German Car Blog, Performance, Tuning, Motorsport, and Modification News

Well, here is yet another SUV variant coming. This one is designed to rival the BMW X6 as well as the upcoming Audi Q6. The platform has been confirmed as C166. The car will be built on a modified M-class platform much like the X6 is built on an X5 platform. It will be built in the US plant that already builds the ML, GL, and R-class vehicles. Do not expect it anytime soon, it is scheduled as a 2015 model.
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This is the Motorsport 24 widebody kit for the BMW E82 1 series. This kit is available in carbon fiber for 6,900 Euros ($9874) or FRP for 5,500 Euros ($7871). It consists of 9 pieces including the front bumper, rear bumper, front fenders, side skirts, and rear fenders. Motorsport 24 products will be distributed in the United States by BimmerBoost premier vendor IND-Distribution. If interested, contact them or check out the Motorsport 24 USA site which should be fully up soon.
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We knew the Audi S8 was coming and that it would be using a twin turbo V8 from a leaked report in February of this year. That report states the car will get 518 horsepower. This will mean the car will have slightly more power and torque as well than the 12 cylinder W12 version, making it almost redundant. The S8 should not only be sportier than the W12, but lighter and cheaper. If it was up to us, we would take the twin turbo V8, thanks.
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Prior Design has been putting out some great SL kits as of late. Here is their latest wide, very wide, body kit. The kit consists of a new front bumper, rear bumper, front fenders, front bonnet, side skirts, rear fenders, rear diffuser, and a rear trunk spoiler. Other than the LED's in the front bumper (this LED obsession needs to stop) we like the kit a lot. Pricing information to come shortly, enjoy the pictures.
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We would like to welcome our newest premier vendor, Vorsteiner. Most of you have heard of them and for good reason, they are a premier aftemarket body kit/piece and wheel supplier. The M3 GTRS3 widebody kit pictured below has been featured basically everywhere and makes a very, very large statement. Vorsteiner also has expanded their wheel lineup with a variety of styles. These guys are doing it all at the moment and we are very happy to have them as a vendor across our entire network. Enjoy the photos below!

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Ok, so a quick recap for you. Audi put out a commercial that was basically a blatant rip-off of the Eminem/Chrysler imported from Detroit commercial. The music publisher threatened to take Audi to court. Audi responded by saying the commercial was not actually a commercial (yes, idiotic). Now, they have both reached an agreement. Translation: Money changed hands, and everyone is happy. “Eight Mile is very pleased that this dispute could be settled quickly and amicably. Eight Mile is very impressed by Audi’s openness to discuss and reach consensus on the issues involved…”
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Mercedes asked their Facebook fans what stunt they would like to see Mercedes do on the set of their newest commercial. This figure 8 drift was the stunt chosen. To be honest, it is kind of weak. Especially when compared to BMW drifting the 1M on top of a helipad on top of a skyscraper in downtown Los Angeles. Check it out and see what you think. Stunt driver Greg Tracy does the driving in a new W204 C63 coupe around two W204 C63 AMG sedans.
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Eisenmann has released their exhaust for the E82 1M Coupe. It comes in two forms, a rear section and a downpipe back exhaust. The rear section is $2096 and provides gains of 10 horsepower and 7.5 pound-feet of torque. For larger gains, one will want the downpipe back system which retails for $3672.96. Combine this with a good downpipe and... fun times. The exhaust is available through our sponsor IND, Eisenmann North America distributor.
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Here is the official trailer for the 2012 Porsche Panamera Diesel. On the European cycle the Diesel Panamera gets 44.4 MPG which we do not think would translate into the same style of US MPG numbers. Still, the car is quite fuel efficient. The Panamera Diesel features a 3.0 V6 turbo diesel with 250 horsepower and 405 pound-feet of torque. What is also interesting to note is that the Panamera Diesel is only available in rear wheel drive. Will it come to the USA? We do not know at this point but it definitely should. We are sick of getting the short end of the stick on diesels.
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The mid-size luxury sport sedan market was one BMW dominated. Some can argue they really invented it and set the standard. The E39 5 series was really were people saw just how much better BMW was at building these cars for all around performance than anyone else. Something has happened along the way and the F10 5 series is no longer as dominating in this sector. Has Audi gotten better or has BMW slipped? Maybe the answer is both.

