WCF Preview: 2006 Essen Motor Show

Press Release

New Products from the Automobile Manufacturers

In Halls 1 and 3 at this year's Essen Motor Show, the automobile manufacturers will display not only sporty variants or special models but also, of course, the latest production cars from their factories. However, successful sports, touring and rally cars will be presented as well.

In keywords, the following list shows a small overview of new models or model variants and of racing cars - without making any claim to being complete.

At the editorial deadline for this list (on October 20, 2006), it was still not possible to give a complete overview. It may be assumed that several manufacturers will present additional new models or model variants at their press conferences in Essen on November 30, 2006.

World Premiere: VW Passat R36

At the Essen Motor Show, VW will present the Passat R36 as a world premiere. Photographic material for this car will be available as from about the middle of November 2006. The R36 is to be launched in 2007 with the most powerful production engine ever installed in a Passat. The 300 hp engine is said to propel the car to a top speed of 250 km/h.

Fifteen hours after the world premiere in Los Angeles, Audi will present the new Audi TT roadster in Essen.

Audi R8

German premiere. The first specimens of the new supersports cars will be delivered to the customers in the first half of 2007. The 4.2-litre V8 normally aspirated engine with FSI direct injection supplies a power of 420 hp and a torque of 430 Nm. The racer weighing around 1,550 kg reaches the 100 km/h mark in 4.6 seconds. The top speed is over 300 km/h. The transmission is either a manual six-speed gearbox or the new sequential Audi R tronic gearbox. All-wheel drive.

Audi TT Roadster

Fifteen hours after its world premiere in Los Angeles, the Audi TT roadster will give its European and German premiere in Essen. Audi will deliver the new TT roadster with two engine options. The 3.2-litre V6 supplies 250 hp and is coupled with the quattro drive ex works. The 2.0 TFSI which combines the turbocharging with the direct petrol injection drives the front wheels with 200 hp. Not only the six-speed gearbox as standard but also the innovative S tronic double-clutch gearbox are available for both variants.

Audi S3

German premiere. Dynamism, sportiness and high value. The Audi A3 occupies an outstanding position in the premium compact class. Now, its top variant is rolling to the starting line, the new Audi S3 with a power of 265 hp and the quattro permanent all-wheel drive. With its strong performance, it follows the ideal of pure driving pleasure with a high degree of everyday suitability at the same time - as do all the S models from Audi. The S3 is redefining the standards in its class - at the level of a sports car. The spurt to 100 km/h is completed in 5.7 seconds. The propulsion is only limited at 250 km/h. Snappily vigorous, enthusiastic for high revolutions and with a sonorous sound, the strong two-litre four-cylinder FSI engine with direct petrol injection and turbocharging proves to be a flexible high-power engine.

Audi R10

Victorious car in the Le Mans 24-Hour Race. The first sports car with a diesel engine to win the most important sports car race in the world which has been staged since 1923. The drivers were Frank Biela (Germany), Emanuele Pirro (Italy) and Marco Werner (Germany). The heart of the Audi R10 TDI is a totally redeveloped V12 TDI engine with the maximum capacity of 5.5 litres authorised in Le Mans. With a power over 650 hp and a torque of more than 1,100 Nm, Audi is venturing into new dimensions for diesel engines.

Audi A4 DTM

This touring car was used in the DTM in 2006 when the drivers included Tom Kristensen (Denmark) and Heinz-Harald Frentzen (Germany). At the editorial deadline (the last race of the season in Hockenheim took place after these lines were written), Kristensen still had a chance of securing second place in the championship. Eight cylinders, capacity: 4,000 ccm and power: 460 hp.

Daihatsu Copen

At the Essen Motor Show 2006, Daihatsu Deutschland GmbH will be represented with its own fair booth for the first time. With the Copen, the Japanese compact car specialist will present the smallest roadster in the world with an electrically retractable aluminium hardtop - only 3.40 m long. Its uncompromisingly beautiful design was honoured with the "red dot design award" in 2004. A 1.3-litre four-cylinder engine with 87 hp accelerates the 850 kg light compact roadster from 0 km/h to 100 km/h in just 9.5 seconds. With extensive standard equipment, the Copen is available as from Euro 17,200. In Essen, the Copen will present itself in a sporty and elegant outfit.

