Three years ago at the 2008 SEMA auto show, noted tuning firm RENNtech, together with Mercedes-Benz, unveiled the GLK350 Hybrid Pikes Peak Rally Car where it subsequently won the 2008 SEMA Show tuner build-off competition. The vehicle’s amazing debut at SEMA resulted in it becoming one of the most-sought after performance-modded racers in recent times, appearing in countless automotive trade shows while also partaking in a number of track events and extensive real world driving miles.

This year, the car is finally serving its last legs and to give it the fitting swan song it deserves, RENNtech, together with its partners, decided to give it a complete styling overhaul in time for its last tour-of-duty with Mercedes USA here in the US. The first leg of the tour was held at the Pittsburgh International Automotive Show a few weeks ago where the revamped GLK350 Hybrid Pikes Peak Project was officially unveiled to the public. From Pittsburgh, the award-winning vehicle will make stops in a number of US cities, including Milwaukee, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Kansas City, Minneapolis, and Denver[...]

With the OPC version of the new Astra still in the works, German tuners are doing their best to offer Opel buyers several alternatives to quench their thirst for power. EDS, a relatively unknown tuner from Marl, Germany, has launched an impressive package for the most powerful version of the Astra with the 180HP 1.6-liter turbocharged engine[...]

Given that Infiniti is making its first steps in Europe, very few tuners in the market have touched the Japanese brand's products. Having said that, it shouldn't come as a surprise that an Infiniti dealer has stepped in to fill the void. In particular, Infiniti Centre Hamburg in Germany has released two tuning packages for the recently launched[...]

Texas engineer teams up with Chicago-based tuner Speedriven to make this 2007 SL 600 the fastest CNG-powered car around[...]

 

 

With only a few days away from the Geneva Motor Show, AC Schnitzer has announced its line-up for Switzerland. All we have as of right now are the names of the packages plus a few images, but it looks like AC Schnitzer has done a great job, as usual.

The first package from the German tuner is called the Z4 99d and uses a diesel engine that delivers 190 HP and 420 NM of torque. With this amount of power, plus a weight reduction of 230 kilos (507 lbs.), the tuner has managed to obtain a 0 to 60 mph sprint time of just 6.9 seconds, while top speed is 146 mph. This performance is accompanied by a fuel consumption of 3.8 liter diesel per 100 kilometers and a CO2 emission of just 99.18 g/km[...]

Wald International has unveiled their new Black Bison styling package for the Maserati Quattroporte[...]

EDS Motorsport has unveiled a new tuning package for the redesigned Opel Astra (J). Details inside[...]

 

 

Two things have been around for a long time, Mercedes Benz and Performance Tuning. The two also share intertwined histories as companies such as AMG, Brabus, Renntech, and Lorinser were born and continue to adapt the latest technology to factory Benz models. There are hundreds of tuning companies and race shops throughout the country, but telling them apart can be difficult. Most do not build their own parts, but rather perform the mechanical work for you to add aftermarket exhausts, ECU upgrades, and turbochargers. Some offer full service tuning and testing, but currently there is only one that is attempting to push a natural-gas powered Mercedes to a land speed record.

Speedriven is a Chicago-based firm that is currently working with Bernie Towns to develop this ?green? record breaker. Towns? is an engineer for HighMount Exploration and Production and the companies main focus is natural gas energy. Many of your home appliances, such as the water heater and stove, may run off natural gas, but did you ever think your car would? Actually, Utility and Transportation departments throughout the country have been using natural gas in everything from construction equipment to buses for years; which have helped to reduce costs and improve air quality[...]

 

 

Back in the 90?s, Mitsubishi?s Lancer Evolution high-performance program was one of the most popular things to come out of Japan. Those days sure were fun for Mitsubishi.

Unfortunately, the Evolution program doesn?t hold the same cache as it used to, but nevertheless, it still carries a lot of weight as far as performance cars are concerned.

Bulgarian tuning firm, Vilner, is determined to bring the Lancer EVO X back to prominence with interior upgrades and even brought in one of its contemporaries, Overdrive, to take care of the exterior and performance improvements[...]

 

 

Back in July of last year, we were introduced to the BMW Alpina B5 Bi-Turbo at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. Well, now it looks like the Geneva Motor Show is going to be the stage for the touring version of the Alpina B5 Bi-Turbo to make its debut.

Not a lot of information was bared on what kind of aerodynamic changes the station wagon is going to come with, but we do know that it will offer the same powertrain as that of the sedan version, which will be a 4.4-liter twin-turbocharged V8 engine that produces 507 horsepower and 516 lb/ft of torque and mated to an eight-speed ZF automatic transmission[...]