german cars
Porsche 911 to Get 7-Speed Manual Transmission
As automatic transmissions have gained gears over the years, the traditional stick shift has remained untouched, its six forward gears (or even just five) providing plenty of fun for the driver, but at the expense of the quick shifting performance of single and dual-clutch automatics. Leave it to Porsche to chance all that, with Car…
Audi A1 Clubsport Quattro Bows at Worthersee Tour With 503-HP
If Audi doesn’t want to stoke rumors of an RS1 model, they’re going about it all wrong. Debuting at the annual Worthersee Tour VW GTI meet that is held each year in Austria, Audi has just unveiled the A1 Clubsport Quattro, a turbocharged 5-cylinder AWD show car that makes an incredible 503-hp. Using the same…
New BMW 3-Series Sedan Due in Early 2012
In an effort towards increased efficiency, the 2012 3-Series will employ such technologies such as aerodynamically tuned wheels, a solar roof panel, a stop/start engine feature and re-generative braking.
2012 Mercedes SLS Roadster Pictures [Mega Gallery]
Having officially announced the new Roadster versions of the SLS sports car yesterday, Mercedes-Benz has now released an extensive selection of stunning photos of the brand’s new drop-top. Powered by the same 6.2-liter V8 the convertible makes 563-hp and 479 lb-ft of torque and uses a soft-top that can raise or lower in 11 seconds…
Porsche GT3 R Hybrid Claims First Competition Win Thanks to Hybrid Efficiency
What Audi did for diesels in endurance racing, Porsche is looking to replicate with hybrid technology, claiming its first win today for the GT3 R Hybrid at round four of the Nürburgring Long Distance Championship in Germany. The car was piloted by works drivers Richard Lietz, Marco Holzer and Patrick Long. Touting the hybrid car’s…
BMW Gran Coupe Renderings Leaked
BMW may seem to be a little late to the party with their four-door coupe dubbed the Gran Coupe, but it may just be coming in at the right time to battle it out with Mercedes-Benz‘s updated CLS-Class and Audi‘s A7. While we’ve seen the Gran Coupe concept several times now, these renderings indicate the…
BMW To Debut Four New Models At Frankfurt Auto Show
BMW is giving its home turf a big, heaping pile of BMW-osity. The carmaker plans to debut no less than four production models at the Frankfurt Auto Show in September: the M5, the M3 GTS’s sedan version, a redesigned 1-Series, and the i3 electric city car. The M5 and the M3 GTS, of course, will…
2012 Volkswagen Passat Priced from $19,995; $7,000 Less Than Last Year’s Model
Volkswagen has just released official pricing on its all new 2012 Passat mid-size sedan, undercutting last year’s model by roughly $7,000. The new sticker price comes in at a hair under the $20K mark ($19,995) although after destination it will be $20,765; helping VW compete in a market alongside models like the Toyota Camry, Honda…
Next-Gen BMW X5/X6 to Lose Weight, Gain 4-Cylinder, Plug-in Hybrid Versions
BMW’s next-generation X5 and X6 SUVs aren’t slated to hit the market for nearly half a decade so you might be surprised to hear that there there’s already an extensive plan in place for their development. According to a report by Automobile Magazine, the two utes will go on a significant diet, while numerous new…
BMW M Supercar Rumored Again as Successor To Legendary M1
The rumor mill from BMW headquarters, according to a company insider, indicates a possibility of a M1-like supercar—but you’ll have to take it with a heaping pile of salt. Scott27, a relentless forum user and alleged BMW insider, has leaked to the Interwebs that the Bavarian designers are currently considering the idea of a halo…
Mercedes-Benz To Revive SLC Badge, Aims At Porsche 911
In the world of German sports cars, the Porsche 911 is king. Mercedes-Benz hopes to change that when they introduce their new sports car, rumored to be named the SLC. The SLC, which will be placed below the SLS in their line-up, will be priced at the more humble versions of the 911 like the…
Audi A9 Super Coupe Set for 2014 Debut
If you believe the old adage that where there’s smoke there’s fire, then continued rumors of a new A9 model by Audi are a strong indication that the range-topping super coupe is on its way. According to the latest info the A9 will be the crowning glory of Audi’s goal to be the world’s number…
BMW i3 Electric City Car Starting At $35,000; 150-HP and 160-Mile Range
