German Car Scene

Month: November 2011

  • Autoweek drives the Porsche 991


    Autoweek’s West Coast editor Mark Vaughn takes a brief look at Porsche’s new 991. Due to hit dealerships by the end of the year, customers will have the choice of a 3.4 L 257 kW (350 hp) Carrera or a 3.8 L 294 kW (400 hp) Carrera S model. (more…)

  • BMW 3 Series review by Auto Express


    James Disdale heads over to rainy Spain to Drive BMW’s new 3 Series for Auto Express magazine. The 320d on review is propelled by a 131 kW (181 hp) twin-turbocharged 2.0 L diesel unit, which is mated to a six-speed manual transmission, meaning 100 km/h (62mph) appears in just 7.5 seconds, yet the car emits just 120g/km of CO2 and gets through 4.6 litres of fuel every 100 km (61.4 mpg). (more…)

  • MINIs by CoverEFX


    Erftstadt-based styling house, CoverEFX, has unveiled a pair of project R53 MINIs that highlight its wares.

    Starting with the John Cooper Works GP, CoverEFX applied a sunflower yellow vinyl coating to the body, along with ‘anthracite’ window tinting. Items such as the grille, air intake, handles, side gills and mirrors are finished in high gloss black, along with the reworked wheel arches, which house 7×17-inch OZ Racing’s Crono wheels, wrapped in 205/40 Toyo tyres. The suspension was also upgraded thanks to the fitment of a Bilstein B14 suspension kit. A KBR Motorsports stainless steel manifold and exhaust system combined with an mcchip-dkr remap helps to release 172 kW/234 hp.

    The accompanying MINI John Cooper Works wears the same wheels (but covered in 215/40 Federal Semi-sport tyres) and painted components, along with a ‘Smurf Blue’ wrap. Its engine features the same exhaust and mcchip-dkr remap as the car above, but also receives KBR-spec injectors, a Schrick camshaft, intercooler from the Works GP model and an air box with additional openings. Those tweaks result in a healthier 174 kW/236 hp. Underneath, the Smurf-mobile is fitted with a Bilstein B16 kit, an H&R (17 mm) adjustable rear stabilizer and an OMP strut brace.

    Both cars feature a colour-coded Wiechers roll cage, while the JCW car’s occupants also enjoy a clingy Recaro Pole Position seat wrapped in Alcantara.

    [Source: CoverEFX]

    (more…)

  • a-workx Porsche Carrera 435s


    With success in the Porsche Sports Cup, the Carrera Cup and the ADAC GT Masters with a 997 GT3 R, Wessling-based tuning specialist, a-workx, clearly has a deep understanding of how to get the best of out a 911, as this Carrera 435s proves.

    Based on the 3.8 L flat-six-engined Carrera S and GTS models, the 435s (street sport) continues a-workx’s usual formula of adding power and losing weight in an effort to create a road car that wouldn’t be out of place on any circuit.

    Remapping of the car’s software (€ 2,500), plus the addition of a sports air filter and Akrapovic Race titanium race system (€ 5,938) with remote-controlled adjustable flap, yields the 435 hp figure, while removing 10 kg of weight at the same time.

    Chassis upgrades begin with a KW Clubsport suspension kit (€ 2,668), designed to a-workx’s specification and developed on the track with input from racing drivers Sebastian Asch and Michael Ammermuller, it also weighs 15 kg less than the factory set-up it replaces. As well as providing sublime stopping powers, the MOV ‘IT brake kit (€ 5,895) sees 370×35 mm steel discs added to the front, which are gripped by 6-piston calipers, and shave 12 kg from the car’s weight. Steel braided brake lines and Castrol SRF Racing brake fluid are also utilized. The 19-inch ATS Superlight alloys, coated in 245/35Z and 325/30Z Michelin Pilot Sport Cups, undercut the factory wheels by 15Kg and will set you back € 5,280.

    Finally, the carbon fibre aero kit includes a front lip (€ 800), front intakes (€ 450), side sill trims and lower section/diffuser for the rear bumper (€ 1,900).

    [Source: a-workx]

    (more…)

  • evo Porsche 991 review teaser


    Living legend, Chris Harris has driven the new Porsche 911 for evo magazine. You’ll have to wait until next week before the full version goes online, but we doubt very much that you will ever see a better review of a car – in twenty seconds – than this. (more…)

  • Powered Up: BMW 535d M Sport and 1 Series M Coupe


    Here’s another delicious segment from Jeremy Clarkson’s new Powered Up DVD, featuring BMW’s 535d M Sport and 1 Series M Coupe models. Powered by a 3.0 L twin turbo diesel unit that produces 230 kW (313 hp), Jeremy goes as far as naming the 535d the best car of the 2011. But it’s not his favourite. That accolade is saved for the “fun” 246 kW (335 hp) Baby M. (more…)