You have to give it to the Scion xB. I can?t think of another car deserving to be euthanized more than the xB. It?s lived past its life, so much so that its quirky competitors — the Nissan Cube and the Honda Element — have all gone the wayside. Yet the xB remains and somehow, it?s even making yearly pilgrimages to the SEMA Auto Show.

This year, the xB rides into the biggest aftermarket auto show in the world, heavily customized with the vibe of the 70s, mixed with splashes of rock ?n? roll, and skateboarding. Those three things are passions of pro skateboarder Riley Hawk who lent his name in the creation of the Scion x Riley Hawk Skate Tour xB.

The build is still ongoing and is led by Scott Kanemura of KMA Productions. So far, these rough sketches are the only things we have to show you as far as visual evidence of the car?s existence is concerned. I?m personally interested to see how this build turns out, not because I?m a fan of the xB, but because I want to see how much customization goes into turning the xB into a respectable ride.?[...]

 

The Rolls-Royce Ghost usually isn?t the type of vehicle Novitec turns its attention to. It?s not a Ferrari; it?s not a Maserati; and last I checked, it?s not a Lamborghini either. But the Novitec Group now has a new tuning arm devoted exclusively to Rolls-Royce models. This new tuning arm is called Novitec Sporfec, which shouldn?t be confused with Novitec Rosso (Ferrari), Novitec Tridente (Maserati), and Novitec Torado (Lamborghini). It?s relatively new compared to the others, so it?s easy to see why some people were surprised to see this Rolls-Royce Ghost program.

Admittedly, I was one of those people but once my own surprise wore off, I looked a little closer at the new Ghost program and realized that Novitec Sporfec isn?t all that different from its brothers. For one, it goes to great lengths to develop in-house technology for its programs. It also uses these advancements to develop unique programs that provides across-the-board improvements on the vehicles it works on.[...]

 

The BMW M4 is getting a lot of publicity these days. And the number of aftermarket companies that have come out of the woodwork to build programs for the new sports coupe are certainly helping build upon its popularity. Some programs are more comprehensive than others, but the point is simple; the M4 is getting a lot of love. Vorsteiner?s the latest company to take a stab at the M4. The German tuner didn?t build a kit that?s as complete as its contemporaries, but it did manage to effectively create one that improves the car?s credentials.

For this particular kit, Vorsteiner decided to add a GTS front spoiler, a GTS rear diffuser, and a set of exhaust tips. There are some graphics mixed in, too, specifically the subtle racing stripe that runs the length of the hood.

The entire program is subtle, so there’s no reason to make it more than what it is. I won’t even be surprised if this kit is just the first stage of a more elaborate program in the near future. Vorsteiner’s done something like that in the past and maybe it’s going to do it again.[...]

Leave it to foil wrapping firms to come up with flamboyant colors like the "Matt Caribbean Metallic" used here on a slammed VW Scirocco R.[...]

 When talking about tuning, Korean design is often overlooked, purely because their Japanese counterparts have been doing it for far longer. However, both Kia and Hyundai now make aggressive-looking sports models and this is reflected in the aftermarket scene, at least domestically. We've recently stumbled upon something called "LED tuning" taking the land of the Gangnam Style by storm. Using the latest generation o... [...]

 

ABT Sportsline has made a career developing programs for Audi vehicles. To this day, the German manufacturer continues to do that, none more recent than its work on the Audi A5 Sportback. The whole program is called the AS5 Sportback Dark and as you?d expect, the name alone implies that ABT Sportsline did something a little sinister to the A5.

While it would have been cool, if not downright bizarre, to say that the German tuner invoked some form of the Dark Arts to create this program, the truth is a lot simpler than that. The AS5 Sportback Dark is called such because it?s exterior is wrapped in black.

This A5 is nothing too elaborate and definitely nothing out of the ordinary, but judging the program simply because of its simplicity doesn?t do justice to the meticulous work the German tuner put into it.[...]

 

You know the saying ?you can?t have enough of a good thing;" that certainly applies to the BMW M4, which has become an aftermarket favorite the same way I have become a fan of Krispy Kreme?s delectable treats. Run through the number of programs we?ve covered featuring the M4 and you?ll see what I?m talking about.

The latest aftermarket company to jump on the M4?s bandwagon is Lightweight and it’s no less impressive than any other M4 program we’ve come across in the past. The German tuner specializes in personalized development and production of titanium exhaust systems and yet, that didn?t stop Lightweight from giving the M4 a comprehensive tuning kit that includes a bevy of aerodynamic and performance upgrades.

The result of the program deserves nothing short of a slow clap, the kind you give to a somebody after a stunning performance.[...]

It's no secret the Corvette C7 Stingray is a hot performer. With its 460 horsepower and 465 pound-feet of torque, the C7 launches itself to 60 mph in a very respectable 3.9 seconds. Its handling is spectacular too, thanks in part to the Magnetic Ride Control shocks and other Z51-specific parts. However, improvements can always be made.

That?s where one tuner company based in Germany steps in. GeigerCars has developed a performance upgrade kit that includes new coil-over shocks, a carbon-fiber body kit, and an Eaton supercharger. That last bit helps the Stingray?s 6.2-liter V-8 produce an extra 128 horsepower and 107 pound-feet of torque. Now pushing out 582 horses and 558 pound-feet, the Vette?s trap time should be noticeably quicker. In fact, GeigerCars claims the Vette?s new top speed is 198 mph. That?s a big improvement over the stock Stingray?s 178-mph top speed.[...]

Ringbrothers are responsible for some of the coolest resto-mod projects the tuning market has to offer. Be it the 1965 Ford Mustang Blizzard or the 1970 Chevrolet Camaro Diversion, Ringbrothers’ recent builds are arguably amongst the finest automotive works of art. Enormous horsepower, tastefully reshaped bodies and modern underpinnings make any classic muscle car with a Ringbrothers badge a prized collectible. Not surprising, these cars auction for big bucks. Last time we heard anything about the Wisconsin-based company, it brought the stunning 1971 De Tomaso Pantera ADRNLN to the 2013 SEMA Show. Nearly a year has passed, and Ringbrothers have yet another project on its hands.[...]

The Audi A8 may be a luxury car by appearance, but it has a lot more to offer than just its good looks. Any aftermarket company that has built tuning programs for the A8 will attest to this, none more profoundly than Senner Tuning. The German aftermarket company has built programs for a wide range of Audi models. This time around, it has set its sights on the four rings? flagship luxury sedan.

Admittedly, the program lacks the visual appeal that Senner Tuning?s other Audi programs have had. But that isn?t a reason to gripe. This kit is all about polishing the luxury sedan's performance credentials, which has plenty of room for improvement. That?s what Senner Tuning zeroed in on, and the results are pretty impressive.[...]