New Cars Sport Sport

With the OPC version of the new Astra still in the works, German tuners are doing their best to offer Opel buyers several alternatives to quench their thirst for power. EDS, a relatively unknown tuner from Marl, Germany, has launched an impressive package for the most powerful version of the Astra with the 180HP 1.6-liter turbocharged engine.

The comprehensive engine tune includes a variety of modifications such as a new Garret GT28 turbocharger, ECU optimization, sports exhaust system, a new manifold, and other goodies that double the 1.6-liter unit's output to a whopping 360-horses and 480 Nm or 354 lb-ft of peak torque.

The tuning house also adds a Quaife differential lock, a new sports clutch kit, high performance perforated brake discs with 8 calipers and a sports suspension together with 20-inch wheels that are shod in Pirelli P Zero 235/35ZR20 tires up front and 275/30ZR20 at the back.

The exterior modifications are kept to a minimum and include new upper and lower grilles finished in black, side sills and a rear apron that houses a diffuser and the quad tail pipes.

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Given that Infiniti is making its first steps in Europe, very few tuners in the market have touched the Japanese brand's products. Having said that, it shouldn't come as a surprise that an Infiniti dealer has stepped in to fill the void. In particular, Infiniti Centre Hamburg in Germany has released two tuning packages for the recently launched diesel-powered M30d.

The "Stage 1 Package" for the M30d includes painted door handles (€600), red brake calipers with Infiniti lettering (€1,200 €), a lowered sports suspension (€1,495), a black radiator grille (€550) and a black-foil-covered roof (€400). The package is completed by an performance kit (€1,250) for the 3.0-liter V6 turbo diesel boosting output from 238HP to 280HP.

The "Stage 2 Package" rounds off the tune with a set of 22-inch alloy wheels from Schmidt wrapped around 265/30 R22 Pirelli tires up front and 295/25 R22 tires at the back for a total cost of €6,800.

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AC Schnitzer has prepared two production ready concept cars for this year's edition of the Geneva motor show. We've already told you about the first car, the diesel-powered 99d that is based on the BMW Z4 roadster, so here's the tuning firm's second proposal. The ACS5 Sport S Saloon is based on the latest BMW 550i sedan and is said to feature numerous performance and styling upgrades, though AC Schnitzer is keeping mum about most of the details.

According to the tuning house, the 550i's twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 engine with 407HP and 600Nm has been modified to deliver 540HP and 750Nm, which helps the sedan model to complete the 0 to 100km/h (62 mph) sprint in 4.5 seconds and reach a top speed of 320 km/h (199 mph). AC Schnitzer said that despite the power bump, fuel consumption and CO2 emissions of the ACS5 Sport S are equivalent to the standard BMW 550i.

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Rolls-Royce and MINI may have the same owner, but the two iconic British brands have never been intended to cross paths. That was until a Texas-based firm called BMP Design decided to squeeze a Rolls-Royce Allison 250-C20B jet engine sourced from a helicopter in the back of a MINI Cooper S. Yes, that's right, just behind the front seats.

The consequences of this action are easy to imagine: the 420-horsepower, 400 lb-ft of torque RR engine drives the rear wheels, turning the MINI into a 4WD monster. Managing to drive the car is a major achievement, since the driver needs to balance the conventional controls with the separate levers that command the jet engine.

As you are about to see, the speed and the acceleration of this little rocket are mind-blowing. As is the noise coming from the turbine engine. Watch the videos after the break.

By Dan Mihalascu

Source: Jalopnik

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The arrival of the second generation Mercedes-Benz CLS has Brabus getting ready to present its tuning program for the sports sedan at next week's Geneva Motor Show. For the 2012 CLS, the German tuning house prepared a variety of aero-enhancements, interior goods and performance upgrades.

Aesthetically, the Mercedes-Benz tuning specialist offers a new front bumper add-on that can be further upgraded with LED daytime running lights with either dark or chrome surrounds, fender gills, side skirts, a discrete boot lid spoiler and a rear apron with custom cutouts for the for the four tailpipes of the available sport exhaust system.