Daihatsu Materia

The Materia will give its German premiere in Essen. The 3.80 m long compact car is characterised by a distinctive, individual design. Its expressive lines provide the Materia with a particularly powerful appearance. The interior with a longitudinally adjustable back seat offers a lot of variability and ample space for five people. A 1.5-litre engine with 105 hp ensures rapid propulsion. The Materia will be launched on to the German market in February 2007.

Daihatsu Trevis

The Trevis is a 3.40 m long, charming compact car with an emotional retro design. With its large, chromium-plated round headlights, its steeply upright front windscreen and its round lines, it is reminiscent of popular small cars from the sixties. Driven by a 1.0-litre three-cylinder engine with 58 hp, the Trevis has been available as from Euro 9,990 since September 2006. In Essen, it will be possible to see the Trevis in a nostalgic and sporty look.

Ford S-Max Individual

For the new Ford S-Max van introduced in 2006, the Cologne-based company will now present, with the Individual trademark, an exclusive small-scale series with an equipment package for the wishes of particularly discerning customers. With the car, Ford is targeting a class of purchasers for which the Focus C-Max is too small but the Galaxy is a bit too big. The newcomer which Ford classifies as a "sports van" offers space for up to seven passengers. The 2.5-litre five-cylinder turbocharged engine from the Focus ST which supplies 220 hp in the S-Max is used as the top motorisation. Moreover, two diesel engines and another petrol engine are available as options. The 2.0-litre compression ignition engines mobilise 130 hp and 140 hp and the fourth in the series is a 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with 145 hp.

Ford Focus Coupé Convertible

After many years when Ford was no longer represented with a convertible in the compact class, the new open Focus is now available at the dealers. This is not a "pure" convertible but instead a car with a retractable sheet metal roof. At the start, the range of engines encompasses a 1.6-litre petrol engine with 100 hp, a 2.0-litre petrol engine with 145 hp and a 2.0-litre diesel engine with 136 hp.

Nissan Qashqai

German premiere. The compact cross-over Qashqai (pronounced: "kash-ki") should be available in the trade as from the beginning of 2007. The car is a mixture of a van and a sporty fastback saloon. Nissan classifies the car in the lower middle-of-the-range class and is thus targeting young people who live in cities and would like to use the car for their leisure at the weekend. A special seat system is intended to ensure that the car can perform not only the routine tasks on workdays but also the weekend job. The rear doors are fastened to the C‑pillar. It was thus possible to dispense with the B‑pillar. This makes it easier for back-seat passengers to get into the car and also opens up additional loading possibilities. Two petrol engines (115 hp and 140 hp) and two diesel engines (106 hp and 150 hp) are planned.

Opel Antara

New cross-over (off-roader) which will be launched on to the market at the end of the year. Four doors, five seats and all-wheel drive. The programme comprises two petrol engines and one diesel engine. The 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine supplies 140 hp and the 3.2-litre six-cylinder engine 227 hp; the diesel engine has a capacity of 2.0 litres and puts 150 hp on the road. Market researchers predict good chances for the "small" off-roaders like the Antara. Opel was the market leader in this segment with the Frontera which was built until 2003.

Opel Corsa Three-Door

The fourth Corsa generation has been available in the trade since recently. It has a completely revised design. In this respect, the five-door and three-door variants are clearly different from each other. The "newcomer" has added considerably as far as the dimensions are concerned, it is 15 cm longer at 3.99 m. The engine programme encompasses three petrol engines with 60 hp, 80 hp and 90 hp as well as two diesel engines with 75 hp and 90 hp. An OPC version and a more powerful diesel engine (125 hp in each case) are to follow later on.

