So the Mercedes-Maybach G 650 Landaulet

Now it is official: At the Geneva Autosalon 2017 (9th to 19th March) we are actually witnessing a Mercedes-Maybach G 650 Landaulet. Yes, you have read correctly: A luxury G-Class convertible, half Maybach, half AMG, with portal axles, Biturbo-V12 and well over 600 HP. Please snap right now.

60 centimeters more wheelbase
Now you may wonder: Has the world really been waiting for a strictly limited, twelve-cylinder G-Class with electric soft top? Probably not the whole world, but a small part of it certainly can not expect more. Mercedes says: "With the new Mercedes-Maybach G 650 Landaulet, the off-road icon proves that the definition of unique luxury can be further enhanced." This can be said to be true, with a length of 5.35 meters, a height of 2.24 meters and a wheelbase (by more than 60 centimeters!) On 3.43 meters extended. This makes the G 650 Landaulet the probably craziest chauffeur "sedan" in the world.

Tricky cut-off
driver and passenger sit under a closed roof. The rear seats also occupy two single seats, but they have the great advantage that they can command an electric soft top at the push of a button. How long it takes to open and close is not surpassed, but who is disturbing as soon as the huge open-air lounge is opened? The next button is pressed and a disc separates the rear of the driver compartment. Another key press and said disk change from transparent to opaque.

Also inside madness
You already see: In the Mercedes-Maybach G 650 Landaulet you probably prefer to sit behind. But not only because of top-not-flair and crazy cut-off wheels. The seats come from the S-Class, can be driven into lying position, offer a calf support and massages also excellently. There is a so-called business console with thermo cups between the chairs. The G 650 serves your drink cold or warm depending on your taste. There are also two fold-out tables which, thanks to leather inserts, qualify as a "comfortable writing pad". Who looks out over his outstretched legs, recognizes a kind of second G-Class cockpit, including two ten-inch displays and - for whatever reason - two additional glove compartments.

630-PS-V12
When the average ruler with her wife breaks up for the off-road trip, the two have apparently quite comfortable. The Maybach-G has the same 6.0-liter biturbo, which is also so astonishing in the AMG G 65 - 630 hp and 1,000 newton meters. Maybach still holds the groundwork for the Landaulet, but the 0-100 km / h sprint takes about five seconds in a "normal" G 65 (which sounds really strange, does not it?). Fast enough, you should mean. The G 650 Landaulet is not only on smooth roads fast away. Thanks to the portal axles known from AMG G63 6x6 and G 500 4x4², a narrow half meter of ground clearance and three differential locks, the punk off-roader is also steep in the troubled terrain.

Around the 500,000 euros
From the outside you can see the G 650 - next to the soft top and its sheer monumentality - by the way, very wide carbon mudguards, the chrome grille, polished 22-inch tires with 325/55 tires, a spare tire at the trunk lid and electrical Retractable entry aids. Only 99 copies of this site will be available. The price is not known, but it is assumed that it will be very very high. With around 500,000 euros is to be expected. But for a "new masterpiece of automotive engineering", this is almost peanuts. Market launch for the Mercedes-Maybach G 650 Landaulet is in autumn 2017.

F1-Champion builds sports cars

Former Formula 1 world champion and Indy Car champion Emerson Fittipaldi will present his own sports car at the Geneva Motor Show 2017 (March 9-19). The car with the biblically long project name "Fittipaldi EF7 Vision Gran Turismo by Pininfarina" becomes a strictly limited track car, ie a kind of club sport racer for private race track use. As Fittipaldi revealed, the body and monocoque of the EF7 will consist entirely of carbon. In this way, drivers and co-drivers should be optimally protected as in a capsule; on the other hand, the light material also helps with speed. "When I was designing the EF7, it was important to me that the car is not just pure passion and adrenaline, it should also be good-natured and safe for pilots of all levels," Fittipaldi explains.

1,000 kilos, 600 hp
The latest information on the Fittipaldi EF7 also promises a light weight of about 1,000 kilos as well as a V8-aspirated engine, which is to deliver over 600 hp. Engine and transmission are manufactured "in house". Their low design and positioning in the car should ensure a "unique focus". The owners could expect reliability and lower maintenance costs. In addition, only a very small crew is required for maintenance. "And that means more time and fun on the track," adds Fittipaldi.

Also
virtually active The futuristic sports car is developed together with Pininfarina and Mercedes-AMG racing partner HWA. The EF7 can also be driven in the now legendary racing series Gran Turismo.

