The Latest from German Car Scene

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• WIESMANN GT MF4 BUILT IN 231 SECONDS
• DAIMLER AG: THIRD QUARTER CASH FLOW BETTER THAN MARKET EXPECTATIONS
• THE MERCEDES-BENZ SLS AMG IN PLAYSTATION’S GRAN TURISMO 5
• SKODA AUSTRALIA ANNOUNCES NEW AMBASSADOR PARTNERSHIP WITH CYCLIST JACK BOBRIDGE
• LORD MANDELSON VISITS MINI PLANT TO SEE TWO NEW MODELS
• NEW AUDI A3 AUTOMATICS PIONEER START-STOP
• VOLKSWAGEN VANS OVERTAKE RIVALS FOR FIFTH CONSECUTIVE MONTH IN UK
• YETI SPOTTER DRIVES AWAY WITH PRIZE SKODA IN UK
• LAMBORGHINI CHRISTMAS GIFTS
• NEW BLUETOOTH HEADSETS FROM BMW & MINI
• 2010 MINI CALENDAR

WIESMANN GT MF4 BUILT IN 231 SECONDS Posted: 20 Oct 2009 04:28 AM PDT Wiesmann showed off a little by building a GT MF4 at this year's IAA in Frankfurt. Here, you can see the whole process compressed to just under 4 minutes.

DAIMLER AG: THIRD QUARTER CASH FLOW BETTER THAN MARKET EXPECTATIONS Posted: 20 Oct 2009 02:06 AM PDT Stuttgart –Daimler AG (stock-exchange abbreviation DAI) today presented its preliminary figures for the third quarter of 2009. Group revenue amounted to €19.3 billion, while Group EBIT including adjustments and special items at Freightliner and Fuso amounted to €470 million; the industrial business generated a free cash flow of €2.3 billion in the first nine months of this year (Q3 2009: €2.0 billion).

THE MERCEDES-BENZ SLS AMG IN PLAYSTATION’S GRAN TURISMO 5 Posted: 19 Oct 2009 04:32 PM PDT The new SLS AMG is the latest car pool member of Sony Playstation's racing game Gran Turismo 5. Learn how the gullwing sports car moves from real to digital by taking a look behind the scenes as game developers do their test drives and as we visit the Japanese Polyphony Digital studios in Tokyo where developers have refined the digital SLS AMG for six months.

SKODA AUSTRALIA ANNOUNCES NEW AMBASSADOR PARTNERSHIP WITH CYCLIST JACK BOBRIDGE Posted: 19 Oct 2009 09:49 AM PDT BOTANY, AUSTRALIA – October 19, 2009: Jack Bobridge, gold medal winner in the under-23 time trial at the recent UCI World Road Cycling Championships in Switzerland, has joined the Škoda Team.

LORD MANDELSON VISITS MINI PLANT TO SEE TWO NEW MODELS Posted: 19 Oct 2009 09:39 AM PDT BRACKNELL, UNITED KINGDOM – October 19, 2009: Business Secretary Lord Mandelson today visited MINI Plant Oxford to see two recently-unveiled concept cars – the MINI Coupé and the MINI Roadster. Both have been confirmed fo r production at the facility where they will join the three current core models – Hatchback, Convertible and Clubman.

NEW AUDI A3 AUTOMATICS PIONEER START-STOP Posted: 19 Oct 2009 09:23 AM PDT MILTON KEYNES, UNITED KINGDOM – October 19, 2009: Automatic versions of the latest economy focused Audi A3 models are the first in the premium sector to benefit from the latest engine start-stop technology, which has already helped to cut emissions in manual transmission TDI versions to a sector-leading 109g/km.

VOLKSWAGEN VANS OVERTAKE RIVALS FOR FIFTH CONSECUTIVE MONTH IN UK Posted: 19 Oct 2009 09:19 AM PDT MILTON KEYNES, UNITED KINGDOM – October 19, 2009: Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles has increased its market share and improved from having the UK’s third to the second best-selling van range (up to 7.4 tonnes) in the last five consecutive months from May to September.

YETI SPOTTER DRIVES AWAY WITH PRIZE SKODA IN UK Posted: 19 Oct 2009 08:28 AM PDT MILTON KEYNES, UNITED KINGDOM – October 19, 2009: A mother of three from Walsall is now the proud owner of a new Škoda Yeti after scooping the car as the main prize in a nationwide competition. Thousands of people across the UK followed the trail of the Yeti as part of its launch marketing campaign this summer and lucky Yeti spotter Marie Hitchen is now driving away in the Czech brand’s new family crossover vehicle.

LAMBORGHINI CHRISTMAS GIFTS Posted: 19 Oct 2009 08:18 AM PDT To celebrate Christmas Lamborghini-style, the Italian super sports car manufacturer has produced a range of limited edition gift-boxed candles and ceramic baubles, inspired by its Gallardo LP 550-2 Valentino Balboni.

NEW BLUETOOTH HEADSETS FROM BMW & MINI Posted: 19 Oct 2009 08:04 AM PDT Munich. The driver of a BMW or MINI who wishes to always remain in touch also while travelling now has the choice of new Bluetooth headsets matched specifically to his car. These universal hands-free mobile phone communication systems are made up of a combined earplug/microphone unit and ensure smooth and reliable communication to the user’s mobile phone through a Bluetooth connection, without requiring any kind of cable or wiring.

2010 MINI CALENDAR Posted: 19 Oct 2009 07:53 AM PDT Munich. With the backing of international artists and graphic designers, MINI presents a unique wall decoration that will delight not only committed fans and collectors: the MINI Calendar for the year 2010 is the proud upshot of the MINI Space Design Competition. MINIspace.com is a social network for creative people from all fields who share a passion for creativity.