All posts in “Tuning & Aftermarket”

Manthey Racing Reveals Performance Kit for 992 GT3

Tuning company and Porsche Motorsport affiliate, Manthey-Racing GmbH, have just revealed their first upgrade package for the new 992-gen Porsche 911 GT3 road car. Known more amicably as ‘Manthey Racing‘, the world renown P-car specialists have grown their reputation and fine-tuned their products on the Nürburgring Nordschleife, where their ‘MR’-equipped performance cars undergo the most rigorous of quality assurance benchmarks available on the planet.

With a proven track record (pun intended) over many years of providing measurable improvements, even to Porsche’s most impressive factory road cars, this latest iteration of the 911 GT3 MR is an amalgamation of all that experience in combination with Porsche’s best interpretation of the car to date. Needless to say, Manthey Racing isn’t your typical tuning company—in fact, Porsche AG owns a 51% stake in the company and have also recently incorporated Manthey products into their own Porsche Tequipment catalogue. Other recent works include the 991.2 GT3 RS MR, GT4 MR and GT4 Clubsport.

Now on to the good stuff; the newest MR car follows a similar formula to recent models, with a Manthey/KW suspension system, lightweight wheels, a brake upgrade kit and aerodynamic enhancements bringing the car to new heights both emotionally and quantifiably. Faster lap times, better performance, an enhanced connection between driver and machine, and the confidence to push the car harder than ever before, are some of the expected side effects of the MR package.

Arguably the most notable MR signatures on the car are the carbon fiber rear-wheel Aerodiscs—fitted exclusively to the Manthey OM-1 wheels—which help direct airflow more efficiently to the rear wing while providing the car with a truly distinctive appearance. First seen on the 991.2 GT3 RS MR, Aerodiscs are becoming an increasingly popular item in both the tuning and broader enthusiast communities as they are something that can make a car more distinguishable just on their own. A reimagined front splitter, rear wing assembly and diffuser (plus the addition of front dive planes) make up the remaining aerodynamic elements.

While the most apparent reason for giving any Porsche automobile the ‘Manthey Racing treatment’, is to push the performance envelope of the car, the company has been unequivocal in maintaining (if not enhancing) the factory car’s more road-going qualities. This means that owners of a GT3 MR can continue to enjoy the car as much on the public roads as they would on the race track, with the company going on to recommend doing it all on the same day to boot—race it at the circuit, then drive it to the opera, if you will.

“The team at Porsche in Weissach presented us with a big challenge when they produced the new GT3. Our goal of improving the performance of the Porsche GT models even further for track use, without making too many changes to the car’s essential DNA, and, at the same time, coming up with an attractive package for customers who love to drive on the track, has meant a lot of work for us with the new model. Alongside the performance, I’m also really pleased with the car’s appearance.” – Stefan Mages, Manthey Racing Head of Development

The company has promised that their 992 GT3 MR performance kit will be available for purchase in early 2022, although there is no word yet on pricing. As a Porsche-endorsed product, adding it on to the car will not void the warranty either. So, only one question remains for owners of the new GT3: “When are you ordering yours?”

Porsche 911 GT3 MR 992 Porsche 911 GT3 MR 992 Porsche 911 GT3 MR 992 Porsche 911 GT3 MR 992 Porsche 911 GT3 MR 992 Porsche 911 GT3 MR 992 Porsche 911 GT3 MR 992 Porsche 911 GT3 MR 992 Porsche 911 GT3 MR 992 Porsche 911 GT3 MR 992

December 17, 2021 / Comments Off on Manthey Racing Reveals Performance Kit for 992 GT3
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Restomod Culture is Just Getting Started (& Finally Going Mainstream)

The concept of restomods is an intriguing one indeed within the dynamic space that’s the automobile industry. The term is reserved for cars, primarily classics that have been ‘restored’ and ‘modified’ (hence the name, restomod) in some way. It is a seamless combination of the ‘old’ and ‘new’ that allows enthusiasts to really get the best of both worlds.

A restomod retains the timeless design elements of the original classic car on which it’s based, wrapped around a modern framework that boasts improvements to safety, handling and comfort. In addition, the modification process crucially takes care of performance flaws found in the original vehicle and is one of the main appeals of the restomod culture.

It may not be as popular as other aspects of car culture like JDMs and the body kit craze. But don’t bet on restomods fading away anytime soon. All the signs indicate that this fascinating aspect of gearhead culture is on a fast track to even more popularity and fame.

The Roots of Restomod Culture

Restomods are not a new trend and have been around for several decades in one form or the other. To understand, you need to realize that the ‘50s automotive scene spawned two primary forms of car enthusiasts.

On the one hand, you had the collectors mainly after cars that could be shown off at car shows, the so-called ‘garage queens.’ These people cared less about performance attributes as the vehicles did not get driven around much. The second group were the hot rodders, adrenaline junkies who craved more from their cars in the form of engine power, improved brakes, and other components that significantly elevated the driving experience.

It did not take long for a third group to emerge; those interested in both the car’s styling and performance. This set of people actively sought ways to merge a car’s styling with upgraded performance mods. These classic cars not only got to retain their original design but also received the latest brakes, engines, and other mechanical parts for better performance.

Orange 1970 Pontiac Firebird Restomod in showroom
Orange 1970 Pontiac Firebird Restomod in showroom
 Image Source: Via Motorious

There are those within the car community that kick against this idea. They believe classic cars should be left in their original state, and yes, some of the icons from the classic era are best left alone. The only drawback is that most of these cars are undrivable today, especially with current regulations and emissions standards.

Resto-moded cars offer a workaround here. They retain the visual impact missing from many of today’s automobiles and still allow owners to drive a ‘classic’ that’s practical, reliable and entertaining.

Restomod Culture: A Growing Trend

Technological advancements have played a significant role in the growing popularity of restomods. Sophisticated techniques like CNC (Computer Numerical Control) machining can now be used to manufacture custom aftermarket parts that would have otherwise been unavailable. In most cases, these bits prove even more reliable than the factory pieces they replace during the restomod process.

The easier access to a wider variety of parts has helped lower entry barriers to the world of restomods. Now, everyone from budding enthusiasts to established shop owners can spend less time hunting for materials and more time focusing on the actual restomod builds, relying on a host of modern technological methods to help execute their vision.

Then you have the internet, an inexpensive platform that’s allowed restomod builders to showcase their creativity to a large number of people unrestricted by physical boundaries. So far, the audience is lapping it all up. Restomods not only look superb in high-res photos, but they also sound great in videos and look even more impressive when they trump modern sports cars in a match-up at the drag strip or race track.

Social media and online forum communities have played their part in propagating the restomod culture, resulting in viral sensations of the truly standout builds. Examples include the 1969 Ford Mustang Mach 1 ‘Hitman,’ a restomod by Ford-licensed Classic Recreations with 1,000 ponies under the hood.

Speedkore Performance Group also came up with the ‘Hellraiser’, a restomod of the 1970 Dodge Charger with a full carbon-fibre body and a 7.0-litre Hellephant engine that cranked out 1,000-hp and 950 lb-ft of torque.

 Image Source: Via Highsnobiety.
1970 Dodge Charger Hellraiser Restomod by Speedkore
1970 Dodge Charger Hellraiser Restomod by Speedkore
 Image Source: Via Carscoops.

Restomods are popular with classic muscle cars, but other car types like sports cars and even trucks have also been the subject of interesting ideas. For example, there is the classic Porsche 911 Targa reimagined by Singer Vehicle Design, an American company that specializes in modifying Porsche sports cars.

In 2019, an Indiana-based company debuted a restomod based on a 1966 Chevy K30-style truck. It was a $150,000 behemoth with several mods like massive 37-inch tires, Bilstein shocks, extra bracing and a turbocharged diesel engine tuned to produce 550-hp and an insane 1,300 lb-ft of torque!

Porsche 911 Targa Restomod by Singer Vehicle Design
Porsche 911 Targa Restomod by Singer Vehicle Design
 Image Source: Via Carbuzz.
RTech Ponderosa Custom 1966 Chevy Crew Cab
RTech Ponderosa Custom 1966 Chevy Crew Cab
 Image Source: Via Motor1.

Restomods & Electromobility

Electromobility is the next big wave in the automotive industry. It’s a trend that’s catching on with restomods as well. Swapping out traditional internal combustion engines with electric powertrains, complete with motors, batteries and circuitry, is not as inconceivable as it once sounded, thanks again to technological breakthroughs.

1970 Aston Martin DB6 MKII Volante EV
1970 Aston Martin DB6 MKII Volante EV
 Image Source: Green Car Reports

It is still incredibly niche, but there are already important players involved. Just take the 1970 DB6 MK2 Volante Restomod, an all-electric restomod introduced by Aston Martin in 2019 and available to interested clients for about $1.7 million per unit.

In November 2021, Hyundai showcased a 1980s Hyundai Grandeur restomod with a futuristic interior, and exterior complete with fancy LED lighting. More importantly, is the fact that the Grandeur is powered solely by electricity. The recently concluded 2021 SEMA also presented an opportunity for Ford to show off a 1978 Ford F-100 electric restomod with 480-hp on tap.

Hyundai Grandeur EV Restomod
Hyundai Grandeur EV Restomod
 Image Source: Green Car Reports
1978 Ford F-100 electric restomod
1978 Ford F-100 electric restomod
 Image Source: Via Insideevs.

Apart from established carmakers, you also have boutique companies like UK-based Everatti and Netherlands-based Voitures Extravert specializing in electrifying classic vehicles from manufacturers including Land Rovers, Fords and Porsches.

Porsche and Ford Electric Restomods by Everatti
Porsche and Ford Electric Restomods by Everatti
 Image Source: Via FordMuscle.

Further down the chain are even smaller outfits and individuals who have attempted to create their own custom electric restomods like the Charge ‘Eleanor’ Ford Mustang with four motors that produce a total of 543-hp and 885 lb-ft of torque.

