When BMW brought the X6 to the market, we had some doubt about its ability to succeed, but luckily the model proved us wrong. So when the M version was also dropped, we had no doubts that it will instantly become of the best sold sports SUV on the market. After all, with 555 horsepower under the hood, who can ask for more, right?
Well, the answer is German tuner, Inside Performance, which has unveiled a sweet Stealth package based on the X6 M. The tuner decided the car can pump out much more power than the standard model, so it installed a special exhaust system available in two power levels. Level 1 it gets 3-inch piping and up to 3-inch valves, and level 2 gets new downpipes and new generation 200-cell sports metal catalysts. The result is an output of 700 horsepower and 626 pound-feet of torque.
In order to handle the extra power, the tuner installed new 22-inch alloy wheels and adjustable suspension. The exterior has been wrapped in an army-style foil.
Click past the jump to read more about the standard BMW X6 M.
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After teasing it for quite some time now, Lexus has finally unveiled the third generation IS sedan at the 2013 Detroit Auto Show. The new model will be put on sale in mid-2013 in both rear- and all-wheel-drive versions, and in 250 and 350 trim levels. There will also be an F-Sport variant, and Europe and Japan will get an IS 300h version featuring the new Atkinson-cycle 4-cylinder, 2.5-liter engine combined with a high-torque motor.
The 2014 Lexus IS features the same design language we have already seen in models like GS and LS, including an inverted trapezoidal upper grille and slanted lower grille. Unlike the previous models, which featured a three-projector LED headlamp unit, the new IS receives Lexus’ new powerfully articulated headlamp cluster design with L-shaped Daytime Running Lights (DRL) located independently below.
Both models will be offered with a V-6 engine, one in a 2.5-liter displacement and the other one in 3.5-liter displacement.
Updated 04/29/2013: Lexus announced today prices for the 2014 IS luxury sedan set to arrive at dealerships this summer. Click past the jump to learn more about it.
Hit the jump to find out more details on the third generation Lexus IS.
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Koenigsegg does things a little differently than the other hypercar makes, and the world is better for it. Engineering mastermind and company founder Christian Von Koenigsegg’s dream of the perfect hypercar is a real, gurgling pack of 100 blood-thirsty savages. His reality rolls out of the company’s aircraft hangar facility and into the dreams of gearheads worldwide.
Skillful tweaking of the Koenigsegg hypercar package leads to the Agera S Hundra, the company’s hundredth customer vehicle and rolling showcase for all that is right in the world. A rough calculation of 10 years in business over 100 cars shows that these stunners aren’t born overnight: in fact, it takes more than 36 days to build each car from scratch. Is it worth it? Oh yes, and then some. This Koenigsegg is every bit as spectacular as the latest Pagani and Bugatti models, and even innovates dozens of clever technical achievements yet to be included by their southern European rivals.
This Agera S Hundra customer car shipped right from Geneva to its new home with a wealthy Chinese gentleman. However, your own version of the Agera S model is available now, with numero 101 baking in the autoclave as we speak.
Click past the jump for the full review of Koenigsegg’s shockingly desirable Agera S Hundra, a full image gallery, and detailed explanations of the key technical marvels that make this Koenigseggs’s best dream car yet.
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We won’t fault you if you haven’t heard of Low-Car-Scene and Blackbox-Richter. The two German tuners aren’t exactly household names but even with the lack of name recognition, these tuners have prepared a pretty fabulous program for the Volkswagen Golf VII.
That is, if by “fabulous,” you mean it glows in the dark.
Believe it or not, this Volkswagen Golf VII does exactly that: it glows in the dark. On top of that, it’s got a new set of 20-inch wheels that do the same.
These guys might not be as famous as the more heralded tuners out there, but at least for their program on the Golf VII, both Low-Car-Scene and Blackbox-Richter have put new meaning to the word ostentatious.
The program doesn’t appear to have any performance enhancements, which means that the Golf VII will retain its choice of engine options: two petrol - an 85-horsepower 1.2-liter TSI and a 140-horsepower 1.4-liter TSI - and two diesels - a 105-horsepower 1.6-liter unit and a 150-horsepower 2.0-liter unit.
