Hamann does not discriminate. That is to say, the German tuner will work on any brand deemed suitable to its vision. Recent various tuning packages include the BMW X6 and 7-Series, McLaren SLR, Aston Martin V8 Vantage and most recently one for the Bentley GT Speed.

Rolls Royce is not immune to these visions of Hamann and that is why the two cars seen here came into existence. Both the Phantom and the two-door Drophead got special Hamman treatment. Not much detail was tossed our way but we can disclose that the wheels have gone from the standard 21-inch cast aluminium to 23-inches.

Maximum power has also been increased from a mere 460hp (338kW) to 535hp (394kW). Peak torque received a boost too, from 720Nm to 835Nm. The top speed then improves to 300km/h.

A highlighted interior element is the Hamann sports steering wheel which was made specifically for the Phantom.

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German tuner Väth is slowly gaining a reputation for kits that are somewhat over the top. At this point the company introduces the new Mercedes-Benz C 63 AMG Estate-based Väth V63RS Clubsport wagon. It follows on the V63RS Clubsport sedan that was announced just over a year ago.

There we see a power increase from the stock 451hp (332kW) and 600Nm (443 lb ft) of torque to a Väth-certified 585hp (430kW) and 690Nm (509 lb ft) of torque. The car is fitted with a limited slip differential that has a 60 percent locking rate. Good thing too because the C63 AMG has a knack for losing grip during quick take-off. These changes will help the V63RS achieve a top end of 202mph (325km/h).

A sport suspension has been incorporated and high performance brakes fitted. The wheels are 20-inches wide and keep the car firmly planted on the road. The rear end has a carbon fiber diffuser.

Väth also promises goodies like a TV/ DVD unit “and whatever else your heart desires.”

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MTM has provided a Birkin Edition upgrade for the Bentley Continental GT, GTC, GT Speed, GTC Speed, Flying Spur and Supersports. Pretty much the whole range is covered. The components making up the kit consist of a chrome front grille, a stainless steel exhaust system, centre and end muffler with throttle control, a four-pipe rear spoiler and 21-inch alloy rims.

For the GT series the front axle can be lowered by 25mm while the rear axle can come 35mm closer to the ground. It is thanks to the MTM F-Cantronic system that this can be done.

The standard Continental GT has a 412kW (560hp) V12 engine making torque of 650Nm. MTM upped these numbers to 635hp (467kW) and 650hp (478kW). Peak torque went up to 795Nm. The result is that three seconds were shaven off the standard car’s time at the Hockenheim racing circuit while its 0 – 200km/h time of 15.9 seconds was also three seconds quicker. The car achieved 331km/h at the Nardo Oval in Italy.

MTM charges €20,000 for their new kit including VAT and a TÜV certificate. An MTM Individual programme is available for buyers who wish to customise their cars even more.

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Mitsubishi Cars in the UK has added a new model to its already extensive 7-strong model range of Evolution X cars. The Evo X was launched in the UK in March 2008. In that part of the world these high-performance sedans are badged with the prefix FQ followed by a number that denotes the car’s horsepower rating.

The FQ-330 now comes standard with Mistubishi’s 6-speed Twin-Clutch Sports Shift Transmission (SST) system and has 329hp (242kW) and 322 lb ft (437Nm) of maximum torque at 3,500rpm. That is 29hp more than the FQ-300 SST but 25hp less than the £39 999 FQ-360. The Super All Wheel Control (S-AWC) system ensures power is planted firmly on the tarmac.

To achieve this boost in power the engineers used a breathing kit that includes an intercooler piping kit, a racing suction pipe, a high performance exhaust and downpipe as well as a remapping of the ECU. Thus acceleration has been improved and the driving experience is said to be notably enhanced. The quoted 0 – 62mph sprint time is 4.4 seconds and top velocity is 155mph (249km/h).

