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Saturday, May 24, 2008
The tuning scene is booming in Europe, the USA and Japan, with more and more tuning companies as a result but few are regarded as highly as Porsche specialists Gemballa. Today the German tuning house bursts onto the scene with a 600 bhp Porsche GT2 (or Porsche 997 Turbo) conversion that can hold its own with the Maranello and Sant'Agata-Bolognese in-crowd.
Gemballa has a few tweeks in store for your unsuspecting GT2 or 997 Turbo like a power kit that will boost power to 600 bhpn (442 kW) with 840 Nm of torque, body kit, sports exhaust, coilover suspension, 20 inch 'Racing' wheels and a luxurious interior. The new power can propel the car from stand still to 100 km/h in just 3.5 seconds.
The body kit consists of the Avalanche body kit, a GT hood, Avalanche front skirt with additional cooling openings, GT2 front spoiler lip, GTR EVO tailgate skirt with diffuser and hot air outlets and GT2 EVO rear spoiler. All in all, the car looks fast even when standing still.
Of course power is nothing without control, so Gemballa also fits a variable ride height coilover suspension and a performance brake system with 380/350 mm or 405/380 discs. Inside you will find plenty of aluminum details, sports steering wheel (F1 shift paddles optional) and a leather interior overhaul if your donor vehicle didn't have it already. But if you have something else in mind, Gemballa will be happy to cater to your fancies.
Spada Codatronca, the next exclusive maker of Italian super cars? Spada Vetture Sport is up for the mammoth challenge, one many may consider impossible. Codatronca TS (Turismo Sportivo) is the first example of these desires, with others to follow in due course, probably before the year is over. Already they are testing a TSS version, said to be the big brother of the clan, set for launch this year. Meanwhile we can get to grips with what this Italian stallion is up to.
The car weighs a deliciously tempting 1.36 tonnes for starters which bodes well for the company’s performance philosophies of light weight, aerodynamics and driving pleasure. As far as aerodynamics, evidence is already seen from the Batmobile-style hunch which should allow greater streaming of air at any time. Rear-wheel driven on 19-inch black rubber, Codatronca uses an engine sized over 7 litres, spread over 8 cylinders. We understand there is no force-feeding going on here; engine swallows air by the gallons, sending fuel to the mix under the ‘hood to produce a stunning 630 bhp at 6500 rpm. Torque is 668Nm. Forward motion is attained through a close-ratio 6-speed ‘box that pushes Codatronca from 0 – 100km/h in 3.4 seconds. Spada say it’s more than capable of its quoted 340km/h top whack, but what they really wanted to do was make it as fun as possible to drive, and not necessarily as powerful as possible. Using a small conversion kit will run the car on E85, with a little bit of increased power and torque.
Aluminium is what the chassis is made of, which includes a roll cage. Bodywork comes courtesy of carbon fibre, with a totally adjustable suspension system. For those track days a complete information system measuring driver’s telemetry is included so not only will you be bale to run fast laps but the car can also help you improve on them all the time.
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Despite being described by some as “everything you don't need”, the MINI Cooper S Clubman is certainly doing something right on the business end with the launch contributing to record sales for the MINI brand. But at 170hp, surely it is missing something. The John Cooper Works kit went some way to appeasing the power hungry consumers with a package boosting the power up to 211hp, but AC Schnitzer had other ideas with their own package which boosts the Clubman up to 226hp.
Hiding beneath the eye catching body kit which features a new front spoiler and a striking power dome is the 226hp/166KW AC Schnitzer tuned engine which develops up to 285nm of torque. But where there is power - there is noise. So to appease the neighbours, the famed BMW & Mini Tuner has fitted their twin sports rear silencer which plays its role in the orchestral masterpiece coming from chromed tailpipes. Driving performance is further enhanced with the AC Schnitzer spring kit and height-adjustable racing suspension
Optionally you can add the limited slip differential (up to maximum 75 percent) which ensures the raw power is applied to the right wheel through cornering rather than being lost through the exhaust.
The kit is completed with either 17'' or 18'' wheels, specially styled for the Mini.
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
APS, the specialist tuning house with over 25 years of turbo tuning, has turned a Pontiac G8 into something of a Pontiac GR8 (or great). Realizing some potential in the 6.0-litre V8 used in the G8, APS then got to grips with it by installing an intercooled twin turbo system, which is cleverly mounted under the chassis so heat moves away from the engine. Clever yes, if you live in a town with no speed humps and other road oddities.
What power then? How’s about 557 bhp on the trot? And torque? That’s 583.8 ftlb. It’s good figures by any measure, and APS says its system ensures access to all this munchy power and delivers through quite a flat range. The intercoolers work hard to cool things down such that APS claims a quarter mile run twice or more up and down the straight will not even sweat its G8 system.
So those who own VXR8s and HSV Clubsport R8s will be welcome at APS to see how much further things can go. APS themselves reckon there’s quite a few more horses stored under the ‘hood here and perhaps in time it may all come home to roost.
