Autoblog

Well, that didn't take long. A company by the name of Auto Tech Plastics has gone and done what seemed inevitable and many a blogger feared would happen: endow the new Ford Flex's slab-sidedness with fake woodgrain. Make no mistake, we have absolutely no problem whatsoever with the classic woody wagons from a bygone era. Sure, they may take a bit more upkeep than normal, but the classic models with their real wood paneling are just fine by us. This... thing? Not so much. The last wood-applique'd machine that rolled off the assembly lines should have been in '91 when the final Grand Wagoneer met its demise.

For those of you who don't share our opinion, there are plenty of choices with which to fill your plasti-wood fix. If you must, *sigh* click here to see some of your options.

[Source: The Car Connection]

Click above to view a hi-res gallery of the B&B Audi RS6

A 580hp station wagon (or sedan, for that matter) seems like sheer lunacy in its own right, but it appears that the twin-turbo V10 in the Audi RS6 is capable of a great deal more. Following the release of the 702hp MTM-tuned RS6 M, fellow German tuning house B&B Automobiltechnik has an even more potent tuning package, boosting power up to a whopping 715.

So what did the power-hungry gearheads at B&B do to get a 120 horsepower boost out of the Gallardo-derived FSI? They didn't replace the turbos or fit a new supercharger, nor did they bore out the cylinder block for bigger displacement. They simply fitted a new intake, catalyst, exhaust and cooling system, and tinkered with the ECU. B&B are also offering an adjustable suspension and new springs that drop the ride height by 25mm. The result? A claimed 0-60 run in a scant 3.6 seconds. That's well into supercar territory, as many a Porsche and Ferrari driver are bound to discover when baited into an impromptu red-light drag race. Nice work if you can get it.

[Source: B&B via World Car Fans]

Click above for a high resolution image

An American supercar with lightweight components, sport suspension, Michelin Pilot Sport Cup tires, aerodynamic body kit, and menacing black wheels. No, we're not talking about the Dodge Viper ACR. It's Katech's new ClubSport package for the Corvette Z06. The Detroit-based company has the credentials to build a 'Vette for the track. After all, it's responsible for building the race engines that go into the Le Mans-winning Corvette C6R race cars and the SCCA SPEED World Challenge cars. For the ClubSport, Katech adds a 14-inch, six-piston Brembo brake system, Moton ClubSport suspension, 15-spoke wheels, sticky Michelin tires, Katech appearance package, carbon fiber air intake, lightweight exhaust system and more. Also on the options list are leather race seats, A/C and radio delete, roll bar, and six-point harnesses. Add one of Katech's fully built motors, and the ClubSport will surely put down some pretty impressive numbers at the track. Full details on the ClubSport can be found in the press release after the jump.

[Source: Katech via CorvetteForum.com]

Click to view a hi-res gallery of the BMW M3

Ever meet one of those parents who are never satisfied no matter how well their kids do? The child comes home with a 98% on a school exam and the parent asks "How'd you lose two percent?" Dinan is one of those parents. But instead of overstressed children, Dinan produces overachieving performance automobiles.

Take, for example, the latest M3, which BMW unveiled with a V8 derived from the award-winning 5-liter V10 found in the M5 and M6. The eight replaced the inline-six on the previous model, but instead of remaining content to say "good job on the extra two cylinders", Dinan asks what happened to the extra two from the V10. Not that they would have been happy with the V10, either. On that, Dinan pushed and pushed, boring and stroking out the engine's ten cylinders until they got it up to 5.7 liters and 628 horsepower. Pretty sick, but saddled with the heft of a BMW 5 or 6 Series, Dinan couldn't help but ask what would happen to its pride and joy in a more suitable setting. Word has it now that Dinan is preparing to shoehorn in its 628-hp concoction into the M3's engine bay. Thankfully they'll be lightening it up a little after that, removing some of the bulk from the front end in order to keep the weight balance in check. We can't wait to see what it can achieve.

[Source: Modified Luxury & Exotics]

Click above to view more of the Porsche 959 Speedster

Not all German supercars are the same. For instance, not every Teutonic exotic bred the plethora of derivatives that the Mercedes SLR McLaren has. Case in point, the Porsche 959. There was no 722 version, no roadster and certainly no chop-top speedster. But that's where the aftermarket comes into the picture. Well, sorta.

What you see here is not a 959 supercar with the roof hacked off. Nor is it an original 356, either. All it appears to be is a kit car combining the retro styling of the original Porsche with the front and rear ends of the 959. The hybrid concoction may have filled a niche for a modern throwback to the original 356 just as the first-generation Boxster was coming to market, but where that leaves this creation now is up to debate. While we can't say that the end result is a work of art, it certainly is... original.

