Modified
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Subaru feels “the market is ready” for STI versions of other cars in their range, according to Tomohiro Ishitobi, Subaru vice president of product planning, in an interview with AutoWeek. The STI brand, which stands for Subaru Tecnica International – Subaru’s motorsport division, has been made famous by the Impreza WRX STI, the car of choice for boy racers around the world. According to Ishitobi, Subaru is “discussing [the program] internally,” but it’s almost a given that such models will be produced. In Japan, models such as the Legacy already have...
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VW considers new performance models
It seems the aftermarket tuning world is too hard to resist even for Volkswagen, the company famous for “unpimping” their autos. Showing up to the mother of all aftermarket tuning conventions, SEMA, VW trotted out two highly modified versions of its Golf hatch aimed squarely at the raft...
Alex Kaufmann -
Genaddi designed LSR Roadster
Coachbuilder and car customizer Genaddi Design Group has released details on their LSR Roadster ahead of its unveiling at the SEMA auto show. Based on the Corvette Z06, the LSR Roadster is the creation of Mark Gerisch and Eric Brockmeyer and was designed to give customers the solid performance of...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Pontiac Solstice Club Sport Z0K & GXP-R at SEMA
There were two highly tuned Solstice’s at this year’s SEMA auto show that managed to catch our attention. First there’s the Club Sport Z0K, a fun little weekend track car, followed by the GXP-R, perfect for those Sunday drivers who wish they could be down at a track. The Club...
Alex Kaufmann -
Mazda CX-7 gets an Adrenaline boost for SEMA
Mazda unveiled a modified CX-7 SUV at this year’s SEMA auto show that was designed and built by the company’s US design team in Irvine, California. Codenamed the Adrenalin, the aggressively styled SUV is based on the all-new Mazda CX-7 but has been tweaked to give the vehicle a true...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Gravana tuned Saturn Sky at SEMA
Gravana Tuning has collaborated with GM Design to create a turbocharged Saturn Sky concept for SEMA. Gravana is a highly regarded supplier of aftermarket accessories, and the company has added several high-end accessories to push the Sky’s 2.4L Ecotec engine beyond 300hp. The addition of a...
Siddarth Raja -
Ford has done a deal with Chip Foose’s design studio to create a range of special edition models to be sold in Ford dealerships across the country in 2007. Ford officials weren’t willing to comment on how many of the Foose designed cars would be up for sale, but if Foose’s past contributions are anything to go by, these latest cars will be produced in a very limited run. Foose has worked on previous projects for Ford, including the 2006 Foose “Stallion” Mustang, which quickly became one of the most sought after Mustangs of the year. Foose has also played a key...
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Honda’s 500HP Element-D drift car
Honda has created the Element-D drift car, which it has unveiled at the SEMA auto show. Based on the regular Honda crossover, the Element-D racer replaces the stock four-cylinder engine with a custom twin-turbo 3.2-liter Honda V6 mounted longitudinally and driving the rear wheels only. The...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
VW’s Thunder Bunny & R GTI hot hatches at SEMA
When the original Thunder Bunny Golf GTI tuned by California based firm Automotive Performance Systems (APS) was delivered to Motor Trend magazine late in 1981, the testers wrote that “the little white wonder packs its own kind of lightning-quick rabbit punch — one that’s...
Ralph Hanson -
Saab 9-7X Aero Concept Debuts at SEMA
Saab has teamed up with Los Angeles customizer DUB, to give the slow selling 9-7X SUV some much needed attention. Highlights of the package include the 24-inch custom propeller style wheels that look almost identical to the wheels from Saab’s Aero X concept, new fenders with side vents and...
Alex Kaufmann -
MUGEN prepped Honda Civic Si Sedan at SEMA
Honda revealed a prototype Civic Si Sedan enhanced by its MUGEN tuning arm at SEMA this week. The car comes equipped with a high performance suspension kit, forged aluminum wheels, aerodynamic body styling plus a cat-back sport exhaust kit. This is no hyped up concept either, the Civic MUGEN Si is...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Volvo's hot C30 tuner concepts
Volvo has finally unveiled the three C30 concepts it developed for SEMA with the help of tuning companies Evolve, Heico, and IPD. Built purely as design concepts and prototypes, each tuner took a decidedly different take on what the ultimate Volvo C30 could be. Volvo supplied each company a...
