Las Vegas-based tuners Shelby are releasing another new set of mods for the Mustang.  The limited edition 2010 Ford Shelby GT500 Super Snake includes improvements both to power and performance.

“Over the past 12 months, my team of hot rodders was hard at work on a Super Snake package for the next generation GT500,” said Carroll Shelby.  “Every lesson we learned kicking the competition around on the track over the past two years has been poured into this new car to keep Shelby owners out front.”

That is why the company mounts an optional Shelby/Kenne Bell supercharger kit, which raises power output to 725 horsepower.  You can also take the car down a peg, and opt for the Ford Racing Supercharger, which helps to produce a maximum 630 hp and 590 ft-lb of torque.  Either way, the driver will take control of a six-speed manual gearbox featuring a 3.73:1 rear axle ratio via the short-throw shifter.  A Borla exhaust unit is also included on both.

The Super Snake gets a standard Ford Racing handling package, which includes lowered springs, adjustable dampers, front strut tower brace and tuned stabilizer bars.  You can purchase the optional Shelby/Eibach handling package as well.  Custom Alcoa 20-inch wheels surround the cross drilled rotors.  A six-piston Shelby/Baer brake system is also part of the package, as are the front brake cooling ducts.

Visual changes begin with the new fiberglass hood, Super Snake striping, rear decklid lettering, and various badging.  Shelby headrests and floormats are also included.

Although the company does say that, “Exclusivity will be assured as a limited number of Super Snakes will be built,” what they do not say is how few units will be produced.  This information would surely be beneficial to anybody considering the car as an investment.

The 2010 Ford Shelby GT500 Super Snake will begin production in August.  Pricing for the 630 hp package starts at $29,495, while the 725 hp kit goes for $33,495.  Installation is included, but the price of the car is not.

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German-based tuner JE Design has released a new range of styling and performance accessories for the Volkswagen Scirocco.

Under the hood, JE Design equips the standard 2.0-liter TDI engine with a revised ECU module which boosts the engine’s performance from 140 hp (103 kW) to 180 hp (133 kW) and 400 Nm of torque. Performance stats include a 0-100 km/h time of 8.4 seconds (a reduction of 0.9 seconds) and a top speed of 213 km/h (an improvement of 6 km/h). The company also offers a performance package for the 2.0-liter TDI CR, it produces 205 hp (171 kW) and 410 Nm of torque (up from 170 hp (125 kW) and 350 Nm of torque). 0-100 km/h takes 7.1 seconds (an improvement of 0.7 seconds) and the top speed is increased to 229 km/h (up from 222 km/h).

The 2.0-liter TDI performance package costs 1,249 euros while the 2.0-liter TDI CR package retails for 1,449 euros.

In terms of styling, JE Design offers a full body kit (919 euros) that features a bold front spoiler, side skirts with air inlets, and an aggressive rear skirt. Other design tweaks include gull-wing doors (1,549 euros), a stainless steel exhaust system with two oval center mounted end pipes (899 euros), and lowering springs which reduce the ride height by 30mm (299 euros). The company also offers a unique set of 19-inch wheels which are available in shadow silver (2,810 euros) or graphite matt (2,930 euros).

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Lorinser is not a tuner that goes out of its way to create cars that scare other motorists off the freeway. Subtle but effective is how they do it over at Lorinser. Occasionally though, they present something like this which is called the Lorinser LV8. It’s based on the Mercedes-Benz C 63 AMG and instead of pushing out 332kW (451hp) it delivers 368kW (500hp). Maximum torque is also increased to 630Nm. Subsequently the 0 – 100km/h dash can be achieved in 4.3 seconds while top speed goes up to 320km/h.

The LV8 comes fitted with 255/35 18 Continental tyres and a special Lorinser exhaust unit. The aerodynamic kit includes spoiler bumpers and side sills. Lorinser General Manager Marcus Lorinser says the car meets all the registration requirements put on road vehicles.

Look out for the LV8 at the Tuner Grand Prix on the Hockenheimring between the 26th and 27th of June.

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German tuner of British cars, Arden, has created a new special edition MINI to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Equipe.

Dubbed the MINI Equipe 2009, the special edition features a thoroughly revised exterior with 18-inch aluminum wheels, a chrome grille, and a stainless steel mesh insert for the rear bumper. Inside, the Equipe boasts a unique two-tone interior with hand-stitched leather on the dash board, seats, doors and steering wheel.

Under the hood, Arden equips the Equipe with revised engine electronics, a new intercooler, and a stainless steel exhaust system with racing catalytic converters. These modest changes help to boost the engine’s output by 40PS and 50Nm. Other performance upgrades include an Arden sport suspension and a high-performance braking system with six-piston calipers up front.

Although pricing information wasn’t released, production will be limited to 40 units.

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Japanese tuners Mugen are readying a new launch for the European market.  The company plans to introduce the Mugen Honda Civic Type-R 3D there sometime this summer.

The Euro-spec Mugen Type-R uses a four-cylinder, 2.0-liter i-VTEC engine that gets a minimum 200 horsepower.  However, previous speculation has the engine generating as much as 240 hp for the front-wheel drive car.  Drivers take control by way of a six-speed manual gearbox.

