german cars
Audi Q3 Still Being Considered for North America
Q3 or not Q3? That is the question. Audi is weighing the merits of bringing its trendy entry level compact crossover Q3 to the U.S. market. Putting economic feasibility into the highest consideration, Audi has to guarantee the Q3’s success by determining the size of its demand and price sensibility. Audi North America CEO Johan…
2012 Porsche 911 Sets 7:40 Nurburgring Lap Time, Matching 997 GT3
It’s more luxurious. It’s bigger. It’s more comfortable. So it’s obviously a watered-down 911… right? Wrong! Porsche‘s new 2012 911 Carrera S is faster, much faster, than the previous generation car, lapping the Nurburgring in a blistering 7:40 time, a solid 13 seconds ahead of it’s predecessor. OK, so that number’s a bit abstract, so…
New Porsche GT3 Won’t Get a Dual-Clutch Transmission
Despite reports to the contrary, the next iteration of the Porsche GT3 will not get a dual-clutch PDK transmission. This news comes direct from Porsche CEO Matthias Muller in a recent interview with Motor Trend. According to the earlier info the 991 GT3 was set to receive a new PDK-S unit that would be lighter…
Volkswagen to Spend $86 Billion to Become World’s Largest Automaker
After Volkswagen found themselves briefly at the top of the industry during Toyota’s recall fiasco, it seems that they’ve grown fond of the achievement and aim to legitimately take over the top spot in the future. Volkswagen will invest 62.4 billion Euros ($86 billion) across a five year span for this endeavor. According to CEO…
BMW X6 ActiveHybrid Axed
The BMW X6 is a niche market vehicle, and its sales numbers in North America have reflected its limited appeal. Now one of its variants (perhaps the ultimate niche market version) is getting the axe. We are talking about the X6 ActiveHybrid. Originally launched at the 2009 Frankfurt Auto Show, the X6 ActiveHybrid has two…
Mercedes SLS AMG Black Series, GT3 Street Car Coming
It’s time to buckle up as Mercedes-Benz‘s tuner AMG confirms that they are working on three halo projects for their halo SLS AMG. No greater truth has been spoken than when Head of Vehicle Development at AMG, Tobias Moers, says, “We absolutely have to do a Black Series.” Yet to be officially confirmed, chances are…
Volkswagen Up! Concepts Brighten Up the Frankfurt Auto Show
Volkswagen made a cannonball of a splash at the Frankfurt Auto Show with a premiere of six new and exciting variations of the Up! that may join to form a small car family. Make no mistake, not only is the exclamation mark a part of the car’s name, Volkswagen’s new microcar line-up exudes excitement.
Porsche Expects to Double Sales with New 911 Model
From the months of spy photos and leaks, the many Frankfurt previews, to finally the warm reception during its Frankfurt Auto Show official unveiling, the brand new Porsche 911 was destined to be an icon. But more than that, according to a Porsche source the German sports car maker aims for the new 911 sales…
Volkwagen Jetta Coupe Axed
Volkswagen‘s plan to build the handsome Jetta coupe have been tossed. As the capacity at the Puebla, Mexico plant is already up to its brim with the Jetta wagon, Golf, and Beetle, there simply isn’t any more room for an addition model to be assembled. Moreover, the Mexico plant anticipates production of the Beetle convertible…
2012 Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid to Bow at Detroit Auto Show in January
When it was unveiled at the Detroit Auto Show back in 2010 the Volkswagen New Compact Coupe looked to point the way towards several new models for the German automaker: both a Jetta Coupe and a Jetta Hybrid. Now it appears as though only one of those two cars has been given the green light,…
Mercedes C63 AMG Black Series Coupe Video First Look: 2011 Frankfurt Auto Show
Unveiled for the first time in all its widebody glory at the Frankfurt Auto Show this week, the Mercedes C63 AMG Black Series Coupe is undeniably a car on steroids. Transformed on every level the car is 3-inches wider overall, with flared fenders and a wider track. Plus, it gains an upgraded AMG brake package…
2012 BMW M5 More Power, More Awesome: 2011 Frankfurt Auto Show
BMW says that the 2012 M5 delivers 9.9 liters per 100 km (23.75 mpg US) in the EU combined test cycle, a gain of some 30 percent over the old and much lamented E60 chassis, V-10 powered version.
