Tag Archives: Tuning

Widebody Trans Am With 808 HP Pits Itself Against A 600 HP BMW E36 Time Attack Car

Hoonigan’s ‘This vs. That’ drag racing series routinely pits some of the quickest cars on four wheels against each other and in this latest clip, brought together a Plymouth Trans Am and a BMW E36 3-Series. However, both have been heavily tuned.

The owner of the 1970 Trans Am featured has gone to town overhauling his muscle car, outfitting it with a 6.5-liter LSX V8 that churns out no less than 808 hp. Coupled to this engine is a G-Force GF4A transmission that powers the rear wheels.

There is clearly no mistaking this Trans Am from a regular, road-going example as it features flared front and rear wheel arches. The interior has also been completely stripped out, meaning it weighs only 3,165 lbs (1,435 kg).

Read Also: Is This The Facelifted 2022 BMW 3-Series?

As impressive as this Pontiac is, the BMW 3-Series it raced is equally as unique. It’s been designed as a Time Attack car and has also undergone an engine swap that saw a massive 7.3-liter V8 slotted under its hood. It also features a sequential transmission, is rear-wheel drive, and tips the scales at 2,700 lbs (1,224 kg).

During the first race, the driver of the Trans Am messed up a gear change, allowing the BMW to take an easy win. The second rolling race, by comparison, was extremely close with the Pontiac taking the win by roughly one foot, meaning it was all to play for in the third and final race.

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Brabus 3.6S Lightweight Is A Hardcore 190E With A 286 HP 3.6-Liter Straight-6 And Two Seats

Brabus has created some pretty remarkable cars over the years and the one-off 3.6S Lightweight is one of its most special.

The German tuner revealed a prototype of the hardcore 3.6S in 1988 as a stripped-out take on the 190E with virtually no creature comforts and just two seats. Customers wanted something more practical so the eventual production model added back some features including the air conditioning and rear seats. Fast forward to 2008 and Brabus PR director Sven Gramm commissioned the company to produce a one-off 3.6S Lightweight just like the original concept. This is it and it is currently up for sale through eBay.

Read Also: The Mercedes 190E Hatchback That Never Was: The Bizarre Story Of The 190E City

Powering the car is a 3.6-liter naturally aspirated straight-six with 286 hp and 269 lb-ft of torque. The car also features a modified engine cooler, modified transmission oil cooler, and a bespoke differential oil cooler in the rear spoiler, as well as a stainless steel exhaust system and modified manifolds. It can hit 60 mph (96 km/h) in 6.3 seconds and tops out at 158 mph (254 km/h).

Gramm happily drove around in the one-off 3.6S Lightweight after it was built before selling it to its current owner. It was first registered in the UK in 2017 and currently has just 6,487 miles (10,439 km) under its belt.

As you would imagine, the car isn’t cheap and is being sold through Fast Classics in the UK for £99,995 ($138,207). Interestingly, we wrote about the same car three years ago when it was also being sold by Fast Classics, with an asking price of £131,995 ($182,436).

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Ferrari F8 Tributo Amped Up With 3D-Printed Body Kit

Aftermarket tuning specialist 1016 Industries has previewed the 3D-printed bodykit it is developing for the Ferrari F8 Tributo.

The tuner dubs the bodykit the ‘Rampante’ and it starts at the front end with a new carbon fiber lip spoiler that’s complemented by carbon intake vents. There are also new carbon headlight trimmings and carbon on the hood.

Alterations continue along the sides and include 3D-printed skirts, while the rear end has undergone the most obvious changes with a bespoke diffuser, lip spoiler, and J-shaped vents. Complementing the body modifications will be a new exhaust with X pipes and downpipes from 1016.

Read Also: Wheelsandmore Releases 805 HP Upgrade For The Ferrari F8 Tributo

The parts of this bodykit, which is priced at $46,640, aren’t just for looks, though; they are also functional. For example, the headlight vents improve airflow while a suction duct in the middle of the front lip directs air under the body. 1016 Industries has also ensured that the individual parts of the kit fit on the OEM housings and fitments to eliminate the need to cut or drill the original bodywork.

