About This Quiz
It is Germany who gave us the first-ever car. Yes, in 1885, Karl Benz produced the Benz Patent-Motorwagen which most auto historians agree is the first modern car. And while it looks nothing like we know cars to look like today, it had all the basics that our modern machines still possess.Â
And since that day more than 130 years ago, German auto manufacturers have continued to help set the pace in motoring. Just think about the Volkswagen Beetle. While it might not be the prettiest car ever produced, it appealed to the public and, because it was priced well, sold millions of units - 20 million to be exact. In fact, the last Beetle rolled off the production line in 2003 in Mexico.Â
Germany is also known for its luxury cars. Here, think of Mercedes and its long history of beautiful luxury vehicles. BMW can be put with Mercedes in this regard as well. Both manufacturers also produce some incredible performance cars. And what about other German car brands such as Porsche, Audi or Opel. Â
If we give you an image of a German car, would you be able to tell us the make and model? It might seem easy but we have thrown in a few lesser-known German car manufacturers just to mix it up a bit.
Good luck!
The A1 launched in 2010 in the super-mini class. It has a number of powerplant options, from 1.2-liter gasoline engines to 2.0-liter turbo-diesels. This car is favored by drivers who want a sporty offering, but a relatively small car at the same time.
The Zagato Roadster, commonly known as the Z4 was introduced by BMW in 2009 and remained in production until 2016. This was the first BMW convertible to have an automatic hardtop roof. The top of the range model was powered by a 3.0-liter turbocharged engine capable of producing 335 brake horsepower.
A true classic from the '50s, the 300 SL started life as a racing car in 1952 but soon became a production car in 1954 as a two-door coupe. The 300 SL became instantly recognizable thanks to its gullwing doors. Just over 3,200 of the coupe and roadster were built up until 1963.
Advertisement
The Scirocco Gr.4 is based on the hatchback road car from Volkswagen. Powered by a 2.0-liter engine, it produces 358 brake horsepower.
First introduced in 1982, the Opel Corsa (marketed as Vauxhall in the United Kingdom) has proved to be a popular car in the supermini bracket in Europe. In the early 2000s, the Corsa would regularly sell more around 500,000 units per year. Although sales have dropped somewhat, more than 1.3 million units have sold in the last five years.
This mid-engined two-seat sports car was first marketed by Audi in 2006. It is available as a coupe and convertible and uses Audi's all-wheel-drive system. This, along with a 5.2-liter FSI V10 engine, gives the R8 plenty of oomph!
Advertisement
An economy model in the 02 series, the BMW 1502 first entered production in 1975. Powered by a 1.5-liter engine, the 1502 was marketed until 1977, even though production on the rest of the 02 range was stopped in 1975.
Initially introduced into the subcompact car market in 1997, Mercedes Benz’s A Class moved to the compact car segment in 2012. The A class is only sold in Europe were the current third generation has sold more than 500,000 units in the last five years.
Another model from Porsche as they branch out into other markets, the Macan is a 4-door compact luxury crossover first introduced in 2014. The top of the range version is driven by a 3.6-liter V6 twin-turbo engine through a 7-speed transmission.
Advertisement
The Atlas is German manufacturer Volkswagen's new full-sized SUV. Introduced in 2017, the Atlas is powered by either a 2.0 or 3.6-liter gasoline engine. The larger engine generates 276 brake horsepower.
The first car designed exclusively by BMW, the 3/20 was produced from 1932 to 1934. It was available in three body options, a four-seat saloon, four-seat cabriolet and a two-seat convertible coupe. The 3/20 was powered by at 788 cc motor.
Produced between 1933 and 1934, the Horch 830 was powered by a 3-liter V8 which could propel it to more than 100 km/h.
Advertisement
Currently in its third generation, the Opel Zafira is the German automaker's entry into the MPV market. The Zafira was introduced in 1999. It is also produced in the United Kingdom under the Vauxhall badge.
The fastest car in a straight line at Le Mans in 1978, the Porsche 935/78 Moby Dick (OK, so it does look like a whale from the side) clocked 228 mph. That didn't help much and the 935/78 only finished in eighth place.
Basically a modified Porsche, only 30 RUF CTRs were ever made. This sportscar can go from 0-60 mph in 3.5 seconds and has a top speed of 225 mph. Should you want one, it will set you back a cool $793,000.
Advertisement
Based on the two-seat Isetta microcar, the 600 microcar was bigger and could seat four occupants. It was the first four-person car produced in Germany after the war but was not much of a success in terms of sales. The 600 was powered by a 600cc engine.
The G-Wagon, a luxury SUV is not something that you would normally associate with the Mercedes brand. That said, there clearly is a market for it, although if we are honest, it’s not the prettiest car ever made. It's more like a box on wheels! It was first produced in 1979.