Seat Altea XL

German premiere. The new vehicle is intended for families which are looking, above all, for a roomy interior and a high loading capacity in conjunction with outstanding safety standards. The new model is an Altea in the XL format. The vehicle is 18.7 cm longer and this is not only primarily to the benefit of a larger luggage compartment but also permits a more spacious and more flexible interior. Thus, the new Seat offers a luggage compartment with a capacity of 532 litres compared with 409 litres in the Altea. Furthermore, the back seats of the Altea XL can be adjusted forwards by 14 cm in the longitudinal direction. This enlarges the loading volume by more than 100 litres to 635 litres. That is unrivalled in this vehicle class. One 1.6-litre petrol engine as well as 1.9-litre and 2.0-litre diesel engines (140 hp) are planned.

Seat Leon Supercopa

With this vehicle, the eight races in the Seat Supercopa Manufacturer's Cup are staged within the framework of the DTM. Two-litre engine, four cylinders and power: 300 hp.

Skoda Octavia 4x4 Scout

German premiere. The ground clearance of the new Octavia Scout is 40 mm higher than that of the Octavia estate car and 16 mm higher than that of the Octavia 4x4 estate car. This is intended to increase the off-road suitability. The estate car with all-wheel drive has a boot volume of as much as 1,620 litres. The 4,581 mm long vehicle is around 1 cm longer, 1.5 cm wider and 1.3 cm higher than the 4x4 version from the manufacturer. The Scout is optionally driven by the well-known 2.0-litre FSI petrol engine with 150 hp or by the 2.0-litre TDI diesel engine with 140 hp. Both engines are combined with a manual six-speed gearbox.

Subaru Impreza 2.0R RS Special Model

Premiere in Essen. The Subaru Impreza RS will present itself in the discreet rally look. The special model with the multitude of extras and the opulent price advantage is based on the Impreza 2.0R Active with a power of 160 hp. As standard, the compact sporty car optionally with four or five doors has active headrests at the front, front and side airbags with integrated head airbags, ABS, Isofix children's seat fastenings, external temperature display, a height-adjustable driver's seat, electric windows, leather covers on the handbrake lever, the gearshift knob and the steering wheel, alloy wheel rims, automatic air conditioning system with a pollen filter as well as central locking with radio remote control.

Suzuki Swift Sport

New model. Available at the dealer as from the beginning of 2007. Top model in the Swift series. 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine with a power of 125 hp. Maximum torque: 148 Nm at 4,800 rpm. The 1.6-litre engine then allows the Swift Sport to accelerate from 0 km/h to 100 km/h in 8.9 seconds. The top speed is reached at 200 km/h. The consumption is said to be 7.2 litres.

Suzuki Swift Super 1600

Used in the World Junior Rally Championship which, before the finale (held after the editorial deadline), was headed by two Suzuki drivers, i.e. Urmo Aava (Estonia) and Per-Gunnar Andersson. Four cylinders, 1.6-litre engine and power: over 200 hp.

Show Sections in Detail

Fascinating Exhibits in the Show Center in 2006 - Hall 1 A

"The Le Mans 24-Hour Race": Sports cars which have won the most famous long-distance classic in automobile racing; Automobiles: History, realities and visions; Motorcycles: Dream bikes, studies and racing; Show: Action, stage events and animation.

A.: "The Le Mans 24-Hour Race" - The Most Famous Long-Distance Classic in Automobile Racing

The unique presentation of victorious automobiles which have made history in the legendary classic in France - Over twenty sports cars from 1924 to today.

B.: Noble Classics

Precious and unique historic automobiles - Winners (Best of Show) of the most important Concours d'Elegance competitions in the world such as Villa d'Este.

C.: Design Studies

New and pioneering creations from world-famous styling companies and automobile manufacturers - Concept cars, studies and prototypes representing the haute couture of automobile construction.

D.: Lowriders

Unusually styled automobiles in extremely flat designs from the USA - All of them one-off vehicles, some coated with gold and silver, can be seen for the first time in Europe.

E.: USA Curiosities

Highly imaginative and sensational crazy car innovations - One-off vehicles, created according to the ideas and plans of American automobile enthusiasts.

F.: Art Cars

Unique exhibits designed by artists - Prize-winners at the world-famous "Houston Art Car Parade" which is staged in Texas (USA) every year.