Charge ‘Eleanor’ Ford Mustang EV Restomod
Charge ‘Eleanor’ Ford Mustang EV Restomod
 Image Source: Via Top Gear

It appears that restomod culture is gearing up to keep pace with the EV revolution, and electric restomods may turn out to be just as popular as the traditional fossil-fuel counterparts sooner than later.

Restomods: Here to Stay

The idea of restomods is bound to get even more entwined with the mainstream car culture as time goes on. Enthusiasts should be happy about that, and those who oppose the idea will do well to get on the bandwagon and applaud the hobbyists bold enough to tackle restomod projects.

Restomods may just turn out to be one of the most important ways by which we can continue to appreciate our favourite classic cars and see them being properly driven on the roads rather than squirrelled away in hidden collections until they rot away and fall apart. Okay, that may be an extreme scenario—but surely you get the point.

December 14, 2021 / Comments Off on Restomod Culture is Just Getting Started (& Finally Going Mainstream)
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The SPOFEC OVERDOSE Rolls-Royce Black Badge Dawn

For some owning a Rolls Royce that came straight from the factory just isn’t exclusive enough, I guess it all depends where you are living, most people in the world don’t even see a real Rolls Royce in their entire life, while others see them driving around daily, especially the Ghost and Cullinan which seem to be more wide-spread than the Dawn for instance, but still, taking a high-end luxury car like this and having it customized beyond what the factory official Coachbuild offers seems just what some clients are craving for … in comes SPOFEC to make dreams come true.

SPOFEC is part of the NOVITEC group, so we’ve been seeing some amazing cars from them for a while now, but SPOFEC puts the focus on Rolls Royce specifically, and more importantly on wide-body conversions of these already impressive luxury cars, I’ve reported about their first car, the OVERDOSE Rolls-Royce Black Badge Cullinan, as if a regular Cullinan isn’t expensive enough, the Black Badge edition is about $150,000 on top of that, and that’s before SPOFEC makes her even wider.

The SPOFEC OVERDOSE Cullinan comes with 10cm (4 inches) wider front fenders and 12cm (nearly 5 inches) rear fenders, this makes the OVERDOSE 212cm wide (83.46 inches) overall, finished in all black, rolling 40mm lower than the factory Culinnan and fitted with a ‘valved’ exhaust system, this big SUV can get loud if you want her to, or whisper-silent as if she’s a factory original, just like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.

The people from SPOFEC took their wide-body conversion onto yet another Rolls Royce, this time it’s called the SPOFEC OVERDOSE RR Black Badge Wraith, the large four-seat coupe with the rear-hinged ‘suicide doors’, and they would only create three units for the entire world of this massive coupe, and while for this model they only added 7 cm to the front with replacement front fenders, the wheel arches at the rear were widened by a massive 13 cm … resulting in an overall width of no less than 208 cm.

I guess they managed to find three fortunate clients for the Wraith coupe because now they unveil the SPOFEC OVERDOSE Rolls-Royce Black Badge Dawn the drop-top version of the Wraith, again limited at just three units, this carbon-fiber wide-body convertible seats four people in utmost luxury and comfort, and again she’s sinister-looking in her all-black dress.

Just like most NOVITEC tuning, the SPOFEC OVERDOSE rolls on bespoke VOSSEN forged wheels, for this occasion in massive 22-inch size, and once again the widebody kit has been designed in corporation with famous Vittorio Strosek, made from high-strength carbon fiber to keep the added parts as light as possible, and in a sublime finish that complements the high standards of the original Rolls Royce.

Just as with the Wraith coupe, this Dawn grows 13cm at the rear hips and 7 cm over the front wheels, creating that famous hourglass shape, a set of side sills with integrated air intakes tunnel air onto the massive rear brakes, covered by the massively wide SPOFEC SP2 forged wheels, 9.5Jx22 rims with 265/35 ZR 22 tires for the front axle, while a set of concave 10.5Jx22 wheels fill the rear fenders, wearing 295/30 ZR 22 performance tires.

SPOFEC can install a module that allows the factory original air suspension to be lowered 40mm in total for added aggressiveness and a lower point of gravity, while the newly designed front fascia effectively reduced lift at high speeds, a standard Rolls Royce Dawn might offer ultimate handling stability from the factory, but SPOFEC found a way to improve on perfection it seems.

Because of the replacement fenders at the front, and their increased width, you’ll need this new front bumper to match the wider stance, while SPOFEC went with a more subtle, clear carbon fiber rear spoiler lip on top of the trunk, still, there is a new rear diffuser too, complete with air vents and everything, just as a final touch.

Keep in mind we are talking about a very large, and subsequently heavy car here, but SPOFEC has come up with a plug-and-play N-TRONIC module, which comes with reprogrammed mapping for both injection and ignition, this pushes the 6.6-liter twin-turbo 12 cylinder engine to 686 hp at 5,400 rpm (an 85 hp increase) and additional torque of 140 Nm totals now at 980 Nm from 1,800 rpm on. Getting from a standstill to 100 km/h takes just 4.6 seconds, while for safety reasons and not to stress those 22-inch tires too much, top speed is electronically limited to 250 km/h.

If you haven’t been able to get the interior of your brand new Rolls Royce Black Badge Dawn to look exactly how you wanted it, which might surprise me with the vast list of options and finishes possible straight from the factory, fear not, SPOFEC has artisans available to make the interior inside your SPOFEC OVERDOSE Rolls-Royce Black Badge Dawn tailor-made just for you, in any color, using any leather type or other upholstery, in an endless variety of designs … if you can dream it, chances are SPOFEC will be able to create it for you.

And just in case these widebody conversions are a little too much for you, and you prefer a more subtle personalization for your Rolls Royce, SPOFEC also has a very nice looking aerodynamic package available for the Ghost:

SPOFEC GmbH is a business division of NOVITEC GROUP located in Germany, you can get in touch with them through their official website: www.spofec.com

December 13, 2021 / Comments Off on The SPOFEC OVERDOSE Rolls-Royce Black Badge Dawn
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A visit to the 2021 Essen Motor Show

I know there is the world-famous SEMA show in Las Vegas, the ultimate event for tuning and customization, but over here in Europe, we have the Essen Motor Show, an annual show (the 2020 version was canceled thanks to the global pandemic) that combines sports cars, tuning & lifestyle, motorsport and classic cars all in one event, and tens of thousands of visitors from all over Europe and even from further away make the trip to Germany in late November to enjoy this impressive, mostly indoor event.

The 2021 edition was the first one after a year of absence, and sadly some strict safety and hygiene rules still exist to date, like wearing a face mask at all times, and I think this has scared away some exhibitors this year, I was able to visit the preview day as a member of the press, and it was obvious not all halls were open this year, and the halls that were in use still had some vast spaces open … it seems the organization really had a hard time filling up the space.

But that didn’t keep me from walking around the Essen Messe for hours and admiring some really amazing cars, all sorts of cars, and that’s what I like about this event, it’s not just about tuning, or classics, or any other segment of automotive interest, it’s about all of them, please enjoy some of the impressions I managed to capture today in the extensive image gallery below:

First up a series of racecars, or race-inspired concepts:

A classic Ford GT
Very menacing looking, black Ford GT racecar
A genuine Lamborghini Gallardo GT3 FL2 racecar prepared by Reiter Engineering GmbH
Amazing looking Audi R8 LMS GT3 evo II
A very wild looking VW Golf
Audi RS3 concept

How about something really different:

the odd ones at the 2021 Essen Motor Show

The massive Mercedes AMG G63 6×6
A classic rat rod, usually there are more on show in Essen
You can’t have an Essen Motor Show without a low rider … or two
A classic Mercedes 500 SEC on an airbag suspension
And then you find a genuine tractor pulling monster at the Essen Motor Show

Tuning mayhem:

A large amount of tuning is always shown at the Essen Motor Show, from the Nissan GTR over the Supra to just about any other make out there:

This extremely wide VW Golf 2 was in fact a mid-engine conversion
Really wide and low riding Nissan GTR
You simply can’t beat an RWB Porsche …
This satin white Wiessmann looked really amazing
It seemed the theme for this Essen Motor Show was widebody …
The Pandem kit does look very impressive, especially with that rear wing
A nice first-gen Honda NSX, in the USA this would be an Acura NSX I guess.
Low, wide, and white … beautiful Porsche on display
If you have it, flaunt it … even if that means leaving the rear bumper in your garage
Ultra wide old school VW Golf in Candy Apple red.
Wide body BMW 3-Series looking mean in this very dark metallic green
I do like the split rear wing on this widebody beauty
How low can you go? Audi R8 V10 on ‘bags’
Nope, the Stradman didn’t have a car in Germany, but it would match his LB-Works Limited Roadster.
Clean and mean, just another Nissan GTR at Essen
If you decide on adding a wrap to your car, get it right the first time and stand out from the crowd
This white Nissan GTR almost looks like it came straight from the track
I just noticed the rear fender and couldn’t resist taking a photo of this Porsche
Prior Design widebody Lamborghini Urus in ‘Lizard Lime’
Really nice Lamborghini Aventador S Roadster in matt black
Not sure what the 384 km/h stood for, but it was a special shade of red indeed

Movie cars

Usually, one or two movie cars are on display at the show, but this year there was a bundle of them

Who doesn’t remember the Dodge Charger from the Dukes of Hazzard series?
A few cars driven by Dominic from the Fast and Furious franchise
Three more cars from the earlier Fast and Furious movies
I just loved this Mustang from Gone in 60 seconds
The red Coyote, from Hardcastle and McCormick
I guess we all know where this car was used in, right?
The Mad Max movie car …
You can’t have a show with movie cars and don’t have this famous DeLorean on display.
Who you gonna call?

