Autoblog

Click above for hi-res shots of STRUT's Gallardo collection

Has that yellow Lamborghini Gallardo been sitting on the lawn for a while because it's simply not getting you the attention you want? Or have all those other LP560-4 owners made it too hard for you to use the Phone Number Collecting Set? If so, STRUT could have just the right bit of jazz to put the rage back in your bull.

An 11-piece accessory kit in carbon fiber and steel includes grilles for the front, side, and rear intakes, and the engine cover and bumper vents, as well as a STRUT shield for the front of the car. According to STRUT, the accessories give the Lambo "a disctinct, personalized appearance," because pulling up to the party in a Gallardo just wasn't distinctive enough. The price of personalization: $25,000 for the basic set, $35,000 if you gotta be a baller and choose the titanium edition. And no, that doesn't include the STRUT wheels -- those are $9,000 extra.


[Source: STRUT]

If you've been in the market for a vintage, or just affordable, Porsche 911 in the last ten years, you've undoubtedly noticed the number of Targa-topped 911s for sale. The reason for the glut of Targas is two fold: Porsche sold a slew of them in the 70s and 80s and they remain less desirable than their fixed-roof counterparts. However, the allure of the Targa hasn't been lost.

Porsche's introduction of the 911 Targa was largely a response to stringent safety regulations in the 1960s, but the appeal of both an open-air experience (without the aesthetic and noise issues of a traditional cloth convertible) and some manner of additional safety made the Targa a popular choice. Porsche reintroduced its modern interpretation of the Targa last year, but instead of the removable roof and fixed rollbar/B-pillar, it opted for a duo of sliding glass panels.

Paso Robles, California-based performance shop, VeloTech, has decided to move beyond its bread and butter business – turbocharging European vehicles – and has developed its own traditional targa setup for current 911s. The roof, which is comprised mainly of carbon fiber, is still a pricey solution for a very select group of enthusiasts, but VeloTech maintains that if the price for the conversion can be reduced from its current cost ($10,000) to something more palatable ($6,000), the market could expand.

[Source: Detroit News]

The team over at SEMA, you know them as the group that supplies the automotive industry with aftermarket performance and cosmetic accessories, have asked more than 1,000 automotive enthusiasts how they intend to spend their federal tax rebate checks. Of course, we know what SEMA wants the answer to be...

Interestingly enough, most surveyed (21%) said they would use the money to pay down credit cards. Another large chunk (20%) said they'd bank the cash for now. Of those who said they'd spend the money on specialty automotive equipment, most intend to buy wheels, exhaust kits, cold air intakes, and engine performance accessories. From survey results, SEMA was able to determine most enthusiasts have altered, and delayed, buying specialty equipment due to the high cost of fuel. In fact, some of the hottest aftermarket performance parts right now are specifically designed to enhance fuel economy. We think you just found an excuse for that new CAI. Check out the press release after the jump.

[Source: SEMA]

Click on above to view our 29-image high-resolution gallery

When Mansory hit us with its modified Aston Martin V8 Vantage, we bemoaned the lack of any serious performance upgrades. Unfortunately, although it's more visually pleasing than its stab at the Vanquish, Mansory's take on the DB9 adopts the same meatless approach.

The only real performance upgrade is in the rolling stock: 20-inch forged alloys hide 405mm discs clamped by six-piston calipers up front and four-piston calipers around back, hooked up to a lowered suspension. Wheels, brakes and suspension ain't nothin', but otherwise it's all poseur. There's a new front end with integrated lighting, side skirts and a carbon fiber rear diffuser with chrome exhaust tips. Inside Mansory has decked the interior out in maple, carbon fiber, Alcantara and available aluminum pedals.

The package is available for both the DB9 coupe as well as the DB9 Volante, so if you can't wait for the DBS roadster and aren't that interested in the increased performance anyway, your new clubbing accessory has arrived.

[Source: Motor Authority]

click above to view more images of the Solstice F430

There's a pretty healthy argument to be made for leaving the styling of your Pontiac Solstice alone. It did end up in production virtually off the show floor, as evidenced by the cockpit's spaciousness and spectacular materials (hint: saracasm). But there's always at least one person who's not content to leave well enough alone. Luckily, Mr. Paul MadMods seems to have what's known in the biz as mad skillz. What that means is he has a way of working with his hands in a painstaking manner to turn out customized cars that don't scream "HACK JOB!"

Aesthetics, however, are another whole thing, and we're sure that this choice of colors and body mods won't sit well with everyone, but you have to give the guy credit, it's all nicely done. We also have to give props for not creating a full-on Ferrari replica. Paul states that his intent was just to incorporate cool cues from cars that he sees. Thus, his Solstice wears an F430 nose, Porsche Cayman side intakes serving as extractors in the front quarters, tons of custom electronics and a snarling custom turbo installation, too. It's pretty amazing to see how much like a kit car the Solstice actually is. It's not the most comfortable little mini-'Vette, but it's well engineered platform-wise. After seeing how easily the Solstice takes to wrenching, we want one of our own to trick out. When we need an F430 nose, we know who to call.

