German-based tuner Steinmetz will introduce a new range of styling and performance accessories for the Opel Insignia Sports Tourer at Tuning World Bodensee 2009.

Like the standard Steinmetz Opel Insignia which was introduced at the Essen Motor Show in 2008, the new Steinmetz Insignia Sports Tourer offers an aggressive front spoiler, a blacked out grille, and a lowering kit which reduces the ride height by 25mm (about 1″). The sporty appearance is furthered by the addition of massive 20-inch ST7 wheels that are available in either polished black or white. Other accessories include a two-piece roof spoiler, bright exhaust tips, and Steinmetz floor mats.

In terms of performance, Steinmetz will offer a Klasen-Motors diesel performance upgrade package for the 2.0 CDTI engine. Consisting of an intercooler, 3-inch exhaust, sports catalyst and reprogrammed electronics, the package boosts the engine’s output from 220 hp (162 kW) to 295 hp (216 kW) and 420 Nm of torque.

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German BMW tuners G Power claim to have built the fastest BMW Coupe ever created.  The company says the G-Power M6 Hurricane CS has a top speed of over 370 km/h.

Unfortunately, the outfit did not reveal where or when they measured this achievement.  Nor did they mention the M6 Hurricane’s exact top speed.  We can only hope this information will come out soon.

What we do know, is that this car certainly has the power credentials to achieve what G-Power says it can achieve.  It uses the same twin-supercharged V10 SK III RS found on their M5 Hurricane CS.  That car used the 750 hp engine to claim World’s Fastest Sedan last year, marking a top speed of 367.6 km/h.  The M6 should be able to top that, as it features a more aerodynamic body than the sedan.

Air is cooled down by a water-to-air cast-aluminum intercooler, and pushed into two ASA T1-316 belt-driven superchargers.  The company claims no typical supercharger lag with these units, saying that throttle response is immediate, as is the increase in torque.  Peak torque output is 800 Nm at about 5,000 rpm.  Weight was cut down everywhere, with upgrades made to the exhaust, the seats, and suspension.  A new carbon fibre wide-bodykit, with new front apron, vented bonnet, rockers, wheel arches, diffuser, rear apron, and rear wing, keeps the car on the ground.  Connecting the car to the road are Micheline Pilot Sport PS2 tires, wrapped around 19-inch custom light-alloys.  Carbon-ceramic brakes, and six-piston calipers, provides extreme deceleration.

The tire and wheel change was necessary for the speed tests.  G-Power says the 21-inch Silverstone Diamond wheels, and the normal tires used, would not survive beyond 340 km/h.

To make their point as emphatic as possible, the G-Power M6 Hurricane CS has a speedometer that reaches up to 400 km/h.  Pricing on the car starts at €360,000.

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Austrian tuner Königseder has released a new body kit for the discontinued Porsche Carrera GT. The GT was and still is the most powerful Porsche ever built even though production stopped in 2006 after a three-year run.

The Königseder kit features alloy wheels and a deeper exhaust note. A new front end featuring a redesigned front bumper that makes a sharp statement of performance. Chunky side skirts give the car a wider and more aggressive look. The rear end has a new bumper, extra air vents, a larger air diffuser and a large fixed rear wing.

The tuner opted to keep the factory 5.7-litre naturally aspirated V10 engine that produces 612bhp (457kW) and 590Nm of torque. Fitted to the standard Carrera GT it helped it go from 0 – 60mph in 3.8 seconds with a top speed rated at 330km/h.

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German-based tuner Piecha Design has unveiled the new Avalange RS body kit which gives the Mercedes SL R230 roadster an aggressive and ostentatious appearance.

The biggest change comes in the form of a new front bumper (1,985 euros) that features the latest iteration of the SL grille. Constructed from high-strength fiber glass, the front end comes complete with fog lights and LED daytime running lights.

At the rear, the Avalange RS boasts a new rear bumper (1,390 euros) with an optional carbon fiber diffuser. A sporty four pipe QUADRO exhaust system is available as either a full package (1,475 euros) or as a unit which is welded on to the existing Mercedes exhaust (398 euros).

Among the other items offered are chromed bonnet fins (98 euros), larger side vent fins (476 euros), 20-inch dp3 Avalange light alloy wheels, a discreet rear spoiler (275 euros), and aggressive side skirts (1,100 euros).

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German tuner Carlsson has some ideas for the new Mercedes E-Class it would like to share with the world. You know, just a few redecorating touches here and there and maybe a little extra hot sauce for under the hood.

Carlsson will this week be showing off its tuning package for the E-Class and it all starts with a aerodynamic kit made of PUR-RIM (polyurethane), a lightweight material. The kit includes new front and rear aprons, integrated rear diffuser framing four stainless steel exhaust pipes, side rails and a spoiler at the back. Carlsson’s redesign also includes vertically adjusting xenon-lights, LED daytime running lights, a stainless steel grid beneath the new radiator grill all providing a new face for the E-Class.

There’s also the C-Tronic suspension system, which can lower the car up to 43 mm and continuously adjusts the tension to accommodate the road and provide the best combination of ride comfort and sportiness.

On the menu too are the new 20-inch rims in a 5-double-spoke design in matte black.