G.: Flatmobile

The lowest car in the world, just 54 centimetres high - Forthcoming entry in the Guinness Book of Records.

H.: Dragsters

Record chasers which are strong at sprinting and bursting with power - Constructed in order to cover the quarter-mile distance as quickly as possible from a standing start.

I.: Tractor Pulling

Spectacular and massive hp monsters which, with enormously great power, pull objects weighing tonnes over a distance of max. 100 metres.

J.: Monster Trucks

Two monsters from England - A chain-driven truck with flip-up bodywork and a fire engine as a wheelstander.

K.: Future Projects

Automobiles and motorcycles (also as models), driven with alternative techniques which may revolutionise vehicle construction.

M.: Daytona 2006 - The Rat's Hole Custom Bike Show

Eccentric-looking and extremely valuable motorcycles - Dream bikes, presented and awarded prizes at the most important, best-known and largest motorcycle meeting in the world in Florida.

N.: Arlen Ness in 2006

Utopian and pioneering studies - Motorcycle trends, as seen by the world's most famous bike designer from the USA and his son Cory.

O.: NSU Combinations

Unique motorcycles with sidecars - Professionally and lovingly fabricated one-offs, all driven by NSU engines.

P.: Dragster Bikes

New, extremely powerful quarter-mile sprinters, including a motorcycle with a rocket drive which will give its world premiere at the Essen Motor Show.

Q.: Unique Bikes

Unusual, wonderful and curious bikes and trikes - Valuable one-offs, created by well-known motorcycle freaks.

R.: Motorcycle Racing

Solo machines and sidecar combinations - Successful at this year's international and national road race events.

U.: Special Presentation - Hall 6

In the "Oldtimers & Classic Cars" exhibition section - Hall 6.

S.I.H.A. will present "100 Years of Automobile Grand Prix".

Premiere: Motor Sport Mile in the Galeria

One new attraction at the Essen Motor Show this year will be the Motor Sport Mile in the Galeria. Here is where automobile clubs, racetracks or racing series (amongst others) will present themselves and active motor sportsmen and sportwomen and racing fans will meet up.

DMSB: New Formula Racing Series

As from the 2007 season, there will be a new gateway series to the Formula sport in Germany: the Formula DMSB. Deutscher Motor Sport Bund (DMSB - the "German Motor Sport Federation") will officially present the series for the first time in Essen. The new championship is intended to be easy to master, to make manageable financial demands and to considerably simplify the transition from the cart to the Formula sport. The gateway class which will be easy to master and can be contested with manageable costs will facilitate the advancement of ambitious youngsters. With its concept, the umbrella association of the German motor sportsmen and sportswomen is taking up a proven recipe for success. Even in the late eighties, subsequent top drivers such as Michael Schumacher and Heinz-Harald Frentzen belonged to the junior squad of the motor sport royalty. The chassis will be built by Dallara and the engine will come from Ford.

ASCE: New Racing Series

The new ASCE racing series in Europe is also planned for the coming year - on the initiative of the former Formula 1 racing driver Jochen Mass. It will be called ASCE - American Stock Car Europe and will feature cars with approx. 700 hp. For 2007, races are planned on the Nurburgring, on the Eurospeedway Lausitz, on the Hockenheimring, in Monza and in Rockingham. In each case, there will be a qualification race on the Saturday, followed by the actual race on the Sunday.

Nurburgring: Myth, Motor Sport and Modern Family Entertainment

Top-class motor sport events, leisure attractions relating to all aspects of mobility and motors as well as fun and entertainment for all ages - What was opened in 1927 as a venue for car races has long since offered fun on 365 days per year. Within the framework of the Motor Sport Mile at the Essen Motor Show, the Nurburgring will present the whole diversity of the range on offer in the Racing, Business, Holiday and Adventure divisions. With a little bit of luck, the visitors will then be able to win exclusive prizes, e.g. Formula 1 tickets.

