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 ]

PPI unleashes Razor GTR in Essen

The GT3-spec LMS racecar wasn't the only Audi R8 to grace the show floor in Essen. PPI Design brought their latest version of the Audi supercar dubbed the Razor GTR. The standard version of the Razor made its debut at the show last year, featuring an additional 40 horsepower, 19-inch wheels, custom leather interior, and a full carbon fiber aero kit. The GTR takes the R8 to yet another level, with more power, reduced weight, and improved aerodynamics. PPI has fitted a supercharger to the 4.2L V8 which now puts out 580 horsepower and 443 lb-ft torque, good for a 3.7-second sprint to 100 km/h and a top speed of 206 mph. The widebody kit is constructed completely of carbon fiber and feeds cool air to the brakes and radiators, while the engine cover, also constructed of the lightweight material, includes integrated ram air inlets. The wider body also allows for wider rims and tires -- lightweight MAG11 forged wheels wrapped with Michelin Pilot Sport 2 rubber. Other performance upgrades include a KW coilover suspension, and larger brakes: 15-inch discs with six-piston calipers in the front, and 14-inch discs in the rear. Carbon fiber also coats the interior, alongside custom leather seats and a PPI steering wheel. [Via: MotorAuthority.com ] [Tag: Audi, Audi R8, AudiR8, PPI, PPI Audi R8, PPI R8, PPI Razor, PPI Razor GTR, PpiAudiR8, PpiR8, PpiRazor, PpiRazorGtr ]

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 ]

Exclusive interview: Steve Saleen and SMS Limited

We're big fans of Steve Saleen. He's created some pretty incredible Mustangs over the last 25 years, and any guy that successfully builds his own supercar gets major props in our book. Plus, we could listen to his racing stories for hours. After he announced his retirement from Saleen, Inc last year, we were somewhat disappointed when he took the position of CEO at ZX Automobile, a Chinese car company hoping to import trucks into the United States. It's not that we think Steve wasn't up to the task; we were just hoping he would stick to sports cars.

We shouldn't have worried, because Steve announced the formation of his new company, SMS Limited, in March of this year with plans to develop vehicles based on the new breed of American muscle cars (Mustang, Challenger and Camaro) as well as race in the American Le Mans Series. We wanted to get more info on Steve's plans with the company, and what better way than to hear it from the man himself. We were able to get a one-on-one with Steve, and got some inside info on the new company and his plans to race an S7R in the ALMS. Interested? Follow the jump for the interview.

Interview with Steve Saleen - SMS Limited Chairman and CEO
May 28, 2008

Autoblog: What does SMS stand for?

Steve Saleen: We used my initials (Stephen Mark Saleen) for the name of the company in keeping with the more personal expression, commitment to quality and exclusivity of the vehicles we will be designing and manufacturing.

Autoblog: What inspired you to form SMS?

Steve Saleen: In addition to my long-standing relationship with the Ford brand I wanted to expand into new markets with the Dodge and Chevrolet muscle cars that are coming out now. For contractual reasons this was not going to happen at Saleen, Inc. due to their heritage with Ford products and the Ford dealer network.

Autoblog: You've brought Bill Tally and Phil Frank with you. How important is it to have them working alongside you? Is anyone else involved in SMS that you have worked with before?

Steve Saleen: Those who know me are aware that building a great team is essential for any venture to be successful, be it on the racetrack or in business. You need to have the right mixture of long-standing and experienced acquaintances and "new blood" bringing in new ideas. Billy and Phil have been integral to all the vehicle and aftermarket programs my team and I have developed in the last 15 years, having them with me to build up this new team is essential when it comes to talent, drive and getting the most from the team and the vehicles.

Along with a number of engineers we had worked with in the past I am also leaning on my children Clint, Sean and Molly to help with the business development and management as we set things for the future.

Autoblog: Is there anything that you are doing differently with SMS than you have with your previous
companies?

Steve Saleen: Well, first off we are doing everything right from the start; we are not held back by any antiquated systems or processes. We have a completely fresh start but with a deep understanding of the factors that stood in our way in the past. We are establishing the proper protocols, processes and procedures for everything so there is no ambiguity or confusion as we go forward in our business and product development.

