German Car Scene

Month: February 2012

  • Chris Harris in the Audi Sport quattro


    Even though it’s still in its infancy, DRIVE seems to have flooded the internetwork with an awful lot of memorable material, and this latest offering is no different. Chris Harris recently drove a pair of icons from the eighties; Ford’s RS200 and the Audi Sport quattro.

    Built as a road-going version of the legendary Group B rally car, the Sport quattro differed from the regular ur-quattro thanks to the fact that its body was 320 mm shorter and wore wider Kevlar panels. The more upright windscreen and A-pillars came from the Audi 80 – a modification carried out to to reduce reflections from the dashboard.

    When new, its 2.1 L turbocharged five-cylinder unit developed 228 kW (306 hp); enough to return a 0-100 km/h (62 mph) time of 4.8 seconds and a top speed of 250 km/h (155 mph). (more…)

  • Volkswagen reveals new MQB platform and engines


    Volkswagen has revealed details of its MQB platform which will feature in the next generation Audi A3 and Volkswagen Golf.

    The MQB, which stands for Modulare Querbaukasten – or Modular Transverse Matrix, will be utilized for many vehicle parameters from the A0 to the B segment, including such models as the Polo, Beetle, Tiguan, Touran, Sharan and Passat. That means, theoretically, that – despite their different sizes all these vehicles could be built on the same assembly line – along with other Volkswagen Group products.

    Initially, accompanying petrol units will include the EA211 engine series, which will produce between 40 kW (54 hp) and 110 kW (148 hp). Impressively, this range includes the world’s first four-cylinder powerplant to feature cylinder deactivation (ACT). The EA288 diesel engines will generate between 66 kW (89 hp) and 140 kW (188 hp).

    As well as those conventional internal combustion engines, new natural gas, hybrid and pure electric drivetrains will be available, with the latter powering Volkswagen’s Golf Blue-e-Motion, which heads into production next year.

    [Source: Volkswagen]

    (more…)

  • Auto Express drives the MINI Roadster


    Auto Express magazine’s Jack Rix gets behind the wheel of MINI’s new Roadster model in an effort to find out if it’s a worthy competitor to Mazda’s benchmark, the MX-5. The 135 kW (184 hp) Cooper S version on test can hit 100 km/h (62 mph) in 7.0 seconds before reaching a top speed of 227 km/h (141 mph).

    We really don’t see anyone buying one of these over a Cabriolet, especially as you’d lose the practicality of those two extra seats. However, if you were thinking of picking one up – make sure you also buy a MINI Coupé to park next it, just to make the Roadster a little less painful on the eye. (more…)

  • Facelifted smart fortwo surfaces


    smart has unveiled its facelifted fortwo model which will be available to purchase from the beginning of April.

    Visually, the nip and tuck includes a larger radiator grille with bold integrated logo, more aggressive front apron, restyled side skirts, a sportier rear apron and optional horizontal LED daytime running lights. A choice of three new alloy wheel styles can be specified, including a 9-spoke, a 3-spoke and a 3-twin-spoke design. Inside, there’s a new crystal grey trim package added to the range, featuring a leather/fabric mix for the seats, an imitation leather/fabric combination for the door trims and black imitation leather for the instrument panel.

    Prices start at € 10,275 for the 45 kW/61 hp mhd (micro hybrid drive) Coupé, right up to € 19,000 for the electric drive, which develops a constant 35 kW/47 hp (peak: 55 kW/74 hp). Diesel fans can pick up a 40 kW/54 hp model for € 12,095, or if you desire a little more power, the € 17,220 BRABUS version, which produces 75 kW/102 hp and 147 Nm of torque, can hit 100 km/h (62 mph) in 8.9 seconds before reaching a 155 km/h (96 mph) top speed.

    [Source: smart]

    (more…)