german cars
Aston Martin Tie-Up With Mercedes to Give Lagonda a Rolls-Royce Rival
Rumors of a partnership between Aston Martin and Mercedes-Benz surfaced quite some time ago, but according to a new report a deal between has been stuck between the two luxury marques – one that will benefit plans both firms have for their boutique luxury brands. The terms of the tie-up will see Aston Martin get…
Porsche Planning Mid-Engine Ferrari 458 Rival
Porsche is considering a plan to develop yet another new model, but this time it’s actually a sports car. While the company know for building such machines has spent a lot of time, effort and R&D developing sedans and SUVs as of late, Porsche chief Mathias Muller has confirmed plans for a car that would…
Porsche Pajun: Smaller Panamera Planned to Rival 5 Series, E-Class
With the success of Porsche‘s Panamera sedan, it’s little surprise that the automaker is now looking to introduce yet another 4-door model. With the Panamera sitting at the top of the range, the new model, code named the Pajun, will be a more affordable sedan, competing in the same realm as the BMW 5 Series…
Next-Gen Mercedes C-Class Will be a Hybrid
Mercedes is currently in the process of introducing a mid-cycle update to its C-Class range with a lineup of new engines, but the next-generation of the car will get even more dramatic changes under the hood. According to a recent report, almost all C-Class models are set to go hybrid, with Mercedes using an electrification…
BMW 1M GTS Rumored as New Technology Concept to Debut at Tokyo Auto Show
Rumors of a possible GTS version of the BMW 1 Series M Coupe have surfaced, with the car’s debut set for the Tokyo Auto Show this fall. According to BMW insider Scott27 posting on GermanCarForum.com, the concept car will be based on a current M car, but one that is also “outgoing.” While the M3…
Three-Cylinder Turbo Engines In BMW’s Future
There once was a time, when turbocharged engines translated to big horsepower and big fuel consumption. The new generation of turbocharged engines are still producing very decent power outputs, but their main concern is to improve fuel-economy, and a company that is getting the most out of this type of set-up is BMW. They have…
Audi A9 Coupe Planned as Mercedes CL Rival
Rumors of a new uber sedan from Audi have been circulating for quite some time, badged as the A9 and slotting in above the brand’s current flagship model, the A8. According to a new report by Auto Bild, the A9 is getting the go-ahead, but it won’t be a 4-door. Instead, plans are to build…
BMW 1M: The Official Safety Car of MotoGP [Gallery]
Next time you watch a MotoGP race, be sure to note that BMW is always out in front of Mercedes. Sure neither automaker competes in the F1 of motorcycle racing, but while Mercedes’ AMG division sponsors the Ducati team, BMW is providing the pace car. That pace car is based on the new 1 Series…
Porsche 918 Spyder Full Details: Hybrid Sportscar to Cost $845,000
Porsche has released full details on its upcoming flagship sportscar, pricing the hybrid machine at an astronomical $845,000. Combining the original concept with Porsche’s ongoing hybrid race car technology the carbon chassis 918 will get a “high revving” V8 engine making in excess of 500-hp mated to a plug-in hybrid drive system with two electric…
Mercedes C63 AMG Coupe Revealed [New York Auto Show Preview]
Following hot on the heels of the C-Class Coupe, Mercedes’ AMG division has revealed a high-performance version of the car. The C63 AMG Coupe gets the same 6.2-liter V8 borrowed from the sedan, making 451-hp and a serious 443 lb-ft of torque. Combined with a 7-speed Speedshift MCT transmission, this newest Benz can hit 60…
SEAT To Launch In China
Despite the misfortunes of the SEAT brand, Volkswagen is planning to bring the Spanish automaker to China, where the appetite for cars seems limitless. Volkswagen is planning to erect a booth for SEAT at the upcoming Shanghai Auto Show, and eventually produce the cars at its assembly plant in Foshan around 2013. SEAT has faltered…
2012 BMW M5 Rendering: A Look at the Next-Gen Super Sedan
BMW will unveil its new 2012 M5 uber sport sedan at the Frankfurt Auto Show in the Fall, but like us, you’re probably impatient. Thanks to Duron Automotive Artwork (commissioned b y the M5Board), we’ve got something to keep you entertained in the mean time: renderings of the new machine. Full details on the next-gen…
Audi Q6 Under Consideration as Rival to BMW X6
BMW’s decision to build the X6 coupe-styled SUV may have seemed absurd at first, but demand for the unique and sporty AWD machine has far exceeded expectations, giving rise to rumors of competitors from the automaker’s main rivals. The latest comes from Audi, and it’s more than just a rumor with Audi boss Rupert Stadler…
Audi R8 GT Priced from $196,800; Just 90 Units Earmarked for the U.S.