Secondly we now have an incredible array of high-end prototype, fabrication, machining, development, testing and manufacturing tools such as; 13 variations of CNCs, an SLS Sinter station, engine and chassis dynameters, etc that will allow us to do a whole range of tasks internally, making us a great deal more independent from third parties. Having this new technology to our disposal will also allow us to create and market new technologies that will set us apart in the marketplace.

Autoblog: Your vehicles have always had a very signature look. Will your new cars have any specific
design attributes?

Steve Saleen: Our aesthetics will push the envelope of functional aesthetic innovation, you will be seeing an example of this with a new concept we are rolling out very shortly. Stay tuned.

Autoblog: You've been very involved in nearly every aspect of your companies. Will you continue to do
this with SMS?

Steve Saleen: Yes, as ever I am heavily involved in all aspects of the business and will be so as we move forward. However, as I mentioned earlier, we are setting up the processes and procedures that will ensure that the business is built on the best possible foundation for success. And – you might have heard I have actually taken up racing again...

Autoblog: Will you be working with the Ford Mustang again? Any other vehicles?

Steve Saleen: When the next generation Mustang arrives you can be sure to see our newly developed SMS technology at the top of the food chain. As you know we just announced the SMS 570 Challengers and – as I said – will make another important announcement in the near future.

Autoblog: Do you have any plans to build a completely unique vehicle like you did with the S7?

Steve Saleen: All I can say at this time is that it is in our DNA to develop and build supercars.

Autoblog: Can you give us any details about your future plans for racing in the ALMS?

Steve Saleen: Currently we are testing the two 2007 ELMS Championship Winning S7R's here in the States with the goal of running a number of races towards the end of the season. If you can believe this will be my first opportunity to drive an S7R competitively! I had a number of opportunities to fill in for privateer team drivers but never took the chance. The S7 is perfectly suited for my driving style. And, not that I am boasting, but in testing I've beat Stephan Ortelli's lap times around Willow Springs while he was there testing the same car... (smiles)
Autoblog: What do you think of the Saleen S5S Raptor concept?

Steve Saleen: I had no involvement in the Raptor concept other than the original groundwork that Billy, Phil and I had laid out in 2005 for developing the S5. As a clay study it has its merits, now we need to wait and see what they are going to make of it.

Autoblog: Thanks for your time, Steve.

[Via: Autoblog (Aftermarket) ]
[Tag: ALMS,Saleen,Saleen S7,Saleen S7R,SaleenS7,SaleenS7r,SMS Dodge Challenger,SMS Limited,SmsDodgeChallenger,SmsLimited,Steve Saleen,SteveSaleen ]

Edo Competition revisits the Maserati MC12

There is no shortage in the automotive world of tuners endeavoring to squeeze extra performance out of already devastatingly fast cars. But Edo Competition is a breed apart. For those still unfamiliar, check out our previous posts on Edo's customized Lamborghini LP640, Ferrari 599 and Porsche Carrera GT, which demonstrate that, in Edo's blue eyes, perfection is relative and can always be improved upon. Their latest venture was to crank up the Ferrari Enzo, and have once again turned their attention to its sister supercar, the Maserati MC12.

This, of course, isn't the first time the German tuning house has taken their hammers to the uber-Trident, having cranked out the MC12 XX and cranked up the MC12 Corsa. A bit more subdued than its predecessors, the latest MC12 package aims to improve the super-exotic's power-to-weight ratio, which came as stock a bit lower than that of the Enzo due to more bodywork. Edo has managed to trim 220 lbs of extra weight from the Maserati, while increasing power by 70 cavalli to 700hp. Edo has also fitted a host of modified components from the variable exhaust and adjustable rear wing to the retuned suspension and new wheel package. Visual changes were kept to a minimum, but customers can always specify their own exterior and interior mods. Check out the stats after the jump and the images in the gallery below.

[Via: Edo Competition ]
[Tag: edo,edo competition,edo competition maserati mc12,edo maserati mc12,edo mc12,EdoCompetition,EdoCompetitionMaseratiMc12,EdoMaseratiMc12,EdoMc12,maserati,maserati mc12,MaseratiMc12 ]

