german cars
Entry Level Porsche Development Put On Pause
The weak global economy is so battered that even the one-percent are feeling the hurt. In the case of premium sports car maker, Porsche, a mid-engine roadster to slot underneath the Boxster was originally intended for introduction by 2014. Designed to be a spiritual successor to the legendary 550 Spyder, the entry-level four cylinder roadster’s pricing target…
BMW to Bring Diesels to Japan with X5 xDrive35d: Tokyo Motor Show Preview
For European automakers, diesels may rule the road back at home, but they’ve had a challenge convincing North American consumers to adopt the gasoline alternative. And if that’s considered an uphill battle, selling diesel cars in Japan, the land of the hybrid, is a virtual Mount Everest. To date, BMW has never offered a diesel…
2012 Mercedes ML63 AMG is a 516-HP Super Ute: LA Auto Show Preview
Adding some serious grunt to its new M-Class SUV, Mercedes has just revealed the high-performance ML63 AMG model ahead of its official debut at the LA Auto Show later this week. Based on the all-new ML, this super-ute now features Merc’s new twin-turbo 5.5-liter V8 engine rather than the old 6.2-liter unit, delivering an extra…
Classic Volkswagen Bus On Sale In Holland
Holland hippie community rejoice! As of last month, Volkswagen‘s Dutch operations has debuted the 2012 model Volkswagen Bus. No, it isn’t the Bulli concept we saw earlier at Geneva, but the original Volkswagen Type 2, commonly known as the Bus or Combi. The popularity and desirability of the classic van isn’t surprising. Current asking prices…
Delta Airlines Provides Porsche Chauffeur Service To Valued Customers
Although security checkpoints and the TSA permanently sealed the leisurely “jet set” lifestyle into a thing of the past, Delta Airlines is bringing a little flair back to air travel. Delta, in partnership with Porsche Cars North America (PCNA) of Atlanta, Georgia, is providing its “High Value Customers” (HVC) the Porsche Experience. Delta has enjoyed…
BMW M3 Competition Edition “Frozen Silver” Limited to Just 40 Units for U.S.
Initially introduced in Europe half a year ago to commemorate 40 years of M, the BMW M3 Competition Edition will soon be available in the United States in an extremely limited amount of only 40 coupes. The limited edition Competition coupe will only be available with a Frozen Silver exterior paint, M3 GTS 19-inch rims…
Abandoned BMW Dealership For Sale At $3.6 Million
An abandoned BMW dealership outside of Toronto, Canada is up on the market, with an asking price of $3.6 million. Citation Motors of Oakville, Ontario was said to have had its BMW franchise revoked in 1988, and closed its doors soon after. The property remained abandoned in an eerie, “frozen-in-time” sort of way, and 2…
RAUH-Welt Porsches Mark the Start of a New Trend: 2011 SEMA Show
For those who are paying close attention to the aftermarket industry, this years SEMA Show might always be remembered as the year RAUH-Welt became a household name. Well, maybe just among car nuts. RAUH-Welt Begriff or RWB for short, is a small Japanese tuner known for its wildly customized air cooled Porsches, with big fender…
LS3-Powered BMW E30 M3 is Sacrilegious and Stunning: 2011 SEMA Show
Is it a crime or just a really good idea? One thing is for sure, this SEMA Show car is an excellently executed project. On display at the Heatshield Products booth and built by Kevin Byrd, this E30 BMW M3 has its hood off for a reason. Rather than the 2.3-liter 4-cylinder that it came…
Rauh Welt Hoonigan Porsche 965 Revealed Ahead of SEMA Show Debut
Unveiled ahead of its official debut at the 2011 SEMA Show is this very custom Rauh-Welt Porsche 965. The wide fendered, deep dish wheeled, humongously spoilered tuner Porsche is the property of former 0-60 editor Brian Scotto. Recenty Scotto made the switch to work with motorsports personality Ken Block and now runs Block’s “Hoonigan” brand….
