by Keiichi (RSS feed) September 2nd, 2010 at 10:31 am
Tuners are hard at work it seems in their craft. The latest Mercedes-Benz ramification comes from Anderson Germany with their version of the Mercedes-Benz CL 65 AMG Black Edition. Theirs features an engine upgrade that involves specialized computer software optimization, sports air filter, plasma-coated exhaust system with racing catalytic converters, and larger accessory pulleys to bump power up to 670hp.
The vinyl-wrapped appearance gives the car that novel image just begging for aggression and respect at the same time. Well, Anderson Germany prefers to call it satin matte deluxe/black. The kit also includes a jet-black carbon exterior packet that consists of an external mirror, window frames, front grille, door handles, hatchback panel, ventilator frames on the bonnet, and diverse engine room coverings. A rear spoiler lip rides the back to complete the aerodynamic package.
What’s kind of odd is that Anderson Germany decided to equip the car with an electronically-adjustable suspension. While it’s not entirely bad, it just doesn’t add up to have an automatic suspension setup to handle 670 horses of power.
Well, anyway, the whole thing rolls with 22-inch rims that are black/gloss finished with matching jet black carbon edging, so it’s still worth attention. The interior is a sight to behold as well if you’re fond of warm colored trims and leather. Anderson Germany also accepts customer-specific tailoring, so yes, this car is definitely going to turn heads on the streets.
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by Keiichi (RSS feed) August 26th, 2010 at 11:14 am
Think business is boring? Think again, because Brabus won’t agree with you. They’ve taken the latest in Apple’s multimedia armada and gadgetry to turn a normal Mercedes-Benz S-Class into a rolling workplace on the go. Called the S-Class iBusiness (yes, that’s the same Apple naming convention), it has a host of upgrades that are highly attuned to today’s fast-paced driving, err, work environment.
The hardware under the hood is an SV12 R Biturbo 750 bumping power of the 12-cylinder engine up to 750 hp and a whopping 1,350 Nm of torque. Zero to sixty can be had in 4.2 seconds. The iBusiness’ electronically-limited top speed is down to 211 mph (yes, we know that 340 km/h is definitely death-defying).
It won’t be an iBusiness unless you have two iPads, the S-Class COMAND system, and USB 2.0 ports at the rear if you want to add more hardware. A lightweight Mac minicomputer is now the nurturing body behind the technology, and is hidden in an electronically-operated hidden drawer that looks pretty much like the Mac itself.
Rear seat passengers will have tabletops covered in leather, using aluminum frames and are electrically deployed from the custom Brabus seatback console. They could even be adjusted to stand at any angle, no questions asked. Of course, you’ll get an Apply mouse and keyboard as well.
Soon, a BRABUS app for the iPad and iPhone will be made available. Until then , enjoy relaxing music from a 64mb Apple iPod Touch.
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by Keiichi (RSS feed) August 26th, 2010 at 10:22 am
Lots of carbon fiber makes for a really lightweight car. And for something’s that’s already lightweight and has supercar performance, the SLS AMG might seem an unlikely candidate for modification. But not for Brabus. They came up with their very own take on what an SLS AMG should be, and that’s lighter, and faster, anywhere.
But first they had to make it more aerodynamic and had to tune its suspension. For that they added loads of carbon fiber components, ultra light forged alloys, Ride Control suspension, titanium exhaust system with bypass gate, and of course, for their final touch, their very own brand of Brabus leather.
The kind of carbon fiber they used is comparable to the type in use in Formula 1. They design each aerodynamic component using their very own wind tunnel (hard core stuff). Of course, for the discerning customer, they’ll be happy to match these components with your SLS AMG’s paint.
The Brabus spoiler up front reduces lift at high speeds to give you all the confidence of a Formula 1 driver. The host of air inlets and outlets makes your SLS AMG a living, breathing hotrod. Of course, you won’t mind a little flair with lighted Brabus letterings on your door sills. It’ll help take the edge off as you master the Ride Control system of 20 and 21 inch wheels.
Finally, the engine—the original 6.3-liter V8 is now getting its finishing touches. You’ll just have to wait and see how this baby fares on the open road. Hell, to hear it’s titanium exhaust is enough to make the hairs on the back of your neck stand.
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by Keiichi (RSS feed) August 24th, 2010 at 7:19 am
What’s the best thing about tuners? Is it the radical body kits that they slap on a car? Or is it the sophisticated interior that totally transforms a vehicle inside out? Well, maybe for some, yes. But for most auto enthusiasts, the real worth of a tuner is in their ability to bring out the best in a vehicle’s stock engine. And for Mercedes-Benz tuner MKB, nothing comes closer to that than their latest creation.