Follow the link for the auction page, where the 959 Speedster is under reserve at $5,700 with a buy-it-now price a hair under $11k.

[Source: eBay via PistonHeads]

Click to view the Adren AJ21 in high resolution

With the M5-battling Jaguar XFR looming high on the horizon, German tuning house Arden's release of its new AJ21 comes at the perfect time. The XF-based performance sedan, details of which have been trickling out for several months now, offers a range of modifications to give the sharp cat that extra edge.

As you can see from these new images, Arden's given the Jag's appearance a serious makeover, much to the benefit of its aerodynamics. The front end has been thoroughly redesigned to include a bigger grille and vents to help the engine get the air it needs, while the front spoiler keeps things planted. Around back the diffuser and discreet spoiler keeps the tail nailed as well, with side skirts helping along the way and integrated vents to help cool the rear brakes. The package also includes a revised suspension and 21-inch forged alloys, but the real treat is underhood where Arden has worked its magic on the entire range of engines available on the XF. The range-topping supercharged V8 has been bored out from 4.2 liters to 4.5 and is aided in producing 500 horsepower by a custom crankshaft, con rods and pistons. The same enlargement can be done to the naturally-aspirated V8 for 380 hp, with the 2.7-liter diesel six tuned to 250 hp instead of the stock 207. Customers can also specify custom interior options, but to our taste, we'd leave the leaper off the hood. Check out the pair of new images in the gallery below.

[Source: Arden]

The faster a car goes, the more downforce its various wings, spoilers and splitters can produce. There's always a trade-off though, as the byproduct of downforce is more drag, which reduces a car's top speed. Supercars like the Bugatti Veyron use active aerodynamics to produce the right amount of downforce for a specific situation like twisty road courses or high-speed runs, but cars like the Veyron are out of reach for most. Enter AeroMotions, a company that promises its rear wing assembly will provide the perfect amount of downforce at all times. The carbon fiber wing is split into two sections, each one moving independently of one another to offer just the right amount of traction. An on-board computer constantly monitors acceleration, braking and lateral acceleration so it can actively change the pitch of the wing's sections in real-time as the car is being driven, effectively giving more or less downforce to whichever side of the car needs it most. AeroMotions' wing is currently undergoing testing, and one of our readers happened to witness it in action in California and was impressed. If anyone's got video of the wing in action, we've got popcorn and are waiting. Thanks for the tip, Vince!

[Source: AeroMotions]

Click above for a high resolution image

Steve Saleen grabbed our attention when he announced his new company SMS Limited and gave us a preview of his upcoming versions of the Dodge Challenger, the 570TM and 570XTM. Since the preview only showed a rendering of the vehicle, we figured it would be quite some time before we saw an actual product. Our expectations were exceeded, however, when SMS sent us news of their very first product: the 296 Supercharger system for the 5.7L and 6.1L HEMI V8. The system features a massive 2955 cc of displacement as well as an internal intercooler, eight-rib pulley, by-pass valve, high-volume heat exchanger and more. The kit can increase horsepower by as much as 45%, all while fitting neatly underneath the stock hood. Follow the jump to see a full list of features and check out the gallery below.

[Source: SMS Limited]

When a BMW 335i owner in Munich became bored with his black coupe, he hired a team to wrap it in white tape. Two days later, he drove home in his refreshed "Alpine White" coupe (with an M3-appearing black roof). No, it's not normal tape. It's a special 3M wrap, and the process is known as "foiling." Apparently, the German military has been using the process (with an olive drab tape) for some time now. Likewise, the process is popular with race teams and taxi companies. Available in countless colors, the tape itself is thick enough to protect the paint from minor chips and nicks, and it can be left adhered to the surface for 3-4 years without damage (!). Adhesion isn't a problem either, as the tape can even withstand an automatic car wash without peeling off. Thanks for the tip Frank.

[Source: E90post]

Click above for high-res gallery of this TT Gallardo

Jason Heffner is in the business of building fast cars. We're talking about quadruple digit horsepower, spinning the tires at 100 mph and pulling-away-from-a-Bugatti-Veyron fast cars. You might remember watching a Heffner-powered twin-turbo Ford GT that could hit 222 mph in the standing mile. His latest project is this twin-turbo Lamborghini that's putting down 930 horsepower and 762 lb-ft torque at the wheels. This particular owner also wanted to cut some weight, and added a carbon fiber deck lid and rear diffuser, race seats, and lightweight wheels. Follow the jump to see the extensive upgrade list, or check out the photos below.