EDO Competition tweaks Ferrari Enzo to 700 hp

Edo Competition has no qualms about taking positively perfect exotic machinery and tweaking it to suit customer's tastes. And when it comes to the paragon of rolling automotive masterworks, the Ferrari Enzo is arguably King of the Hill.
While the Enzo isn't lacking in either the power or appearance department, that hasn't stopped Edo from making some subtle changes to the Enzo's exterior and powertrain. Edo began by replacing the intake with a revised ram-air system and a set of high-flow air filters, then worked its magic downstream with a set of headers similar to those in the FXX, along with a duo of high-flowing cats and a new exhaust system with remote-controlled, butterfly valves that allow the sound levels to be adjusted on the fly. All those bits are tuned through a modified ECU to produce 700 hp and 527 lb.-ft. of torque, which is sent through a heavy-duty clutch and on down to a retuned stock transmission that replicates the shift times of the FXX.
The Enzo's factory rolling stock has been replaced with 19x10-inch wheels in front and 20x13-inch wheels in the rear, wrapped in Michelin tires sized 265/35 R19 and 335/30 R20, respectively. The wheels can be custom painted to the customer's specs and a new suspension package, with adjustable compression and rebound, has been developed to mimic the setup found on the FIA GT MC12.
Edo claims that the sprint from 0 to 62 mph is estimated at 3.5-seconds and that the run from rest to 186 mph is dropped to 22 seconds flat.
[Via: WCF ]
[Tag: edo competition,edo competition ferrari enzo,EdoCompetition,EdoCompetitionFerrariEnzo,ferrari,Ferrari Enzo,FerrariEnzo ]

Never enough: Gemballa Avalanche 600 GT2 EVO

We've already sampled the mind-blowing power of the 997 Porsche GT2, but for Gemballa, it's never enough. The German tuning firm is offering a new kit for both the GT2 and its all-wheel-drive sibling, the Porsche Turbo, in the form of the Avalanche 600 EVO. As it's name would imply, Gemballa has coaxed 600 hp (not to mention 619 lb.-ft. of torque) from Porsche's turbocharged flat-six through the use of a new intercooler, race exhaust and a retuned ECU. The dash to 62 mph is dispatched in 3.5 seconds and the top speed has been increased to 199 mph.
To compliment the 911's newfound power, Gemball has fitted its Avalanche body kit, which includes a new hood, front spoiler and bumper, EVO wing and a host of air inlets and outlets. The stock suspension has been pulled in favor of a coilover setup hidden behind 405 mm front and 380 mm rear discs and Gemballa "Racing Black Edition" wheels sized 20x9-inches in front and 20x11.5-inches out back. Aluminum pedals and door plates are available to spruce up the interior, along with leather, carbon and alacantara trim, new carpet and a 340 mm steering wheel with optional "F1" paddle shifters.

 

[Via: WCF ]
[Tag: 997,avalanche,gemballa,Gemballa Avalanche 600 GT2 EVO,GemballaAvalanche600Gt2Evo,gt2,porsche,turbo ]

Sound Bite: Audi R8 V12 TDI LeMans

Diesel engines may be more efficient than the gasoline-powered competition, but good old fashioned petrol power has always held a huge advantage when it comes to aural bliss. The engine audio emanating from the Audi R8 V12 TDI LeMans still struggles in comparison to the best gasoline offerings out there, but man does it sound cool. At idle the R8's oil burning, twin-turbo V12 sounds like a Super Duty on speed, but on acceleration the 500-hp powerplant comes alive. When the TDI R8 is cruising at high speeds, its recorded sound is a lot like a speeding jet. Hit the link below to hear the R8 V12 TDI LeMans for yourself. You may never be able to buy an Audi with this most impressive engine, but at least you can hear it.
[Via: Spiegel ]
[Tag: Audi R8,AudiR8,diesel,diesel soundtrack,DieselSoundtrack,V12 TDI,V12Tdi ]

SEMA 2007: Hope you aren't eating while viewing this Lambo

Anyone unlucky enough to make it over to the Sony Xplod booth at SEMA this week will be greeted by this "Lamborghini" replica that takes some of the best elements of the Italian supercar and twists them into something that isn't for anyone with a weak stomach. Built by The Custom Shop for John Robert Wargo, some of the details look right, but it basically only has a loose association with the real thing. Blending elements of the Diablo, Gallardo Superleggera and Murcielago, it is none of the above. It's actually powered by a 450 HP, 5.3L Chevy LS4 and is said to be good enough to push this 3200-lb car to 200 mph. We sincerely doubt it, especially considering its dubious aerodynamics and the TV monitors and speakers pouring out of every orifice on this "vehicle." We really doubt that it would be up to the task of going down the road at even regular highway speeds, let alone 200 mph. If you have the guts, click through to see the full gallery.
[Via: Autoblog (Audio) ]
[Tag: Lamborghini,Lamborghini MurciГ©lago,Lamborghini Superleggera,LamborghiniMurciГ©lago,LamborghiniSuperleggera,The Custom Shop,TheCustomShop ]