“The Ferrari F8 is an iconic vehicle that celebrates automotive excellence and prestige, and we knew we needed to debut our brand-new permanent 3D printed carbon fiber kit for this special project,” chief executive of 1016 Industries, Peter Northrop, said. “As we continuously look for innovative design ideas, we couldn’t pass up the opportunity to explore the true capabilities of turning a 3D print into a permanent kit available to our customers. The 1016 Industries F8 is made for automotive enthusiasts looking to put a completely unique spin on this elite supercar.”

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Classic Recreations’ Shelby Mustang GT500 CR Is An 810 HP Carbon Fiber Beast

Saving weight is very hard to do. Yet, Classic Recreations has managed to save a whole wack of it thanks to a full carbon fiber body.

The company is the only one licensed to make Shelby continuation cars and it partnered with SpeedKore for its carbon-fiber know-how. Together, they’ve made a Shelby GT500 CR that weighs 600 lbs less than steel-bodied cars.

In order to make it, the company first scanned a real Classic Recreations 1967 GT500CR and designed a carbon fiber body in CAD. Once molded, the carbon body panels were autoclave-cured. That means that they can be exposed (they’ll also paint them if you want), so the company was sure to make the weaves match from panel to panel.

As a result of the lower weight, the “Carbon Edition” GT500 comes with a Detroit Speed suspension, JRI Coilovers, and a quadralink rear suspension. It also features high-performance Wilwood brakes to make sure it stops as quick as it scoots.

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Also Read: Ford Built The Final Mustang Bullitt In Late 2020

Under the carbon hood, there’s a 5.2-liter Gen3 Coyote V8 with stainless steel headers and a Ford 10R80 10-speed automatic transmission. The one in these pictures makes 810 hp, but the carbon-fiber upgrade is available on GT500CR 900C, 900S, and 545 models as well.

Inside, you get an Alcantara headliner, Kicker audio system, a Kenwood media system, ProCar leather seats, and custom red gauges.

The company unveiled the images of the first completed production car at Motorsport Ranch in Texas on February 2. The location was a reference to Carroll Shelby’s lineage and the date a reference to when he started building the first Cobra in 1962.

Carroll’s grandson Aaron Shelby was on hand to observe the latest iteration of the car his kin launched.

“Shortly after my grandfather beat Enzo on the track at Le Mans, Carroll and Ford engineered the all-new 1967 Shelby GT500 as a ‘Ferrari killer’ for the street,” said Aaron Shelby. “Fifty-five years later, this car has new life with the capabilities to take on Europe’s biggest names once again. I’m proud of Classic Recreations’ efforts to keep Carroll’s dream alive.”

Prices for the carbon fiber-bodied Shelby GT500CR start $265,000, but the Carbon Edition is priced at $298,000.

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VW Golf Mk8 1.5 TSI Gets 189 HP, Lowering Springs And 19-Inch Wheels

Even though it was unveiled more than a year ago, we haven’t seen that many tuners take on the new generation Volkswagen Golf.

Barracuda Racing Wheels is one of the few who have, and they have unveiled a custom project that boasts several upgrades.

The biggest one is a new control unit for the 1.5-liter turbocharged petrol engine. Signed by RaceChip, it has raised the output and torque of the four-banger from the standard 150 PS (148 HP / 111 kW) and 250 Nm (184 lb-ft) to 192 PS (189 HP / 141 kW) and 318 Nm (235 lb-ft).

Read Also: The VW Golf Is Europe’s (And Germany’s) Best Selling Car For 2020

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Although the tuner refrained from releasing any performance data, the stock hatchback needs 8.5 seconds for the 0 to 100 km/h (0-62 mph) acceleration and has a 224 km/h (139 mph) top speed.

A set of Eibach sport springs have lowered the ride height, while also leaving room under the arches for Barracuda’s Tzunamee Evo rims. The Y-spoke set has a dark gunmetal finish, measures 8.5×19 inches on both axles and is shod in 235/35 tires.

Schwabenfolia’s custom wrapping with a unique design rounds out the styling.

