German Tuner Thinks Louis Vuitton-esque MINI JCW with up to 252HP Looks Kewl

.fullpost { display: inline; } We're no luxury handbag experts, but the first thought that comes to mind upon seeing CoverEFX's MINI John Cooper Works [JCW] tuning proposal is a....Louis Vuitton bag on wheels. For obvious reasons, the monogram canvas is different than the one found on the products of the famous French design house, but its styling as well as the colors and the leathery

BMW M3 E92 with Racing Dynamics Mods Dressed in Flat Black

.fullpost { display: inline; } Our first impression upon looking at these pictures of the BMW M3 coupe dressed in a Racing Dynamics bodykit and finished in a flat black was 'nice'. But that was before we checked out the same car with its factory Jerez Black metallic paintjob (see pics after the jump). Our personal take is that it looked better before but needless to say, when it comes to

Arden Goes Back to the Future with Jaguar A-Type AJ18

.fullpost { display: inline; } Now here's something we don't see very often. Back at the 1999 Frankfurt motor show, German tuner Arden presented the special edition A-Type AJ18 based on the Jaguar XK (1997-2005 model) that was produced in a limited run of 13 units. Ten years later and Arden has decided to reissue the A-Type AJ18 and build another five vehicles bringing the total to 18

It Came From eBay Hell: The Geo Storm Pickup You Never Knew You Wanted

.fullpost { display: inline; } Few names in automotive history make the average car enthusiast’s skin crawl like, “Geo”. Geo was General Motors response to the growing number of Japanese and South Korean imports that had invaded the U.S. market. Essentially taking the most boring and insipid models from Suzuki, Toyota and Isuzu and building them stateside, Geo embodied the whole, “Who Gives

JE Design gives the VW Scirocco 2.0 TDI Wings

.fullpost { display: inline; } Banking on the popularity of diesel models in Europe, JE Design has presented a comprehensive tuning package for the VW Scirocco 2.0 TDI coupe that even includes a pair of Lamborghini-style scissor doors. For the basic version of the 2.0-liter diesel engine, the tuner offers a kit that boosts output from 140HP to 180HP and peak torque from 320Nm to 400Nm. In

2010 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 Super Snake: Available with 630HP and 725HP

.fullpost { display: inline; } For that small percentage of buyers that aren't satisfied with the 2010 Ford Mustang-based Shelby GT500 that packs a 5.4-liter supercharged V8 with 540 ponies under the hood, Caroll Shelby and his team have prepped an even more hardcore package called Super Snake. Due to go on sale in August, Shelby offers the Super Snake package on the GT500 in two guises,

Arden MINI Cooper Equipe: Production Limited to 40 Units

.fullpost { display: inline; } Best known for its Jaguar and Land Rover conversions, German tuner Arden has now turned its focus on another British model, the MINI Cooper, with the release of a special edition model called Equipe. The Arden-prepped MINI that will be produced in a strictly limited run of only 40 units features both mechanical and styling upgrades. On the outside, handmade

Mcchip-ing the Fiat 500 1.3 Multijet Diesel

.fullpost { display: inline; } German tuning firm Mcchip has introduced a new engine kit for the diesel variant of Fiat's retro-style minicar. At a cost of €509 or a little over $700 US at today's rates, Mcchip will fiddle around with the 500's 1.3-liter Multijet turbo diesel engine increasing output from 75HP to 95HP and peak torque from 145Nm to 185Nm. For another €1,099, Mcchip will

Alfa Romeo MiTo with GTA-Like Aero Kit by Lester

.fullpost { display: inline; } While Alfa Romeo enthusiasts are awaiting for the Italian company to release a punchier variant of the MiTo in the form of the production version of the 240HP GTA Concept, tuners across Europe are presenting their own proposals for the stylish sport hatch. What Lester lacks in under-the-hood performance upgrades, the Italian tuner tries to compensate with a

VeilSide 4509 GTR is a Toyota Supra IV with an Identity Crisis

.fullpost { display: inline; } Japanese tuners sure love breaking the mold and shocking people with their creations. Revealed at the Tokyo Auto Salon, the 4509 GTR is the product of VeilSide, a Japan-based tuning firm established in 1990 by Yokomaku Hironao. It is based on a fourth generation Toyota Supra Turbo from 1993 and has received a complete makeover with the exterior design borrowing