Volkswagen Up! Heralds the Return of the People’s Car: 2011 Frankfurt Auto Show
The highlight of Volkswagen‘s press conference at the Frankfurt Auto Show, the Up! was designed as a spiritual successor to the original Beetle. Priced at 9,850 Euros (roughly $13,500) it is intended to be the new “people’s car”. That is, if the people you’re referring to are numbered four or less. You see, the diminutive…
Audi S6, S7, S8 Debut with New Turbo 4.0L V8: 2011 Frankfurt Auto Show
According to official stats from Audi, the new 2012 S6 will sprint from 0-100 km (0-62 mph) in just 4.8 seconds; the S7 in 4.9; while the S8 will do the same jaunt in just 4.8 seconds. All three cars are limited to a stop speed of 155 mph and are said to return at...
BMW i3, i8 Headed to Dealers Starting in 2013: 2011 Frankfurt Auto Show [Video]
Making their world premiere at the Frankfurt Auto Show, the BMW i3 and i8 may just be concepts, but point to a major push by the German automaker into the realm of electrified vehicles. In fact, BMW is so serious that its working towards an entire range of “i” branded alternative vehicles, sporting both electric…
2012 Porsche 911 Carrera S Video, First Look: 2011 Frankfurt Auto Show [video]
It comes as little surprise that the reveal of an all-new Porsche 911 at the Frankfurt Auto Show proved to be one of the major highlights of the day, despite literally dozens of world premieres. With a new platform, engines and new technology (though in true Porsche fashion, only a slightly different look), the latest…
VW Beetle R Concept Sure Doesn’t Look Like One: 2011 Frankfurt Auto Show
Auto shows are known for their wild and wacky concept cars, and while a high-horsepower turbocharged AWD Volkswagen Beetle might sound like the stuff concepts are made from, the Beetle R unveiled today at the Frankfurt Auto Show looks production ready. While VW didn’t release any hard specs, the German automaker has said the car…
Volkswagen Polo R WRC is One Mean Little Hatchback [2011 Frankfurt Auto Show]
Ask someone from Volkswagen what their most important reveal is at the Frankfurt Auto Show and the answer will be simple: the Up!, the diminutive city car with a 1.0-liter 3-cylinder engine. That’s all well and good, but what about a car (another small car we might add) that’s just awesome. We are, of course,…
Audi Urban Sportback, Spyder Models Revealed: 2011 Frankfurt Auto Show
Ahead of a more official debut at the Frankfurt Auto Show tomorrow, Audi has revealed its new city car concept twins, the Audi Urban Sportback and the Audi Urban Spyder. These 1+1 seaters put the driver ahead (and slightly to the left) of the passenger and as city cars (not to mention European ones) are…
Suzuki/VW Alliance Dies Over Fiat Engine Deal
Nonetheless VW believes that an alliance is still possible, though the company’s Chief Financial Officer Hans Dieter Poetsch said on a July 28 conference call that the partnership is currently “under review.”
Mercedes F125 Hydrogen Gullwing Concept Leaked: 2011 Frankfurt Auto Show
Celebrating 125 years of Mercedes-Benz, the appropriately named F125 is set to debut at the Frankfurt Auto Show tomorrow. Ahead of the planned reveal, however, photos and details of the Hydrogen Gullwing concept car have been leaked, giving a look at the future of Mercedes design, not to mention the German automaker’s plans to push…
Audi R8 E-Tron: A Step Closer to Reality With New Frankfurt Bound Concept
Think there’s a lot of build-up for a car like the Toyota FT-86? Just be glad you’re not waiting for an electric Audi R8. First introduced two years ago at the Frankfurt Auto Show, the German luxury automaker has now come full circle and will be unveiling the next version of the R8 E-tron in…
Audi TT RS Race Car Now Available to Purchase by Privateer Race Teams
Just as the end of racing season draws near, Audi announces the TT RS Race Car is available for private sale. Although it shares its name with the production car, the new race car is nothing like it. Rather than fitting it with the Quattro system that put Audi on the map, the TT RS…
Audi R8 to Make U.S. Racing Debut at 24 Hours of Daytona
After recently achieving its 100th victory in international motorsports, the Audi R8 will finally look to add to that tally on American soil. Audi has announced that for the 2012 season the R8 LMS race car will be homologated to meet racing standards for the Grand Am Endurance Series, with the R8 set to make…
