Feel like giving your A3 a facelift of your own? Well, Caractere has just the right goodies for you.

Caractere, which means ‘character’, is a Belgian tuner which offers what they have termed “design programs” for the VW, Audi and Porsche brands. They have just released their design offerings for the facelifted A3.

Available in the styling kit is a 2-piece front spoiler which, unfortunately, is not compatible with an S-Line package. There’s a set of side skirts and two different roof spoilers, with a special one for the A3 Sportback. A rear spoiler with exhaust is also included with L & R tips. For the QUATTRO version only the spoiler without exhaust is a fit.

Caractere guarantees all parts with a 5-year warranty (2 for exhausts) and components are TÜV compliant in Germany. Parts are made with PU Rim, a special form of plastic that provides greater elasticity which is optimal for spoilers and skirts.

Also included in the program are Caractere designed 18 and 19-inch wheels.

Visit http://www.caractere.com/ for more details.

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Reworking a Carrera GT is one of those things that likely takes longer than you think. It’s hard to tinker with a Porsche like this and expect to improve it easily.

So it’s forgivable for Gemballa to be as of yet not finished with its Mirage GT Carbon Edition. But it had better be as impressive once they are. Hey, that’s the game of expectations one engages in within the world of tuning super cars.

What we do know is very little. The claim is that the Mirage GT Carbon Edition will have 670 hp and be able to full sprint at 335 km/h (208 mph). 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) is said to be reached in 3.7 seconds and 0 to 200 km/h comes in at 9.7, shaving 0.2 off the clock from the standard Carrera GT in both.

The name ‘Carbon Edition’ can only mean that Gemballa has put the Carrera GT on a serious diet through extensive use of carbon fiber parts and ceramic brakes. Although, that mere 0.2 seconds improvement in acceleration doesn’t necessarily jive with an exceptionally high weight reduction.

Still, so far these photos make the Mirage GT look good. It’s smooth and sleek and you’re already most of the way there when you like the way a car looks, aren’t you? Who ever wants a car they think is ugly?

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Lumma Design was clearly not satisfied with the work it presented on the BMW X6 at Essen 2008. They now present another slightly different package and it’s called the CLR X 650 GT. At the forefront of this is the rear carbon fiber spoiler which makes a line all the way to the sides ending at the front headlights.

The front spoiler is custom-fitted and is integrated to the daytime running lights. The front and rear fenders are enlarged, suspension is lowered, and the roof is finished in matte black. The 11×23-inch deep-dish rims are matched with high-performance tyres of size 315/25-23.

Lumma is not only known for exterior work but for the inside as well. For this part they fitted upgraded leather trim, sports seats upholstered in leather and ultra-suede. A flat-bottom sports steering wheel with a shift indicator makes the driver feel more willing than ever.

Although the pedals themselves were left untouched, the gas pedal features something Lumma calls the Gas Pedal Module or GPM. GPM works with the 4.4-litre turbocharged V8 and reprogrammed ECU to increase pedal response for enthusiastic driving.

The BMW X6 based Lumma CLR X 650 GT makes its public debut at the Geneva Motor Show next week.

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Rinspeed has announced plans to introduce a new concept at next month’s Geneva Motor Show which acknowledges that consumers are becoming more and more concerned about fuel economy and greenhouse gas emissions. Most commonly associated with high performance Porsche’s and wacky concepts such as the sQuba, the company has decided to jump on the green bandwagon with their new Fiat 500 Abarth based E2.

Like the BMW M5 which features a 400 hp normal mode and a 500 hp M mode, the E2 offers a similar selection system that cranks out 60 hp when “Commuting” and 160 hp when the driver hits the “Highway” button. When the commuting level is selected the car consumes about 4 liters of fuel per 100 kilometers, in highway mode fuel consumption increases to around 7 liters per 100 kilometers.

According to Rinspeed’s boss, Frank M. Rinderknecht, he’s not a huge fan of eco-tuning but he sees the potential to tap into the market because people are becoming more concerned about the environment and fuel economy. He considers the E2 as well as the iChange to be a way to nudge the tuning business to explore new opportunities that will benefit everyone.

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Sometimes we here at WorldCarFans are just plain thankful for all that spare cash that flows through the Middle East. Without it, we wouldn’t have all these weird, bad, and unusual tuners to make fun of.

Case and point, the car its owner is calling the Mercedes CS500. What’s that you say? There’s no such thing? Well there is when Saudi tuner MyCar takes a Mercedes S550 and tacks on a front end from the CL550. All that’s left is to add the missing “C” and “0″ to the rear badging, and you have a CS500. We definitely will not file this car away as ugly, like so many other tuner vehicles from the region. We think this car looks like a natural when the front end of the CL550 is joined to the S550 body.

Say what you will, but this certainly does not look like a bad car, especially when you put it side-by-side with such Middle Eastern atrocities as the Hummer H2 Cabrio, and the chrome-plated Mercedes C63 AMG. Even Autoblog thinks it classes up the S550 a bit. The family-owned Riyadh-based tuners at MyCar are very proud of their creation, and they should be.

If you happen to be in Riyadh, you may still be able to check out the MyCar Mercedes CS500. They only just posted the photos a few days ago.

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Following some unsavory reaction to the Nissan GT-R-based HKS GT570 Racing Package as far as the eco brigade goes, the tuning firm has responded by releasing an HKS GT570 Sports Package. The previous package wasn’t too environmentally-friendly as it was not fitted with catalytic converters. This made it illegal in some countries.

