Hamann Gives the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG the Hawk Treatment

Mansory won’t be the only tuning firm to unveil its interpretation of the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show, as Hamann Motorsport has prepared its own version of the gull-winged supercar called the ‘Hawk’.

Starting with the engine bay, the SLS AMG’s 6.2-liter V8 engine receives an additional 65 horsepower, for a total of 636HP and a maximum torque of 680 Nm (501 lb-ft) at 4,850 rpm. The extra power comes from a high-performance titanium exhaust system, new manifolds, sports catalysts and a sports air filter. As a result, top speed is increased by 3 km/h higher to 320 km/h (199 mph), while the sprint from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) takes only 3.6 seconds, 0.2 seconds faster than the standard production car.

The Hamann Hawk also gets four height-adjustable dampers and four progressively wound springs, which lower the car by up to 30 mm.

The Everose Gold painted Hawk sports a heavily modified bodywork including a new front bumper and a carbon fiber hood. The profile is dominated by the black 21-inch rims and the side skirts. At the back, there’s a large wing made from carbon fiber, while the same lightweight material has been used on the new boot. The restyled rear bumper that incorporates a diffuser and houses the quad tail pipes, completes the look.

As for the interior, Hamann has dressed the SLS AMG in a combination of suede and leather, and also added carbon fiber trim on the steering wheel, center console and door sills.

_______________________________GALLERY_______________________________

Mansory Adds Carbon Fiber Body and 89 Ponies to Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG

The Swiss aftermarket specialist Mansory has unveiled its take on the the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG supercar and the result of their work is very different from what they began with. For starters, the tuners replaced the Gullwing-door model's aluminium bodyshell with a carbon fiber one, shaving 90 kg of the car's weight in the process.

The style is signed by Kourosh Mansory, owner and head designer of the company. Changes are extensive and include fitting new headlights (strikingly similar to those on the Ferrari 599), a new front spoiler with giant air intakes, a F1-inspired nose, lots of brake air ducts, a rear spoiler equipped with a huge air-diffuser plus an equally massive wing on the boot.

Called the Cormeum, Mansory's interpretation of the SLS AMG includes a modified engine that produces 660 hp (89 hp more than the production model) thanks to the fitting of a sports air filter, a custom exhaust system and the adjustment of high-performance compressors. And if that is not enough, Mansory is already testing a 800 hp performance upgrade.

The Cormeum rides 20 mm lower than the SLS AMG thanks to new dampers and springs, while the performance mods are rounded off with a set of 20-inch alloy wheels at the front and 21-inch at the back.

The German supercar's interior has been enhances with hand-stitched soft leather upholstery, carbon trim and aluminium pedals. Mansory's SLS AMG will be offered in a limited edition of 15 units.

By Dan Mihalascu

Source: Mansory via Worldcarfans

_______________________________GALLERY_______________________________

VIDEO: AC Schnitzer's Diesel-Powered BMW Z4 and 540HP 5-Series

The new BMW Z4-based 99d roadster and the BMW 550i-based ACS5 sports saloon will hog the limelight on AC Schnitzer's stand at this week's 2011 Geneva Motor Show. Both models were developed to offer performance without compromising on fuel efficiency and CO2 emissions. The Z4 99d comes with a 190HP 2.0-liter turbo diesel engine, while the ACS5 features a 4.4-liter turbocharged V8 gasoline unit pumping out 540-ponies. Scope out the first promotional videos of AC Schnitzer's newest tunes right after the break.

_______________________________VIDEOS_______________________________

MTM Geneva Show Display Includes Fastest Audi R8 with 777HP and TT RS with 472HP

Among the many tuning firms making their way to the Geneva Motor Show is VW Group specialist MTM. The German company will display two heavily modified Audi models, based on the R8 V10 and the TT RS. The most impressive proposal is the one-off MTM R8 Biturbo that comes with a polished chrome body that took over 700 working hours to complete. A large fixed spoiler at the back along with 20-inch forged rims and carbon fiber parts round off the exterior changes.

However, the most striking aspect of the tune is hidden underneath the shiny body as MTM has modified the V10 engine to produce a whopping 777-horses and 888 Nm (655 lb-ft) of peak torque for a 0 to 100km/h (62mph) sprint time of 3.0 seconds. The R8 BiTurbo also accelerates from naught to 200km/h (124mph) in 9.37 seconds and to 300 km/h (186mph) in 19.42 seconds, en route to a top speed 350km/h (218mph).

The conversion also includes an adjustable sports suspension and massive MTM brakes with 8-piston calipers at the front and rear axle. Currently a one-off model, the MTM R8 Biturbo is said to cost over €400,000 or about US$550,500.

MTM's second tuned vehicle is the TT RS that sports a 2.5-liter turbocharged inline-five producing 472-horsepower that was recently tested at Nardo achieving a top speed of 312km/h (194mph).

MTM TT RS
Power output (max.): 472 hp (347 kW) at 7000 rpmTorque (max.): 600 Nm at 4400 rpm
Acceleration 0-100 km/h: 3,9 s
Top speed: 312 km/h
Brakes: MTM brake VA 380 x 34mm, dimpled, 8-piston calipers
Wheels: 20'' MTM Schmiederad im BIMOTO Design
Price: 84.166 Euro (incl. tax and installation)

_______________________________GALLERY_______________________________

EDS Creates a 360HP Monster out of the Opel Astra Turbo

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.

_______________________________GALLERY_______________________________

Infiniti Dealer in Germany Presents Tuning Package for M30d

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.

_______________________________GALLERY_______________________________

Geneva Preshow: AC Schnitzer Turns the BMW 550i into the 540HP ACS5 Sport S Saloon

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.

_______________________________GALLERY_______________________________

VIDEO: A MINI Cooper S Powered by a Helicopter Jet Engine

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

_______________________________VIDEOS_______________________________

Geneva Preshow: Brabus Unleashes its Tune for the New Mercedes-Benz CLS

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.

_______________________________GALLERY_______________________________