The final few, the odd ones:

Absolutely stunning Koenigsegg Regara on display at the 2021 Essen Motor Show, I love that interior.
BMW M4 drift car build, note the exhaust coming out where the rear window used to be!
Who needs a windshield right? Very special looking Mercedes shown here
Classic cars? You’ve asked for it, check out this amazing looking beauty

I had an absolute blast visiting the Essen Motor Show, I did miss a few of the regulars, and for once I walked away without buying one or more scale models for my collection, it’s only a two-hour drive for me, and this show is usually worth it, this year might have suffered a bit from the global pandemic that just doesn’t seem to go away any time soon, so I was already happy they didn’t cancel the show this year, let’s hope the 2022 edition will be back in full force next year.

November 26, 2021 / Comments Off on A visit to the 2021 Essen Motor Show
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Hot Rod Jaguar XJS Convertible

The idea of driving a 6-Liter V12 convertible might be appealing to many, but cars like this usually tend to be in the six figures range, some even closing in on 7 figures … but if you are ok with getting an older, classic model, this 1990 Jaguar XJS Convertible might be an option, currently being listed on BringATrailer, at the time of writing the maximum bid is below $15,000 … so is this a bargain then?

I hope you take a close look at what you would be getting yourself into when you buy this car or any 30-year old classic for that matter, especially with a massive V12 engine under that long hood, while you could argue this is a classic car that will appreciate over time and become very valuable in the long run, right now it’s just an old Jaguar with a very limited interest on the car market, made even worse by the fact this one is a custom one.

A classic, collectible car first becomes just another old car at a certain point in its life, just like this 1990 Jaguar XJS Convertible, old cars don’t have a lot of value and sometimes end up in a car graveyard to die a slow death or become a parts car to keep other ‘old’ cars running. But at a certain moment in time,  some old cars become classics, and then things get interesting as their value goes up, in some cases quite considerably might I add.

In the case of Jaguar, I’m sure we can all agree on the fact that the E-Type is a collector’s classic these days, and quite frankly the XJS models just haven’t reached that point yet, sure there are owner’s clubs out there for this big coupe from the UK, and some of these might demand a nice premium … but this red sample from 1990 with the original style taillights just won’t, and my guess is this specific one will never become a collectible classic either, sorry.

Personally, I rather like the styling and the idea behind the Jaguar XJS, being a successor to the E-Type, the XJS was intended to be a big, comfortable and luxurious GT, and the V12 engined ones were impressive in their own time, the top-of-the-line version, especially in convertible form like the 1990 model presented here … but that’s where the good news ends for this specific model, as in the long run only factory original cars will become collectible, and this red one has been heavily modified.

While this might have been a great idea when this car was ‘current’, owing an older customized car isn’t always a good idea, in this case, the original, numbers-matching 5.3-Liter V12 got destroyed and has been replaced by a more modern 6-Liter V12 engine, still from Jaguar, but taken from the XJR-S sedan, complete with Jaguar Sport cam covers, further upgraded by Hyper Engineering with a cold-air intake and a custom Zytek ECU for increased performance.

To get even more cool air into that Hyper Engineering intake, the headlight pods on this US-spec Jaguar XJS have been altered, the standard dual headlights have been replaced by single units, the inner headlight units were removed, and two custom-made Hyper Engineering cold air intake were fitted, fully chromed to match the rest of the front, and that was only the start of the customization on this XJS Convertible.

An extensive Lister aerodynamic kit was fitted onto this bright red convertible too, consisting of a deeper front spoiler, side skirts, wider rear fenders, a rear diffuser underneath the chromed bumper, and to complete the looks a rear wing sits on the luggage cover, with an opening for the automatic antenna, a very special touch courtesy of Lister is the new engine cover with dual NACA inlets for even more cool air for that large V12 engine.

Many years ago these 17-inch OZ Racing wheels in multi-piece Futura design were very popular, but today they do look rather dated, tires are impressive Dunlop SP Sport 4000 units in a wide 275/40 size, the brakes have been updated in 2001 by Hyper Engineering together with beefier torsion bars … to make the car sound as good as it looked, stainless steel exhaust manifolds joined the replacement engine, and the original three-speed transmission was replaced with a five-speed manual unit from Gretag … it’s obvious not much of the 1990 XJS remains today.

The interior inside this red convertible looks amazing, finished in tan leather on the seats, door panels, central console … there is soft leather and wood everywhere inside this classic Jaguar, with a period-correct Sony cassette stereo complete with a CD changer in the trunk, naturally this convertible GT comes with air-conditioning to keep cool when you close the black cloth roof, which is power operated as you would expect, a custom MOMO steering wheel matched the black leather on the top of the dashboard.

Chassis SAJNW4845LC172726 now has about 31,000 miles on the odometer, which comes down to 1,000 per year on average, and if you would buy this car today, you should just enjoy it, driving around with the top down under the sun, listening to that V12 engine. This isn’t a future collector’s item you should park in your temperature and humidity-controlled garage and just wait for the value to rise … that will not happen for this car, it’s been modified too heavily to become a classic that will be sought after by collectors in a decade or so, collectors look for numbers-matching samples in good condition, not a personalized interpretation like this … so this one is just about having fun with it while it lasts, enjoy it to the fullest and don’t worry about adding miles … just drive it.

July 27, 2021 / Comments Off on Hot Rod Jaguar XJS Convertible
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Fabio Lamborghini unveils Huber Era

There will be only 21 of these Huber ERA built in the entire world, created by Sean-Peter Huber’s own coachbuilding company, the ERA is a facelift based on the Lamborghini Aventador, the first one of these Huber ERA has just been delivered to its owner in the UK, Ciro Ciampi, who is not only the membership Secretary for the Lamborghini Club UK, he is also the founder of the car community Petrolheadonism.

The unveiling of this impressive Lamborghini conversion was held at the former David & Victoria Beckham Estate, complemented by an amazing supercar collection on the grounds, and with the attendance of none other than Fabio Lamborghini himself, who together with Tonino Lamborghini, the latter being Ferruccio’s son, runs the family museum in Italy that showcases several Lamborghini that were important in history, or that actually belonged to Ferruccio Lamborghini himself.

But back to the Huber ERA, created by a passion for car design this car is another homage to the ten year anniversary of the Lamborghini Aventador that was unveiled back in 2011, the ERA comes with replacement units for the entire front bumper, rear bumper right up to the taillights, and an optional trunk, all made from carbon fiber.

The first of only 21 units are already booked, note that the project is fully-funded and independent from Automobili Lamborghini SpA, pricing starts at €30,000 (just over US $35,000), the UK Distributor for Huber is renowned Supercar Service Ltd, who’s founder Raj Singh was very impressed with the ERA kit for integrating perfectly with the Aventador chassis, Super Service Ltd even offers a ‘Flying Partner’ service where they will fly out to you to make sure the Huber ERA kit is fitted exactly as it should assure quality control.

A closer look at the Viola finished Huber ERA

July 26, 2021 / Comments Off on Fabio Lamborghini unveils Huber Era
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The new BRABUS 800 GLE Coupé

Personally, I still think the BRABUS B63S 6×6 is the most impressive ‘car’ this German tuner ever made, agreed, it’s ‘only’ 700 hp, but just look at this one for a second … it’s a six-wheeled, extremely tall Mercedes based beast with portal axles, what more could you ask for? Perhaps a little smaller and possibly less expensive? In that case, a BRABUS 800 based on the Mercedes G-Wagon might be an option, 800 hp in somewhat the same body style (not a pickup mind you), but lower than the 6×6, with regular axles, so less intimidating.

If you want to most extreme SUV possible you’ll be set with the BRABUS 900 ROCKET EDITION, their latest conversion based on the G63 model, limited to only 25 units worldwide at nearly $700,000, this is the one if you really want to have the comfort of a massive off-road vehicle, but still want to reach 100 km/h from a standstill in 3.7 seconds and have a car that doesn’t run out of breath until she reaches 280 km/h … in a car that’s styled like a brick house!

But for argument’s sake, let’s say you’re not a fan of the box-style found on the Mercedes G-Class vehicles … in that case, BRABUS now has an alternative for you, based on the Mercedes-AMG GLE 63 SMatic+ Coupé (try fitting that on the rear fascia in chrome lettering), called the BRABUS 800 SUV Coupe, and you’ve guessed it, this coupe-styled SUV comes with 800 hp from the big V8 engine at the front.

This one comes with a much rounder, more contemporary design compared to the big G-Wagon, and because it’s called an SUV Coupe, there is a sloping rear window, much like on a two-door car, now keep in mind that could mean a little less headroom for the rear seat occupants, but it does look cool nonetheless, something we’ve also seen on the BMW X6 model for instance, but back to the BRABUS 800 SUV Coupe now, which on these presentation photos is finished in black, the trademark color from BRABUS.

When you receive your Mercedes-AMG GLE 63 SMatic+ Coupé from the factory, there will be a 4-Liter V8 twin-turbo engine fitted with 612 hp and 450 kW of torque under your right foot pedal, which isn’t bad already … but it’s nothing compared to what BRABUS will give you after a visit to their workshop in Bottrop, Germany. A power increase to 800 hp (588 kW) and no less than 1,000 Nm of torque … and while this isn’t the 900 hp from the ROCKET G-Wagon version, this SUV Coupe takes only 3.4 seconds to go from 0 to 100 km/h (3 seconds less than the 900 ROCKET) and has it’s top speed electronically limited at 280 km/h (174 mph), so this black beauty will outrun the G-Class ROCKET by 10 km/h.

A lot of this power increase is thanks to the modifications to the base engine, BRABUS has over four decades of experience in this field, adding 188 hp or 138 kW to a modern engine might be more difficult than you imagine, and let’s not forget the base GLE 63 S comes with an integrated mild-hybrid starter generator, so any engine tuning has to take that into consideration too.

To get to a power output of 588 kW (800 hp) at 5,900 rpm and reach a peak torque of 1,000 Nm (737 lb-ft) at a low 3,500 rpm, custom turbos with larger compressor unit, modified core assembly, and reinforced axial bearings are required, these new units can produce a maximum boost pressure of 1.6 bar, add the BRABUS PowerXtra auxiliary control unit and the engine is remapped in terms of injection, boost pressure, and ignition. More importantly, BRABUS engine tuning comes with a 3-year/100,000 km (62,000 miles) warranty.