G-Power Receives First Batch of BMW M3 GTS Coupes, Expect at Least 600HP

.fullpost { display: inline; } With 450HP on tap, the limited edition BMW M3 GTS is not only more powerful than the stock M3, but it’s also lighter and comes with a full-blown racing suspension, making it arguably the best 3-Series model of its generation. Nevertheless, famed BMW tuner G-Power thinks something’s missing, namely “the ultimate output”. That’s why the Autenzell-based specialist

Shelby Introduces Limited Edition 2012 Shelby GT350, Adds Convertible Option for the First Time Since 1970

.fullpost { display: inline; } At the 2011 Chicago Auto Show, Shelby unveiled the limited edition 2012 Shelby GT350, which enters the new model year with two fresh color options and, for the first time since 1970, a convertible body style. Based on the Ford Mustang GT, the Shelby GT350 comes with three engine choices, including a base version with a naturally aspirated 430HP V8 mated to

Geneva Preshow: Lotus Joins Forces with Mansory to Tune the Evora

.fullpost { display: inline; } Mastering the fine art of tuning is a complicated process and, judging by the sheer number of overkills one can see on the web every day, it’s clear that only a few have what it takes to do a good job. For Lotus that special someone is Swiss tuning firm Mansory, which is responsible for the creation of an Evora concept that will be presented at the Geneva show

Hamann’s Tuning Program for BMW 5-Series Models fitted with M Sports Package

.fullpost { display: inline; } Buyers looking to tune their cars these days can choose between factory packages and aftermarket kits, and usually it's one or the other. But that's not the case with Hamann Motorsports, which is extending its offerings for the latest generation 5-Series to include an individualization program for those that have opted for BMW's recently launched M Sports

Geneva Preshow: ABT Adds Style and Power to New Audi A7 Sportback

.fullpost { display: inline; } Less than month after ABT announced its plans to unveil its tuning take on the new Audi A7 Sportback at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show, the Volkswagen Group specialist has shared the first photos and details on its available packages. The rather modest cosmetic upgrades include a front apron along with discreet side skirts and a rear apron that makes space

Chicago Preshow: Lexus CT 200h Concept Tune by Five Axis

.fullpost { display: inline; } Lexus will be showing off a wilder CT 200h prepared by parent company Toyota's tuning partner Five-Axis at the upcoming 2011 Chicago Auto Show, which runs for the public from February 11 to 20. The highly-modified Five Axis Project CT will be dressed in a custom made wide body kit with hybrid's bad-boy appearance further enhanced by the JDSU “Dark Passage”

Brabus Presents the World’s First Euro 6 Compliant Performance Kit for Diesel Models

.fullpost { display: inline; } Mercedes-Benz tuning specialist Brabus has presented a new ECO PowerXtra D6S performance kit for the S350 BlueTec, and by doing so, the company claims to have created the world’s first tuned diesel-powered car that meets the Euro 6 emissions standard, scheduled to go into effect in 2014. Available for both rear-while drive and 4MATIC four-wheel drive variants,

MTM Tunes Audi S4 3.0 TFSI to 430HP, A6 3.0 TFSI to 360HP

.fullpost { display: inline; } Bavarian tuner Motoren Technic Mayer, best known for its high-performance Audi models, has turned its attention on the German firm's new 3.0-liter supercharged V6 engine. On the Audi S4 sedan and Avant models, MTM's treatment lifts output from 333HP and 440Nm (324.53 lb-ft) to 430HP and 515Nm (379.8 lb-ft) of torque which is even more than the previous

Fiat 500 Abarth Competizione: Limited Edition Model with a Hefty Price Tag

.fullpost { display: inline; } It's been about a year since Fiat's sporty Abarth firm returned to the Dutch market and to commemorate the event, the brand decided to release a special edition version of the Abarth 500 bearing the Competizione moniker. The model is special in the sense that only 10 will be built with a price tag of €24,995 - that's about $34,800 ahem, ahem... So what will

Cobra N+ Sports Up the new Nissan 370Z Coupe

.fullpost { display: inline; } German tuning firm Cobra Technology and Lifestyle (also known as Cobra N+) has released a new sport package for buyers of the Nissan 370Z Coupe. The carbon fiber aero kit for the Japanese coupe includes a front spoiler, exterior mirror covers and a rear diffuser insert with openings for the two 120-mm tailpipes of the Cobra N+ sport exhaust system. Interior