Audi‘s most exclusive and powerful R8 model yet, the R8 GT, will retail for $196,800 when it hits dealers this year. The German exotic isn’t likely to see any showrooms though, with just 90 models earmarked for the U.S., every model is likely already spoken for. The R8 GT is powered by the same 5.2-liter…
Porsche Cajun Gets Green Light, On Sale in 2013
Porsche has confirmed the Cajun compact crossover will head into production, hitting the market in 2013. The news comes as part of an announcement by the German automaker that it has selected its Leipzig plant to assemble the new vehicle alongside the Cayenne and Panamera. Also of note, Porsche uses the ‘Cajun’ name in its…
BMW 5 Series ‘New Energy Vehicle’ Plug-in Hybrid to Debut at Shanghai Motor Show
BMW has announced it will reveal what it is calling the 5 Series ‘New Energy Vehicle’ at the Shanghai Motor Show next month. Based on the 5 Series long wheelbase version, sold exclusively in China, it will be a plug-in hybrid and is described by BMW CEO Norbert Reithofer as a car, “from China for…
BMW M3 Pickup Spied Lapping the Nurburgring
April 1st isn’t for two more weeks and this isn’t a joke – or maybe it is. The folks at Autoblog have obtained a series of spy photos showing what appears to be a BMW M3 pickup lapping the Nurburgring. Yes… an M3 pickup. No details are available on the vehicle and perhaps it’ just…
BMW i8 Hybrid Sports Car Spied Testing [Video]
BMW is hard at work testing its upcoming i8 hybrid sports car, most recently taking the wild-looking machine out for some cold weather testing. Originally unveiled as the Efficient Dynamics Concept with a plug-in hybrid diesel powertrain, but BMW has since admitted the production version will use gasoline. What isn’t clear is if the car…
2012 BMW 650i Coupe Breaks Cover
BMW‘s new 650i coupe is wider, faster, more techno-laden, and most importantly—it does away with the wide-faced loopy-whale styling of the last model for a Great Red Shark that looks sleeker and more athletic. Those looking at the rear might get a whiff of 3-Series coupe, but the look is far more handsome and far…
2012 BMW M5 Dual-Clutch Transmission Confirmed [Fanboy PSA]
Did you hear that? Yup, a collective sigh of relief from the nearly 5 million fans BMW has on Facebook. Back in February Motor Trend stirred the Bimmer fanboy pot by reporting (erroneously) that the upcoming M5 would come exclusively with an automatic transmission. Instead, MT stated it would get the same ZF 8-speed auto-box…
Next Audi A4 to Shed 200 Pounds, Q7 to Drop Nearly 900 Pounds
Audi will continue its focus on weight savings when it rolls out the next generation A4, Q5 and Q7 models, making drastic reductions across the board. At a recent technical presentation, Audi engineers focused on the use of aluminum in the next-generation of vehicles, following what’s been done on the new A8 and A6 sedans….
Porsche GT3 RS 4.0L Limited Edition to Bow April 7th
Rumored since almost the launch of the GT2 RS, Porsche is set to reveal an even more potent version of the GT3 on April 7th. According to the well-connected sources of TeamSpeed.com members, the new GT3 RS 4.0L Limited Edition (exact name not yet known) will sport a larger displacement flat-six. Bumping engine size by…
Volkswagen Planning WRC Entry With Polo
One obvious sign of economies returning to full steam is increased involvement by automakers in the incredibly expensive field of motorsports. A valuable R&D experience regardless of the outcome, the marketing aspect depends solely on if you win. With a Charlie Sheen obsession for “winning”, Volkswagen aims to get involved directly with the prestigious World…
Learn To Drive Competitively In A Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3
Most driving schools use boring little econo-boxes to teach students the skills required to drive a car, but the Mercedes-Benz AMG Driving Academy is not your average driving school. This high performance driving school is designed to teach you to get the best out of your super sportscar, and to accomplish that, they will not…