If you are not ready to go for the full BRABUS 800 package on your Mercedes-AMG GLE 63 SUV, there is also the BRABUS PowerXtra B40 option, this plug-and-play control unit will add 88 hp (64.7 kW) to the base engine effectively creating a BRABUS 700 model in that case, which is still not bad, but that 800 does sound a lot more impressive in the end.

BRABUS engine tuning can be requested on its own, but you really should add their stainless-steel high-performance exhaust system to your order too, if you do something, do it right from the start, with actively controlled flaps in the pipes, and a quartet of massive 90mm (3.5 in) titanium/carbon fiber exhaust tips, I’m sure you’ll have the ‘Sport’ mode set all the time … except when you have to leave early in the morning or arrive late at night … and you are still on speaking terms with your neighbors… in that case, the ‘Comfort’ mode might be a good idea so you don’t wake them up.

Now you have the power and the sound to match … so what’s next? The looks of course, and we wouldn’t be talking about this BRABUS 800 SUV Coupe if they didn’t have a nice aerodynamic package available too, available in either glossy or satin-finished, clear carbon fiber. For the front, you can get a lower spoiler that fits onto the factory original bumper, the BRABUS spoiler comes with vertical stabilizers on either side for that aggressive look, add the custom BRABUS front grille, with their touch of red on two spokes, and you’ve completely transformed the looks of your GLE as seen by your fellow drivers in their rearview mirror.

Air intakes for the front bumper made from carbon fiber are another option from BRABUS, as are the integrated intakes in the grille, on the driver’s side there is even a crosspiece with the famous BRABUS logo, complete with lights that are activated by pulling a door handle or when you approach the super SUV with the key card in its vicinity.

If you did opt for the BRABUS exhaust system, you might want to consider the custom rear diffuser too, made from visible carbon fiber, it is integrated perfectly into the factory original rear bumper, but more importantly, it comes with the perfect openings to fit those 90 mm exhaust tips from the BRABUS sport exhaust system. Beautiful carbon fiber side air vents for the rear bumper are another must-have, especially if you also fit the BRABUS exposed carbon fiber wheel arch extensions and the rear spoiler, which is a three-piece unit for this GLE 63 based BRABUS conversion.

A BRABUS car wouldn’t be complete without a new set of shoes either, so you can choose between Monoblock alloys in different designs and sizes that go from 22 up to 24 inches, the show car on these photos rolls on a set of BRABUS Monoblock Y “BLACK PLATINUM” hi-tech forged wheels, 10×23 inch at the front and an even wider 12×23 on the rear axle, shed with 295/35 R 23 and 335/30 R 23 respectively so those wheel arches are nicely filled, especially with the BRABUS control module for the standard AIRMATIC air suspension that results in a 25 mm (1 in) lowered ride height.

The BRABUS 800 SUV Coupe can be bought as a complete BRABUS vehicle but you can also ship your GLE 62 S to them for conversion, both options are available, as is a complete interior overhaul with the finest leathers and custom stitching patterns, prefer Alcantara, no problem. Aluminum pedals, carbon fiber interior parts, tv screens for the rear … BRABUS can accomplish just about any request a client might have … and if you bring in your existing Mercedes-AMG GLE 63 S you can ask to convert it in stages, so you can save up for the invoice inbetween.

July 25, 2021 / Comments Off on The new BRABUS 800 GLE Coupé
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The Ferrari SF90 Stradale by NOVITEC

The Ferrari SF90 Stradale was actually a special model to celebrate the 90th anniversary of Scuderia Ferrari, and while the main power comes from a twin-turbo V8 engine, the SF90 also comes with three additional electric motors for a total power output of 968 hp (735 kW) with a torque figure of 800 Nm … surely impressive numbers straight from the factory in Maranello, Italy.

But we wouldn’t be writing about NOVITEC if they didn’t manage to upgrade the already potent Ferrari SF90 Stradale, the NOVITEC exhaust system with metal catalysts boosts the overall power to 1,033 hp (760 kW) with 858 Nm of torque, acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h takes only 2.5 seconds after a visit at NOVITEC with a top speed in excess of 350 km/h.

To achieve this increase in power, the NOVITEC exhaust system is created with 100-cell metal catalysts and twin stainless tailpipes that come with a diameter of 112 millimeters, complete with beautiful carbon exhaust tips, this system optimizes exhaust flow and because of the fully thermally insulated pipes the temperature in the engine bay is reduced … if you prefer even more heat control you can always opt for the NOVITEC 999 gold-plating.

The NOVITEC exhaust system is available with, or without electronic sound management, you know, the active control flaps in the exhaust pipes to set the sound to ‘LOUD’ or ‘INSANELY LOUD’, if you want to get the lightest possible exhaust system for your Ferrari SF90 you should get the NOVITEC system in INCONEL, a lightweight material used on Formula One exhaust systems.

While the sound is extremely important, especially on a hybrid car, looks shouldn’t be forgotten other, and to that extend NOVITEC usually teams up with VOSSEN for their forged alloy wheels, and this black Ferrari isn’t any different, a set of high-tech forged wheels made in the USA are fitted, in this case, finished in ‘Bronzino’, but NOVITEC offers 72 different colors to their clients.

These NOVITEC NF10 wheels look like a ten-spoke design, but if you look closely it’s, in fact, a ‘double’ five-spoke design, and thanks to some amazing machining tech, VOSSEN managed to create a set of wheels that perfectly fill out the wheel arches on this Ferrari SF90 Stradale, 9.5×20 inch wheels at the front with 255/35 ZR 20 tires and bigger and wider wheels in 12×21 inch for the rear, this time with massive 325/35 R 21 tires fitted, the staggered dimensions emphasize the wedge shape of this Ferrari.

With custom wheels come the need for lowering a car in my humble opinion, and it seems NOVITEC feels the same way, they offer a set of lowering springs to bring the SF90 30mm lower to the street at the front and 25mm lower at the rear, just enough to make a visual impact, and by lowering the center of gravity, this also improves on handling.

NOVITEC also offers customization for the interior, offering the client the option to color match the leather or Alcantara upholstery to the color they selected on the wheels, but as usual, the demo car doesn’t show any custom interior treatment … I guess now it’s time to wait for NOVITEC to release an aero kit for the SF90, or perhaps even an N-LARGO limited edition.

July 19, 2021 / Comments Off on The Ferrari SF90 Stradale by NOVITEC
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The NOVITEC N-LARGO F8T

A new Ferrari F8 Tributo would be a dream car for many already, but as always, there is a market for upgrading even the most precious supercars, companies like Mansory take that to the extreme with complete overhauls of expensive high-end luxury cars and sports cars, but there is a market in between for customers that like to personalize their prized possession without going all-out, and for those, a company like NOVITEC is perfectly suited, with their aerodynamic package for some of the world’s most popular supercars from Lamborghini or Ferrari.

We’ve covered the Ferrari F8 Tributo by NOVITEC a while ago, the Novitec N-Tronic upgrades the twin-turbo V8 together with a high-performance exhaust system from the factory original 720 hp to 802 hp, while a complete body kit available in clear carbon fiber transforms Maranello’s F8 into an aggressive looking Formula One-inspired road car, as for the rear wing, NOVITEC offers multiple options, either a large version that offers massive downforce or a more subtle styled version that draws less attention.

But things change considerably when you go for the famous N-LARGO version from NOVITEC, usually only available in a limited edition, and a lot wider than the factory original model, hence the N-LARGO name, and now we can finally show you what NOVITEC did to the Ferrari F8 Tributo to create their N-LARGO edition on this V8 powered red beauty, only 15 units of the NOVITEC N-LARGO F8T will be available, and for the incredible styling on this two-seater from Italy we have to thank the famous German designer Vittorio Strosek.

To the casual onlooker, this latest N-LARGO might look like any other red Ferrari, but she is far from a factory standard V8 from Maranello, for instance, the rear has been enlarged by 13 cm to a total of 211 cm width, thanks to wider rear fenders that create a stunning hourglass shape with the added bonus of larger air intakes to feed both the V8 engine and the rear disk brakes of fresh air, an additional plus the fact you can now fit 12-inch wide wheels at the rear.

Same for the front fenders, the NOVITEC N-LARGO replacement units widen the standard Ferrari F8 Tributo by 7 cm and come with some stunning, clear carbon fiber vents above the wheels, in this case, massive 9.5×21-inch NOVITEC NF10 NL hi-tech forged wheels made in cooperation with Vossen in the United States, mind you the rear axle gets a staggered 12×22-inch wheel with five, extremely concave delicate twin spokes, tires are 255/30 ZR 21 and 25 ZR 22 respectively.

Because of the wider fenders both front and rear, NOVITEC had to create a bespoke set of side sills to match the increment, and as always the entire aerodynamic package has been extensively tested in the wind-tunnel for optimum performance in channeling air, but also to make sure they look good, which brings us the front and rear design of this new N-LARGO. The front spoiler receives a pair of side fins for that aggressive look, while the rear comes with its own styling … both are completely replacing the factory original parts to make sure they match the wider fenders perfectly.

The rear comes with a  so-called ‘Ducktail’ spoiler, still rather large, but more integrated into the design than a high rear wing on tall struts, add the NOVITEC rear diffuser for optimum downforce on this new N-LARGO, and just to really finish the aggressive styling on the exterior, NOVITEC offers a new engine cover, available in clear carbon fiber, and with an integrated air intake that boasts a scoop mounted just above the roofline, and it effectively optimizes air circulation in the engine bay.

And while you can opt for all these NOVITEC N-LARGO parts to be painted to match the car, I would go for this clear carbon fiber finish, and even get the optional cowl for the front hood in the same lightweight material, you can also get carbon fiber covers for the factory mirrors, however, NOVITEC also lists N-LARGO bespoke side mirrors and quarter lights … all made from lightweight carbon fiber naturally.

