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German Car Blog, Performance, Tuning, Motorsport, and Modification News
Published on 03-18-2011 03:21 AM
Autoweek is reporting that development started on a performance crossover SUV aimed squarely at the X6. Unlike the X6 when it launched, this will be a 5 seater. It will most likely be based on the Porsche Cayenne platform which has us intrigued. Oh, and an RS Q6 model may be coming which will be designed to compete with the X6 M using the new 4.0 turbo V8. Hey, bring it on. ...Published on 03-16-2011 11:51 PM
Good news, the Audi R8 GT is coming to the US. The bad news? Only 99 are coming and at over $196,800 a pop. The car has the V10 5.2 FSI it shares with the Gallardo but in a higher state of tune of 560 horsepower vs. the regular V10 R8's. It is 180 pounds lighter thanks to the various lightweight parts. It is all wheel drive not rear wheel drive as some speculated and seems to be R-tronic only. Yes, we want one. ...Published on 03-16-2011 09:41 PM
This is some very interesting news. Kleemann will be distributing and installing Xtra-Power systems from their Colorado Springs, Colorado facility. Dyno numbers are 610 wheel horsepower which is definitely some good power but the pricetag for the SLS supercharger setup is $32k installed. SLS tax? Yes, considering the C63 systems are much cheaper. We also wonder, what happened to Kleemann and their own supercharger setup? Check out the videos below. ...Published on 03-16-2011 08:21 PM
It's great to see BMW put out a video like this which is really honest and hits close to home. The video was translated by BimmerBoost and our German is spot on as you would expect. We thank BMW for honestly evaluating the F10 M5 and giving us this glimpse inside the minds of the engineers responsible for its development. ...Published on 03-16-2011 04:31 AM
The S550 is still badged S500 in the rest of the world just in case this might have been confusing for some of you. Inden Design has modified the S500/550 by tweaking the motor up to 420 horesepower with a tune and exhaust upgrade. The rest of the modification are done to the outside with a new front spoiler, side skirts, and rear diffuser to house the custom exhaust. The car is lowered 50mm with springs and sits on 20's with 265/30/20 up front and 275/30/20 in back. ...Published on 03-16-2011 04:00 AM
The S85 motor really deserves more love. Projects like this remind us that if BMW wanted to, they could have shoved that V10 in the M3 and abused almost any of their competition. But BMW didn't, so we are thankful for enthusiasts who are willing to step up to the plate. This swap was done using a Pectecl SQ6M ECU and to have the dash fully compatible it was swapped out for a Cosworth Dash. Check out the build pics, details, and videos below. ...Published on 03-15-2011 08:32 PM
That is likely the first reaction from most people when they see these photos. Relax, BMW has not gone that far off the deep end (yet). Although the idea of an M pick-up truck is kind of fun actually that is not what is happening here. Manufacturers do rigidity testing in a variety of ways and what you see here is a chassis flex text with the car being basically cut from the door pillar. Do you see a bed? Do you see a tailgate? Nope, because it isn't a BMW truck. Calm down internet. ...Published on 03-15-2011 08:23 PM
APR put the video up of the Stage III Supercharged RS4 making it's record 11.8 @ 122 mph 1/4 mile pass. Additional details on the run are that the car had an aftermarket racing clutch and a coilover suspension system. Density Altitude for the pass was up around 1000 feet and the vehicle weight with driver was 4014 pounds. Congratulations again to APR! ...Published on 03-15-2011 09:00 AM
AC Schnitzer has released their popular Type IV forged wheel for the new 6 convertible (F13). The rims look good and as much as we don't like saying it, the car seem to need 20's and up. The F13 pictured also desperately needs to be lowered. This is just the beginning of what is in store for the new 6 as tunes, exhaust systems, springs, and aerodynamics parts are all on the way. ...Published on 03-15-2011 08:00 AM
This is the kind of project we really love to see. The S54 is a great motor but E30 swaps have not been as prevalent with it as with say the S50B32 from the Euro E36. The wiring and tuning makes it more complex to pull off so congratulations to BimmerWorld for what looks to be a very clean install. Randy Mueller at Epic Motorsports did the tuning and 326 at the wheels with an S54 is some very good tuning indeed. We believe the ECU is also the factory DME with an Alpha-N tune (mass air sensor delete) making this all the more impressive. ...Published on 03-15-2011 06:02 AM
Well, that is the claim of Singh Autosport but not exactly the most credible source. Regardless, this warrants further investigation. Singh claims that the ECU files have undergone a change in 2011 and the file is now twice the size it was previously and quite different. So is Mercedes trying to slow down the tuning of the M156 and E63 AMG? Does this mean Mercedes is going to be proactive in trying to curtail tuning? Certainly looks that way. Let's see what our own tuners have to say about it. ...Published on 03-15-2011 04:00 AM