On the inside are studded aluminum pedal layers and foot rests for better floor grip. Available as an option is a gearshift knob dressed in suede-leather as well as aluminum door lock bolts. Carlsson labeled floor mats are also included.

For under the hood the docs at Carlsson are prescribing 40 extra horses on the E 250 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY and 46 for the E 350 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY. For the heftier E 500, there’s the CM50K full exhaust kit which includes racing headers, high-performance catalysts and stainless steel mufflers providing a 55 hp increase in power output.

The E-Class by Carlsson will be on display at the Tuning World Bodensee in Friedrichshafen which takes place between April 30th and May 3rd.

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After several teasers and a mock introduction at the Geneva Motor Show, Aston Martin has officially unveiled their highly anticipated One-77 supercar at the Concorso d’Eleganza in Lake Como, Italy.

Besides being shown for the first time in production trim, the gorgeous supercar was among one of eight entries up for the nomination of being voted the show’s best concept and prototype. As expected, the One-77 ended up winning the prestigious Concorso d’Eleganza Design Award with more than 30% of the total votes cast.

The unveiling also marks our first glimpse of the new supercar’s handcrafted interior which is loosely based on the DB9’s cabin. A bold center console with premium metal accents dominates the cockpit as does the extensive use of carbon fiber trim. Elsewhere, the dash’s contrasting pattern is echoed in the sports seats as they boast white leather upholstery with unique black mesh inserts.

Beneath the supercar’s sexy hand-rolled aluminum exterior resides a massive 7.3-liter naturally aspirated V12 engine that produces over 700 bhp. While official technical and performance data wasn’t released, Aston has previously stated that the One-77 will likely weigh about 1,500 kg (3,307 lbs) and be able run from 0-60 mph in 3.5 seconds before hitting a top speed in excess of 200 mph.

Conceived as an ultra-luxury road-going DTM style racer, the One-77 features a lightweight carbon fiber monocoque chassis and an inboard double wishbone suspension with Dynamic Suspension Spool Valve damping. Other performance equipment on the supercar includes a six-speed robotized sequential manual gearbox, a dry-sump oil system, carbon ceramic brakes, and specially developed Pirelli P Zero Corsa tires.

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US pricing information for the upcoming 2010 X5 M and X6 M has leaked to the web ahead of an official announcement by BMW. According to the leaked document, the X5 M will start at $85,400 while X6 M will cost $88,900. While they are certainly expensive, both models manage to undercut key rivals such as the $90,100 Mercedes ML63 AMG and the $124,800 Porsche Cayenne Turbo S.

Both of BMW’s new M models come equipped with a twin-turbo 4.4-liter V8 engine which cranks out 555 hp (408kW) and 500 lb-ft (678Nm) of torque. Mated to a specially developed M Sports transmission – which offers Sport, M Manual, and full automatic modes – the new X M’s are capable of running from 0-60 mph in just 4.5 seconds before hitting a limited top speed of 155 mph. This is even more impressive when you consider the aforementioned ML63 AMG only produces 503 hp and 465 lb-ft of torque while the Cayenne fairs slightly better with 550 hp and 553 lb-ft of torque.

Among the other items included on the new BMWs are an M tuned sports suspension, aggressive new bumpers, massive 20-inch wheels, and a high-performance braking system with 15.6-inch front and 15.2-inch rear brake rotors. Interior accommodations also receive a special sporting twist with the addition of front sports seats, Merino leather upholstery, a sports steering wheel, and plenty of M badging.

While the leaked information doesn’t provide a thorough breakdown of the available packages and optional extras, it does seem to suggest that dealers will begin taking orders for the new M models late next month.

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A new season of ‘Ring wars may be brewing. Porsche’s Project Manager for High Performance Cars Andreas Preuninger says the latest 911 GT3 has achieved a time of 7 minutes 40 seconds around the Nurburgring’s Nordschleife.

Porsche test driver Walter Rohrl, who was piloting the car, was apparently slowed down by the presence of other vehicles on the track. Had Rohrl really been going for it “with a knife between his teeth” said Preuninger, his time would have come down by as much as two seconds. Furthermore Rohrl apparently did a 7 minute 45 seconds in a borrowed Ferrari F430 Scuderia. The time was achieved under the same conditions as the GT3.

As for the Nissan GT-R, Preuninger noted that Porsche’s official line is that the 7 minute 54 second time it achieved with a US-spec unit in 2008 stands. Nissan said in May 2008 that the GT-R did a 7 minute 29.03 seconds at the German track in the hands of its chief test driver Tochio Suzuki. The updated 2010 GT-R is claimed to have done an even quicker time of 7 minutes 27.56 seconds.

The third member of this feuding trio is the Corvette ZR1 which has a posted time of 7 minutes 26.4 seconds at the Green Hell. Preuninger’s remarks on the ‘Vette were only to say it’s a cool car but it serves a different purpose than the GT3.

The new updated GT3 was unveiled at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show. Its normally aspirated 3.8-litre boxer engine produces 435hp (320kW) and peak torque of 317 ft-lbs (430Nm).

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Bertone’s highly anticipated Project M has finally been revealed as the concept supercar Mantide. The finished Mantide cuts an intriguingly aggressive shape, and you can immediately identify that it’s been styled by the same hand as the one responsible for various Ferraris of late.

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