mph) top speed.
(more…)
France’s Motorsport Magazine has conducted a drag race between two performance cars from opposite ends of the spectrum: Audi’s RS 6 Avant and the featherweight Caterham 485 R.
Developed by Caterham Technology and Innovation (CTI), the 525 kg Caterham 485 R is propelled by a 2.0-litre Duratec, running electronically-actuated throttle bodies, that develops 179 kW (240 hp) and 207 Nm of torque, while the family-friendly Estate from Ingolstadt is propelled by a twin-turbocharged 4.0 TFSI V8 unit churning out 412 kW (560 hp) and 700 Nm.
Which is your money on?
(more…)
Bayern-based tuning specialist G-Power has released details of its extreme BMW M3 GT2 R program.
Starting with the engine, G-Power takes the 4.0-litre V8 apart and reconstructs it with a new crankshaft, Mahle pistons and reinforced connecting rods, taking displacement up to 4.6-litres. The company’s SK III ASA T1-724 supercharger kit is then added, along with a carbon fibre air box, a titanium exhaust system with 100 cpsi metallic catalytic converters, an additional fuel pump, optimized ECU software and uprated cooling circuits, resulting in a monumental 537 kW (720 hp) and 700 Nm of torque at 0.7 bar. On the road the GT2 R rockets to 100 km/h in just 3.7 seconds, 200 km/h in 9.5s, and on to a top speed in excess of 330 km/h (205 mph).
Chassis upgrades come in the form of a Clubsport coilover suspension kit, 20-inch Silverstone RS forged alloy wheels wrapped in 245/30 and 315/25 Michelin Pilot Cup tyres and a carbon ceramic brake system utilizing 396 mm front discs gripped by six-piston calipers and 380 mm items with four-piston calipers on the rear.
Helping to achieve a 1.500 kg kerb weight the GT2 R is fitted with a carbon fibre aero package comprising of new bumpers, wider front fenders, rear wheel arch extensions, a motorsport rear wing and heavily vented hood. Moving inside the cabin, the rear bench has been removed along with the factory front seats which have been replaced by lightweight carbon racing buckets. An FIA-approved roll-cage was also added for good measure.
Customers wanting the engine conversion alone will have to part with €41,650 – plus installation costs, while the complete transformation starts at €195,310.
(more…)
In this episode of Ignition, Motor Trend’s Jonny Lieberman heads to Germany to drive the Estate version of Mercedes’ heavy-hitting C 63 AMG Edition 507 through the Black Forest and on the Autobahn.
Powered by a revised version of the regular car’s AMG 6.2-litre engine, the forged pistons, connecting rods and lightweight crankshaft have been borrowed from the SLS AMG, resulting in an improved output of 373 kW (507 hp) and 610 Nm of torque – an increase of 37 kW (50 hp) and 10 Nm.
On the road, 100 km/h appears in just 4.3 seconds with top speed limited to a 280 km/h (174 mph) thanks to the inclusion of the AMG Driver’s package.
(more…)