Here comes the flight car PAL-V

Raamsdonksveer (Netherlands), February 13th, 2017
The idea is already tempting: Instead of spending a lot of time in the traffic jam every morning and evening, you could simply fly over it. So far, however, there was simply no suitable means of transporting this old dream into action. That changes now: The flight car PAL-V is ready and is soon ready for delivery.

Driving and Flying
The PAL-V is reminiscent of a classic gyrocopter. These aircrafts combine the best features of helicopters and small aircraft. In contrast to conventional gyrocopters, the PAL-V can, however, also participate in public road traffic and should also be quite passable. This is due to the low chassis and carbon chassis. The tricycle is similar to a Carver One or a Can-Am Spyder. The PAL-V is powered by two aviation-certified engines.

From the car to the gyrocopter
To turn the PAL-V from the car to the gyrocopter, just press a button. The rotors and trusses fold out automatically - whether in the company car park or the airfield. Once the aircraft is in the air, it can also float on the spot thanks to a special helicopter-like technique. It can be landed on every airfield and on any private property - as long as a license exists. Thanks to the helicopter technology, landings on one point and takeoffs with a very short start-up are possible. 

The range is okay
By the way: Looking at the range of the PAL-V, the vehicle is quite everyday. In pure driving mode, a consumption of 7.6 liters per 100 kilometers up to 1,315 kilometers with a tank filling is included. The top speed is then 160 km / h. In the air, a maximum speed of 180 km / h is possible, the speed of travel is 140 km / h. The PAL-V can stay in the air for around four hours or 500 kilometers. That is enough, for example, for the flight from Munich to Florence. The car copter weighs approximately 665 kilograms, the maximum take-off weight can still be 250 kilos - for a maximum of two passengers more than enough.

There are two hooks
Does everything look way too beautiful to be true? Well, there are two small hooks for the PAL-V. The first is that you need a pilot license to operate the flight car. The second catch is the price: 499,000 dollars - which amounts to about 470,000 euros - are due in an order. But we can see it positively: the airspace is not as soon as the roads are blocked. In addition, later a "sports" version of the PAL-V will follow, which will be nearly 200,000 euros cheaper. 

VW T6 from B & B Automobiltechnik

You often have to transport many people from A to B? Then a VW T6 is definitely on the top of your shopping list. But what if the top diesel with 204 hp is not top enough? B & B Automobiltechnik now offers some tuning options for the bus.

Up to 275
horsepower The Timming is divided into two stages at B & B. For almost 1,700 euros, it goes from 204 to 240 hp and from 450 to 500 Newtonmeter of torque. The additional power is achieved with a new adjustment of the engine electronics and a slight increase in the charge pressure by 0.2 bar. For just under 3,000 Euros, the customer gets the stage two of the Kraftkur at B & B. This raises the engine power to 275 hp and the torque to 560 Newtonmeter. Intake paths, air ducts and charge air cooling are optimized and the engine software is tuned even more aggressively.

Cooling, sound and chassis
In addition to the pure power increases, B & B also offers an additional oil cooling system. This costs nearly 1,000 euros and is to reduce the oil temperature by up to 25 degrees. Also for almost 1,000 euros there is a sound generator, with which one can exchange diesel sounds against V6-, or V8-sounds. In addition, the Siegener also offer sport springs and a coil drive from KW for the T6. For 400 and 1,970 euros, the bus can be lowered to 65 millimeters - especially with regard to low car parks not to despise. But also the driving dynamics should make a step forward with the suspension tuning.

Wheels and brakes
B & B also takes care of the rims of the T6. Light alloy wheels in 20 inch cost including tires in 275/30 nearly 5,000 euros. Behind the large wheels is optionally available a high-performance braking system with 396 discs and six pistons. A sensible investment, the B & B-T6 with engineered for stage two creates a whopping 215 km / h. 

This is how the Audi RS 3 Facelift comes

As a fan of sporty cars, you know that manufacturers are taking the fight for PS dominance very seriously. Maybe a bit too serious. But the enthusiast profits and is happy about ever-increasing performance data and increasingly absurd acceleration times. The latest example: the PS war in the compact sports segment, which now culminates in the 400 hp Audi RS 3 Sportback 2017. Yes, right reading: 400 hp. In an A3. The world is a crazy place.