Eurosport: World Touring Car Championship

Action-packed sprint duals, spins, metal contact and spectacular racing accidents - This season as well, the FIA World Touring Car Championship (FIA WTCC) offered its fans the best of motor sport. Eurosport was there live and was the only TV station in the German-speaking region to broadcast all the twenty races live and in full. As the media partner of the Essen Motor Show 2006, Eurosport will once again present the highlights of the last FIA WTCC season in the Motor Sport Mile in the Galeria. Not only an original racing car but also the new video game "Race - The WTCC Game" will be introduced to the fans at the Eurosport booth.

The Le-Mans 24-hour Race

The most famous long distance classic in automobile sport

The unique presentation of victorious automobiles which have made history in the legendary classic in France - Over twenty sports cars from 1924 to today.

The Le Mans 24-Hour Race, held for the 74th time in 2006, is the most important sports car race in the world and the most famous long-distance classic in automobile sport. In addition to the Formula 1 Grand Prix in Monaco and the 500-Mile Race in Indianapolis, it is one of the three globally best-known motor sport events at all. It has featured in the racing calendar since 1923 and, since then, did not take place only in 1936 (because of a general strike in France in the week before the planned date) and from 1940 to 1948 (because of the Second World War).

When ACO Automobile Club de l'Ouest (by the way, the club which had staged the first Grand Prix in automobile history, i.e. the French Grand Prix in Le Mans in 1906) launched the 24-Hour Race for 1923, the idea behind it was to offer the manufacturers of production cars (sports cars) a platform on which they could prove the reliability of their products. 33 cars took part and only three dropped out.

The race was a success and, until the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939, developed into the most important sports car race beside the Mille Miglia in Italy which was "founded" in 1927. Famous companies such as Alfa Romeo, Bentley or Bugatti competed and won. However, Aston Martin, BMW, Chrysler or Mercedes-Benz, to name just a few, were also already participating with works cars at that time and some of them secured class victories, e.g. BMW with the two-litre 328 in 1939.

The Catastrophe in 1955

After the Second World War, it was four years before a 24-Hour Race was once again staged in Le Mans in 1949. Since then, it has taken place every year. The biggest catastrophe in the history of automobile sport in which more than 80 spectators and the Mercedes driver Pierre Levegh (the pseudonym of a French industrialist) were killed happened in Le Mans in 1955. It is incomprehensible today that the race was not stopped but instead continued for over twenty hours more until the planned end.

Success List

Ferrari (nine victories), Jaguar (five) and Ford (four) were dominant in the years from 1949 to 1969. Porsche's winning run then began in 1970 (in total, sixteen victories up to 1998). And as from 2000, Audi then made Le Mans history with six successes, including the first overall victory of a car with a diesel engine in 2006.

The "eternal" ranking of manufacturers is headed by Porsche with sixteen victories ahead of Ferrari (nine), Jaguar (seven), Bentley and Audi (six each) as well as Alfa Romeo (four). However, the holders of the coveted overall winners' title have also included Aston Martin, BMW, Mazda (as the only company with a Wankel engine), Mercedes-Benz, Peugeot or Renault.

With regard to the drivers, the Dane Tom Kristensen is the top dog with seven victories (between 1997 and 2005), followed by the Belgian Jacky Ickx (six between 1969 and 1982) and the Briton Derek Bell (five between 1975 and 1987). The most successful German driver is Frank Biela with four wins (between 2000 and 2006).

Records

The Le Mans racetrack (even today, it partly consists of public roads) is one of the quickest in the world. Over the years, it has been modified several times. Before two chicanes were incorporated into the almost six kilometres long Hunaudieres straight for "slowing-down" purposes, a Sauber-Mercedes with a top speed of 407 km/h was measured there in 1988. The race record over the entire 24 hours is 222.304 km/h, set by Dr. Helmut Marko / Gijs van Lennep (Porsche 917) in 1971. On the current course, the winners Frank Biela / Emanuele Pirro / Marco Werner (Audi R10) drove an "average" of 215.409 km/h in 2006.