Thanks for the tip, Aman!

[Source: CarDomain via KitCarsForum]

It's been made abundantly clear that Toyota is taking this year's SEMA show seriously, particularly since it's the featured marque at the event. But in addition to debuting the new Corolla and Matrix, along with releasing a number of factory-approved Lexus performance parts, it's tasked nine separate tuners with kicking the luxury brand's offerings up a notch, or three.

While most of the aftermarket firms won't unveil their creations until November, Blitz and BRS Autodesign have already released some teasers of what we'll see when we head down to Vegas. The BRS SC430 is pictured above and the Blitz'd GS430 is shown at right. Little information is available about either model at the company's respective websites, but we've included a full listing of what Lexus will offer up in the City of Sin after the jump.

[Sources: SEMA, The Passionate Pursuit]

BMW has officially thrown its hat in the performance parts game here in the U.S., likely rivaling the products available from aftermarket firms and coming complete with a factory-backed warranty.

Beginning with the 3-series and Z4, BMW is offering a host of components, from brake upgrades to engine kits, that will boost performance and not cause owners to fear a trip to the dealer for service. Some of the parts include carbon fiber and aluminum strut braces, 3.07:1 performance diffs, lowering kits, performance exhausts and a engine package for three-liter models that includes new camshafts and a modified ECU that boosts output to 235 HP and 222 lb.-ft. or torque.

All of the wonderful tidbits can be procured after the jump, and we'd suspect good things to come from the Bimmer boys when they release packages designed for the 335i and the upcoming 135i.

[Source: BMW]

Click image for high-res gallery

With SEMA right around the corner, it's high time Autoblog is flooded by audacious performance tuners' creations showing more bling than 50 Cent. The German aftermarket gurus at Heico Sportiv passed up plenty of sweet German hardware in favor of the Swedish Volvo S80, and the end result is far cooler than anything you can pick up at Ikea. Heico foregoes Yamaha-sourced V8 in favor of the turbocharged inline six, whose power has been pumped to 350 HP running on biofuel E85. With that kind of power in tow, the Heico Sportiv Volvo S80 will hit 60 MPH in about 5.8 seconds, and more power is promised out of the tuned powerplant by the time SEMA begins.

Some of the more impressive mods come in the styling department, and the beautiful paint job sets the tone. Designers employed seven layers of paint to make the car look metallic, and we'd say, "mission accomplished." The S80's stance is widened with the use of larger rims and tires and flared-out wheel arches. Auto-running integrated LED headlights, larger air ducts, integrated spoiler flaps, and sweet leather seats round out the major mods. Heico has made one heck of a beautiful tuner in its modified S80, and we'll be at SEMA for the official unveiling. Hit the jump to read Volvo's press release, or click on the image above to view Autoblog Green's high resolution photo gallery.

[Source: Autoblog Green]

It'll cost you about the same as an iPod, but it's so much cooler. Or obnoxious. Mike Kosco dreamed up a way to make his Hummer growl, as well as sing whatever nuggets that could be crammed into 256 megabytes, too. If you're driving around a Hummer with the Incredible Hulk on the hood, you should probably expect verbal abuse. That's just what happened to the San Clemente, California resident at a coffee shop when teenagers gave Kosco a good heckling over his airbrushed mural. Fast forward two years, and the Horntones system made its debut at CES in Las Vegas.

The system consists of a player, and amplifier and a speaker. It costs $250, and it's light years beyond the old musical horns of the late '70s that would play horrid renditions of songs without the gift of polyphony. The player has a control unit that can navigate through your themes and tones and the entire setup looks high quality and well-designed. There's a website where you can custom organize and configure your sounds and songs, and then load the file onto a thumb drive that you then use to transfer the goods to your FX-550 rig. If you've just got to have Rico Suave at the ready, units are available and shipping, and look for Horntones at SEMA.

check the press release after the jump

Heico Sportiv has been putting a more stylish and powerful edge on Volvos for ten years, and they've applied their touch to the latest V70 and XC70 wagons from Gothenburg. With tuning skills derived from racing experience, the changes are more than cosmetic. Heico has developed suspension, brake, and exhaust upgrades that enhance the reflexes of the wagons. The restrained bodykit bolted to the EUCD platform cars is the most visible change. It's tasteful, though the ultra low profile tires and overkill-diameter rims look awkward to us. The interior gains extremely attractive two color seats and various aluminum trim pieces embossed with the Heico Viking helmet logo. We'll take the low and mean looking V70, though it'd be tough to go wrong with the more chromed-out and higher-riding XC70, as well.

[Source: Carscoop]