HKS went back to the drawing board and now offers a new kit for the GT570. It consists of stainless steel catalyser midpipes, aluminium intercooler piping, an EVC electronic boost controller and Super SQV blow off valves that come with the piping kit.

The turbo has been fitted with upgraded wastegate actuators and Super Fire Racing M45HL spark plugs are added to the engine. Revised power figures are not available but the Racing Package makes a heady 570PS (419kW) and 540 lb-ft of torque at the wheels. The addition of “road legal” equipment shouldn’t make too much of a difference in performance though.

Pricing for the kit is about ¥913,500 (US$9,700) in Japan which is close to ¥315,000 (US$3,300) more than the Racing Package. That’s the HKS price for going clean.

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Is it a bird? A plane? Did Mercedes build the latest Batmobile? None of the above. This exercise in extreme modification or questionable taste, depending on your opinion, is the Mercedes McLaren SLR modified by FAB Design of Switzerland and scheduled to appear at the Geneva show March 5-15.

Spotted at FAB Design’s headquarters, the radical SLR sports an extensive body kit that exaggerates the SLR’s already distinctive features. Monstrous sill extensions and a reworked front bumper make it look even lower and wider than it already is, and the Mercedes’ subtle Formula One influence is made much less so, especially from the front. Monstrous wheels, additional cooling ducts and an unusual tall spoiler that online wags have dubbed a “TV antenna” and a “cheese table” complete the look.

There’s no word as to if there are any modifications beyond the body kit, but in keeping with FAB Design’s M.O., the car has already offended the sensibilities of many online enthusiasts. Even before its introduction, the McLaren SLR has inspired horror and disgust among car people, much like the FAB Design Maybach and Mercedes CL body kits have. There’s a chance that it will look better when seen on the show floor…but that doesn’t seem likely.

Autoblog.nl has called for its readers to pose with the car at the Geneva show, and to post their opinions on the car in its comments. We’ve no doubt that you’ll do the same.

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The idea of a low-flying saloon seems to have been upmost on the FAB Design team’s minds when they chanced upon the Maybach 57 S. The Daimler car would form the basis for the tuning kit you see here. FAB chose the shorter 57 S specifically because it’s the one considered better suited for the self-driving multimillionaire.

Hurling the car forward is a 650hp (478kW) biturbo engine making maximum torque of 1,025Nm. FAB says the heavy saloon will quickly sprint from 0 – 100km/h in 4.9 seconds and stop accelerating at 303km/h.

Outside it sports a body that is 30 centimetres wider than the factory car. There are air vents on the side of each wheel in order to provide extra cooling air for the brakes. The front apron is also designed to scoop more air into the engine bay for cooling purposes. Tyres used are 265/30 and 325/25 front and rear with rims measuring 20-inches in diameter.

When it came to the interior FAB decided to go cream and blue. Lots of leather and Alcantara surfaces that are contrasted with sky blue accents decorate the interior. For entertainment there are plenty of choices to make, from iPod connections to a multi-cinema entertainment system.

FAB Design plans to only produce 15 units of this car.

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Performance tuner Carlsson has unleashed the SL CK63 RS, a 600 hp and 705 Nm of open-air driving pleasure version of the Mercedes Benz SL 63 AMG.

But don’t call Carlsson a mere tuner. They prefer to be referred to as an “automobile manufacturer” specialising in Mercedes Benz models.

Their contributions to the SL 63 AMG include engine tuning the 6.2 liter V8 to increase both horsepower and torque by 75 points. Speed is cumbersomely limited to only 325 km/h. Because, you know, 326 km/h is where the fun really starts.

In any case, the C-Tronic Suspension takes this car 30 mm closer to the ground and a new super-stopping braking system is added. The performance package is rounded out with 255/30 ZR20 Dunlop SP SportMaxx tires at the front and 305/25 ZR20 on the rear wheels.

Although, the CK63 RS provides a considerable boost in overall performance over the SL 63 AMG, the exceptional work being done here is on the outside. The car comes varnished with “Stealth Titanium Graphite”, a most intense matt black color which Carlsson claims is five times less glossy than conventional matt finish.

The interior also gets a low-volume coloring, with charcoal ultra suede lining the inside door panelling and the cockpit hood scoop.

Price is 272,500 euros including V.A.T..

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O.CT Tuning is getting ready to show off this predominantly white three-door hatch dubbed the Boehler concept.BS3. The car is based on an Audi S3 quattro and as it can be partially noted from the pictures, some changes have been implemented. Among these are a blaring sport exhaust system that features an improved air intake system, 8-piston brakes with 372mm discs and Yokohama Advan Sport tyres 245/30 R 20 and 255/30 R 20. They are supported by a fully adjustable O.CT coilover suspension.

The exterior features widened rear fenders, an aerodynamically-designed rear bumper, a rear air diffuser and stainless steel tailpipes. The engine bay, battery and air intake have been covered in carbon fiber for that extra sporting touch.

Making the BS3 go forward is a 328hp (241kW) tweaked engine that also makes maximum torque of 425Nm. The BS3’s makers say it will achieve the 0 – 100km/h time almost a whole second quicker than the standard Audi S3. The top speed is 265km/h.

O.CT Tuning will only build 100 units of the BS3 at a price of about €67,000 (US$86,100) each.

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