The Jaguar XF has certainly become the flagship of the British manufacturer's brand, so it was only a matter of time before the Jag-specialists at Arden got down and dirty to enhance the sporty sedan giving those power obsessed Jaguar enthusiasts a little something before the high-spec XF-R arrives this summer.
Highlights of the Jaguar XF AJ 21 are certainly found under the bonnet with power upgrades for each of the four engines, the top of the line Supercharged 416hp 4.2 liter V8 engine gets a displacement increase to 4.5 liters raising the power output to over 500hp.
The exterior has received the typical Arden treatment with extensive aerodynamic modifications. The AJ 21 gets a new front apron with a larger grille and larger air intakes contributing towards better cooling for the the engine and brakes, the lower front spoiler helps enhance the aerodynamic performance of the model, particularly at high speeds. The integrated LED-day lights help pimp the overall look of the vehicle.
As we head to the rear, notice the small openings on the rocker panels just in front of the rear wheels, this is an additional air intake added by Arden to help cool the rear brakes. The rear itself receives a few subtle changes including a new rear lid spoiler and a marked rear diffuser. The package is completed with a set of 21" wheels in Arden “Sportline” design, a special developed Arden sport suspension and a stainless steel sports silencer system.
Sunday, May 18, 2008
The new Fiat 500 may be Car of the Year, but Novitec can always find a way to improve on things like performance and exclusivity when it comes to Alfa Romeo, Ferrari and of course Fiat.
Starting with the engines, Novitec has taken the 1.3 liter JTD turbo-diesel to 83 hp / 61 kW from its stock 70 hp / 51.5 kW, reducing its 0-100 km/h sprint time to 11.9 seconds and raising its top speed to 165 km/h. All this is possible through a plug-and-play control module available for just Euro 335.
The 1.4 liter 16-valve petrol engine receives a supercharger, boosting its output to 131 hp / 96.4 kW while torque increases from 131 Nm to 172 Nm. The nimble little engine can propel the Fiat 500 from 0 to 100 km/h in just 8.8 seconds while its top speed is 198 km/h.
Novitec also offers a stainless steel exhaust with either one or two exhaust tips, a front apron with spoiler and additional air dams and 16 or 17 inch multi-spoke wheels (up to 215/35 R 17 for front and rear) with matching suspension modifications. There are two option in regards to the suspension, either sport springs in combination with the production shock absorbers or a height-adjustable coil-over sport suspension set which can lower the car from 30 mm to 80mm.
Saturday, May 17, 2008
The current Mercedes-Benz CL Class was launched back in the autumn of 2006, and the two-door luxury coupe is quite the looker. With a range of safety features, its new Mercedes style, and performance to boot this coupe seems to have it all.
LSD doors from Germany know better though and now offer instant street cred by installing a set of wing doors. The wing doors can be installed on the original door mouting points and are tested for safety with side-crash test and have the German TUV parts certificate.
The LSD wing doors open outwards by a 30 degree angle and then swing upwards, without any great exertion. According to the press release the doors are 'ideal for all fans of unusual tuning' and we happen to agree.
Press release:
- Security proved by side-crash test /with German TÜV parts certificate
- Car-specific solution made in Germany
- with GRS and GRS+, offering more safety and more precise opening and closing of the door
- To be mounted directly at the points of the original doors
By mounting LSD wing door hinges, the actual Mercedes CL luxury coupé becomes the absolute looker. The wing doors hinges are available with immediate effect.
The LSD wing door hinges for the Mercedes CL feature the new GRS+ (Guided Roller System). It offers an adjustment possibility with the roller guidance of the roller bearing integrated in the hinges and additional stability through a catch which that locks in fully-opened condition. This results in more safety and more precise opening and closing of the door.
LSD door fittings come with a German TÜV certificate certifying that the LSD wing doors meet all safety standards.
Compared to other retrofit sets for wing doors, the LSD fittings made in Germany are more impressive due to their absolutely sound engineering and the highest-possible standard of quality. In addition, a testing laboratory accredited by the German Kraftfahrtbundesamt (Federal motoring bureau) proved in a side-crash test, that the LSD-solution patented in Germany is as secure as a door assembled in the series production. This means: the occupants safety is guarateed by the LSD door fittings in a side-crash complying with rule 96/27/EG. LSD makes a quick and easy installation possible, without any welding or repainting necessary. Another convincing feature is their perfect fit, thanks to the ability to make three-dimensional adjustments. The LSD door fittings are mounted directly at the points where the original doors were removed. With the added fittings, the otherwise unchanged original doors open first outward and then gently glide upward and stop. Adjustable buffers prevent the doors from being opened too wide or from falling downward or inward when open. A simple grip is all it takes to close the door. On the one hand, the LSD solution allows you to open the door in a outward motion with an aperture angle of approx. 30°; on the other hand, it also allows you to swing the wing door upward, and all that without any great exertion. The LSD wing doors lend any car a sensational look and are the ideal solution for all fans of unusual tuning and show cars. The LSD door fittings are available from LSD or special dealers.
