Germany's carmakers are upping the ante in a bid for drivers' dollars, says Alastair Sloane
The global production of mainstream vehicles might have been cut back to meet reduced demand but Germany's top-end carmakers are forging ahead with the go-fast stuff, for buyers who can afford to shrug off economic pain.
Mercedes-Benz has just unveiled its halo E63 AMG sedan, a V8 flyer that has the BMW M5, Audi RS6 and Jaguar XFR in its sights.
Audi has been testing the RS5 at the Nurburgring circuit ahead of the coupe's unveiling at the Frankfurt motor show in September.
Porsche too has been busy at the Nurburgring, preparing the GT3 RS (Rennsport) for its first public airing at Frankfurt.
The E63 AMG will arrive in New Zealand towards the end of the year. No word on price yet but the current car sits around $225,000.
The RS5 is expected early next year. The Porsche GT3 RS is due around April/May 2010, about eight months after the standard GT3 gets here in September.
No indication of Porsche's price either, although the new GT3 itself is expected to cost more than the current car's $270,000.
Mercedes-Benz' performance arm AMG has fitted mechanicals from the two-door SL63 AMG to the E63, including a naturally aspirated 6.3-litre V8 with 386kW and 630Nm of torque, or about 8kW more than the current engine. But the new model is said to be 12 per cent easier on fuel, swallowing a town-and-around 12.6 litres/100km against 15 litres/100km.
Power is sent to the rear wheels via the company's latest seven-speed auto, complete with steering wheel paddleshifters.
The zero to 100km/h sprint time, says AMG, is 4.5s - a tad faster than the claimed times for the Jaguar XFR, BMW M5 and Audi RS6. Top speed is 250km/h.
But there's more to the E63 than just power, says the tuning house. AMG's ride control sports suspension uses steel springs at the front and air coils with an automatic levelling system at the rear to keep the sedan at a constant height, irrespective of load.
The advantage of this set-up, says the company, is that the front springs ensure more sensitive steering responses, while the rear air struts help keep the ride poised.
Also, drivers can choose from Comfort, Sport and Sport Plus suspension modes, while adjustable dampers vary firmness at each corner of the car to minimise roll.
The ESP stability system is also adjustable, and there are four transmission settings: Controlled Efficiency, Sport, Sport Plus and Manual. An AMG bodykit beefs up the looks, as do 18-inch alloys, LED running lights and chromed quad exhausts. Inside are bolstered electric sports seats and a four-spoke steering wheel.
The E63 debuts at next week's New York motor show. Part of the car's standard safety package includes systems designed to prevent a driver from dozing off, or drifting into another lane.
Audi is aiming its RS5 at the BMW M3. The Audi is more powerful, its 4.2-litre twin-turbo V8 delivering 335kW against the M3's 308kW. The RS5 sends power to all four wheels via the quattro system and is expected to offer buyers the choice of both six-speed manual and seven-speed twin-clutch gearboxes.
Sprint performance will be around 4.5s with a 250km/h top speed. The RS5 will get stiffened and lowered suspension, a wider track and stickier rubber.
In addition to all-wheel drive, it will also boast Audi's new active rear differential, which helps distribute torque to different wheels, aiding agility and traction. The S4 uses the same system.
The visual differences between the Porsche GT3 RS and the new GT3 are clear. Spy pictures show that in addition to the new rear lights and LED daytime running lights of the GT3, the RS version adds wider front wings, deeper side skirts and an enormous rear wing.
Aimed at track day enthusiasts, the wing is adjustable and made from carbon fibre to keep weight down. Other changes over the regular GT3 include a standard-fit roll cage with increased bracing to add even more stiffness to the chassis and a lightweight plastic rear screen.
The RS is a road-going car with a racetrack attitude. Porsche's adaptive PASM dampers come as standard with the same 3.8-litre flat-six cylinder engine as the GT3, except the RS unit has been tweaked to develop 325kW against 320kW.
Reports say the RS will get to 100km/h in about four seconds and on to a top speed of 300km/h.