Audi Losing Market Share in China as Youth Reject Communist Government Image
Audi, long the automaker of choice for Chinese bureaucrats, has found itself suddenly losing to rivals, BMW and Mercedes-Benz. As the nation creates a new generation of wealthy young buyers, Audi’s market share in China has fallen by 25% in less than two years. Mercedes market share is now at 22 percent from 16 percent…
BMW Recalling 32,000 Vehicles Over Engine Fire Risks
BMW is recalling 32,000 vehicles in order to replace potentially faulty electric auxiliary water pumps. An issue can cause the water pumps to overheat, potentially causing a vehicle fire. Models impacted by the recall include 2008-2011 5-Series, 5-Series Gran Turismo, 7-Series, X5 and X6 equipped with either the eight- or 12-cylinder turbocharged engines. Two engine…
Maserati to Take On Porsche and Bentley Says Marchionne
Maserati has long been Ferrari‘s little brother. However, Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne believes Maserati is well placed to play a far more important role. Insisting that Ferrari is not sold to the same market of buyers as Porsche or Bentley, and can only belong to an elite realm shared with Lamborghini and Bugatti, Marchionne has…
Audi A4, S4, A4 Allroad Quattro For 2013 Revealed
Just as BMW has begun drumming up attention with the release of their new 3-series, Audi quickly answered back with their A4 update for the 2013 model year. Since the A4 is Audi’s best selling model, it is important to be evolutionary, rather than too revolutionary, in design. While Audi has made updates to every…
Audi R4 Reportedly Back in Product Plan, Gas and Hybrid Versions Coming
As for chassis construction, there are rumors that the car could use a scaled down version of the R8’s aluminum space frame, though sharing a platform with VW and Porsche’s possible up and coming mid-engined small cars seems more likely.
Mercedes ML63 AMG to Bow at LA Auto Show with Twin-Turbo V8
Having recently introduced an all-new version of its popular M-Class SUV, Mercedes is set for a followup at next month’s LA Auto Show. Taking center stage will be the high-performance AMG-tuned version of the luxury utility vehicle, the ML63. Along with a upgraded performance components like a stiffer suspension and upgraded brakes, the new ML63…
Volkswagen Poised to Overtake Toyota as World’s Largest Automaker
VW was the first western automaker to set up shop in China and has been selling cars there for around three decades. And it looks like its goal of becoming and remaining the world’s biggest automaker in terms of volume is likely to bear fruit, for in addition to VW products, it’s also seen demand...
Mercedes to Bring Back Straight-Six Engines as Part of Downsizing Plan
The straight-sixes are coming, brand spanking new straight-sixes are coming. But not from Munich, instead from Stuttgart! Traditionally, it has been BMW that has been most well known for producing straight-six engines. However, according to some recent reports, BMW might be abandoning their straight six motors in favor of turbo-charged, inline four-cylinder motors and V6s….
Audi TT-RS ‘Plus’ Model Planned as Hardest-Core Send-Off
The Audi TT has been among us for a long, long time. While the original model wasn’t great, it sold in huge numbers. The second generation model was much better to drive, but has not sold in the same capacity. To keep the public interested in the TT, Audi keeps coming up with newer, more…
BMW M Division Wants to Build a Mercedes SLS Rival
As impressive as BMW M cars are, ask a Porsche representative what’s missing and they’ll tell you that behind the big engine, updated styling and upgraded components and M5 is still just a 5 Series. Mercedes’ AMG division can now also make the same claim thanks to the SLS, the first ever Mercedes built entirely…
F1 Champ Mika Hakkinen Returns to Motorsports to Pilot Mercedes SLS AMG GT3
Former Formula 1 double world champion Mika Häkkinen will return to motor racing, piloting a Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3 at the 6-hours of Zhuhai on November 13. Representing Customer AMG Sports Team China, Hakkinen will share racing duties with co-drivers, CongFu Cheng and Lance David Arnold. This is the first time Mika Hakkinen has raced…
Mercedes Confirms $350-Million Investment to Build BMW X6 Rival in Alabama
It has been well over a decade when Mercedes-Benz first opened its plant in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. What might have started out as just a production facility for the ML model has grown to accommodate production of the R-class, GLK-class and in 2014 will also produce the C-class for North American consumption. But the news gets…
Audi A3 Range to Include Four Models
Audi‘s growth plan will hinge significantly on the success of its upcoming all-new A3 model. Teased with the A3 Sedan Concept at the Geneva Auto Show earlier this year, the 4-door was an obvious sign that Audi wants to push the car hard in the North American marketplace. And why not, with the proposed concept…
BMW’s M Divison Says Manuals In, AWD, Wagons Out
Damon Lavrinc of Autoblog had the chance to sit down with Albert Biermann, Head of Product Development for BMW‘s M Division, and was able to glean some information on future product that should put to bed some of the many rumors floating around about BMW’s skunk works. First up, the upcoming 2013 BMW M5 will…