In 4.1 seconds to 100 km / h This
is of course exclusively to the last year on 381 hp strengthened Mercedes-AMG A 45 again from the performance drone. For this, Audi is packing the new 2.5-liter five-cylinder turbo from the TT RS into the RS-3 Bug. The world's strongest five-cylinder engine delivers 400 hp and 480 newton meters. These are 33 hp and 15 newtonmeter more than before. Almost even better, however, the new engine weighs 26 kilos less than the old one, which can only be appreciated with the rather pronounced front load and understeer of the RS 3. The 0-100 km / h time drops from 4.3 to 4.1 seconds now. So you push here again before the A 45, which requires 4.2 seconds. At the Stammtisch is something like a survival. Just like the top speed that Audi raises on request from 250 to 280 km / h.

370 mm brake
As before, all the power goes through a seven-speed dual clutch to all four wheels. An electrohydraulic lamellar coupling distributes the enormous quantities variably between front and rear axle. Audi's Drive Select drive system, which can affect steering, engine management, flap exhaust and the optional adaptive dampers in four modes, is a series. Just like 19-inch car with 235-tire and a brake system with 370-millimeter-disc front and 310-millimeter discs at the rear. Optionally, Audi also offers a ceramic brake.

Front slightly retouched
Visually, the RS-3 facelift does not look very good. The expert discovers, of course, immediately the modified single-frame grill as well as the new blade in the front apron, at the end of which two upright funnels provide for more eye-effect. Otherwise everything remains as it was before. LED headlights are the RS 3 Sportback series, Audis smart Matrix LED light is available for an extra charge. Inside, the RS 3 Audis also features a great Virtual Cockpit with a digital 12.3 inch instrument display. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are also there. Furthermore, the large group kit sends out the new dustbag, which keeps distance and travels up to 65 km / h, as well as the emergency assistant, who automatically stops the car in case of need. But much more important is. The sports steering wheel, which has just been flattened, now has the Alcantara inserts no longer in the completely wrong places. Now they are there, where one is actually also going (speak at three and nine o'clock).

From 54.600 euros
Audi RS 3 Sportback will be shown for the first time at the Geneva Autosalon 2017 (March 9-19). It can then be ordered - as the RS 3 sedan shown at the Paris Salon 2016 - from April 2017. The market launch is scheduled for August this year. The price for the RS 3 Sportback increases from 52,700 to 54,600 euros. The RS 3 sedan is available from 55.900 euros. For comparison, the Mercedes-AMG A 45 costs at least 51,170 euros. 

This is new to the Citigo 2017

The VW Up got the obligatory half-time refreshed already last summer, now skoda with the facelift of the identical Citigo after. The facelift version of the smallest Czechs can be admired for the first time at the Geneva Autosalon 2017 (9 to 19 March). But take a good magnifying glass with you, because the changes are not too big.

Active fog lamps
Small tip: The bonnet now has some beads and lines more. In addition, the front apron has been reversed and minimized on the grill design. It is much more exciting, however, that the newly redesigned fog lamps will have a so-called cornering function. Say: The Citigo now shines into the curve. When turning, it automatically switches the right or left fog headlights up to a speed of 40 km / h.

Inside discreetly lifted
A look into the interior of the Skoda Citigo 2017 shows: Again, not with the very big battle ax. Skoda speaks of having made the interior "even higher-quality and functional". In the higher equipment there is a two-color dashboard, as well as a new design. And this seems to be equally double, because the instrument cluster is available in two different versions. Also new: an optional leather multifunction steering wheel. Not so new but still good: The numerous Simply-Clever solutions such as the obligatory Skoda umbrella under the passenger seat, various storage and suspension options or the large one-liter bottle holder.

No turbo three-cylinder In
terms of safety, the Citigo scores with a city emergency brake assistant, which is automatically active between five and 30 km / h. The engine program changes higegen not at all. It remains with the three single-liter three-cylinder petrol engines with 60, 68 and 75 hp. The average 68-hp variant is still operated with natural gas and is to eject only 82 grams of CO2 per kilometer. The two conventional petrol engines have a standard consumption of 4.1 liters. Anyone who has speculated on the much more sparkling 90-hp turbo three-cylinder from the VW Up will be disappointed. Skoda still does not take it into the offer for the Citigo.

Market launch in the spring of 2017
The Citigo facelift remains mainly cosmetic. New 15-inch, a new color called Kiwi-green, the rather decent interventions on front and interior, that was in principle. But what can you do on a simple, quite attractive and well-functioning urban fleet concept also big rumdoktern? Market launch for the revised Citigo is after the Geneva Salon in the spring of 2017. The prices has not yet announced Skoda. It has so far gone at 9,770 euros.