The NOVITEC N-LARGO rides about 35 mm lower to the street than the original Ferrari F8 Tributo, which could cause problems getting into your garage, or drive onto a speed bump, but fear not, NOVITEC has you covered here too, raising the car by about 40 mm at the touch of a button … just press the button again to go back to a more ground-hugging stance, or speed up to 80 km/h after which the car lowers itself automatically.

With looks like this new N-LARGO, you just need the power to match, so NOVITEC can increase the original power output by 98 hp to an impressive 818 hp at 7,960 rpm, with 903Nm of torque at 3,100 rpm, not only by fitting a NOVITEC N-TRONIC control module to the engine but also by installing a bespoke exhaust system with carbon fiber and stainless steel exhaust tips, while the rest of the exhaust system can be made from extremely light INCONEL.

Even with the additional width of the car and the massively wide wheels and tires that also create additional drag, this NOVITEC N-LARGO can still accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in a mere 2.6 seconds, getting to 200 km/h takes 7.4 seconds … the impressive top speed is above 340 km/h, with only 15 units to be made you might want to get in touch with NOVITEC quickly if this N-LARGO is something that might interest you.

July 5, 2021 / Comments Off on The NOVITEC N-LARGO F8T
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The BRABUS 900 ROCKET EDITION

Just think about these figures for a second … acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.7 seconds, an electronically limited top speed of 280 km/h, powered by a 4.5-Liter Biturbo V8 engine with 900 PS (662 kW) and a massive 1,250 Nm of torque at an RPM of only 2,900 … did that settle in yet? You might be thinking we’re talking about some low-riding, harsh, uncomfortable but stunningly beautiful and aerodynamic supercar … right?

Nope, wrong … this is the brand new BRABUS 900 ROCKET EDITION, and since it’s based on the Mercedes G63 SUV, we are talking about a car with as much aerodynamic styling as a brick house … well, that might be a bit harsh, but you get the idea, this is a 2,560 kgs (5,644 lbs) heavy SUV, and she’s wide and tall too, 204 cm (80.3 in) wide and 462 cm (182 in) long, riding on massive 24-inch wheels, 10-inch wide at the front and a girthy 12-inch wide at the rear.

The new BRABUS 900 ROCKET EDITION comes with a serious price tag attached to her, €571,270 ($677,750) including German VAT (which is 19%), but BRABUS will only build 25 units for the entire world, 10 of which will be ready for delivery later this year while the remaining 15 units will join their customers by the end of 2022 … and while BRABUS always unveils their new cars in black or grey, the client can choose from an almost infinite palette of colors for his, or her Super SUV … both on the outside, and on the inside.

So what does BRABUS offer to justify adding about half a million US$ to the MSRP of a top-of-the-line G63 AMG model, which is about $160,000 before adding options, also note our previous article on a BRABUS SUV was about their 800 Black & Gold Edition, which comes in at about €200,000 less than this new 900 ROCKET EDITION … then the latter should really be something utterly amazing and special … right?

Just for this new model, BRABUS created the ROCKET widebody aerodynamic kit that includes some amazing carbon fiber parts, also a new set of Monoblock Z wheels in a massive 24-inch size was developed for the ROCKET EDITION which come with fashionable ‘aero discs’ and the rear wheels are fitted with massively wide 355/25 R 24 tires … that’s Lamborghini tire sizes on a large SUV!

The two demo cars BRABUS prepared to showcase this new 900 ROCKET EDITION are finished in their famous “Signature Black” and “Stealth Grey”, and while the exterior is already extremely impressive (more on that later), it is on the inside where BRABUS fitted their MASTERPIECE interior in the best black leather and individual seats for the rear with a central console that houses a table for comfort, on the dashboard, doors and central console you’ll find a lot of breathtaking carbon fiber being fitted.

But first, back to what makes the BRABUS 900 ROCKET EDITION tick, the highly modified engine, if you know the statistics, the base G63 comes with a 3,982 cm³ displacement V8 engine, BRABUS takes that engine apart and bores out the cylinders to 84 mm and mills a new crankshaft from a solid rod of aluminum … the result is a displacement of 4,407 cm³, but that alone isn’t enough to get a power increase of 315 PS, so BRABUS replaced the factory original turbochargers with a pair of their own, in-house units that are capable of a 1.4 bar boost, a ram-air intake made from carbon fiber makes sure these turbos can draw enough cold air, and just for looks, the engine is covered with a stunningly beautiful, red infused carbon fiber cover.

Some more help to reach that 900 PS output comes from the amazing stainless steel exhaust system fitted by BRABUS, complete with 76 mm downpipes and sport catalysts, and naturally a valved high-performance exhaust, so you can adjust the soundtrack of this impressive V8 depending on your surroundings, most neighbors don’t like you starting this beast at 5 in the morning with the exhaust in ‘Sport’ mode … naturally, the dual, carbon fiber exhaust tips are fitted underneath this supercar and exit fumes just in front of the rear wheels, and to top it all off, BRABUS integrated their ROCKET ambient light into them, just for fun.

We’ve all seen the BRABUS WIDESTAR kit before, used on many Mercedes G-Wagon conversions from this Bottrop based manufacturer, but for their ultimate, limited edition version of the G63 they created a new version of their famous aerodynamic kit, using more visible carbon fiber on the outside than before, adding vertical stabilization fins to the front bumper, but also a new front grille with ROCKET logo and the required ram-air intakes for the turbochargers behind it.

We also note the ROCKET Startup Glow and illuminated ROCKET logo, but you just can’t miss those massively wide wheel arch extensions from BRABUS, made from carbon fiber for both the front fenders and the rear axle, they add 10 cm of width to the base G63 model, and they flow perfectly from the new front and rear bumper into a pair of side sills that are LED lighted in the dark, naturally a stylish roof spoiler and an aggressive-looking rear diffuser are also part of the ROCKET EDITION kit.

At the rear, the spare tire is removed from the door and BRABUS puts a carbon fiber cover over the attachment, also at the front, the original engine cover gets an add-on from BRABUS that completely changes the front, the ROCKET EDITION is extremely aggressively styled, from every angle, but it also comes with creature comforts like LED mounted underneath the side sill that illuminates the floor when you want to step out of the car at night.

A wider body requires a special set of wheels, and these come in the form of the new BRABUS Monoblock Z “Platinum Edition” units, 10×24 inch for the front, 12×24 inch for the rear, fitted with 295/30 ZR24 and 355/25 ZR 24 respectively, either from Continental, Pirelli, or Yokohama, whichever the client prefers, or can source locally when it’s time to replace them, and trust me, with this much power in such a heavy car, these tires will wear quickly, even without the occasional burnout or donut.

And that concludes only the exterior and engine … now comes probably the best part, the interior, which is completely customized by BRABUS saddlery, yes, they have their own, in-house saddlery to create some of the most beautiful and bespoke interiors, in whatever color the customer wants, and that not only includes the leather hides, but also the Alcantara, the stitching, the perforation and even a tint of the carbon fiber used … at BRABUS the sky is the limit when it comes to creating a bespoke interior … but it seems they do like black at BRABUS nonetheless.

A total of 206 parts will get the BRABUS touch if you go all the way on the interior, and this includes some amazing shell-shaped quilting on the leather seats and door panels, but you’ll also find leather carpets inside this beauty, contrast stitching to match the exterior color or bright red for even more difference is always possible, BRABUS can even install ambient light inside the air vents if you like.

A lot of magnificent carbon fiber can be found inside the BRABUS 900 ROCKET EDITION too, as are aluminum pedals and door sills, with the BRABUS logo that lights up naturally, and since this limited edition packs a lot more power than the original G63 base car, the tachometer has been increased to 300 km/h (186 mph) so you can see just how fast this 2.5 tons SUV really goes down the road.

On their 900 ROCKET EDITION, BRABUS replaces the rear bench seat with two individual seats and a central console in between them that holds a fold-out table, so you can work in a laptop or tablet while being seated in the rear, both seats are not only heated, but also cooled, and even the cup holders are cooled and heated.

There is even a 4.3″ touchscreen installed at the rear that controls the rear seat adjustments and grants access to the factory original ‘COMAND’ system of the G-Wagon … you can control the sound system with it, turn on the reading lights in the rear. And if that’s too much bother, there is the option of connecting a smartphone via the USB cable and control the COMAND that way, while your phone or tablet gets charged at the same time. BRABUS added a few displays in the headliner so passengers can check the outside temperature, see how fast the driver is going, and find out what time it is, all while the ‘fridge’ in the central console keeps your drinks cooled.

I guess the BRABUS 900 ROCKET EDITION isn’t to everyone’s taste, but seeing how many of these WIDESTAR versions from BRABUS are around, and the fact they create a limited edition model with only 25 units at nearly $700,000 each, there must be a viable market out there for totally insane SUV like this, I for one can’t wait to see one of these behemoths in real life, and possibly experience it, even if it’s only for a short while.

June 20, 2021 / Comments Off on The BRABUS 900 ROCKET EDITION
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The new TECHART GTstreet R

20 years ago, in 2001, renowned Techart presented the first GTstreet model, at that time based on the Porsche 996 Turbo, today the base is the 992 series 911 Turbo or 911 Turbo S, but the philosophy behind these super sports cars for the road has remained the same: combine everyday usability with uncompromised track performance … and that is exactly what the new GTstreet R we are looking at today is, a perfect car made even better and more powerful.

The new TECHART GTstreet R comes with up to 800 hp (588 kW) and a massive 950 Nm of torque … top speed of this German masterpiece is 350 km/h, the list price is €73,000 before VAT on top of the base 911 Turbo or Turbo S, that’s about $87,000 at today’s exchange rates, but there is more … this GTstreet R is a limited edition, each one individually numbered on a plaque in the customized interior.

TECHART offered a nearly limitless range of possibilities for Porsche owners, both in customizing as in performance upgrades since they founded the company in 1987, that is why they will only build 87 units in this new GTstreet R program, which consists of lightweight aerodynamic add-ons, complete with a massive carbon-fiber GT rear wing and stunning TECHART aero discs made from the same material.