Ralph Hanson -
Hennessey has taken the already menacing Dodge Viper and turned it into a 585-cubic inch (9.5-liter) monster, just in time for Halloween. You’d expect that this much displacement would deliver a mountain of torque, and thankfully the Venom 800R, as its known, doesn’t disappoint. Claimed figures read 810 horsepower and a matching 810 pound-feet of twist. To make that kind of power, engineers had to modify all the internals including adding forged pistons, ported heads, a big bore custom header and exhaust system, plus a cold air intake. The entire process takes the tuning house...
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Dual-speed supercharger for HUMMER H3
Europe’s Antonov, a specialist in automotive technology, has developed a two-speed gearbox that it’ll showcase at next week’s SEMA show in a Hummer H3 and Ford Mustang GT. Providing a massive boost to power and torque during mid-range rpm levels, the system will be tested and...
Ralph Hanson -
Ethanol injection improves vehicle efficiency
Scientists have found that injecting small amounts of ethanol fuel into a regular gasoline engine during moments of peak demand, such as accelerating hard or climbing a steep hill, could actually improve fuel efficiency by between 20 and 30 percent. Work is being carried at the Massachusetts...
Ralph Hanson -
New MINI tuned by John Cooper Works
John Cooper Works, the creators of the original 1961 Mini Cooper, has applied the performance treatment to the new MINI and has come away with a vehicle that’s sure to be a menace. Performance figures are yet to be released, but these latest images of the modded car give away some key...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Chrysler 300C Pullman Set For SEMA
The Big Three will be out in full force at this year’s SEMA show, and we can confirm that Chrysler will be unveiling a long wheelbase version of the 300C labelled the Pullman. The name actually comes from the stretched Mercedes Benz limos of yesteryear, and this Chrysler version will...
Ralph Hanson -
HAMANN turns up the heat on the BMW Z4 M
HAMANN has completely modified the Z4 M Coupe inside and out, with new changes that include a more aerodynamic bodykit, increase in output of 15bhp and 20Nm, unique 19 or 20inch alloys, quad exhaust tips and a lowered suspension kit. The most dramatic change is definitely the striking front...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Crazy European tuner Geiger Cars has just unveiled its most hideous vehicle yet. The HUMMER GT is a modified H2 complete with gullwing doors, giant 30-inch wheels, and a 556hp (409kW) supercharged engine. The conversions include a custom light blue/orange paint job, engine upgrade with stainless steel exhaust and a specially calibrated ECU, lower suspension by about 100mm, and sport anti-sway bars for reduced tilt while fast cornering (we wonder whether that’s even possible). With these updates, the HUMMER GT can hit 0-62mph in under 8s and has a max speed of 225km/h. Inside, you get...
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Corvette-based Anteros Coupe and Convertible heading for SEMA
After showcasing the Anteros XTR Convertible at last year’s SEMA show, the company plans to display a new Coupe and Targa version of the same car alongside the original roadster. All three cars are built off the Corvette C6 platform with bodywork that’s reminiscent of the European...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
VW Touareg becomes pickup truck
Pictured above is a pickup version of the Volkswagen Touareg SUV that has had its rear section chopped off and replaced with an aluminium tray. The vehicle is based on an extended platform of the standard SUV and was built by Volkswagen as a concept back in 2000. Now, VW Individual has developed a...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
DIY gadgets for your car
Sometimes, doing things yourself can be extremely worthwhile and fun as well. Nowhere is this truer than when it comes to tinkering with your car. Nowadays, there are a multitude of cheap electronic gadgets that you can install in your car, and most of them can be done over a single weekend. One of...
Ralph Hanson -
The DC designed Rolls Royce coupe
After the huge response we experienced with the DC Design three-door Cayenne, we thought it’d be a good idea to put up some new images of one of the design company’s previous "masterpieces", a Rolls Royce inspired coupe. Official details are scarce, but we believe the car is based on...
Alex Kaufmann -
Ford’s going all out for SEMA
We previously reported that GM was planning to display modified Buick Lucernes at the SEMA show, to tap the lucrative $3 billion aftermarket industry. The latest news is that Ford will debut several cars and trucks including specially modified Shelby GT500s and the first show appearance of the new...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran