Modified
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The U.S. and Japan have had the Nissan GT-R on the street for the better part of a year already, but Europe continues to wait - the first cars won't be delivered until Q1 2009. But that hasn't stopped the tuners from moving forward with tuning kits for the Japanese supercar killer. With AWD, an upgraded 478hp (356kW) twin-turbo V6 and improvements honed in the U.S. and Japanese markets, the European model will already be a step above the 'Series I' GT-R. The Germans at the COBRA N+ division of Cobra Technology & Lifestyle have decided to take the car to the next step. Increasing turbo boost...
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Steve Saleen announces plans for 2010 Mustang Signature Series
The Saleen name is one of the best-known in the Ford tuning world, and despite his recent break with the Saleen, Inc. company he founded in 1983, Steve Saleen's new SMS Supercars project is going strong with a new range of 2010 Mustangs. Dubbed the 2010 Signature Series SMS 460 Mustang, the new...
Nelson Ireson -
Hennessey unveils Godzilla 700 package for Nissan GT-R
American tuning workshop Hennessey Performance is renowned for its work with the Dodge Viper, but now the firm has reworked the formidable Nissan GT-R - taking it beyond supercar performance and up into the hypercar arena. Starting with the 2009 model-year GT-R, the Texas-based company upgrades...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Project Kahn-Modified Lotus Elise
As part of its 60th anniversary celebrations, Lotus teamed up with British tuner Project Kahn to build a special package for the Elise that it debuted in September at an event at its Hethel headquarters. A handful of new images for the Kahn-designed Elise has been released, revealing a number of...
Jeremy Weber -
Studiotorino Converts Mercedes SL Into CoupeTorino Concept
What do you get when you combine German engineering with Italian design? One example is the stunning CoupeTorino, a re-design project by Alfredo Stola of StudioTorino. Based around the Mercedes SL, the CoupeTorino takes a solid platform and turns it into a work of art. Submitted as a proposal to...
Alex Kaufmann -
Reiter Engineering unveils road-going Lamborghini Murcielago R-GT
German racing and engineering firm Reiter Engineering has unveiled a road-going variant of its Lamborghini Murcielago R-GT racing car. Reiter Engineering is the factory-backed entry for the Lamborghini team in the FIA GT Championships, and is well known for its development of lightweight racing...
Alex Kaufmann -
The Dodge Challenger SRT8 has been a welcome arrival for many muscle-car fans. Willing to overlook its hefty weight for the old-school looks and meaty Hemi power, they've already purchased just about every car scheduled to be made for the next year. But Hurst wasn't content to leave the Challenger alone, and has decided to prep a high-powered version complete with a collection of Hurst accessories available soon through Dodge dealers. The range kicks off with the Challenger Series 2 R/T, which is listed at $18,350 and pumps the 5.7L HEMI V8 to 352hp (263kW) and 408lb-ft (553Nm) of torque. In...
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Extended Maybach 62 becomes six-seat Maybach 72
Daimler's Maybach brand of super-luxury executive vehicles doesn't have the sales strength of rivals Bentley or Rolls Royce, but it's no less an opulent and sizable piece of machinery. Despite the Maybach 62's 242.7in (6.17m) length, some intrepid modifiers decided it wasn't quite large enough, and...
Alex Kaufmann -
JE Design takes on the VW Scirocco coupe
The Volkswagen Scirocco is proving to be popular with tuners, with famed German performance shop JE Design also releasing its own hotted-up version of the svelte sports coupe. JE Design’s work on German cars has been well documented, especially some of its more outrageous creations based on...
Alex Kaufmann -
VW CC Individual debuts in Bologna
The Passat CC made its debut early this year, bringing the four-door coupe profile to a popularly affordable price point for the first time. Now the company has unveiled its Individual package for the CC at the Bologna Motor Show, offering a new dimension of luxury and appearance upgrades to the...
Alex Kaufmann -
9ff boosts the Porsche Carrera GT with new GTT 900 package
The Carrera GT may no longer be in production but that hasn’t stopped Porsche specialists 9ff from creating a new performance package for the stunning supercar. The tuning firm’s latest creation is the GTT 900 package, which was on display at this weekend’s Essen Motor Show in...
Jeremy Weber -
Elite Carbon works over the Maserati GranTurismo
American auto accessory firm Elite Carbon has just released a full carbon-fiber bodykit for the Maserati GranTurismo, giving the car a much more aggressive look and increased aerodynamic performance. On top of this, some power modifications will also be available to make stunning GT more capable on...
James Martinez -
One of the tuners at this year’s Essen Motor Show will be Italy’s TRC-Marangoni, which has modified the still-new Alfa Romeo Mi.To hatchback using the Ferrari F430 as its inspiration. Working with the Mi.To’s 1.4L T-Jet engine, Marangoni has boosted power up to 220hp (164kW) – 65hp (48kW) more than the standard model. Elements borrowed from Ferrari’s F430 supercar include a similarly designed twin air-intake front bumper and an integrated carbon-fiber rear diffuser. The M430 also picks up a few unique features such as the Lamborghini-style lifting doors, a...
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Sir Jack Brabham Considering Legal Action Over Use Of His Name
Australian racing legend Sir Jack Brabham has revealed that he is disappointed that a company in Germany, which he has no association with, is using his name to promote a range of aftermarket performance parts and accessories. The tuning firm is Germany’s Brabham Racing, which plans to...
Jeremy Weber -
Volkswagen reveals modified range at Essen
Germany's Essen Motor Show, which runs this week through December 7, is a European tuner showcase, and Volkswagen is taking the opportunity to show off a handful of modified cars. Among them are the Golf VI, Scirocco, Passat CC, Jetta and Polo, but a pair of them are grabbing the spotlight - the...
Nelson Ireson -
GeigerCars works over the Dodge Challenger SRT8
Most German tuners usually stick with modifying European cars but one company, GeigerCars, has a well-documented obsession with the American muscle car. Now the firm has taken the new Dodge Challenger and worked it over, adding more power and style. While the base model Dodge Challenger SE comes...
Ralph Hanson -
Opel Insignia by Steinmetz
German tuner Steinmetz is a specialist when it comes to modifying Opels, having worked with the brand for the past several decades and waiting more than five years to finally develop the new 2009 Insignia saloon. Not surprisingly, it's one of the first companies to work with the car, releasing a...
Jeremy Weber -
Heffner Performance Camilo Pardo Ford GT tops 900hp
Camilo Pardo, the chief designer of the Ford GT project for the Blue Oval, is a top name among those in the know on cutting-edge automotive design, and he's teamed up with Heffner Performance to create a monstrous custom Ford GT. The special edition car, sold moments after its reveal, cranks out...
Ralph Hanson -
The Volkswagen Scirocco is proving to be popular with tuners, with famed German performance shop MTM also releasing its own hotted-up version of the svelte sports coupe. MTM's work on German cars has been well documented, especially some of its more outrageous creations such as the 390km/h twin-engined Bimoto Audi TT. The most powerful Scirocco model, the 2.0L turbo unit, only produces 200hp (147kW), and even a rumored high-performance ‘R’ variant is expected to reach about 270hp (201kW). MTM's power output for the coupe, meanwhile, will even surpass that of the car from fellow...
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ABT Sportsline joins growing list of VW Scirocco tuners
There is no shortage of tuners taking Volkswagen's handsome new Scirocco to pieces and rebuilding it to be a track monster, and the latest to join the grow list is Germany’s ABT, which has unveiled its second take on the sporty Scirocco. Hans-Juergen Abt, the current manager of tuning firm...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
AC Schnitzer releases new package for facelifted 3-Series
Specialist BMW tuner AC Schnitzer has announced the release of another new upgrade package, this time for the facelifted BMW E90 3-Series sedan and E91 touring models. AC Schnitzer has upgraded the cars with a number of aesthetic and performance pieces, including a dramatic new front spoiler. The...
Alex Kaufmann -
Carlsson customizes Mercedes' S-Class with RS-design kit
Mercedes' tech-leader and showcase car, the S-Class, gets the custom treatment from Carlsson with the RS design kit, presenting an exterior image to reflect the interior's cutting-edge equipment. Retaining much of the sophisticated look of the original, the kit adds a bit more aggression to the...
Alex Kaufmann -
Zwickenpflug reveals 445hp BMW M3 'Leather Edition'
Though BMW's latest 3-series treatment is something of a love-it-or-hate-it design, the gang at Zwickenpflug are decidedly in the 'love it' camp, leaving their customized car's exterior almost completely untouched. Inside, there's a score of changes, and the engine even gets some tweaks to boost...
Alex Kaufmann -
BMW Performance goes online: 1-Series and 3-Series get first upgrades
BMW has released a video on its website promoting its new 'BMW Performance' range of accessories, which is designed to allow customers to purchase factory-backed performance and aesthetic upgrades for their cars. We first saw details about the new BMW Performance range in September of last year...
Ralph Hanson