Here are the results and details of the technique tuning turbo setup on the E46 325 with the M54 motor. Some of you may be familiar with Technique Tuning already as they have turbo kits available predominantly for the E46 market and the M54 motor among others. The kit hits 247 wheel horsepower at 6 psi on a Mustang dyno and then 279 wheel horsepower at 8.5 psi. Seems E46 325 owners have a very solid option and just take a look at that torque curve. ...Published on 03-14-2011 10:31 PM
Renntech has released their carbon front splitter and rear diffuser for the SLS AMG. The front splitter is a bolt on piece which has been engineered by Renntech and is a functional component designed to increase the down force at the front. The rear diffuser was designed as a companion piece to be used in conjunction with the front splitter to direct airflow. It is also a bolt on piece not requiring drilling or modification to the existing body pieces. Bring your checkbook, the front splitter is $3950 and the rear diffuser is $4495. ...Published on 03-14-2011 08:00 AM
We have seen photos of this manifold previously but this is the first detailed set we have from a customer. There have not been too many S14 turbo projects and with this manifold we hope that increases. The manifold is made from thick wall 304 stainless steel. It has a 4 into 1 merge collector and half inch thick flanges. It features a lifetime warranty which is nice to see and retails for $1100. It will fit popular turbos like larger frame T4 turbos up to the GT40R. Available in T3 and T4 configurations as well as 38mm or 48mm Tial flanges. Awesome? Yes. ...Published on 03-14-2011 04:00 AM
Here we have a rendering from a guy who goes by Roger. It of what the Alpina B6 may look like taking styling cues from the B5 and B7. Pretty good overall but the sideskirts and rear bumper need work to set it apart from the stock image. Will Alpina do a B6? Well, chances are pretty good as they have done it before. When it comes it will likely mirror the B5 which means forged internals in the N63 with larger turbos pushing 507 horsepower. ...Published on 03-14-2011 03:04 AM
First, congratulations to APR. They set a new 1/4 mile record for the B7 RS4 using their supercharger kit. The car ran 11.838 @ 122.41 on pump gas, 93 octane. Even more impressive is it was done on the stock exhaust, on the stock wheels, with the stock street tires. The rear seats were pulled but other than the SC basically a stock car on pump gas. Weather was in the 70's so not even favorable conditions. This has more in it, once again, congratulations APR. ...Published on 03-13-2011 08:52 PM
Mercedes released this overview video of how the new R172 SLK came about. Pretty interesting video on how they go about the design and testing finally getting down to the final assembly and production model. Well worth watching just for how they go about the on road testing such as for driving in winter conditions. This is the type of thing that makes you appreciate just how much work goes into a new model and the quality of Mercedes production, development, and testing. ...Published on 03-13-2011 06:36 AM
Well, here we go, finally, we have a race involving BB member blkclk550. After 30+ pages of keybord warfare races took place. Now, we are told the 335 was on a 100 octane map. Blaizon, the 335 owner, said he would run a 93 octane map. The CLK does pretty well seemingly getting the jump each time and holding it. The cars seem pretty evenly matched with the JB4 having a slight top end advantage. The commentary by whomever filmed was humorous but we could do without it. Either way, look at the vids and decide for yourself. ...Published on 03-13-2011 06:22 AM
Well, here we go, finally, we have a race involving BB member blkclk550. After 30+ pages of keybord warfare races took place. Now, we are told the 335 was on a 100 octane map. Blaizon, the 335 owner, said he would run a 93 octane map. The CLK does pretty well seemingly getting the jump each time and holding it. The cars seem pretty evenly matched with the JB4 having a slight top end advantage. The commentary by whomever filmed was humorous but we could do without it. Either way, look at the vids and decide for yourself. ...Published on 03-12-2011 11:58 PM
Audi of America boss Johan de Nysschen successfully lobbied the higher ups in Germany to convince them to build the A3 sedan. The reason for it is that he feels the A4 has grown in size and there is a market in the United States and China for the sedan as both of these markets prefer sedans. The production car won't have the retracting door handles or the 400 horsepower inline-5 turbo. We are hoping an RS3 version comes that is exactly like the concept. ...
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