Click past the jump to read more about what Low-Car-Scene and Blackbox-Richter did to the Volkswagen Golf VII
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For years, Nobuhiro ’Monster’ Tajima was considered the king of the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. All that, however, changed last year when Rhys Millen broke Tajima’s world record up the hill with a time of 9:46.164 in a modified Hyundai Genesis Coupe.
But if you thought that the Japanese legend would take that defeat sitting down, you got another thing coming. And by ’another thing’, we mean the Monster Sport Super 86.
That’s the name of the Toyota GT 86-sourced race Monster Tajima will be bringing to Pikes Peak this year. Yep, say good bye to the Sport E-RUNNER because the man, the myth, and the legend will be driving a brand new bad boy in his quest to reclaim the Pikes Peak record.
Looking at the Super 86, you’d be hard-pressed to think that it’s an actual GT 86. There are styling similarities, particularly the use of the sports car’s front end, but for the most part, the similarities come few and far in between.
Plus, the Super 86 is designed to compete in the Pikes Peak Unlimited Class, which pretty much means that engineers have free reign to build a car that can throw down with the best of ’em.
There are very few specific details about the Super 86, but there are whispers that the racecar is set to be powered by a 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V-6 engine that carries an output of 670 horsepower to go with an all-wheel-drive system.
Click past the jump to read more about the Toyota GT 86
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Let’s face it, short of the ST model, the Ford Fiesta isn’t much of a car. It is the epitome of a point-A-to-point-B car with just enough features to keep entry-level buyers occupied.
The latest project that Ford is working on in cooperation with Schaeffler demonstrates than even cars like the Fiesta can become even more agile and somewhat fun to drive.
Their Fiesta-based eWheelDrive car project drops the conventional gasoline engine in favor of two electric motors placed in each of the rear wheels. This compact system may lead to four-door sedans of the future having a footprint similar to that of current two-person cars today. Additionally, it will offer the possibility to move sideways into parking spaces, so all of you folks that stink at parallel parking may finally enjoy parking in the city.
What really makes this system is its surprising amount of power. Sure, the system maxes out at only 80 kW (110 horsepower) but that’s not all that comes into play here. The two electric motors twist out a stump-ripping 700 Nm (516 pound-feet) of torque from the second you push the accelerator pedal.
So, while this system may only allow the eWheelDrive project to hit about 100 mph, its 0-to-30 mph and 0-to-60 mph times are bound to be pure awesomeness. It really depends on how the drive system is geared, but the potential is definitely there.
Ford hopes to have two new drivable vehicles by 2015. Stay tuned for more info.
Click past the jump to read more about the standard Ford Fiesta.
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For Porsche, the Speedster name has a special meaning. The name first appeared on the Porsche 356 and that car made the name a legend. Original 356 Speedsters are now some of the most valuable classic Porsches.
In more recent years, the Speedster name has been linked to the 911. These special-edition cars were sold in limited numbers to help keep them as exclusive as possible in the 1980’s and 1990’s.
The cars picked up on features from the original such as a low-roof line and they added in a body colored rear fiberglass cover. These cars were great for sunny areas, but the tops are known to allow some water leakage and excessive wind noise, so they aren’t that great in rainy weather or for extended highway driving. The possibility of water getting into the cabin is so great that Porsche actually made buyers agree to this fact when buying the car.
The looks of the 911 Speedster are unique and eye catching, but what if you want this look in a new 911 (991) with a much better top? Well, DeLaVilla may have the solution for you, as it has created a kit that can turn the 991 Cabriolet into a Speedster. They call this conversion the SpeedRoad.
The car retains the stock engine, so it will still provide you with 350 horsepower found in the standard Carrera form or 400 horsepower in the S model. Handling and brakes all stay the same as the stock car, so you will still have the great Porsche driving package that you had when you first bought the car.
Hit the jump to read more about the 911 SpeedRoad by DeLaVilla.
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