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M275 V12 twin turbo production for the Mercedes SL has ended. That makes us very, very sad pandas. The SL600 is the first to go followed by the SL65 AMG. The Black Series will likely be sold for a little while longer but at its price point they are not exactly flying off lots. Will the V12 re-appear in the next generation SL? We do not know, but with the M157 and M278 twin turbo V8's the demand for a twin turbo V12 will not likely be there. These are newer motors with better emissions that are also lighter. We will have to wait and see but this may be the beginning of the end for the M275.
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The mid-size luxury sport sedan market was one BMW dominated. Some can argue they really invented it and set the standard. The E39 5 series was really were people saw just how much better BMW was at building these cars for all around performance than anyone else. Something has happened along the way and the F10 5 series is no longer as dominating in this sector. Has Audi gotten better or has BMW slipped? Maybe the answer is both.
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First of all, these are all absolutely awesome cars. It's kind of hard to pick a winner and a loser in this bunch Car and Driver did just that. The car picked last was the 997 GT2 RS. Although the GT2 RS is the second fastest, pulls the most on the skidpad, and has the fastest slalom time they rated it negatively for the turbo lag and harsh ride. Uh, it's a GT2 RS. It is made to perform not cushion your old behind. The 458 Italia is actually rated negatively due to sticker gouging? Oh, so it is the cars fault it is so awesome it can command a huge premium? Get real. The MP4-12C wins which is odd considering they say it lacks soul. It also goes against most of the tests up until this point that still pick the Italia.
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This is some pretty good news if it turns out to be true. CAR is reporting that the R8 will be getting an HP bump. The R8 V8 will get a horsepower boost to match the RS5. It will go to about 444 horsepower up from the current 414 which resembled the B7 RS4. The V10 will also be getting a bump since it was detuned vs. the Gallardo. It will go up to 533 up from the current 518. The real big news though is that both might be getting a 7-speed DSG gearbox. That would take the R8 into some elite (458 Italia) territory. For those of you who just bought your R8 GT versions, bummer, but new versions of the GT should be coming as well.

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Here is the video everyone has been waiting for. This is the first of what we believe will be many 10 second supercharged M156 V8 (63 AMG) Mercedes vehicles. The car was run in the Summer heat of Southern California at the Fontana drag strip which is notoriously slow. Density altitude went up over 3000 during the day yet the car still managed to hit 10's which is certainly impressive. 275/40/17 Mickey Thompson drag radials were used along with lightweight seats and race gas. Congratulations to Weistec and JRCART.
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We have all known for a while now that Stage III supercharger kits from Gintani are coming. There are a handful of cars running around now but they are running Vortech T-trim blowers. Due to the volumetric efficiency and high revs of the S65 M3 engine the fairly large T-trim gets maxed out fairly quickly. In comes the bigger, badder Vortech YSI. As you can see from the pictures the YSI fits, just barely though. The supercharger casing does need to be modified slightly in order for it to fit without issue.
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The 2011 race featured a packed field. Competition in the GT3 field among private teams was fierce with 57 cars alone in this category. Spa is a GT race featuring cars like the R8 LMS, Z4 GT3, Mercedes SLS GT3, Porsche 997 GT3, etc. The race was won and dominated by Audi who led 22 out of the 24 hours in the R8 LMS. Third place went to the Mercedes SLS GT3. Spa features private teams with factory race cars making for a packed, diverse field and interesting race. Full race results below.

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A major congratulations to Audi on this victory in the face of competition from 13 other manufacturers including Mercedes and BMW. Audi DTM drivers Mattias Ekström and Timo Scheider were two of the three drivers in the Audi Sport Team WRT R8 LMS. The field had never been so packed with 62 cars 57 of which were in the GT3 category. The Audi R8 cars led for 22 out of the 24 hours and were running 1-2-3 at one point, well done.

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The weather at the Hungarian Grand Prix proved challenging with intermittent showers. Vettel led early on but made a mistake in the rain that allowed McLaren driver Jenson Button to take the win. Vettel would finish in second place. Mercedes struggled as they really have all season. Although both Mercedes GP drivers Nico Rosberg and Michael Schumacher had good starts overtaking a number of positions Nico would end up finishing in 9th place and Schumacher did not finish the race. A mechanical failure in the gearbox forced Schmuacher to retire from the race. The next race is in Belgium, August 28. Full results below.

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