The TECHART GTstreet R carbon-fiber aero kit has been painstakingly tested in the wind tunnel, the result is a 400% increase in downforce at the rear and a reduction of 45% in lift at the front at 140 km/h compared to a factory standard Porsche 911 Turbo, and just in case you were wondering about the active aero on the base model … this is retained with the TECHART GTstreet R aerodynamic package.

A combination of painted and clear carbon fiber characterize the new GTstreet R, add the special TECHART lettering in the lower front bumper and pinstriping in any shade possible, and the client will have a hard time choosing from all the personalization possibilities, and this continues with the replacement front hood, with aero indents and air vents that are a testament to just how functional the entire GTstreet R package really is, which is also shown in the wider front fenders with their louvers for even more ventilation.

The side air intakes in front of the rear wheels get a new design from TECHART while a pair of amazing looking side sills connect the front to the rear of the GTstreet R, which is where the fun really starts, the iconic GT design is used for a massive rear wing, complete with air intakes that get air tunneled into them by the special roof spoiler, a new engine cover was required to allow the high-performance to be cooled enough, be it on the open road at commuter speeds, or on the race track at full throttle.

TECHART offers two performance upgrades, their TA092/T1.1 with TECHTRONIC management adds 60 hp (44 kW) for a total output of 710 hp (522 kW) with a maximum torque of 900 Newton meters, but the most powerful TECHART power upgrade to date is called the TA092/T2.1, and this option includes new turbochargers and special engine management software changes, including a modification to the transmission control unit … the result is 800 hp (588 kW) and a massive 950 Nm of torque!

And because we all love a nice soundtrack behind the wheel of our car, a new stainless steel sports exhaust system is also part of the GTstreet R kit, hand-welded with two exhaust pipes fitted centrally in the new carbon fiber rear diffuser, it comes with valve control, so you can have a more civilized sound when leaving the house in the morning, but still enjoy some thundering roars on the track.

Now on this edition of the GTstreet R are the aero discs from TECHART, made specifically for their Formula VI Race forged wheel, these discs are made from carbon fiber with a foam core to reduce weight, wind tunnel testing showed these aero discs offer a lower air resistance compared to running without them, the Formula VI Race wheel is a center-lock rim, and the aero discs are fitted in either glossy or matt carbon fiber, or can be color-coded to the car.

The new TECHART Formula VI forged wheels can be ordered with 265/35 ZR20 on the front axle and 325/30 ZR21 on the rear axle, the German tuner recommends the Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires for track day use but turns to the Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires for normal road use, as well as an occasional stint on a track.

Exterior looks are important, but if you are a car enthusiast that wants to enjoy this TECHART GTstreet R as much as possible, you’ll be spending a lot of time behind the steering wheel, in the cockpit, so with elaborate customization on the outside, the already very nice and luxurious interior of the base Porsche 911 Turbo (S) couldn’t be overlooked … so TECHART interior manufactory comes into the picture.

The sample car we see in these official photos comes with a stunning combination of classic fabrics, leather, Alcantara, and carbon fiber, remember TECHART has its own in-house saddlery that can take the look of Porsche’s historic sports cars into the present, the amazing black and white checkered pattern is just one of those individual touches they can add to the interior of the GTstreet R.

Multiple carbon fiber packages are available from TECHART to convert the interior of the base Porsche 911 Turbo (S) into a CF haven, but on the client’s request the entire cabin, consisting of seats, doors, central console, dashboard, and even the headliner can all be finished in full Alcantara, with aluminum door sills and pedals.

One of the amazing touches TECHART has shown in their previous Porsche interior tuning is their possibility to create a truly bespoke leather perforation combined with their contrast color underneath … on this GTstreet R unit they went with a checkered flag perforation on the door panels and dashboard, also note the TECHART logo is embossed on the top of the door panel by the way.

But one of the most amazing details inside this TECHART GTstreet R is a massive 87 on the center part of the seatback, this is also a perforation that shows a contrast color underneath, and it reminds us of the fact only 87 units will be made available of this high-performance super sportscar from Leonberg, Germany, while the headrest gets a nice GTstreet R embroidery, add some amazing piping and special stitching throughout the interior and this really is a very nice place to be.

Naturally, TECHART didn’t forget the steering wheel, here again with a stunning checkered flag perforation and a 5 mm wide ‘top-center’ mark in a bespoke color, just like the driving mode switch and all the covers found on this steering wheel, also note that all the functions of the base unit are kept in place, like shift paddles or heating … TECHART just makes it look better.

And TECHART isn’t even finished … they are now prepared a Clubsport Package that will come with lightweight performance seats and a roll bar for the interior, but also an adjustable performance suspension as further upgrades for track day use.

June 19, 2021 / Comments Off on The new TECHART GTstreet R
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Rarest ABT ever sold out

We’ve only published the article on the release of the limited edition Johann Abt Signature Edition a few days ago, the car is based on the amazing Audi RS6, of which only 64 units would be built to celebrate the 125th anniversary of ABT Sportsline GmbH, and today the CEO Hans-Jürgen Abt already announces this celebration model is already sold out, all of the 64 units are spoken for in a matter of days.

Today ABT Sportsline GmbH is a globally recognized tuning company, but it all started back in 1896 when Johann Abt laid the foundation for the success, and as an homage, each of the 64 units of the 800 hp Johann Abt Signature Edition will come with a small part of the actual anvil Johann used to form metal on back in 1896 and the years after that before machines took over this method, keeping in mind many artisans still use what is known as the ‘English wheel’ to form metal parts to this date.

The first customer will be receiving his (or her) Johann Abt Signature Edition in July already, the car seen on these photos is the production prototype and comes with a plaque stating ‘0 of 64’, over the next ten months or so ABT will be building 6 of these individual conversions per month due to the extreme level of complexity needed to put together these high-power ‘wagons’, one motorsport mechanic will oversee the process from start to finish.

Enjoy some more photos of this amazing Audi RS6 conversion:

June 15, 2021 / Comments Off on Rarest ABT ever sold out
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RS6 Johann Abt Signature Edition

The Audi RS6 is already a very potent car on her own, with 590 hp in a family estate-looking car, the performance figures might make you think you’re dealing with a supercar, with all the limitations of such a car in terms of practicality … not so with the Audi RS6, there is room for more than 2 people and lots of luggage space in the rear with a large hatch for accessibility, this is a car for fast-paced families that need some room and still want to get to their destination fast.

But there are still clients out there that would like something more, even faster, more aggressive, perhaps a little less practical but with looks to make up for that … in comes German-based tuner ABT, world-famous for their Audi performance upgrades and aerodynamic kits … with the ABT RS6-R, still a wagon as it’s based on the factory original Audi RS6, but with much more aggressive styling, and more importantly, a power increase to 730 hp together with torque raised from 590 lbs-ft to 679 lbs-ft, the ABT RS6-R reaches 60 mph from a standstill in a mere 3.2 seconds.

But the ABT RS6-R was a limited production model of which only 125 were built, and it’s sold out, so it’s time for something new from ABT Sportsline GmbH: the ‘Johann Abt Signature Edition’ as an homage to the founder of the company back in 1896 and to celebrate the 125th anniversary at the same time … this time only 64 units are available, which represents the age at which Johann Abt passed away.

The current CEO, Hans-Jürgen Abt, announced this special celebration model of which they intend to build only six units each month, all hand-built by one motorsport mechanic, in a ‘one man, one vehicle’ system from start to finish, a single person will be responsible for the entire conversion of each car, which is unique and exceptional in the tuning world.

Every single unit of these 64 RS6 Johann Abt Signature Edition cars will come with a unique piece of history … a small section of the original anvil Johann Abt used for many years, this anvil is an irreplaceable piece of ABT history, but instead of hiding it inside a private museum, a piece of it will go into a time capsule inside these anniversary models.

The Johann Abt Signature Edition RS6 is all about performance, 0 to 100 km/h is reached in only 2.91 seconds, which is 0.69 seconds faster than a standard RS 6, 200 km/h takes just 9.79 seconds, and the acceleration to 300 km/h takes less than half a minute, a mere 28.35 seconds which happens to be more than 20 seconds faster compared to the production model, those are some really impressive figures … just in case you are wondering, the top speed is 330 km/h, that’s Lamborghini territory!

This performance is possible thanks to bespoke ABT turbochargers and their own AEC, the ABT Engine Control unit that takes the original power up to a massive 800 hp (589 kW) and torque goes to 980 nM with a 1,000 Nm peak as a possibility, naturally modified intercoolers and additional oil cooler are necessary to keep this kind of power cooled, which is where the new aerodynamic pack comes in to help.

ABT takes their aero package into the wind tunnel for extensive testing to make sure the add-ons actually help downforce, together with the adjustable suspension and custom 22-inch wheels, they also make the car look more pleasing to the eye as a side effect. The carbon fiber used on the exterior of the Johann Abt Signature Edition comes in ‘Signature Red’, a red metallic thread is added to the carbon fiber structure as seen on the air intakes, the front lip, the rear diffuser, the fender insert, and the rear hatch surround.

At the rear, the thundering sound is emitted from a quartet of 102mm large exhaust tips, made from stainless steel naturally, while on the interior you’ll find the finest leather with hand-sewn sport seats and contrasting, red stitching, the central armrest, and the doorsills both proudly display the ‘Since 1896’ phrase, with ABT on the headrests and the Johann Abt signature on the seatbacks, this is truly an amazing automobile.

June 12, 2021 / Comments Off on RS6 Johann Abt Signature Edition
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The Everrati Signature

We all know the world is changing, hybrids and electric cars are taking over the future of supercars and hypercars, makes like Lamborghini with their legendary V12 will be going hybrid within two years, Bentley is already offering hybrid versions of their cars and Ferrari is on the path to electrification too … but what with the decades of automotive masterpieces we already have parked in our garages today?