BMW‘s little urban runabout is almost ready for the limelight, and some tantalizing details have been released: when it goes on sale, uh, eventually, it will be priced at $35,000, or around the price of a 3-Series Coupe. And what does that $35k get you? Well, 150-horsepower, for starters—a lot for its size, and good…
2012 Mercedes S-Class to Gain Coupe, Covertible Variants
Mercedes-Benz is secretly working away on an all-new flagship S-Class, not to mention several models that will evolve from it. In total, the 2012 S-Class is expected to be offered in at least four different versions, including both a coupe and a convertible. An S-Class Coupe is really no surprise, as Mercedes has offered the…
2012 Porsche 911 to Get KERS Across Model Range
The next-generation Porsche 911 is set to make a significant departure from past models, including the use of a Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS) on all models. The system will be similar in principle to that introduced in Formula 1 cars back in 2009, storing energy from braking and then transmitting that energy as an…
Slow & Sedate: Paul Walker Hits Audi R8 With His Dodge Ram
Yes this story is about Paul Walker, but there’s nothing else fast or furious about it – sorry. Then again, maybe the owner of the $130,000 Audi R8 is furious (we certainly would be), after his prized German sports car nearly gets run over by the rear wheel of Walker’s oversized Ram pickup. The damage…
Polo R “Likely” Admits Volkswagen Exec
Previous reports of a high-performance R version of the Volkswagen Polo sub-compact have been downplayed in the past, but the German automaker rejuvenated enthusiasm in the idea when it revealed the new Polo R WRC race car last week. With R decals displayed prominently across the car, it’s a clear hint that the Polo R…
2012 Mercedes-Benz E-Class, S-Class Get More Powerful and Efficient Engines
For the 2012 model year, the Mercedes-Benz E-Class and S-Class are both getting a new, more powerful and efficient engine choices. Starting with the E-Class, the new base powerplant will be a direct-injection version of the 3.5-liter V6 engine, now making 302-hp and 273 lb-ft of torque, an increase of 38-hp. As for the more…
Porsche 911 Carrera 4 GTS Delivers 408-HP With All-Wheel Drive
With the new Carrera GTS model already on sale, it was only a matter of time before Porsche released an all-wheel drive version of its new flagship non-turbo sports car. Matching the GTS in output, the Carrera 4 GTS delivers an increase of 23-hp over the Carrera 4S, with a 0-60 mph time that’s a…
Mercedes SLK Now 20 Percent More Efficient, From Beginning To End
The 2012 Mercedes-Benz SLK may look like just a gawky facelift. But under the skin and in its exhaust pipes lies a leaner, cleaner heart: the SLK200 with BlueEFFICIENCY, for example, reduces fuel consumption from 24 percent. Too bad it’s not available in America. But the entire range has been upgraded (efficiencized?) from beginning to…
Volkswagen To Launch New Brand Dubbed Kaili In Partnership With FAW, EV Coming
Volkswagen will partner with Chinese automaker FAW to launch a new brand, which will build and sell electric cars for Chinese consumers. Plans were submitted to the Chinese government, although details of the vehicle weren’t publicly disclosed. Honda, Nissan and General Motors have recently expanded into creating their own Chinese market brands in partnership with…
Frank Stella Painted BMW M1 Art Car Headed To Auction
Finding a BMW M1 is a rare thing. Finding a BMW M1 art-car is almost impossible. Now one of these rare M1 art-cars is going to the auction block. Interested? Thought you might be. Back in the mid-1970s BMW recruited artists to paint their race cars, which eventually lead them do some road-cars. Artists such…
2012 BMW M5 Testing in Miramas, France [Video]
If you’re waiting for the debut of the 2012 BMW M5, you’ll have to keep on waiting. Not set to debut until the Frankfurt Auto Show this Fall, BMW is at least keeping those interested in the car (who isn’t?) appeased with plenty of teaser videos, images and a concept car. The latest installment of…
Volkswagen GTI ‘Edition 35’ Celebrates with 235-HP
Volkswagen has just announced a new ‘Edition 35’ version of the original hot hatch, the GTI. Celebrating three and a half decades since the first GTI launched back in 1976, this new model gets unique front and rear bumpers and custom wheels. There’s also special ’35’ badging on the fenders, door sills and on the…
