Stuttgart, Germany-based tuners PPI Automotive Design brought their PPI Razor GTR to the Dubai Motor Show.  The high-powered, lightweight car was put on display wearing the Visible Carbon Fiber Widebody package.

The package includes several glazing layers of clearcoat over the bare carbon fiber to give the car a more glossy look.  Each new body panel, including bumpers, fenders, lids, sideblades, and sideskirts, on PPI’s redux of the Audi R8 is made from the featherweight material.  The only exception is the Polycarbonate covering over the engine.  This let PPI engineers strip 250 kilograms (551 lbs) from the car.

Unique to the Visible Carbon Fiber package is the use of carbon fiber on the doors and roof.  PPI will also tune the V8 up to 580 horsepower, thanks to the installation of a supercharger that adds 200hp.  On the V10, customers can opt for a 60- or 80-horsepower boost, with additional “power increases available upon request.”

With either the 580hp V8 or the 600hp V10, PPI claims a 0-100 km/h time of 3.7 seconds en route to a 323 km/h top speed.

Read the rest of this entry and check out more photos »

Probably disappointed that a rumoured RS 3 did not come alive in Frankfurt, MR Car Design went out to fix the problem. Using the 2.0 TFSI engine as a base they added equipment like a big intercooler, new engine control software and a sports exhaust system with optimised counter pressure.

Mr Car Design has induced 248kW (337hp) and 450Nm, significantly up from the standard 195kW (265hp) and 350Nm respectively. Incidentally the factory TT RS produces similar numbers, therefore you could rationalize this as the unofficial aftermarket RS 3.

Tyres used are 235/35 ZR19 Dunlop Sportmaxx wrapped around 8×19″ hyper-black alloys. The chassis is improved through the use of V3 coilovers with pressure and tension phase adjustment.

Read the rest of this entry and check out more photos »

The Mercedes-Benz G55K AMG-based A.R.T. G Streetline broke cover at the Dubai Motor Show. It follows on the tracks of the A.R.T. AS55K YAAS EDITION, a one-off created for the Royal Family of Abu Dhabi.

Modifications were deep and extensive, covering pretty much every sphere of the vehicle. The exterior features a wide body kit with a new front bumper, new bonnet, a double beam xenon headlight set with LED daytime running lights and indicators, a running board with LED lights, fender extensions, rear LED lights and a roof spoiler, also with LEDs.

A.R.T. fitted a special chassis for the SUV which goes with its 22-inch light alloy wheels and 305/35R22 Pirelli Scorpio Assimetrico tyres.

The engine and performance has been boosted by the AS55K performance kit which includes Vmax removal, a large charge-air cooler, a six-pipe stainless steel exhaust system with two metal sports catalytic converters and a flow-efficient exhaust manifold.

From these and more upgrades the engine now flicks out about 442kW (601hp) and close to 800Nm. Top speed is rated at 260km/h (162mph).

The Bordeaux red nappa leather interior also has a leather/ wood multifunction sports steering wheel, six black velour carpets and electrically-adjustable individual seats with a heat and ventilation function.

Read the rest of this entry and check out more photos »

A new set of photos featuring the Gemballa Tornado 750 GTS 4-seater has been released by the manufacturer.  Gemballa engineers have made a few changes to the €400,000 SUV-come-sports car in an effort to keep the vehicle fresh.

At the front, we immediately noticed the new teardrop-shaped CGT headlights being used on the car, similar to those found on the Carrerra GT-based Gemballa Mirage GT.  Slight modifications to the lower half of the front bumper appears to now include fog lights.  In back, a new rear spoiler design includes three sections of lighting, as opposed to just one.  One of the close-ups also shows the center-mounted camera in the grille, possibly part of the SUV’s infotainment and night vision system.

Earlier in the year, we reported that engineers had stripped about 250 kilos (551 lbs) from the vehicle’s weight.  Combined with 750-horsepower turbo V8 engine that produces up to 1,050 Nm, this vehicle hits 100 km/h in 4.3 seconds.  A top speed of over 300 km/h (186.4mph) is also possible.

Naturally, this required bigger wheels, brakes, and air intakes, all of which can be found here.  Gemballa uses a 415/380 mm braking system with six-piston calipers in the front, and four-piston calipers at the back.  12×22″ forged GT Sport Wheels are also used on the now 70 mm lower vehicle.  The package is rounded out with sport seats in the front and back, video screens all around, leather, Alcantara, and a set of carbon trim inserts.

Read the rest of this entry and check out more photos »

German tuners Gemballa, known for their work with Porsche cars, may have taken a stab at the Ferrari Enzo.  The Gemballa MIG-U1 is either a limited edition or a privately-commissioned one-off model that missed its planned debut at the Dubai Motor Show.

News of the car comes from the Ilyas and Mustafa Galadari Group, a company that runs several automotive businesses from their offices in Dubai.  They claim the car has a completely new exhaust, and not just new tailpipes.  The car boasts a unique rear bumper and wing, new side sills, and a front bumper.  It appears the car has LED daytime lights as well.