Will we still be able to drive muscle cars from the past with that growling V8? Or enjoy the raw sound of a V12 from a Ferrari 250 GTO, or a Lamborghini Countach … I sure hope so, and there seems to be another option today, we’ve seen it before where people take a petrol-powered car and install an electric motor and batteries into the original bodyshell.

Everrati Automotive Limited (EverratiTM) is such a company, founded in 2019, they specialize in integrating EV powertrains into classic cars to future-proof these four-wheeled icons, their first product was the electrified Mercedes-Benz SL Pagod, but now they also offer a Porsche 911 (964) both in Coupe and in Targa version, a 911 (964) Gulf Signature Edition and a Land Rover Series IIA available in Traditional, Safari or Modern Top Canvas guises.

Located in Upper Heyford, Oxfordshire, the United Kingdom, Everrati now unveils their Signature Wide Body, based on the stunning Porsche 911 (964) wide body, they took a fully restored 1991 model and fitted lightweight carbon-fiber body panels and a state-of-the-art EV powertrain mated to a 53kWh battery pack and battery management system, the result is a 500bhp, 500Nm, sub-4-second 0-62mph acceleration electric supercar that offers a +150 mile range.

Justin Lunny, Founder & CEO of Everrati Automotive Limited said: “After releasing details of the car last week, we’re delighted to give the ‘Signature’ wide body its global public debut at London Concours, one of the world’s most prestigious motoring events, held in the center of a megacity that is fully moving towards an electric future. The team’s hard work, expertise, and dedication to their craft truly are unmistakable when the car is seen in the metal.”

June 6, 2021 / Comments Off on The Everrati Signature
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The Manhart MH3 600

It has been 35 years ago that BMW unveiled their M3, based on the E30 series at that time, the first M3 ever is still considered one of the best cars in the world, even today, and prices for this classic from Munich have gone through the roof … today we’re at the 7th M3 series, called the G80, and while the styling, especially at the front, hasn’t been received unanimously positive, the idea behind the car is still strong.

The BMW G80 M3 has become a high-power saloon, today the M3 isn’t a two-door anymore like on the E30, but it comes with four doors (if you want a similar car in a two-door configuration you’ll have to opt for the M4 strangely enough), and just in case a factory standard G80 M3 isn’t enough for you, BMW offers her in ‘Competition’ trim, the 3.0-Liter Biturbo in-line six-cylinder comes with 510 hp and 650 Nm of torque, which isn’t too bad I guess.

But we wouldn’t be taking a look at Manhart’s latest offering if we would take a factory original power output for granted … so by adding the MHtronik powerbox to the M3 Competition engine, the Manhart engine wizards increase the power to a massive 635 hp and no less than 780 Nm of torque … the Manhart MH3 600 will reach it’s electronically limited top speed of 250 km/h in less than 17 seconds, which is four seconds quicker than the factory original M3 Competition.

But with great power must come a great soundtrack, so Manhart fits their in-house stainless steel rear silencer, which retains the valve control system … the thundering sound comes through four 100mm exhaust tips, which depending on the choice of the client, are either ceramic coated or finished in carbon fiber … if you like living in the grey area of the law, you can fit Manhart Race downpipes that delete the catalytic converters or install the Manhart OPF-Delete pipes that have their own 200-cell HJS catalytic converters … but neither are street-legal strictly speaking.

To get that lower to the track look, Manhart has two options for their MH3 600, either a set of H&R lowering springs that bring the car down by 30 mm at the front, and 10 mm at the rear, or you go all-out for a KW Suspensions adjustable coil-over setup that has been specifically tuned for Manhart only by KW, and to complete the ‘lowered’ look you just need to add these amazing looking 21-inch wheels, called the Manhart Concave One, in either gold look or satin black with a gold outer rim, 9×21 inch for the front axle, 10.5×21 inch for the rear axle with 255/30ZR21 and 295/25ZR21 tires respectively.

As an option, you can have a very impressive carbon fiber aero package on the BMW M3 Competition straight from the factory, but Manhart adds a different rear diffuser, also made from clear carbon fiber, and it works perfectly with the larger, 100 mm diameter exhaust tips from the Manhart sport muffler, more Manhart Carbon fiber can be found on the interior where you’ll notice a carbon fiber shell against the back of the seat and the headrest … just to include the motorsport feeling on the inside too.

June 2, 2021 / Comments Off on The Manhart MH3 600
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The BMW X7 from dAHLer Competition Line

The BMW X7 isn’t a small car, it’s probably the largest BMW ever made at 5.16 meters long, 2.00 meters wide, 1.80 meters high its overall weight is at least 2.4 tons, so she’s massive, but also a true BMW when it comes to driving dynamics, and that’s exactly what Swiss-based dAHLer wanted to emphasize when they created their Competition Line package for this gargantuan SUV.

The engineers at dAHLer Competition Line started out by liberating the thundering sound of the large 4.4-Liter V8 twin-turbo engine, so a quartet of massive exhaust tips show the work put into a custom exhaust that releases the growl from the front into the world, and the X7 from dAHLer roars with a simply beguiling sound.

The base for this impressive dAHLer modified BMW comes from the X7 M50i, as there isn’t a real X7 M from Germany at this moment, dAHLer Competition line offers a pair of power upgrades that should satisfy your needs, and if the base X7 was built before July 2020 they even remove the electronic speed limiter, unfortunately, that is no longer possible on the later model.

The Stage 1 boost takes the G07 X7 M50i standard 390 kW (530 hp), 750 Nm (553 ft-lb) 4.4-Liter Biturbo V8 up to a more impressive 463 kW (630 hp) and 830 Nm (612 ft-lb). But wait, there is more, dAHLer is already working on Stage 2, and with that, they promise 475 kW (646 hp) and 850 Nm (627 ft-lb), and just in case you don’t happen to own the top of the line X7 M50i, dAHLer even offers their performance upgrades for the other gasoline-powered X7 models, and even the diesel-engined ones.

As you probably noticed from the photos, this X7 comes with a lowering module for the factory original dual-axle air suspension with an automatic leveling system that fitted on all X7 models by BMW, not only does it look amazing, it also lowers the center of gravity that’s so troublesome on all high-riding SUV models, hence it improves driving dynamics.

The wheels on this demo BMW X7 by dAHLer Competition Line are massive 23-inch CDC1 FORGED units, these are weight-optimized and reduce the unsprung and rotating mass despite being 11-inch wide, as can be expected, these wheels can be finished in any shade the client desires, dAHLer advises the fitment of 295/35R23 tires, but if you prefer a staggered look, you can also opt for 285/35R23 on the front axle and massively wide 325/30R23 on the rear axle, which is what I would go for the be honest.

The car in these photos is even more special, dAHLer calls it the ‘Edition Dark Shadow’, and they intend to build only 500 units of this special unit, this car comes with a matt finished body and a glossy black rear diffuser and M-look mirror covers, naturally, the interior hasn’t been overlooked either, and aside from custom mats and a nice pedal set, the speedometer has been extended to 330 Km/h.

May 31, 2021 / Comments Off on The BMW X7 from dAHLer Competition Line
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The ABT SQ8

Renowned German tuner ABT has already created a special version of the Audi RSQ8 SUV, but that was their ABT RSQ8-R, but that car was created to celebrate their 125th anniversary, so only 125 units of the RSQ8-R were built, if you are looking for the next best thing, at a considerably lower cost, ABT now also offers their magic on the Audi SQ8 version.

The Audi RSQ8 comes from the factory with 600 hp and an electronically limited top speed of 250 km/h, if you opt for the less costly AUDI SQ8 and have it modified by ABT you’ll end up with a 650 hp Sports SUV that will go up to 270 km/h … the ABT SQ8 as a complete car can be yours for €130,795 including VAT.

If you already own an Audi SQ8 and would like to get the 4-liter V8 bi-turbo petrol engine boosted from the factory original 507 hp (which isn’t bad already) to the ABT SQ8’s 650 hp thanks to the ABT Power S performance upgrade, add the stunning GR23 wheels and that impressive looking aero package … you’ll have to leave €22,900 in Kempten, Germany, and that’s without the €3,445 cost for installation and paint matching to the rest of the body.

The massive wheels are available in either satin, matt, or glossy black, all in 23-inch size, but I’m sure you will be able to convince ABT to paint these wheels in other shades too. The Aero Package is a front bumper add-on part, a rear diffuser, and a rear wing … there doesn’t seem to be a set of side skirts in this kit, however, but if you would like to get a bespoke interior inside your Sport SUV ABT SQ8, that is also an option, just get in touch with ABT and I’m sure you’ll be able to figure something out with their artisans.

May 24, 2021 / Comments Off on The ABT SQ8
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BRABUS 800 based on the E-Class

The Mercedes E-class is what we might consider a mid-class sedan, a nice four-door, four or five-seater luxury car that’s not the massive size of the bigger S-Class, but still larger and more comfortable than the C-Class, it’s a car that doesn’t shout for attention and most of the time isn’t even noticed when you drive it, in Germany we see many E-Class being used as a taxi in fact … but none of those are the powerful E 63 S 4MATIC+ version, most of the taxis are diesel-powered, some are switching to hybrid and electric in the near future.

When you opt for the most powerful version of the 2021 model year Mercedes E 63 S 4MATIC+, you will end up with a 4.0-liter eight-cylinder engine that delivers 612 hp straight from the factory, which isn’t bad to haul you and your family around on the Autobahn at speed, but we wouldn’t be talking about BRABUS if this company from Bottrop, Germany didn’t tweak it a little further … well more than a little.

With over 40 years of experience in pulling more power from standard Mercedes engines, BRABUS has shoehorned their performance upgrade into the Mercedes E 63 S 4MATIC+, which doesn’t void the warranty mind you, the BRABUS 800 is fully TÜV-tested and comes with a 3-year, 100,000 km (62,000 Mile) BRABUS Tuning Warranty … which is usually not seen for this kind of tuning anywhere else, but BRABUS offers it nonetheless.