Mugen has significantly altered the look of this car, using a carbon-fiber aero kit to punctuate the change.  The new front bumper, with a front lip and blacked-out grille built-in, leads back to wider fenders with integrated air-vents.  A new hood has twin-scoops on either side of a raised mid-section.  Following the redesigned sideskirts to the back leads us to a custom built rear-apron, diffuser, and dual exhaust.  Mugen used a gunmetal alloy wheel that matches some of the body work.

Looking at this car and the UK model side-by-side, we notice several alterations.  For one, the Euro-spec model has a larger rear wing, and redesigned rear bumper with changes to the tailpipes.  The front-end also appears to have some minor cosmetic changes.

If pricing matches the recently detailed UK-spec Type R, this car could cost anywhere from €40,000, up to a rather steep €50,000.  We should find out more about the Mugen Honda Civic Type-R 3D in the near future.

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This year’s Wörthersee tour featured plenty of cars as usual. One of the eye-catchers present was the Volkswagen Scirocco coupe. Tuners HS Motorsport decided to take the tour out of its venue and into their workshop by making this car they call Remis. The Munich-based company started by reworking the standard 2.0-litre TSI engine to produce more power.

Coming from the factory the 2.0-litre registers 200hp (147kW) on the dyno. HS changed the air intake system and the exhaust system. The latter consists of a 70mm flame pipe, a new EU-approved catalytic converter, rear and front mufflers. Together these and one or two other additions now give the engine 290hp (213kW). HS doesn’t stop there. Promises of a 320hp (235kW) pack have been made for the buyer with more performance requirements. Braking power comes from Brembo via special narrow one-piece discs and callipers.

The body kit is made of a carbon fiber front bumper, side skirts and rear bumper. The car runs on 245/30 ZR20 matt black rims with 9×20 with Vredestein tyres.

Inside HS installed heated Recaro Sportster CS seats with black Remis-special leather upholstery and white Remis embroidery.

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Tuning firm Edo Competition has unveiled their new styling and performance packages for the Ferrari California.

On the performance side, Edo offers an ECU recalibration package which boosts the roadster’s output from 460 hp to 500 hp (367 kW) and 369 ft-lb (500 Nm) of torque. When combined with Edo’s new high performance exhaust system, with adjustable butterfly valves and custom designed high flow catalytic converters, the Ferrari California rockets from 0-100 km/h in 3.9 seconds before hitting a top speed of 315 km/h (196 mph).

Other performance options include an adjustable sports suspension, a ride-height reduction kit, and a variety of different wheel and tire combinations available in 20 and 21 inches.

The company also offers a bespoke interior design service which allows customers to create a lavish cockpit that reflects their unique personality.

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Japanese turning firm ASI has announced a new styling package for the Ferrari F430 and a new performance package for the Bentley Continental range (GT, Flying Spur, and GTC).

The ASI Ferrari sports a unique body kit that consists of a new front bumper, aggressive side skirts and a bold rear bumper. Although the parts were styled to provide similar aerodynamic performance to the components they replace, the ASI pieces weigh 27kg (59 lbs) less. To further maximize the F430’s appearance, ASI also offers a sporty new exhaust system which uses “Scuderia-style” center-mounted exhaust tips.

For the Bentleys, ASI has unveiled a new high performance exhaust system that has been specially engineered to deliver a thrilling exhaust note as well as increased power. When combined with ASI’s ECU tuning package, Bentley Continentals boast an insane 700 horsepower. The company has also announced a revised suspension lowering module which is easier to use, thanks to a new installation adapter.

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Tuners at the German firm Lorinser are best known for their work on the Mercedes-Benz lineup.  The company has pretty much hit every modern Mercedes, from A to SLK, including the Viano.  Two years ago, they ventured a little further out, giving a nice bit of work to the Smart Cars.

Now the company has set their sites on their first ever Asian adaptation.  Meet the Lorinser Lexus LS 460, with a new aerokit meant to give the big, five-meter long car “elegant bodywark that exudes confidence.”

Engineers first subtly attacked the front fascia with a new spoiler that incorporates new, round foglights.  The front bumper also appears to be a bit more squared off, giving the car a more stately appearance.  Side sill changes are substantial, but not aggressive, and warn onlookers that the car has some power under its hood.

Modifications at the back are a bit more noticeable, although Lorinser kept the 460’s rear light cluster intact.  A rear wing has been added on to the boot, and a new apron has been installed.  These show more sporty characteristics, as the apron incorporates an air inlet, race-inspired grill, and quad-tipped dual exhaust.  The package is rounded off with custom made light-alloys.

Despite making all of these changes, the Lorinser Lexus LS 460 has a relatively unchanged 0-100 km/h time of 5.7 seconds.  Power comes from a 4.6-liter V8 engine that produces 381 horsepower.  Although not yet on their website, the Lorinser LS 460 should be available from the company in no time.

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A Moscow tuning studio has come up with this.

Status Design has released this picture of their re-imagining of the Porsche Cayenne. They call it the body-whale, although, it looks more like some kind of stylish vacuum cleaner or another design-happy home appliance.

The term body-whale is obviously meant to invoke some kind of marine-animal sense of sleekness and power but the design doesn’t really seem to match that. The front end actually looks a little like a Peugeot, with a few extra levels to the four-tiered grille. And what about that grille? It looks like a Venetian blind.

The Russian tuning studio tells us the body kit is made out of high-quality plastic and carbon. Which hints at the notion that this thing will actually be made some day.

The good news is, though, that as of now, it’s still only a rendering that is due to be published this fall.

Go ahead, have your say.

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