Not everyone has heard of the creature that is the Unimog, a mega-truck produced by Mercedes-Benz and designed for the more ‘hardcore’ user. Well, we suggest they take a look at Fifth Gear’s test-drive, with Tom Ford (Wookie to his friends) who attempts to go along a specially designed course
to discover the limits of the German beast.

The Unimog has been recently ordered by the British Special Forces and the celebrated TV show could not wait to get their hands on this £90,000 super-toy. However, this was not without the supervision of a military driving instructor…

A bit of spec info on the Unimog: The 296bhp Straight 6 engine has an amazing 1120 Nm of Torque. The unit’s 11.9 tons can be pushed to around 55mph (100km/h) on road. Two specifications prove to be the most impressive: the exciting prospect of the “working gears” switch on the dashboard, which
allow the driver to select the range of gears desired depending on the terrain; and the ability to reduce the pressure of the tyres to allow up to 30% more traction on slippery surfaces.

The best part arrives in the final moments of the video when you have the opportunity to see one of the most insane things on four wheels: the Unimog Black Edition, a ‘sport’ version developed by Brabus that puts the seemingly impossible in your hands. Do you perchance have an annoying neighbour? Save
up £160,000 and this monster (which amongst other things has a leather and carbon fibre interior) will finally be at your disposal.

Via | German Car Scene

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“This is the sexiest, most desirable, most fabulous-looking car you can buy today”. This is how Fifth gear start by describing the Maserati Granturismo and for the most part we agree. The whole focus of the Maserati GT is on comfort, with ample passenger space and an extremely quiet engine on the inside. However, in a world where the BMW M3 offers much more engine power with a much lighter body resulting in greater performance for a lower price, the Maserati seems to be outdone.

I know we are talking about a GT but the balance between driving pleasure and driving comfort is perhaps weighted a little too much towards the latter. At the end of the day the Trident shows itself off proudly on the Maserati’s body leading us to expect a bit more pep in what instead feels more like a lumbering cruiser – powerful, yet unable to perform when needed and rather emotionally unsatisfying. To be precise, it has the feel of a 4-door car that is missing two doors.

Continue reading: Fifth Gear Drives the Maserati Granturismo

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Mercedes-Benz engineers are working at a new, still enigmatic supercar, caught in this video while testing at the Nurburginger Nordschleife. It is clear that this test mule is based on the Mercedes SL, but we don’t exactly know yet what car is hidden under the camouflage.

Rumors say that the german automaker is developing a bunch of new supercars including a modern edition of the 300 SL Gullwing, the SLC, and the SL AMG Black Series.

This one should be based on the 6.2 litres V8 built in Affalterbach by AMG and will probably be much lighter than other SL versions, since it will get a new, fixed, carbon-fiber roof and other lightened body parts. Other notable features such as the huge fender flares, and a rear diffuser with quad exhaust pipes contribute to distinguish the Black Series from the “normal” SL AMG.

Via | MotorAuthority

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For the delectation of anyone who is as obsessive-compulsive as us about new cars, here’s a link to the microsite of the new Audi A4, a nice gallery of wallpapers of the new saloon from Ingolstadt and a video with studio shots of the A4 where the excitement consists mainly of seeing the xenon plus headlights and LED daylights being switched on and off.

Continue reading: New Audi A4 - microsite, wallpapers and video

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Our reader Piso sends us these two spy videos of the BMW X6, shot on an Italian motorway. The X6 is the upcoming SUV-coupè from BMW: it will be based on the same platform as the X5 E70, but it will be lower on the ground and it will have a sloping rear. It is supposed to be both sportier and more luxurious than the X5 (and, obviously, pricier!).

See this spyshot to get an idea of the true form of the rear of the X6.

Continue reading: BMW X6 - spy videos

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A nice video of prototypes caught testing at the Nurburgring. Among others, you can see a new Cadillac, a couple of Lamborghinis (Gallardo and Murcielago LP640) , the Audi R8, the Maserati due-porte, and the BMW 1-Series Cabrio.

The most impressive ? The supposed Panamera Mule with the BMW M5 body and with extra-wide wheel arches. What kind of engine is lurking under the trunk to push it around like that ?

Continue reading: Nurburgring Tests - Video

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Three videos and some more photos of the BMW 335i Coupè.

In related news, BMW has also announced pricing for the 328i / 335i in North America: the 328i will start from $35,300, the AWD 328xi from $37,100, and the 335i from $40,600. On e90post.com you can find the complete price list.

Continue reading: BMW 335i Coupè - videos

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Auto Express has a nice video of a prototype of the Audi R8 running around the Nurbrugring.

Pity the server is utterly overloaded, so you have to wait hours to see it in fits and starts. My suggestion: put it up on Google Video / Youtube with a prominent Auto Express watermark and be done with it!

It’s very nice to hear the sound of the Lamborghini derived V10 engine, though!
Via | German Car Blog

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A nice commercial for the TwinTop Vauxhalls, seen surfing on giant ocean waves …

Via | Motorpasion

Continue reading: English commercial for the Vauxhall Astra Twin-Top

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Top Gear tests the BMW Z4 M and compares it with the Porsche Boxster S. The Z4M costs 5.000 € more than the Boxster S and it has 63 ps more.

The Z4 M is a car that doesn’t coddle the driver: according to Richard Hammond, “you have to grab it by the scruff of the neck and treat it like the beast it is”. He goes on: “and while the Boxster flatters your ego, this [la Z4M] thrills you in the most primeval way … the latest M cars were crammed full of technology … this is Fred Flintsone’s car … It absolutely steals your heart”.

In closing, the track and the Stig: the Z4 M Roadster beats even the Cayman S (compared to which it has a lower price). Now we are really curios about a comparo “Cayman S vs Z4 M Coupè” (which has an even lower price and should be even better on the track). Check out the video of Hammonds’ test.

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