Cult Film with Steve McQueen

In 1970, a lavish film was produced with the Hollywood star Steve McQueen (himself a good racing driver who took second place in the Sebring 12-Hour Race in a Porsche in 1970) - A film with realistic racing shots for which world-class drivers were available. This film has cult status today. It clearly illustrates how automobile sport and Le Mans have changed since then. Safety was an unheard-of concept at that time. The cars raced over roads without any run-out zones or crash barriers and past houses and trees ...

The Porsche 917 which won the "real" race at that time is one of the over twenty original sports cars which will be on display at the Essen Motor Show in the special show on the subject of "The Le Mans 24-Hour Race". The latest victorious vehicle from 2006, the Audi R10, can be seen on the Audi booth in Hall 3.

Bentley Sport 3 Litre from 1924

Sports car.
Le Mans winner in 1924 with John Duff / Frank Clement (CDN/GB) and in 1927 with Sammy Davis / Joseph Dudley "JD" Benjafield (GB).
Four cylinders, capacity: 2,996 ccm and power: 88 hp.

Bentley Speed Six from 1930

Sports car.
Le Mans winner in 1929 with Woolf Barnato / Tim Birkin (GB) and in 1930 with Woolf Barnato / Glen Kidston (GB).
Six cylinders, capacity: 6,597 ccm and power: 180 hp.

Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 from 1933

Sports car.
Le Mans winner in 1931 with Earl Howe / Tim Birkin (GB), in 1932 with Raymond Sommer / Luigi Chinetti (F/I), in 1933 with Raymond Sommer / Tazio Nuvolari (F/I) and in 1934 with Philippe Etancelin / Luigi Chinetti (F/I).
Eight cylinders, capacity: 2,336 ccm, supercharger and power: 180 hp.

Bugatti Type 57C "Tank" from 1939

Sports car.
Le Mans winner in 1939 with Jean-Pierre Wimille / Pierre Veyron (F).
Eight cylinders, capacity: 3,257 ccm, supercharger and power: 200 hp.

Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Coupe from 1952

Sports car.
Le Mans winner in 1952 with Hermann Lang / Fritz Riess (D).
Six cylinders, capacity: 2,996 ccm and power: 180 hp.

Jaguar C from 1953

Sports car.
Le Mans winner in 1951 with Peter Walker / Peter Whitehead (GB) and in 1953 with Duncan Hamilton / Tony Rolt (GB).
Six cylinders, capacity: 3,442 ccm and power: 250 hp.

Jaguar C from 1953

Sports car.
Le Mans winner in 1951: Peter Walker / Peter Whitehead (GB).

Jaguar D from 1956

Sports car.
Le Mans winner in 1955 with Mike Hawthorn / Ivor Bueb (GB), in 1956 with Ninian Sanderson / Ron Flockhart (GB) and in 1957 with Ivor Bueb / Ron Flockhart (GB).
Six cylinders, capacity: 3,442 ccm and power: 260 hp.

Aston Martin DBR/1-300 from 1959

Sports car.
Le Mans winner in 1959 with Carroll Shelby / Roy Salvadori (USA/GB).
Six cylinders, capacity: 2,993 ccm and power: 260 hp.

Ferrari 250 TR from 1961

Sports car.
Le Mans winner in 1958 with Phil Hill / Olivier Gendebien (USA/B), in 1960 with Paul Frere / Olivier Gendebien (B) and in 1961 once again with Phil Hill / Olivier Gendebien.
Twelve cylinders, capacity: 2,953 ccm, power: 300 hp, top speed: 270 km/h and weight: 800 kg.

Ford GT 40 from 1968

Sports car.
Le Mans winner in 1968 with Pedro Rodriguez / Lucien Bianchi (MEX/B) and in 1969 with Jacky Ickx / Jackie Oliver (B/GB).
Eight cylinders, capacity: 4,942 ccm and power: 410 hp.

Porsche 917 from 1970

Sports car.
Le Mans winner in 1970 with Hans Herrmann / Dick Attwood (D/GB) and in 1971 with Dr. Helmut Marko / Gijs van Lennep (A/NL).
Twelve cylinders, capacity: 4,494 ccm and power: 600 hp.

