There’s a reason Bill Gates is one of the wealthiest people in the world; he takes ideas and runs with them until they make him so much cash, he can start to work on something else. As co-founder of Microsoft, one would expect Gates’ expertise to stick strictly to computers, but the company as a whole has found another way to roll in the profit: a West Coast Customs collaboration on an all-American Ford Mustang. Their project is appropriately called the Microstang and it’s a Mustang equipped with Windows 8 and Kinect.

The Microstang has received Dynacom’s 1967 fastback replica body and plenty of Microsoft’s latest technologies. We’re not very sure about those shiny wheels, but the interior is what makes this car really cool. Microsoft has fitted it with cool gadgets like an Xbox 360 with Kinect, a Windows operating system, a Windows Phone, Windows Azure, Bing, Ford Sync, and a rear windshield projector screen. There is also a Viper SmartStart app that can help the driver remotely start the car via the Windows Phone.[...]

Just when we thought we found our favorite customized GT-R in AMS Performance’s monster of a Nissan GT-R called the "Alpha Omega". Capable of blasting along a quarter mile in just 8.97 seconds with a ridiculous top speed of 216.9 mph, the Alpha Omega vaulted to the top of the list as far as most awesome GT-R’s are concerned. Well, now we have to reconsider because UK tuner Severn Valley Motorsport has released their own souped up GT-R, affectionately billed as "The Hulk."

One monster GT-R deserves another monster GT-R.

The Hulk, which has been painted in a metallic Imperial Green Pearlescent finish, also comes with plenty of aerodynamic carbon components, including the new front bumper, the GTC Carbon bonnet, carbon gas bonnet lifts, and a host of carbon items - the rear diffusers, side skirts, and rear arch extensions - from Wald International. The S2 Active split wing from Aeromotion was also fitted into the Hulk, as are carbon race mirrors mounted on pillars, carbon exhaust surround, front and rear side markers, LSD doors, L.E.D angle eye day light running lights, and a new set of 20" Volks Racing light weight wheels wrapped in Toyo R888 315/30/20 tires. Inside, the Hulk was treated to a full carbon interior package, Cobra front carbon ultra light race seats, Alcantara fabrics, a six-point roll cage that was custom built to SVM specs, and Takata four-point race harnesses.[...]

Italian automaker Fiat is tapping into its Chrysler ties by having the latter’s in-house aftermarket division, Mopar, partner with Italian parts supplier Magneti Marelli to develop and produce a line-up of Fiat 500 Abarth models.

The first of these special edition vehicles made its debut in Las Vegas and has been christened as the 500 Abarth Venom. A host of modifications were added to the 500 Abarth to give it that special edition feel, including carbon fiber components on the hood and side mirror housings and a large matte-black Scorpion graphic on the roof. The inclusion of the former also allows the little compact car to cut its weight by 200 lbs, which would serve it well when combined with a performance modification.

On that note, Mopar reprogrammed the car’s ECU unit while also adding a sport exhaust system that allows the 500 Abarth Venom to increase the output on the car’s 1.4-liter turbocharged engine from the standard 160 horsepower to 200 horsepower.[...]

Right from the beginning, we loved everything about the Range Rover Evuque with the exception that it doesn't come with a V6. But as time progressed, we started noticing that on the street it still looks like its opulent Chelsea tractor brothers, the regular Range and the Sport.

We looked at it as the perfect answer to the boring shapes of old SUVs and the unimposing regular sedans. But all the people we've seen driving one have thousand-dollar watches, sunglasses and perfect hairstyles, be t... [...]

The wonders that tuning programs can do to sports cars never cease to amaze us. This particular one, a current generation Porsche 911 Twin-Turbo Cabriolet, comes courtesy of Wheels Boutique and Vorsteiner.

Taking the German sports car, Vorsteiner’s dealership in Florida built a program that consists of the German tuning firm’s V-RT program. Made mostly out of carbon fiber, Vorsteiner’s V-RT program includes a new front bumper that enhances the body lines of the svelte-looking 911. The front bumper comes with larger carbon air intakes for the radiators while ridding the car of the factory fog lights and the headlight washer bezels. Moving to the rear, the 911 Cabriolet was also fit ted with a new rear bumper that has been designed to provide the sports car with a wider stance. Enlarged side intercooler extraction vents are also part of the program, while a new molded carbon fiber rear diffuser with integrated twin aero fins rounds and a heavily modified rear deck lid and wing round out the aero modifications on the German sports car.[...]

The W124 is if not the best, one of the best mid-size models ever to be produced by Mercedes-Benz. It's subtle yet timeless styling remains fresh today, almost 20 years after its presentation back in 1985, and let's not forget that this Mercedes became famous for being built like a tank.

There was even a performance version named 500 E from 1990 to 1993 and E500 from 1994 to 1995, which was developed in close cooperation with Porsche. In fact, Porsche actually hand built the cars at its Rossle-Bau plant in Zuffenhausen, Germany.

The E500 was powered by a specially tuned 5.0-liter V8 engine rated at 322hp (326PS) at 5,700 rpm and 480Nm (354 lb-ft) at 3,900 rpm, allowing for a zero to 100km/h (62mph) sprint time of 5.5 seconds and a top speed of 260km/h (162mph).[...]

Ladies and Gentlemen, you are looking at what British tuner Severnvalley Motorsport claims is the fastest Nissan GT-R in the world. Of course, such an asset is relative, so we have to explain that by fastest, the company understands that this is the GT-R with the most impressive top speed.

The GT-R's factory stock nickname is "Godzilla", but this car has been so heavily modified that it's even got a new name Hulk. The vehicle has recently been put through its paces on a track and ma... [...]

The Top Marques Monaco is without question one of the most important dates on the tuning calendar, particularly because of the location it’s held at every year. Nothing speaks more to millionaires throwing their money around than Monte Carlo, and some of the best tuners use that platform to show off their latest programs.

Now that the 2012 Top Marques Monaco is drawing closer, we’re beginning to see a host of tuners preview some of the cars they’re bringing to the event. One in particular is Mansory, which only recently wowed us at Geneva with not one, not two, not three, but four programs for some of the finest exotics in the land.

For Monaco, it appears that the Swiss tuner will be bringing their very first program for the Ferrari 458 Italia Spyder, appropriately called "Monaco." Now, in the interest of full disclosure, Mansory hasn’t come out with anything about their Top Marques offerings and this video of what looks like a preview image of the 458 Italia Spyder Monaco is all but that.[...]

Here's further proof that horsepower numbers can be hugely deceiving. A completely stock Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren with 626-ponies goes up against a lightly tuned Nissan GT-R with a Stage 2 kit and 560-horses and in a separate race, an Aston Martin DBS upgraded with a supercharger by Mansory pushing out 750-horsepower.

To see how the one mile (1.6 kilometers) drag strip race went down, hit the break to watch the short video clip.[...]

PUR Wheels, the aftermarket developer that recently placed its Rose Gold wheels on a Lamborghini Murcielago, now wants to gift the Aventador with a set of rims. The company has made a few proposals using virtual tuning and is inviting you to choose your favorite design and vote on its Facebook page.

The V12-powered Italian supercar has been gifted with the following wheel models: the minimalist 1NE, the racing-inspired 2WO, the elegant 3HREE and the slim 40UR. With all of them using dark colo... [...]