MAM debuts ZR1 wheels for earlier Corvettes

Mid-America has put C4, C5, and C6 Corvette owners twenty spokes closer to owning a ZR1. Anyone with a '97-'09 Vette can order the wheels in paired sizes in Chrome, Hyper Silver, Painted Black, and Black Chrome. They're $500 per pair and will ship in the New Year. Could be worth the wait for the Vette owner who (thinks he or she) has everything. You can read all about them in the press release after the jump and start your order with "Dear Santa..."
PRESS RELEASE
Reproduction C6 ZR1 Corvette Wheels
EFFINGHAM, IL (December, 2008) - Want the ZR1 look without the ZR1 price? Now you can get the most anticipated reproduction wheel in history for your C4, C5, or C6 Corvette! Mid America Motorworks is offering exact ZR1 Reproduction Wheels for all 1988-2009 Corvettes. These twenty-spoke wheels are available in Chrome, Hyper Silver, Painted Black, and Black Chrome. The ZR1 Reproduction Wheels will come with a limited lifetime warranty and will be available to ship in January/February 2009. Make sure to reserve your set early because the initial shipment will contain limited quantities. Make your C4, C5, or C6 stand out from the crowd and order your Reproduction ZR1 Wheels today at www.mamotorworks.com/corvette?frame=1.8914.
Sold as a pair.
17" x 8.5" +49 Offset: 1988-1996 Front & Rear,
1997-2004 Front
18" x 8.5" +56 Offset: 1997-2004 Rear,
2005-2009 Rear
18" x 9.5" +40 Offset: 2006-2009 C6 Z06 Front
18" x 9.5" +57 Offset: 1997-2004 Rear,
2005-2009 Rear
19" x 10" +56 Offset: 1997-2004 Rear
19" x 10" +79 Offset: 2005-2009 Rear
[Via: Mid America Motorworks ] [Tag: aftermarket, c4, c5, c6, corvette, corvette zr1, corvette zr1 wheels, CorvetteZr1, CorvetteZr1Wheels, mid america motorworks, MidAmericaMotorworks, wheels, zr1 wheels, Zr1Wheels ]

STRUT creates jewelry for your Gallardo

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. [Via: STRUT ] [Tag: accessories,aftermarket,aftermarket accessories,AftermarketAccessories,car accessories,CarAccessories,gallardo,lamborghini,lamborghini gallardo,LamborghiniGallardo,strut,strut wear,StrutWear ]

VIDEO: WebridesTV pits the BMW M3 against the Dinan 335i

This is a head-to-head battle we've been waiting to see: BMW's new M3 versus a Dinan-tuned 335i coupe. But we're only going to talk numbers and let the video tell the tale.
The BMW 335i has proven itself as a credible player in the sports coupe segment, particularly with a tweaked ECU to extract maximum output from its twin-turbo'd 3.0-liter inline-six. Dinan announced its Stage 3 package a few months back, which includes a fully-adjustable suspension and a handful of engine mods that bring output up to 406 hp and a kidney-punishing 460 lb.-ft. of torque (at 4,300 RPM). But it doesn't come cheap. All the necessary Dinan kit to get it up to Stage 3 spec (and get that nifty badge on the boot) costs around $14,000. But compared to the $71,000 $56,500 (no mark-up, no oxygen) base price of the new M3, it's still a steal. While the M3 has the peak horsepower advantage, you can't ignore the allure of the Dinan 335i's torque and lower curb weight. Will it be enough to match the M3? Hit the jump to find out.

[Via: Autoblog (Aftermarket) ]
[Tag: bmw,bmw 335i,bmw m3,bmw m3 335i,Bmw335i,BmwM3,BmwM3335i,comparision,dinan,dinan stage 3 bmw 335i,DinanStage3Bmw335i,m3,shoot out,ShootOut,stage 3,Stage3 ]

PPI tunes the new Audi TT

We loved what PPI did with the Audi R8, so we expected nothing less when they got their hands on the new Audi TT. This package for the second generation Audi coupe, dubbed the PS, features a wide range of upgrades to the body, suspension, engine and exhaust. Starting with the exterior, PPI developed new pieces with aerodynamics in mind. The new front fascia, side skirts, rear diffuser, and rear spoiler all improve the air flow around the car, and carbon fiber trim pieces are also available. The 2.0L turbocharged inline-4 has been massaged to 245 bhp at 5,100 rpm and an impressive 270 lb-ft torque that is complimented by a new exhaust system with quad tailpipes. Other mods available include sport springs, PPI Formula wheels, sport steering wheel, and a big brake kit that is currently under development. While not as over-the-top as Abt's TT-R, we appreciate the PS TT's subtle OEM look, too.

[Via: Tags: Audi ]
[Tag: Audi,PPI,PPI Audi TT,PpiAudiTt,TT ]

MTM supercharges the Audi S5

The Audi S5 is no slouch at 354 horsepower, but German tuner MTM isn't satisfied and has given the 4.2-liter V8 a serious kick in the pants with an intercooled supercharger package that boosts horsepower to 505 and torque to 403. That's good enough to hit 60 mph in 4.3 seconds and reach a top speed of 186 mph. MTM is also offering a high-flow exhaust system, coilover suspension system, 15-inch brake system, and unique 21-inch wheels. Hmmm... an MTM supercharged S5 or an R8? Decision, decisions.

[Via: www.MTM-online.de ]
[Tag: Audi,Audi S5,AudiS5,MTM,MTM Audi S5,MtmAudiS5,S5 ]

True targa-top Porsche 911 available from aftermarket

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.

[Via: Detroit News ]
[Tag: 911,aftermarket,GTN Automotive,GtnAutomotive,porsche,porsche 911 targa,Porsche911Targa,targa,VeloTech ]

Rock Solid Idea: Faux-marble Audi S5 spotted in Russia

Growing up in Canada, my mother had a Dodge Caravan with fake wood siding. Then she replaced it with... another Dodge Caravan with fake wood siding. The wisdom of plastic made to look like wood notwithstanding, the van hardly felt rock-solid. Meanwhile, someone in Russia – that bastion of good taste that brought us, among other abominations, that hideous Cayenne/Touareg monstrosity – thought it would be a good idea to cover his brand new Audi S5 with a film that makes it look made of marble. Our first reaction: he was probably stoned when he decided this was a good idea.

[Via: German Car Zone ]
[Tag: audi s5,AudiS5,marble audi,marble audi s5,MarbleAudi,MarbleAudiS5,rock audi,RockAudi,russia,russia audi,RussiaAudi,stone audi,StoneAudi ]

Obsidian SG1: 800 hp, twin-supercharged uber-Stang

We first saw this insane Mustang at SEMA in 2006 where it stood out among the hundreds of other customized cars. It was recently highlighted in the March issue of DuPont Registry as the Publisher's Choice, and we now have the full specs on the car as well as some gorgeous high resolution studio shots in our gallery below. There's too many details to list, but highlights include a twin-supercharged and intercooled 392ci V8 producing 800+ horsepower on pump gas, as well as fully custom bodywork, a 5-speed manual transmission with paddle shifters, hidden roll cage, and a 3000-watt sound system. Apparently the car is for sale, and since only one will ever be built we're guessing the asking price is pretty hefty. Visit the the Obsidian SG1's website for more information and complete specs on the car as well as photos of the build process, videos, and you can even make an offer on the car.

[Via: Autoblog ]
[Tag: 1967 Ford Mustang,1967FordMustang,Obsidian Mustang,Obsidian SG One,Obsidian SG One Mustang,ObsidianMustang,ObsidianSgOne,ObsidianSgOneMustang ]