Porsche 917

The photograph shows the overall winner from 1971. Drivers: Dr. Helmut Marko / Gijs van Lennep (A/NL).
Twelve cylinders, capacity: 4,907 ccm and power: 630 hp.

Matra MS 670C from 1974

Sports car.
Le Mans winner in 1972 with Henri Pescarolo / Graham Hill (F/GB) as well as in 1973 and 1974 in each case with Gerard Larrousse / Henri Pescarolo (F).
Twelve cylinders, capacity: 2,993 ccm and power: 450 hp.

Alpine A442B-Renault from 1978

Sports car.
Le Mans winner in 1978 with Didier Pironi / Jean-Pierre Jaussaud (F).
Six-cylinder Renault engine, capacity: 1,997 ccm, turbosupercharger and power: 500 hp.

Rondeau M379B-Ford from 1980

Sports car.
Le Mans winner in 1980 with Jean Rondeau / Jean-Pierre Jaussaud (F).
Eight-cylinder Ford engine, capacity: 2,993 ccm and power: 500 hp.

Porsche 956 from 1982

Group C sports car.
Le Mans winner in 1982 with Jacky Ickx / Derek Bell (B/GB), in 1983 with Al Holbert / Vern Schuppan / Hurley Haywood (USA/AUS/USA), in 1984 with Klaus Ludwig / Henri Pescarolo (D/F) as well as in 1985 with Klaus Ludwig / Paolo Barilla / "John Winter"(D/I/D).
Six cylinders, capacity: 2,649 ccm, turbosupercharger and power: 600 hp.

Jaguar XJR-9 LM from 1988

Group C sports car.
Le Mans winner in 1988 with Andy Wallace / Jan Lammers / Johnny Dumfries (GB/NL/GB).
Twelve cylinders, capacity: 7,000 ccm and power: 750 hp.

Sauber C9-Mercedes from 1989

Group C sports car.
Le Mans winner in 1989 with Jochen Mass / Stanley Dickens / Manuel Reuter (D/S/D).
Eight-cylinder Mercedes engine, capacity: 4,973 ccm, turbosupercharger and power: 720 hp.

Mazda 787B from 1991

Group C sports car.
Le Mans winner in 1991 with Bertrand Gachot / Johnny Herbert / Volker Weidler (B/GB/D).
Four-rotor rotary piston engine, equivalent capacity: 4,708 ccm and power: 700 hp.

Peugeot 905B from 1993

Group C sports car.
Le Mans winner in 1992 with Derek Warwick / Yannick Dalmas / Mark Blundell (GB/F/GB) and in 1993 with Eric Helary / Geoff Brabham / Christophe Bouchut (F/AUS/F).
Ten cylinders, capacity: 3,499 ccm and power: over 700 hp.

BMW LMR V12 from 1999

Sports car.
Le Mans winner in 1999 with Yannick Dalmas / Pierluigi Martini / Joachim Winkelhock (F/I/D).
Twelve cylinders, capacity: 5,990 ccm and power: 600 hp.

BMW LMR V12 from 1999

Sports car.

Audi R8 from 2001

Sports car.
Le Mans winner in 2000, 2001 and 2002 with Frank Biela / Emanuelle Pirro / Tom Kristensen (D/I/DK), in 2004 with Rinaldo Capello / Tom Kristensen / Seiji Ara (I/DK/J) and in 2005 with Tom Kristensen / JJ Lehto / Marco Werner (DK/SF/D).
Eight cylinders, capacity: 3,596 ccm, turbosupercharger and power: 610 hp.

Bentley EXP Speed 8 from 2003

Sports car.
Le Mans winner in 2003 with Rinaldo Capello / Tom Kristensen / Guy Smith (I/DK/GB).
Eight cylinders, capacity: 3,995 ccm, turbosupercharger and power: 610 hp.

Audi Safety Car from 2006

For the Le Mans Race in 2006, Audi provided the organiser (ACO Automobile Club de l'Ouest), amongst other vehicles, with six Audi RS4s for race control and as safety cars.