As this is a custom project, interested parties will have to reach out to each company to get all features presented here. While they are at it, they might also want to check out what other tuning companies have in store. JMS, for one, offers a visual makeover and a few performance upgrades too, while for a more aggressive look, you could turn to Ingo Noak Tuning and Autohaus Gerken.

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Customized Porsche Carrera ‘GT-R’ Is A One-Off Built For The Track

A rare Porsche Carrera GT that’s been modified and turned into a track-day weapon is currently up for sale in Germany.

This Carrera GT was delivered new to Belgium in 2005. Soon after, it was sent to GPR Racing where it was fitted with a host of upgrades designed to improve its racetrack credentials. These upgrades cost a cool €220,000 (~$270,000).

Read Also: Porsche Carrera GT Is Already 20 Years Old, Happy Birthday You Stunning Analogue Supercar

Key upgrades include bespoke wishbones and pushrods, a new AP Racing braking system, an integrated air lift system, a high-performance clutch, a safety cage, BBS magnesium wheels, an automatic fire extinguishing system, and a fuel system that meets motorsport specifications. The car also includes a Motec control unit.

According to the listing at Mechatronik, the owner intended on racing the car in the World Endurance Championship but regulation changes prevented him from doing so. With no chance of competing, it was parked in the owner’s collection where it has been collecting dust ever since.

The tweaked 5.7-liter naturally aspirated V8 engine pumps out 650 hp and the car likely drives just as well as it did new because it has just 1,243 miles (2,000 km) on the odometer.

Unsurprisingly, it doesn’t come cheap. In fact, it has an asking price of €849,000 ($1.04 million), but when you consider that many standard Carrera GTs are fetching over $1 million, it doesn’t sound like such a bad deal after all.

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BMW M2 CSL Turbomeister Edition Has 2002 Hommage Concept Inspired Looks And 513 HP

We’ve seen quite a few tuned BMW M2s over the years, yet not many are as crazy as this 2018 Competition model. Unofficially named the M2 CSL Turbomeister Edition, it is a privately owned car that has been comprehensively modified.

Topaz was in charge of protecting the orange (Inka 22 – a BMW historical color used on the 2002) and black body, and the special decals, whereas Alpha-N signed the carbon roof. The performance exhaust system, whose quad tailpipes are housed in the new diffuser, came from Akrapovic, the 19-inch wheels bear BBS’ signature and the matte black side skirts were made by AC Schnitzer.

At the same time, BMW’s design department allowed the owner to check out the 2002 Hommage Concept from 2016 in real life for inspiration.

See Also: BMW Shows Off Hardcore M2 CS In New Gallery

A full suspension kit from AST was installed, while the front brakes discs were replaced by smaller offerings from Nashin that keep the six-pot calipers in place. This move alone has allowed the car to shed 16 kg (35 lbs), and all the mods resulted in a total weight reduction of more than 110 kg (243 lbs). The brake lines were swapped for new ones and the brake pads were also changed. The rear axle retains the stock brakes, although all four calipers were painted orange.

In addition to the aftermarket titanium exhaust, the M2 CSL Turbomeister features an Eventuri air intake and a few other mods that have lifted the output and torque of the twin-turbo 3.0-liter straight-six to 520 PS (513 HP / 382 kW) and 660 Nm (487 lb-ft). This represents a 110 PS (108 HP / 81 kW) and 110 Nm (81 lb-ft) increase over the stock car, which does the 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) sprint in just a little over 4 seconds with the optional seven-speed DCT transmission, before maxing out at 250 km/h (155 mph), or 280 km/h (174 mph) with the M Driver’s Package.

Greeting users upon opening the door are the bespoke puddle lights, and once inside, they will see the Alcantara and leather wrapped steering wheel with red 12 o’clock marker and custom paddle shifters. It also sports carbon fiber and Alcantara for the gear shifter and handbrake lever, M Performance pedal covers and an additional display mounted in the middle of the dashboard for the diagnostic data.

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Novitec’s Upgraded Lamborghini Urus Is An Absolute Weapon

The Lamborghini Urus is a pretty remarkable piece of machinery. Novitec has made it even more impressive.