The car in question is a Mercedes-Benz SL 65 AMG Black Series. These Swabian engineers added not 100 nor 200 horsepower to its 670hp engine but 345 horses, bringing up the total power to an unbelievable 1,015hp. Of course, you’re going to ask how much torque are delivered to its rear wheels. MKB’s answer is an astounding 1,300 Nm torque, electronically limited to prevent mechanical damage to the engine.
If you’re thinking you can just bring your SL 65 AMG Black Series to MKB and ask them to work their magic, you have to understand that it involves a major engine conversion. These guys are known for transforming ordinary both sports and luxury cars into Autobahn addicts. Their creations reach speeds wherein jet fighters would have already retracted their landing gear. And no, there haven’t been any news of their cars taking off—not without wings at the least.
How are they able to reach such speeds without launching off the ground? Through downforce engineering. And so enough said. Enjoy the pictures, guys. Because you likely won’t be able to catch a glimpse of this beast on the road, not unless you’re driving a Veyron.
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by Keiichi (RSS feed) August 18th, 2010 at 12:14 pm
Tuners in Germany just won’t be able to complete their day without getting their hands dirty on a Mercedes-Benz. As proof, Vath has just released their customized turbocharger kit for your brand new Mercedes-Benz C 250 CGI. This little kit, whose price tag reads 1,200 euros, has the ability to bump up your C 250’s power to 270 hp. Theat means you’re going to get 66 hp more than what you initially paid for when you bought your car.
So how did Vath come up with such a huge increase? Well, if you must ask, that’s what the turbocharger does. Vath went further and worked their magic in optimizing engine electronics. They made sure that the power equation gets balanced with their patented charged air cooler and sports exhaust system. Of course, for tweaking your C 250’s ECU, putting in a charged air cooler and a mean exhaust, you’ll have to shell out an extra 3,200 euros.
So now, you’ve got around 255 horses of power at your disposal, and around 370 Nm to burn rubber with. With those figures you’ll be able to get up to speed, the fastest of which is 161 mph. Of course, Vath won’t let you reach horrific speeds without tuning your suspension for both stability and handling. They’ve added a lower and harder suspesion plus huge brake rotors—360mm up front and 320mm a the rear—just to make sure you’ve got enough stopping power in case you get too excited.
Finally, a carbon body kit that includes a hood, front spoiler, rear diffuser, and boot lid spoiler completes the Vath package. Oh yeah, don’t forget the 19-inch alloys. Them Germans really know how to have fun, don’t they?
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by Keiichi (RSS feed) August 7th, 2010 at 12:36 pm
Not all bad ideas turn out to as planned, do they? That is exactly the case with Helvetic Motor Company’s plans to take a perfectly running Merecedes-Benz SLK 55 AMG and turn it into something hideously old. Unfortunately for them, the final product turned out sharper than everyone expected, and the company has no one else to blame, err, credit for its success.
Dubbed the ‘Hidalgo’, it’s a mixture of Bugatti Atlantic design language that rolls on a Silver Arrow’s powertrain. Sounds like fun, doesn’t it? Well, it should, especially with the 5.5-liter V8 that’s sitting under the hood. This baby is capable of 355hp and 376lb-ft. If you’re thinking of buying a BMW-powered Morgan, you better think twice.
So, is the Bruce Wayne in you starting to itch for a new toy? Then better start making some calls as Helvetic Motor Company is planning to sell as few as 6 samples annually. The price tag on each fully-built Hidalgo stretches around $410,000. A bit too much? Well, you’re not going to be a worthwhile collector if you can’t spend a little money on a classic. All right, it’s not a classic. It’s only a modern car that’s been dressed up to look like a classic. Would it have fooled you? Probably not.
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by Keiichi (RSS feed) July 30th, 2010 at 2:32 am
The SL63 AMG is something you won’t want to keep your hands from. That is exactly the case with the boys down at Inden Design who have decided to create a high-performance wide body tuning kit for the hardtop roadster. And guess what? They’ve already put a price tag on it—19,000 euros in its most basic form.
Optional additions include a €3,500 bonnet, an €800 carbon fiber rear diffuser, and a €999 apron for the front. Labor would cost you around €8,000, while another €7,500 is needed to get your car a lacquer finish. Add all that up and you get to around €38,000 total.