There are plenty of choices for the alloy wheels as Brabus offers six different designs in sizes ranging from 8.5Jx17" to 10.5Jx20". The largest tires supplied by the company's partners Pirelli and YOKOHAMA for these wheels come in size 255/30 ZR 20 in front and in size 305/25 ZR 20 for the rear axle.

Inside, the options range from a new sports steering wheel in a variety of leather and wood designs, to custom leather or Alcantara upholsteries and aluminum and carbon fiber trim components.

For the time being, the German tuning firm's engine kits are limited to the diesel models.

The CLS 250 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY's 2.1-liter turbo diesel engine equipped with the performance kit delivers an additional 31 hp for a total of 235HP and a peak torque of 560 Nm (413 lb-ft).

The Brabus-tuned CLS 350 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY gets a new kit which offers two different modes. In the ‘Eco’ setting, only peak torque is increased from 620 Nm to 690 Nm (457 to 509 lb-ft) between 1,600 and 2,400 rpm, with the maximum output remaining unchanged. If the driver selects the ‘Sport’ mode, both peak torque and output are increased, with power jumping from 265HP to 313HP. Using this setting, the tuned CLS sprints from 0 – 100 km/h (62 mph) in 5.9 seconds, while top speed is limited electronically to 250 km/h (155 mph).

A sports exhaust system that promises to optimize power yield and produce a throaty exhaust note is available for all CLS engine variants.

Finally, to improve handling, the tuner offers a number of solutions ranging from new sport springs for a 30mm (1.2-in.) lower ride-height to a complete sports suspension.

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After tuning several American and European cars, Vilner has now turned its focus on a Japanese model, the Mitsubishi Lancer EVO X. For this project, the Bulgarian tuning house joined forces with a company called Overdrive, which took over the performance upgrades.

As you can see in the two videos after the jump, (the exterior photo was shot before the light modifications), Vilner replaced the standard Lancer EVO X's headlamps and tail lights with brand new LED units.

Inside, the Bulgarian studio gave the Lancer a black leather upholstery treatment with white colored accents and stitching, along with a black alcantara roof lining and carbon trim on the steering wheel and gear lever. A pair of OMP front bucket seats and the piano black decorative trim round off the interior changes.

On its part, Overdrive fitted the Japanese sports sedan with carbon elements on the outside along with 18-inch Weds Sports alloy wheels, a Greddy exhaust system, an adjustable K-sport suspension and finished up with a power kit that boosts the 2.0-liter turbocharged engine's output to 400-horses.

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Upgrading a Ferrari is a tricky job, but the guys at Novitec Rosso seem to be pretty good at it, judging from their latest interpretation of Ferrari's thoroughbred sportscar, the 458 Italia. The German aftermarket specialists offer a complete package that includes engine tuning, aerodynamic tweaks and styling upgrades, inside and out.

The 4.5-liter V8 engine gets an extra 39 horsepower by means of intake adjustments, ECU mapping and by adding a high-performance lightweight exhaust system. Not only the power, but the torque as well has gone up, from 540 Nm to 569 Nm at 5,400 rpm (398 to 419.7 lb-ft of torque).

This means the Novitec Rosso 458 Italia can now reach a top speed of 330 km/h (199 mph), 5 km/h more than the standard car. No details have been offered yet about the sprint from 0 to 62 mph (100km/h), but it should be slightly faster than the regular model.

The Novitec Rosso conversion also adds a modified suspension with front lift system that lowers the car by 35 millimeters and carbon fiber aerodynamic components including a front spoiler, rear wing and rear diffuser.

On the inside, clients can spec the car to their taste, choosing from an endless number of colors and leather upholstery designs. To mirror the exterior tweaks, the center console, scuff plates and longer shift paddles on the steering wheel are all made from carbon fiber.

The Novitec Rosso 458 Italia will be officially launched at the Geneva Motor Show.

By Dan Mihalascu

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