September 2011 – Page 5 – GERMAN CAR SCENE

BMW M3 DTM completes successful test at the Hungaroring

January 18th, 2012September 23rd, 2011 by admin

BMW Motorsport has completed another successful M3 DTM test, this time at the Hungaroring. The three teams: BMW Team Schnitzer, BMW Team RBM and BMW Team RMG were all present, there to work on general set-ups and to assess the cars’ long-distance durability. Day one saw them cover a total of 361 laps of the 4.381 kilometre circuit, while day two resulted in 392 laps – around 3,300 kilometres in total – with no issues on either day.

Confirmed BMW Motorsport pilots for 2012, Andy Priaulx and Augusto Farfus attended the test on both days, with American Le Mans Series champion Dirk Müller and Dirk Werner there on the first and second day, respectively.

“It was a great feeling to be able to test the BMW M3 DTM for the first time. It is very different to the BMW M3 GT. The carbon brakes, in particular, require a big readjustment. The car felt very good from the first moment,” said Werner.

Powered by a 480 hp V8 engine – fitted with two 28 mm air intake restrictors, the M3 DTM hits 100 km/h (62 mph) in just 3 seconds, while top speed is around 300 km/h (186 mph).

[Source: BMW Motorsport]

BMW offers a Taste of Hell

September 23rd, 2011 by admin

Here’s a trailer for the movie “24hours – One team. One target,” that follows Team BMW Motorsport’s time at this year’s 24-hour race in the “Green Hell”.

Creating the Mercedes-Benz Concept A-Class

January 18th, 2012September 22nd, 2011 by admin

Exterior designer Mark Fetherston and interior designer Jan Kaul describe what it took to take the Mercedes-Benz Concept A-Class from a simple sketch to full-blown vision of the future.

Mercedes-Benz ML 63 AMG Carbon Series by Kicherer

January 18th, 2012September 22nd, 2011 by admin

Stockach tuning house, Kicherer, has just released details of its program for the Mercedes-Benz ML 63 AMG, the “Carbon Series”. Visually, the ML’s body has been de-chromed – right down the badges, and receives a covering of carbon fibre-look foil and tinted rear light clusters, giving the chunky SUV a slight air of menace. A set of colossal 23-inch alloy wheels complete the look.

Performance-wise, the mighty AMG V8 powerplant gets an ECU tweak and stainless steel sports exhaust, resulting in 540 hp (397 kW) and 640 Nm of torque – up from 510 hp (375 kW) and 630 Nm. Kicherer also fits its adjustable PowerConverter, which eliminates the delay that can be found in electronic fly-by-wire accelerator pedals.

[Source: Kicherer]

Carlsson offers C-Tronic CB power upgrade unit

January 18th, 2012September 22nd, 2011 by admin

Renowned Merzig-based tuning specialist, Carlsson has created a range of C-Tronic modules for 4-cylinder turbocharged Mercedes-Benz engines, offering up to 28 percent more power.

CAR Magazine drives the BMW M5

September 22nd, 2011 by admin

Here’s a teaser from CAR Magazine featuring BMW’s F10M M5 model. Not only do the guys drive this 552 bhp twin-turbo 4.4 L V8-powered beast, but they also compare it with nine other M Division icons, from the stunning E30 M3 to its spiritual successor, the 340 bhp 1 Series M Coupe. Drool.