The Wanderer W24 was produced in Germany from 1937 to 1940. Powered by a 1800cc flathead engine, it had 41 brake horsepower. Around 23,000 were made with not many examples surviving today.
Advertisement
The iconic Mercedes Benz company was launched around 1925 with the merger of Benz & Cie and the Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft (DMG) company. The company has produced many models over the years but the B-Class is one of their newer models. It was first introduced in 2005 and is marketed by the company as a sports tourer.
Built in 1939, the Horch Special Roadster is a vehicle of rare beauty that shows off the classic lines of a pre-World War II car. ​A Horch 853A Special Roadster sold for $5.1 million in California.
Introduced in 1998, the Smart Fortwo is a city or microcar that weighs a mere 880 kg and measures 106 inches long, 65 inches wide. Still in production, the current generation is available as a 3-door hatchback or 2-door cabriolet.
Advertisement
Built between 1991 and 1999, around 4.8 million units of this version of Volkswagen's iconic Golf were sold in the '90s. Other than a hatchback version, the Mk3 was available as a station wagon and cabriolet.
First seen at the 2016 Geneva Motor Show, the Gumpert Apollo Arrow is an impressive-looking sportscar. Powered by a twin-charged 4.0-liter V8 engine, it produces close to 1,000 brake horsepower and has a top speed of 229 mph. It will do the 0-60 mph in just 2.9 seconds.
This full-size luxury four-door sedan has been in production since 1992. During that time, Audi has launched four generations of the A8. The latest, the A8 (D5), hit the market in 2017 and appeared as a product placement in the movie, "Spiderman: Homecoming." Top of the range models are powered by a monstrous 6.0-liter TFSI W12 engine.
Advertisement
One of the most expensive luxury cars in the world, the S63 AMG is powered by a Mercedes-Benz M156 V8 engine that produces 518 brake horsepower. Of course, the interior of this vehicle is as luxurious as you would expect from a Mercedes.
The Zundapp Janus microcar was produced for a two-year period between 1957 and 1958 and is the only automobile made by the company. It was made under license from Dornier and was shaped at exactly the same way from front and back. The small 245 cc engine that powered the Janus could get it up to a top speed of 80 km/h.
The Opel Mokka is the German car manufacturer’s current SUV offering. It was launched in 2012 and is available in a number of markets. This SUV is marketed in China and the USA as the Buick Encore. The Mokka offers both gasoline and diesel powerplants.
Advertisement
Released in 2006, the 3.2 Roadster from Yes! was powered by a 3.2-liter V6 engine. It produces around 188 brake horsepower. A Turbo version is even more impressive.
First produced in 1963, the 911 is certainly the most well known Porsche of them all. Available in a range of body options, including a Targa top, more than 1 million have been sold worldwide up until 2017.
Produced by German automaker Melkus, the RS 1000 was produced between 1969 and 1979. Only 101 were ever built. This 2-door sports coup had gull wing doors and was based on the Wartburg 353.
Advertisement
Offering 500 brake horsepower, 0-60 mph in just 3.1 seconds. and all-wheel drive, the Audi Sport Quattro SWB was a brute.
Built in Germany between 1957 and 1961, the Goliath 1100 was available as a 2-door saloon, 3-door estate and even a panel van. This was the last car variant produced by the company.
Trabant was an East German car manufacturer during the height of the Cold War. One of the first models offered by Trabant was the P50, built between 1958 and 1962. More than 100,000 units were made.
Advertisement
Designed by the legendary Giorgetto Giugiaro, the M1 sports car was released in 1978 and built for a period of three years during which 453 were made. This was BMW's first mid-engined car and was powered by a 3.5-liter double overhead cam straight six engine. It had a top speed of 162 mph.
The GTI badge from Volkswagen, applied to the Golf hatchback for seven generations, is one of the most well-known brands around the world. In Gran Turismo, you could get to drive a virtual GTI for just over 38,000 credits.
Developed in conjunction with the Formula 1 team, McLaren, the SLR made its debut in 2003 and was built until 2010. With a 5.4 L supercharged M155 SLR V8 under the hood and a manual gearbox, the SLR was somewhat of a monster and generated over 600 brake horsepower!
Advertisement
This racing sports car was produced by Porsche from 1953 to 1956. The 1.5-liter Type 547 engine produced 108 brake horsepower. Another popular car at auction time, a 550 sold as recently as 2016 for $5.4 million.
Equally at home on a tarred or dirt road, the Touareg has a great pedigree and is built on the same platform as both the Dakar winning Touareg racer and the Porsche Cayenne. One of its major plus points, especially when going off-road,​ is a diesel motor that produces loads of torque.
A hybrid sports car first seen in 2014, the i8 is not only good for the environment but it is possibly one of the best-looking cars on the road today. For a hybrid, it is incredibly quick, going from 0-60 mph in just 4.4. seconds.
Advertisement