German Car Scene

Month: November 2011

  • Road & Track drives the Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid 2.0


    Road & Track’s Shaun Bailey was lucky enough to drive Porsche’s 911 GT3 R Hybrid 2.0 version at Estoril circuit. The million Euro development machine features a pair of 75 kW (up from 60 kW) electric motors on the front axle supplementing its 470 hp 4.0 L six-cylinder engine, while the overall weight drops from 1,350 to 1,300 kg. (more…)

  • BMW M3 Competition Edition in Frozen Silver


    To commemorate 40 years since the founding of BMW M GmbH, BMW of North America is releasing a special M3 Competition Edition model finished in Frozen Silver paintwork.

    Limited to just 40 units, as well as the usual Competition Edition equipment, these special M3s will also feature black bonnet vents, dark chrome kidney grilles, side gills, exhaust tailpipes, and black M3 GTS wheels. Inside, the cabin is treated to extended Novillo leather hide with with palladium silver accents and stitching, an Alcantara-trimmed multi-function M steering wheel, a handbrake lever embroidered with a M Power logo, and carbon fibre trim elements on the dashboard and centre console.

    Priced at $81,060 (€ 58,639), just one of the M3 Competition Edition models will find its way to each of the first 40 authorized BMW centers to become M Certified Centres in America.

    [Source: BMW]

    (more…)

  • Fifth Gear: Audi RS 5 Coupe vs Mercedes-Benz C 63 AMG Coupe


    From tonight’s Fifth Gear, Tiff Needell conducts a shootout between Audi’s RS 5 Coupé and the Mercedes-Benz C 63 AMG Coupé. The rear-wheel drive 457 hp C 63 AMG and quattro-equipped 450 hp RS 5 both hit 100 km/h (62 mph) in 4.5 seconds, but which crosses the line first?

    Click image to view the video.

  • 2012 Porsche 911 GT3 RSR surfaces


    Porsche Motorsport has revealed its flagship customer racing vehicle for the 2012 season, the epic 911 GT3 RSR.

    Visually, the 911 GT3 RSR is 48 mm wider than its predecessor, and features air intakes within the rear arches – in a similar style to the 911 Turbo road car – rather than the previous engine cover scoop. The nose panel is adapted to meet the edges of those extreme arches, while the sill extensions and rear panel are connected by arches that house 310 mm (12.2 inch) wide rear wheels.

    Powered by a 4.0 L six-cylinder boxer engine, fitted with the mandatory air-restrictor, the 911 GT3 RSR develops 338 kW/460 hp, while steering wheel-mounted flappy paddles control the six-speed sequential transmission.

    “Our customer teams can expect a technically mature, high performance race car with which they will be highly competitive at international long distance races,” said Porsche’s Head of Motorsport, Hartmut Kristen.

    Available for delivery from January 2012, for € 498,000 (plus taxes), the 911 GT3 RSR could be used to race in the Le Mans 24 Hours, the FIA World Endurance Championship, the International GT Open and the Le Mans Series, amongst others.
    (more…)

  • Volkswagen Tiguan R-Line


    Volkswagen R GmbH has created a range of R-Line options for its compact crossover vehicle, the Tiguan.

    The exterior pack includes special R-Line bumpers, rear diffuser, roof edge spoiler, colour-coded sill extensions with matt chrome inserts, and sill trims embossed with the R-Line logo. There’s also a set of new 19-inch ‘Mallory’ alloy wheels finished in ‘Sterling silver’.

    R-Line ‘interior’ pack: The R-Line ‘interior’ pack may be ordered as an extension pack. In this case, Tiguan features are supplemented by sport seats (front), ‘Kyalami’ style seat covers (front and rear) with lateral supports in ‘San Remo’ microfibre fabric (front), head restraints with integrated R-Line logo and a multifunction steering wheel with aluminium accents and R-Line badge. Additional interior pack components: a ‘Titan black’ roofliner and pedals with stainless steel caps. Price of the interior pack: 840 euros. ‘Vienna’ leather upholstery (2,120 euros), also in ‘Titan black’, is available as an option.

    The five colour choices available on the R-Line are ‘Pepper grey metallic’, ‘Reflex silver metallic’, ‘Deep Black pearl effect’, ‘Night blue metallic’ and ‘Candy white’.

    [Source: Volkswagen]

    (more…)

  • Auto Express drives the Lamborghini Aventador


    Mat Watson and Owen Mildenhall, senior road tester for Auto Express, headed over to Bruntingthorpe Airfield to see what Lamborghini’s insane Aventador could do. Thanks to the car’s 700 hp V12, the Aventador cracks 100 km/h (0-62 mph) in just 2.9 seconds and has a top speed of 350 km/h (217 mph). (more…)