Who's faster? Lamborghini Reventon vs. Tornado jet fighter

Car vs. jet stunts are kind of ridiculous, but they're entertaining nonetheless. The more exotic the hardware, the better the entertainment, and Lamborghini's Reventon is about as exotic as it gets these days. In a made-for-TV showcase (no, we haven't found video yet), a Lambo test driver and an Italian fighter pilot lined up one of the jet-inspired supercars and a Panavia Tornado combat plane on a 3000-meter runway to see which vehicle could accelerate faster. Long story short, while it probably made for great TV, the Lambo lost in the end. Hey, the 650-horsepower Reventon may be badder than both John Shaft and Truck Turner combined, but when matched against a fighter jet whose twin Turbo-Union RB199 engines combine to make 39,332 horsepower at sea level, it's bound to come up a little shy. We'd take one, anyway.
[Via:

Gallery: Lamborghini Reventon vs. Panavia Tornado ]
[Tag: Aeronautica Militare,AeronauticaMilitare,Italian air force,ItalianAirForce,lamborghini reventon,LamborghiniReventon,panavia tornado,PanaviaTornado,reventon vs tornado,ReventonVsTornado,tornado fighter,tornado plane,TornadoFighter,TornadoPlane ]

Amuse breaks 600 hp, tranny woes at MCR

With all the news surrounding the Nissan GT-R V-Spec, the progress on the Godzilla tuning front has been largely overlooked. According to a recent article in Japan's BestCar magazine, the Amuse team has broken the 600 hp mark (at the crank) with a combination of a high-flow exhaust and a tweaked ECU. There were no details on how the GT-R's computer was hacked, but Amuse was able to up the boost to 18 psi, resulting in an increase in output to 602.73 hp and 576.95 lb.-ft. of torque.

However, tuners are beginning to question how the stock gearbox will hold up under the strain of additional output. MCR, which brought out its GT-R for filming of Hot Version 93, has been exacting its own brand of punishment on its tuned GT-R and is worried how long the transmission will last. It's not clear if the tranny woes are due to the clutch plates or something else, but it's been all but confirmed that dual-clutch gearboxes have an issue with additional torque since the friction surface is much smaller than on a stock (read: single plate) clutch. MCR's best guesstimate is that the stock 'box might only be able to hold up to the additional power for 12 months before problems begin arise. Now, we're particularly interested in how Nissan is beefing up the tranny on the V-Spec to handle its rumored 600 hp.
[Via: Autoblog ]
[Tag: amuse,amuse GT-R,amuse gtr,AmuseGt-r,AmuseGtr,gt-r,gtr,mcr,mcr gt-r,mcr gtr,McrGt-r,McrGtr,nissan,nissan gt-r,nissan gtr,NissanGt-r,NissanGtr,tuning ]

Hennessey preparing first production Dodge Viper ACR for One Lap

Gearheads across the country are crossing off days on the calendar until May 2 when One Lap of America returns. The annual event, for those unfamiliar, takes participants across the country on a Cannonball-style rally competing on racetracks and road courses scattered along the way. Dodge always makes a strong showing at One Lap, and the team at the company's SRT workshop planned on entering two vehicles this year: a Challenger and a Viper. Time and resources being limited however, Dodge SRT turned to noted Viper tuner John Hennessey to help prepare a brand spankin' new Viper ACR – unveiled just this past November in LA – for the event. To that end, Dodge sent the first Viper ACR off the assembly line to Hennessey, who is now undertaking the task of preparing the car for the race next week. With SRT chief Erich Heuschle driving the Challenger, multiple SCCA national champion and SRT engineer Chris Winkler will be piloting the Viper. Considering that, as John H. points out, Hennessey Vipers came in second place the past two years running, the new ACR promises to put up a good snake fight for the honors this time around.

[Via: Viper Alley ]
[Tag: dodge srt one lap,dodge viper acr,DodgeSrtOneLap,DodgeViperAcr,hennessey,hennessey one lap,HennesseyOneLap,one lap of america,OneLapOfAmerica,viper acr hennessey,ViperAcrHennessey ]