It doesn’t end there, though. If you want something a little bit more special, you can dish out another €13,200 and they’ll throw in 20-inch deep dish alloys, wrapped in 275/30 R20 and 325/25 R20 Dunlops front and rear respectively. €900 would get you a rear parking camera plus another €1,500 if you want it to ride lower than very low. At €420 you’ll have daytime running lights while a sports exhaust system is available for €1,200.
Sounds a lot but if you round it all up, you get one hell of an SL63 that can pull anywhere between 518 to 560 horsepower. The power kit you’ll need to get those figures will cost you some more, though. But the pricetag on that kit hasn’t been revealed yet. So, you interested?
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by Keiichi (RSS feed) July 26th, 2010 at 3:37 am
The Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG is an exciting super car in its own right. But that won’t stop tuners from keeping their hands off it. That’s what they do for a living, and undeniably there are wealthy folks out there who want their super car to stand out from the rest. Fortunately, as many as there are millionaires who can afford not one but a pair of SLS AMG’s, there are tuners who are more than willing to offer something new. Hamann is one of them.
One look at the Hamann SLS AMG and you’ll instantly notice its 21-inch wheels. Design Edition Race Anodized—that’s the name given to the exclusive set of wheels that are made of two pieces lightweight aluminum alloy that have been forged, painted matte black in the center. To create contrast in the wheel design, the connecting bolts are made from titanium, while the lip is completely left bare for the forged aluminum to show.
The next thing you’ll notice is the ride height. The Hamann SLS has been lowered from stock by barely over one inch. The entirely aggressive stance gives almost no wheel gap up front. Ride comfort and handling haven’t been sacrificed, though. It gives the SLS a lot more grip and a progressive sensation. Engine specs have been made confidential. What we do know is that the exhaust system has been upgraded to 3.5-inch quad tailpipes that create a different tune from normal.
Need we say more? Hamann’s kit starts at €10,500 ($13,500).
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by Keiichi (RSS feed) July 21st, 2010 at 12:14 am
Wald International—what does that name sound like to you? If you answered “Japanese” and “tuner”, you’re absolutely right. Now, what do they have to do with Mercedes-Benz? Two words—the S-Class. Yes, these tuners from Japan are all over the S-Class, and has turned it into a radical life-form that breathes sheer awesomeness, with power to boot.
The company’s latest project is a tuning kit, aptly named Black Bison Edition, that fits well on Mercedes-Benz’s flagship S line. Included in the package is a restyled front bumper that has much larger air intake vents, similar air intakes on the sides, LED fog lights for supreme harsh-weather visibility and black finish for both the grille and fog light supports. Moving your attention to the sides, you can see a highly-sophisticated sideskirt design plus a bunch of tasty ornamental tidbits for both the front and rear windows. Riding on a really wide set of multi-spoke alloys, the end result is nothing less than radical, and provocative.
Heading over to the end product’s rear is, likewise, a new bumper design, boot lid spoiler lip plus matching ornaments for the rear window. There are air vents on both sides of the reworked rear bumper. Underneath the bumper is a diffuser with three fins, edged aggressively by four oval tailpipes—a stark semblance with the Lexus IS-F.
Rounding up the kit are front and rear parking sensors plus a generous helping of Wald and Black Bison badges. So if you’re looking to add a radical character to your S-Class, this is the look to go for.
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by Keiichi (RSS feed) July 20th, 2010 at 11:54 pm
Ready for a little bit of madness? Some time back, the guys down at Domani Motors were able to get their hands on an SL65 AMG Black Series, and put it in their showroom. However, they weren’t really intent on keeping the car in ‘stock’ form. They felt that the car was capable of even more awesomeness, and so that’s what they did. They perked up the car and made it even more other-worldly than it already is. They did this with the help of their pals down at Renntech, whose Performance Package 1 was just what the doctor ordered to make their dreams come true.
For those of you who are boggled out of your minds, it’s sort of PCP for the Silver Arrows. The teams worked together to remap the ECU, install a more open exhaust system plus a few other neat tricks to manage the impossible. The end result is around 805 horsepower and 1,000 pound per feet of torque. And what’s even more impressive is their brainchild is completely streetable, albeit with a few reminders to whoever is going to drive it. There’ll be cops on the loose, mind you.
If you do end up driving one, might we suggest that you take note of the 100-percent locking rear differential that the guys put into place. It takes all the power the engine can muster and throws it without any consideration to the rear wheels. Remember, this sort of hardware is almost similar to a spool, which is ILLEGAL in most states in the US, by the way. It’s the sort that race cars come equipped with to tear down corners on a race track. The car also comes with an upgraded tranny to comfortably handle the immense power of the engine. Excessive? Not quite. Fun? Undeniably.
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