They don’t call this the BRABUS 800 without a reason, and that’s because they add 188 hp to the base from Mercedes, at 6,600 rpm you effectively have 800 hp available, and 1,000 Nm of torque at as low as 3,600 rpm, and as you can order a Mercedes E 63 S 4MATIC+ in either sedan or station wagon, this BRABUS 800 is one of the most powerful sedans/station wagons in the world today.

To achieve this massive 188 hp power increase, BRABUS developed their own high-performance turbochargers, with a bigger compressor unit, modified core assembly, and reinforced axial bearings, boost pressure sits at a maximum pressure of 1.6 bar, naturally, there is a custom engine management system called PowerXtra from BRABUS, and with this much power going on, the large engine needs more cooling, so BRABUS created bespoke, carbon-fiber air intakes to be integrated into the grille.

Being based on the E 63 S 4MATIC+, this BRABUS 800 is an all-wheel-drive car, the nine-speed automatic gearbox will hurdle this sedan to 100 km/h (62 mph) in just 3 seconds from standing still while if you opt for the station wagon this figure is 3.1 seconds, top speed for both body styles has been electronically limited to 300 Km/h (186 mph), which is probably more than enough … usually.

An engine like this BRABUS 800 unit needs to breathe, hence you can install an amazing stainless-steel high-performance exhaust that comes with four stainless steel/carbon tailpipes, not only for looks but also with an amazing sound thanks to integrated flaps into the exhaust system … a ‘silent’ mode when you drive up to your house and you don’t want to wake the neighbors… or a ‘Sport’ position if you just don’t care about those neighbors anymore.

You could go for the more subtle look and just have the BRABUS 800 engine tuning installed while you keep the rest of the Mercedes E 62 S 4MATIC+ factory standard … or you go all-out and fit the entire BRABUS aerodynamic package to your car, the new front spoiler does create more downforce at speed, as does the really nice looking rear spoiler on the sedan while a clear carbon fiber insert can be fitted to the rear diffuser on both the sedan and the station wagon … just so it looks the part with that BRABUS exhaust.

With engine tuning and aerodynamic from BRABUS, you’ll just have to go the extra mile and get a set of BRABUS alloy wheels, up to 21 inches in diameter is available, pictured here are the famous BRABUS Monoblock “PLATINUM EDITION” Z forged wheels, painted to match the rest of this black BRABUS 800, 9×21 wheels with 255/30 ZR 21 tires for the front, and even wider 10.5×21 rims with 295/25 ZR 21 tires for the rear, tires are either Continental, Pirelli, or YOKOHAMA as advice by BRABUS themselves.

New wheels just scream for a lowered suspension too, and because the Mercedes E 63 S 4MATIC+ comes with air suspension, BRABUS offers their Sports Unit that allows the car to be lowered by 10 or 20 mm (0.4 or 0.8 in) depending on the selection of the available Comfort, Sport or Sport+ modes.

If a client wants something really special for his, or her bespoke BRABUS 800 E-Class, they can go for a complete interior overhaul, BRABUS offers the best selection of leather, Alcantara or cloth, in whichever combination or shade the customer can think of, add custom veneers or carbon fiber inlays, again in a multitude of colors, and you can create a truly unique car for yourself, or as a gift for someone else.

May 6, 2021 / Comments Off on BRABUS 800 based on the E-Class
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TECHART GrandGT

TECHART has been known for some of the most impressive Porsche modifications we’ve ever seen, and now they’ve released their GrandGT into the wild, based on the Porsche 971 series, better known as the Panamera and Panamera Sport Turismo, the TECHART GrandGT comes with a significantly modified exterior, custom made interior, and more importantly, a massive power boost.

If your base Porsche is the Panamera GTS version, TECHART will boost power by no less than 180 hp and 150 Nm of torque, on the Porsche Panamera Turbo S the increase is still 90 hp and 130 Nm of torque. This boils down to a healthy 660 hp in the GTS edition, while the Turbo S goes up to a massive 720 hp, in the latter this offers acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in 3 seconds flat, reaching 200 km/h only takes 10,5 seconds while the Panamera Turbo S GrandGT runs out of breath at 315 km/h … that’s Ferrari and Lamborghini territory, in a four-door, four-seat GT car.

With that much power available, we wouldn’t be looking at a TECHART GrandGT if she didn’t come with some serious body modifications too, so for starters, you’ll get a new front bumper that completely replaces the factory unit and flows neatly into a set of wheel arch extensions and wider side skirts, we’re talking about adding 50mm (2 inches) width to the front and 80mm (3.15 inch) at the rear.

And the fun continues at the rear with a new bumper at the back too, with air vents behind the wheels, vertical fins for stability, and a quartet of titanium carbon-fiber tip exhausts, two on either side, for that thundering sound from the tuned Porsche engine at the front. And we’ve saved the best for last … how about a lightweight, carbon-fiber replacement front hood in a new design with an impressive power dome and functional air vents? You can order this front hood in either glossy or satin-finished carbon-fiber, or painted to match the rest of your TECHART GrandGT.

With a body style as aggressive as this, you need a set of matching wheels, and to make the choice even harder, TECHART has come up with three different styles, all in massive 22 inch, to cover the large disk brakes. Also, note TECHART can change the color of the massive calipers into any shade you might desire, either to match the wheels or to contrast them even more, and just in case three different wheel styles isn’t enough, you can opt to have these wheel painted to match anything you like, or go for a diamond polish rim even.

The TECHART Formula V wheel is a classic-looking, multispoke turbine-look design, a total of 20 spokes make this an unmistakable design that never gets old. If you want something more contemporary, the TECHART Formula VI might be more to your liking, thin spokes on this forged aluminum wheel make the GrandGT look very different from the factory original Porsche Panamera.

 TECHART Formula V

But probably the most striking design comes with the TECHART Daytona II wheel, an evolution of the classic TECHART wheel, it has been engineered in modern forging technologies. Tires come in 285/30 ZR 22 at the front and 335/25 ZR 22 at the rear, it doesn’t get much wider than these on a road-going car.

 TECHART Daytona II

And that’s only the exterior, let’s take a look at the interior inside this imposing black TECHART GrandGT, with their in-house saddlery, TECHART can create just about any bespoke look for the luxurious interior of the Porsche Panamera by using smooth leather, perforated leather, and Alcantara in a stunning combination.

A really impressive look is achieved by the meticulous perforation executed on leather parts of the seats, doors, dashboard, and the steering wheel, by using a contrasting color underneath this perforated design you get a kind of ‘glimmer’ effect, the shade is visible through the perforation in a very special way, making it look almost magical. The pattern for this perforation can be bespoke for the client, which could make for some really amazing designs in the future.

Naturally, you can also go down the more classic route of contrasting stitching, special piping on the seats, central console, doors, and dashboard, or go for color matching trim around the personalized floor mats, both for the front, the rear, and even inside the trunk … just to make sure you know you are driving in a bespoke TECHART build, their logo gets embossed on the door panels, in the floor mats, while both front and rear seats get a TECHART logo embroidered on the headrests, preferably in a contrasting color.

A completely custom-made steering wheel is on your request list? No problem at all for TECHART, a bespoke ‘driving mode’ switch, for instance, color-matched painted sections, perforated leather with that ‘glimmer’ look combined with Alcantara, a splash of carbon-fiber, contrasting stitches … everything is possible from TECHART, and the factory original items like multifunction buttons, paddle shifters, and even the steering wheel heating are kept fully functional for your comfort.

If you really want a Porsche Panamera you don’t see on every corner of the street (in some regions), you should get in touch with TECHART and have them build a bespoke GrandGT just for you …

 TECHART Formula VI wheels
May 2, 2021 / Comments Off on TECHART GrandGT
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SPOFEC OVERDOSE RR Black Badge Wraith

It takes a wealthy customer to walk into a Rolls Royce dealership and buy the Wraith Black Badge, but it takes an even bigger bank account, and a certain state of mind to take that ultimate coupe and have it cut up and converted into the SPOFEC OVERDOSE, especially if only three of these wide body Wraith conversions will be made for the entire world.

SPOFEC is located in Germany, as part of the famous NOVITEC GROUP, they specialize in Rolls Royce ‘refinement’, I’ve already covered their widebody Rolls-Royce Black Badge Cullinan in the past, but today they introduced their OVERDOSE treatment for the big two-door luxury cruiser, the Wraith, and it is some serious treatment once again.

You cant’ claim the Rolls Royce Black Badge Wraith is a small car, this is a big two-door coupe that seats four people in the utmost comfort and style, but SPOFEC takes it onto a different level by fitting replacement front fenders that widen the massive Rolls by another 7 cm while wider wheel arches are seamlessly fitted to the rear, adding 13 cm … the result is an overall width of no less than 208 cm.

Additional width also requires modified side sills and new front and rear bumpers to match the beefier look of this big 2-seater, the wider fenders are also required to fit gargantuan 10.5 x 22 inch concave forged wheels made in conjunction with Vossen, called SPOFEC SP2, these are fitted with 295/30 ZR 22 high-performance tires, and while these are five-stud wheels, they hide the bolts under a large cover.

The Rolls Royce Wraith comes with an adjustable suspension from the factory in Crewe, but in Germany they fit a custom control unit that allows the car to ride about 40 mm lower to the road, without compromising on function nor comfort, and it just makes this black beauty look even more menacing coming down the road toward you.

And while the customer can request just about anything custom for the interior of the already amazing looking Black Badge Wraith, SPOFEC does install their N-Tronic ECU into the mix for these OVERDOSE models, the 6.6-Liter V12 twin-turbo engine gets a different ignition mapping and increased boost pressure that brings power up to 717 hp (527 kW) at 5,700 rpm with peak torque at 986 Nm, available at 1,800 rpm already, this makes the large Wraith go from 0 to 100 km/h in just 4.2 seconds, top speed is still limited at 250 km/h.

April 27, 2021 / Comments Off on SPOFEC OVERDOSE RR Black Badge Wraith
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