Standard equipment includes 18-inch alloy wheels, Brembo brakes, adaptive xenon headlights, Recaro front seats, Bluetooth connectivity, HDD satellite navigation system and a Rockford sound system with iPod/MP3 auxiliary port. Interested parties can choose from one of four exterior colour options.

The Evo X FQ-330 SST is priced at £35,999 which is £3,000 less than the FQ-300 SST.

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ABT Sportline does a makeover of the Audi A5 Cabrio and calls its little reinvention the AS5.

First off, let’s have a look-see under the hood.

Well, ABT POWER provides some tweaking of the electronic engine management system which is offered on four different power plants. The 2.0 TFSI gets a substantial kick upstairs to 275 hp instead of the standard-issue 180 or 211. The 2.7 TDI is taken from 190 hp to a livelier 230. The 3.0 liter TDI diesel also gets an up-tuning to 282 hp from the production version’s 240.

Also available is the ABT POWER S package, which can do a little more to that 3.0 liter diesel engine to take it well past 300 horses to a power output of 310 hp and 610 Nm of dump-truck-like torque.

All models will come with the ABT or ABT Sports braking units in order to have on hand the heftier reigns to safely bring the AS5 Cabrio thoroughbred to a halt.

On the exterior we get the usual ABT grill, side skirts, new front and rear skirts with the standard ABT quad-exhaust. Both 19 and 20-inch wheels are available, in the “cool bold BR alloys” style. Also on offer are the more exclusive ABT wheel sets with high-performance tires for maximum road munching traction.

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Brabus has unveiled their extensive range of tuning packages for Mercedes’ recently launched E-Class coupe.

With the AMG version in limbo, Brabus has decided to fill the void by introducing a 6.1-liter V8 engine which produces 462 hp (340 kW) and 615 Nm (453 lb-ft) of torque. Based on the E500’s 5.5-liter engine, Brabus engineers enlarge the engine’s displacement by 0.6-liters and add a billet crankshaft, larger pistons, and special four-valve cylinder heads with custom camshafts. The net result of this €29,000 ($39,723 USD) upgrade is a 0-100 km/h time of 4.7 seconds and a top speed of 315 km/h (196 mph).

If that sounds a little steep, the company also offers performance packages for Mercedes’ other engines. The E250 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY can be outfitted with the €1,390 ($1,900 USD) D4 tuning kit which will boost its output from 204 hp (150 kW) to 235 hp (173 kW) and 560 Nm (413 lb-ft) of torque. Likewise, the E350 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY can be equipped with a D6 tuning kit which allows it to produce 272 hp (200 kW) and 590 Nm (435 lb-ft) of torque.

Other performance goodies include lowering springs, a height-adjustable coil-over sport suspension, and a high-performance braking system with six-piston aluminum calipers up front and four-piston aluminum calipers out back.

As always, Brabus offers a complete lineup of styling accessories including stainless-steel quad exhaust systems, a new front spoiler with LED daytime running lights, aggressive side skirts, and aluminum front quarter panels with integrated clear-coated carbon-fiber inserts. A variety of wheel packages are also available, they range in sizes from 17 to 20 inches and can be outfitted with either Pirelli or YOKOHAMA rubber.

The styling makeover carries over to the interior thanks to optional stainless-steel scuff plates, a BRABUS sport steering wheel, and exclusive Mastik leather and Alcantara upholstery.

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Volkswagen has announced they will commemorate this year’s Wörthersee love fest by building a series of limited edition Golf GTIs.

Dubbed the GTI “Wörthersee 09″, the special edition features a unique Firestone Park Metallic exterior, glossy black 19-inch wheels with red accents, and darkened LED tail lights. Interior tweaks include brushed aluminum trim, glossy black air vent surrounds, and redesigned sport seats with exclusive upholstery.

As with all GTI’s, the Wörthersee 09 comes equipped with a 2.0-liter TSI engine which produces 155 kW (210 PS) that allows the car to accelerate from 0-100 km/h in 6.9 seconds before hitting a top speed of 238 km/h (148 mph). Other performance features include a lowered sports suspension and a new exhaust system which promises to deliver thrilling sounds.

