After an eventful 2010 year that saw their founder kidnapped and killed in South Africa, 2011 has been a relatively quiet year for German tuning company, Gemballa.
The new brass over at Gemballa is determined to turn over a new leaf and investor, Steffen Korbach, is initiating a new chapter in the company’s history by starting a new Gemballa racing team that hopes to begin competing in the 2012 motor racing season. With a new team in hand, Korbach wanted a car that can be competitive from the get-go and they seemed to have found it in a pair of McLaren MP4-12C GT3 models.
"We deliberately went for the McLaren MP4-12C GT3 for our motor sport commitment, because we think the car has enormous potential to be among the season’s leaders," Korbach said.
Powered by the same 3.8-liter twin-turbo V8 engine found on the production version, the MP4-12C GT3 comes with a de-tuned output of only 500 horsepower at a limited 7,500rpm. The engine is then mounted to the car’s carbon fiber MonoCell chassis and tuned to racing specifications.
In addition to scoring a pair of MP4-12C GT3s, Korbach also tapped race vet, Sascha Bert, to serve as team manager with the names of prospective drivers scheduled to be announced soon.
In the process of rebuilding their tuning empire after the devastating loss of Gemballa founder, Uwe Gemballa, the company has arrived at the 2011 Top Marques Monaco with two new packages: the Tornado based on the new Cayenne and the 2011 Mistrale based on the Panamera sedan. Both models are defined by the most impressive design, cutting edge technology and the finest materials.
For the Mistrale, Gemballa is offering two stages of engine updates. In stage one, the twin-turbo V8 engine has been tuned to deliver 610 HP and a peak torque of 626 lbs-ft. Stage two takes power to a more incredible 700 HP and 737 HP. This significant output is achieved through the use of larger turbochargers, a modified intake system, high efficiency intercoolers, sports exhaust, free-flow catalytic converters and bespoke ECU remapping.
"We have significantly reduced weight, but without compromising strength, safety or comfort," explained Andreas Schwarz, CEO of GEMBALLA GmbH. "Rather than cutting into the steel panels and bonding on new parts, as is common in the aftermarket industry, we completely replace entire panels with bespoke carbon-fiber ones that use the original mounting points," he said. "These new panels, which include the bonnet, front wings, doors, front and rear bumper/valance, save a total of 70kg."
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Say what you want about the year Gemballa has had, but you can’t deny that when these guys buckle down and bring their lunch pails to work, they’re one of the best in the business when it comes to tuning high-powered sports cars.
One product line that has been associated with Gemballa has been the Mirage GT, which is based on the Porsche Carrera GT. Over the years, Gemballa has released a number of Mirage models based on the Carrera GT, including the Carbon Edition, the Matte Edition, the Black Edition, and the Gold Edition. Recently, the German tuning company released the latest iteration of the super aggressive Mirage GT, christening it the "Matte Blue Edition".
Similar to its predecessors, the Mirage GT Matte Blue Edition is powered by Gemballa’s own V10 engine that produces 650 horsepower and 464 lb/ft of torque, up from the standard output of 612 horsepower and 435 lb/ft of torque the standard Carrera GT comes in. Those figures translate to a 0-62 mph time of 3.7 seconds (down from the stock version’s 3.9-second time) with a top speed of 208 mph, which in turn is up from the Carrera GT’s 205-mph top speed.
Aerodynamically, the Mirage GT Matte Blue Edition comes with the same aerodynamic kit as all the other special edition models, which is to say that we expect Gemballa’s rather over-the-top aerodynamic package on the front, side, and rear of the car to be highlighted on the Matte Blue Edition. Likewise, this version of the Mirage GT will also carry the same interior treatment, including the carbon seatblends, and the two-tone - in this case, its black and white - leather finish.
Many Porsche 911 models have been christened with the Avalanche name since the mid-1980s when Gemballa came out with their first Avalanche tuning package for the sports car. Since that first project, the Gemballa-911 models bearing the name have become masterpieces in their own right and Gemballa is ready to show the world just how special this model is.
At the upcoming 2011 Retro Classics, Gemballa will prove that they offer the best tuning programs for the Porsche 911 models by bringing back the Avalanche GTR 750 EVO-R for display. This is a model that has been tuned to deliver an impressive 750hp and hit a top speed of 208 mph. Next to this impressive engine update, the Evo-R will also be heavily modified on both the exterior and the interior, with a new set of 20" racing wheels and a black and orange exterior combination to boot.
Hit the jump to read more about the Gemballa Avalanche GTR 750 EVO-R.
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Gemballa hasn’t exactly had the best year, to say the least, in 2010. Earlier this year, the company’s founder, Uwe Gemballa mysteriously disappeared only to be found a few months later in South Africa, a victim of an apparent murder orchestrated by people that he may have had some prior involvement with.
Then in February, German police officials closed down the company’s tuning shop only to be re-opened a few months later when the company officially re-opened under new leadership with CEO Andreas Schwarz and Investor Steffen Korbach taking the reins and assuming full control of the company.
So after a tumultuous year, the new Gemballa is poised to enter 2011 on a positive note by announcing their latest project, the Tornado Porsche 958 Cayenne.
It may have taken longer than anyone would have liked, not to mention the tragic circumstances surrounding the untimely death of its founder, but the new company is trying to make sure that some semblance of normalcy returns after the year they’ve been through.
And, really, what better way to do that than to announce the development of a new and awesome project.
UPDATE 05/04/11: Here’s something you don’t see at an auto show: The Cayenne-based Gemballa Tornado made its official debut at the recently concluded 2011 Top Marques Monaco and before anybody else could take the SUV out for a test run at the Monaco Grand Prix circuit, an Arabian sheik bought the SUV 16 seconds after the show opened its doors. 16 seconds, people. That guys scooped up the Gemballa Tornado faster than it takes for us to drink our coffees in the morning.
Check out details for the Tornado Porsche 958 Cayenne after the jump.
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