Three powertrain upgrades are offered by the tuner for the Urus and the example featured in this video has been adorned with the most potent of modifications, meaning its 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 engine now churns out 771 hp and 761 lb-ft (1,032 Nm) of torque, impressive gains of 130 hp and 134 lb-ft (180 Nm) over a standard Urus.

Thanks to the additional horsepower and torque, the car can accelerate to 62 mph (100 km/h) in a mere 3.3 seconds, making it 0.3 seconds quicker than the standard model. In addition, the SUV’s top speed climbs 3 mph up to 193 mph (310 km/h).

Read More: Novitec Makes Lamborghini Urus Look Less SUV, More Hyper Hatch

Any vehicle with performance like this needs an exhaust to match and that’s exactly what Novitec’s Urus has. In fact, the bespoke exhaust even includes a remote-operated flap system that varies how loud it is. In the open mode, the exhaust cracks and pops much more than the standard model.

Novitec has also worked comprehensively on the looks of the Urus. Customers looking for the most outlandish upgrade package can opt for the widebody kit that widens the front by 4-inches (10 cm) and 5-inches (12 cm) at the rear. There are also new front and rear bumpers to match the aggression added by these flared arches, as well as a plethora of gloss carbon fiber accents.

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Novitec’s N-Largo Kit Gives Ferrari 812 Superfast All-Carbon Body, 829 HP

Most people would agree that the Ferrari 812 Superfast is a superb automobile – and they’d be right. However, Novitec decided to make it all the more impressive with its N-Largo kit.

Two Novitec N-Largo 812 models are featured in this video. The first is finished in red and looks incredibly mean. However, it is not this example that is the highlight of this video. Instead, it is the one with exposed carbon fiber N-Largo kit featured in the latter half of the clip that was put through its paces at the Red Bull Ring in Austria that really got our attention.

Read More: Novitec N-Largo Ferrari 812 Superfast Is Wider, Faster, Stronger

Immediately making the Novitec N-Largo 812 stand out from the regular model is a bespoke widebody kit that widens the rear end by 140 mm (5.5-inches) and the front by 70 mm (2.75-inches), giving the powerful grand tourer an even more imposing stance.

Elsewhere, the N-Largo kit includes a custom suspension setup that includes new sport springs which lower the ride height by 35 mm (1.4 inches). Customers can also opt for a Front Lift system that raises the nose by approximately 1.6 inches (40 mm).

As for the engine, Novitec has re-mapped the ECU of the 6.5-liter naturally aspirated V12 so it now delivers 829 hp at 8,750 rpm and 554 lb-ft (751 Nm) of peak torque at 7,300 rpm. Thus, the modified 812 can hit 62 mph (100 km/h) in 2.8 seconds and sounds pretty incredible doing so.

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This Customized Chevy HHR Pickup Channels The El Camino

The 2000’s were rife with retro-inspired models including the Chrysler PT Cruiser and reborn Mini Cooper.

Chevrolet also got in on the fun as they introduced the SSR and HHR. While the latter wasn’t as interesting as the convertible pickup, one HHR owner decided to transform their five-door hatchback into a two-door truck.

Currently listed on Facebook Marketplace for $6,500 (£5,005 / €5,515), the model is a part HHR and part pickup. Details are limited, but the rear doors give way to a custom truck bed that follows the lines of the original model.

Also Read: Chevy Introduces HHR SS With 260 HP

This gives the truck a high quality appearance, but there are some downsides. Most notably, there’s no drop down tailgate or rear window. The latter decision likely creates sizeable blind spots, but it freed the owner to have a bald eagle graphic on the back of the passenger compartment.

The interior largely carries over, but cheap-looking bowtie badges have been added above the door sills. The bowtie design can also be found on the back wall which is covered in some rather tragic upholstery.

Since the truck is based on a 2010 HHR and is FlexFuel capable, it presumably has a 2.2- or 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine. The smaller engine is rated at 155 hp (116 kW / 157 PS), while the larger unit develops 172 hp (128 kW / 174 PS).

Regardless of what’s under the hood, the truck has 265,000 miles (426,476 km) on the odometer. That’s a lot but, if you’re in the market for an HHR-based pickup, this is one of your only options.

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