It just wouldn’t be a Gemballa without the roof-mounted air intake.  Interior mods include quilted upholstery, dual-tone floor mats, and a video screen.

We hope to find out more about this car’s performance specs in the next few days.  No word yet if the Gemballa MIG-U1 will appear at the Geneva Motor Show in March.

Read the rest of this entry and check out more photos »

German tuner Mcchip has extended the power and torque band provided by the Ford Focus RS to the extreme. The standard front-wheel-drive RS already gives a good 224kW (305hp) and 440Nm of torque through its 6-speed manual gearbox.

Mcchip engineers have sought to increase this substantially via two stages of tuning. The first involves only the remapping of control software for a hike of 30kW to 254kW (345hp). Newton metres go up to 520Nm. No 0 – 100km/h figures were supplied but top speed is rated at 271km/h.

Power stage 2 sees the inclusion of an enhanced intercooler, special spark plugs, more engine electronics modifications, a sports exhaust system and a new inlet manifold. These actions take matters to 295kW (401hp) and maximum torque of 612Nm. Peak velocity grows slightly to 278km/h (173mph). Power stage 1 costs €799 while Power stage 2 will set you back €4,499.

By making all these changes Mcchip believes it has created not just a significant speed machine but also a useable everyday sports car.

Read the rest of this entry and check out more photos »

Two Russian tuning firms and a German company have teamed up to offer a new kit for the 2011 BMW 5-Series F10.  TopCar and Cardi, from Russia, and Lumma Design have joined forces to create an aggressive styling package which will likely boost performance.

Judging by the included renderings, the car will maintain a bulging nose, with new carbon fiber front lip installed underneath.  The new bumper features five sections of air inlets, with honeycomb grille, and what looks like integrated LED lighting.

Bulging wheel wells lead to aggressive side sills.  The carved line leading from the front bumper to the sills is a particularly nice touch.  In back, a carbon fiber spoiler is added on top of the trunk, and a smoother bumper will also be included.  A carbon fiber rear diffuser, quad-tailpipes, and triple-spoke wheels rounds out the package.

The bodywork was created by TopCar and Cardi.  Lumma Design is keeping their cards hidden when it comes to the engine tuning kit they are developing for the package.  Full details should be released when their car is presented in April 2010.

Read the rest of this entry and check out more photos »

German tuners Autotechnik + Tuning, or ATT for short, have released their €10,000+ set of options for the Mercedes-Benz E-Class W212.  The company’s aero kit and wheels is meant to create “a pleasant original deluxe-sportster, stiring [sic] the blood of every real man.”

While we would not necessarily go that far, the car does look impressive from the front, even if the blacked-out sections around the fog lights do not quite fit in.  The €6,452 aerodynamic upgrades include new spoilers at the front and back, front grill, and side skirts.  Exhaust pipes are hidden on either side of the rear spoiler.

For another €3,869 customers can pick up new alloy wheels, measuring either 9×20″ or 10.5×20″.  Hankook S1 EVO high performance tires are included, as is mounting and balancing.

The upgrades to the Mercedes-Benz E-Class are available direct from ATT headquarters in Rastatt, Germany.

Read the rest of this entry and check out more photos »

German Mercedes-Benz tuners Väth have released new details about their version of the CL 65 AMG.  Now with a massive 745-horsepower and up-to 1,150 Nm of torque the car claims a 0-100km/h time of nearly four seconds.

For €36,890, the company offers an engine tuning package with reprogrammed computer, “inlet optimization with an air collector,” and an advanced cooling system.  New exhaust and “boosting” system are also included.  After the package is installed the car’s top speed hits 340 km/h (211 mph).

Adding the 20-inch alloys with Vredestein high-performance winter tires runs another €7,378, while six-piston caliper brakes with 405 mm disks adds a much higher pricetag.  The calipers, disks, and steel-flex tubes with racing fluid go for €8,082.  Lowering the vehicle 40 mm costs another €1,952.

What makes the car look great is the carbon front lip and rear fins.  The fins replace the diffusor, with the trunk and roof spoilers sitting above.  Total cost for the exterior mods: €3,188.

Although the Väth CL 65 AMG looks great, and has impressive performance creds, we’re not sure that there is enough value to justify a €57,490 cost.

Read the rest of this entry and check out more photos »

Officially sanctioned tuners Steinmetz have set a new speed record for street-legal Opel vehicles.  At 287.4 km/h (178.6 mph), the Steinmetz/Klasen Insignia Sports Tourer OPC is officially the fastest Opel ever built.

The record was set in mid-October at the High Performance Event in Nardo, Italy.  Nardo is the home of a massive 12-kilometer oval that is entirely banked, allowing drivers to reach maximum speed without turning the wheel.

Steinmetz lowers the Insignia, and adds a new grille, front and rear spoilers, and 20-inch alloy wheels.  They also add superficial touches, like chrome trim and floor mats.

They then hand the car over to Klasen Motors, who adds a bigger turbocharger, retuned intercooler, and new exhaust.  These upgrades include mods to the fuel injectors, and reprogramming of the engine computer to produce 400 horsepower and up to 550 Nm of torque.

Read the rest of this entry and check out more photos »