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The Lexus IS 250C and IS 350C can now be upgraded with a host of performance-enhancing official F-Sport accessories. First announced at the 2009 Chicago Auto Show in February the parts are available to be fitted in the convertible IS models.

Starting from under the bonnet a light-weight carbon fiber engine cover is fitted to give the area a hi-tech look. A low-restriction intake that is emission legal in the whole US keeps things environmentally-friendly.

F-Sport forged alloy wheels can be ordered in either 18-inch or 19-inch size. They are finished in a dark graphite colour to give the IS that aggressive look. The front brakes can be upgraded with six-piston fixed calipers and drilled cast-iron rotors. Lexus says they provide a firmer pedal feel and improve fade resistance under continued and repeated use.

Bilstein partnered with Lexus F-Sport for a set of shock absorbers that offer a performance suspension but at the same time keep the ride comfortable. A lowering spring set lowers the car by about an inch both in the front and rear.

The rear also features its own F-Sport brake upgrade which is similar to the front except that it uses four-piston fixed calipers but also drilled cast-iron rotors as well. The F-Sport rear brake set can only be used with the matching front brake set. The exhaust system is stainless steel with fully polished mufflers. It is fully emissions-compliant.

Interior articles include an F-Sport clutch set for the manual cars, a quick shifter made of aluminium, also for the manual transmission, a leather/ carbon fiber combo shift knob and nylon floor mats.

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The 28th Wörthersee Tour in Austria kicks off on May 20 and ends on the 23rd. The show is a gathering of auto enthusiasts, including those who love the Audi brand. For the latter a special Audi Q5 will be showcased on the Audi stand.

Clad in massive 21-inch wheels with a 7 twin-spoke design, the vehicle is no ordinary Q5. Its track has been widened by 90mm (3.54 inches) while the ride height is 60mm (2.36 inches) lower. The exterior paint colour is called Daytona Gray. Some red paint applications were made on the rims, the roof rails, the front skirt and the rear spoiler. Other fittings include a panoramic roof and ceramic brakes.

There is an S4 connection to this Q5 in that the engine is the same supercharged 3.0 TFSI V6 that powers the S4. Power is not the same 246kW (334hp) though, it has been increased to a sports car-rivalling 300kW (408hp). Torque is 500Nm between 3,000rpm and 5,500rpm. Like a performance car this custom concept is said to whistle away from 0 – 100km/h in 4.4 seconds and top off at a governed 250km/h.

Some features and equipment include the rear view parking assistant camera, S Line sports seats, stainless steel-plated pedals and voice control.

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As a follow up from the initial photos, HAMANN has just released details regarding the work they have done on the new BMW 7 Series (F01 and F02). The exterior has been beefed up by installing a new front skirt with integrated LED daytime running lights, a roof spoiler and a rear spoiler. Four tailpipes poke out from the rear bumper. Side skirts are part of the aerodynamic package and they also enhance the look.

Buyers can select from a range of wheels, from 19-inch to 22-inch in diameter. The top deep dish alloy rims are sized at 9.0Jx22 inches up front and 10.5Jx22 inches at the rear. They come in a glossy black paint with a diamond-grinded rim star. Respectively the matching tyres are 265/30ZR22 and 295/25ZR22.

The 730d has received a performance upgrade from the stock 180kW (245hp). According to HAMANN this is only the first stage in the engine’s development. Power has been increased to 213kW (290hp).

The 730d and 740i receive four progressively coiled chassis springs each. These lower the cars’ centre of gravity by up to 40 millimetres. The 750i and 750Li have a different lowering kit which is made of two chassis springs and a leveling kit.

HAMANN accessories are a given for this car. Some include aluminium foot pedals and foot rests with matching embroidered floor mats.

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