2011 Toyota Yaris HSD concept

Its true Chicago Auto Show is just around the corner, but everyone’s attention is focused on the Geneva motor Show set to start in March. We’ve seen lots of makers that teased us with their models to be displayed in Geneva, and so did Toyota with their future Yaris HSD concept, a preview version of a long rumored Yaris hybrid model.

In the official press release Toyota said: "Making its world debut at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show, the Yaris HSD concept anticipates Toyota’s intention to bring full hybrid technology to the B segment, the biggest volume segment in Europe. This represents the next step in Toyota’s full hybrid roll-out strategy in Europe. Incorporating several hybrid-specific styling cues, the Yaris HSD concept introduces a new, forward-looking design execution."

At the same show Toyota will also bring the Prius+, a further expansion of the Prius family. This model is a 7 seats vehicle featuring a full hybrid powertrain. It offers significant increase in space and passenger accommodation, but also the lowest fuel consumption of any 7-seat MPV on the market.

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2011 Lexus LS600h "Sports Line Black Bison Edition" by Wald International

Aftermarket extraordinaire, Wald International, is pulling out all the stops with the release of another styling package to go along with their masterful work on the Rolls Royce Phantom Extend Wheelbase. Though it’s not as luxurious as the Phantom, the Lexus LS600h and the LS600hL are shiny pieces of rides in their own right. And that’s before Wald International does its magic.

Once the tuning company adds their new “Sports Line Black Bison” package, then you end up with a sparkling sedan that’s as beautiful as it is imposing. Among the additions that make up the Wald International package, the LS600h was given a new front bumper spoiler, new side steps, sports fender ducts, LED daytime running lights, a new rear bumper spoiler, a roof spoiler, a trunk spoiler (Version 2), a new exhaust system, and a new set of black rims that complements the stealthy black exterior paint finish.

As a hybrid vehicle, Wald International spared any changes done on the powertrain, which means that the car retains the same 5.0-liter V8 gas engine and 165kW electric motor as the standard model. This powertrain, in turn, produces an output of 439 horsepower and 520Nm of torque with a top speed of 130 mph and a 0-60 mph time of 5.5 seconds.

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2011 Lexus Project CT by Five Axis

The steam is running out on the launch of Lexus’ CT 200h, so what better way to keep up the pace than to bring out a special Lexus CT200h hybrid concept designed by Five Axis? This particular tuner knows a thing or two about tuning Lexus models simply because they are well known for the partnership they have with Toyota and Lexus. So far, we only have a sketch of the concept revealed by Five Axis, but it allows us to get an idea of the special vehicle that is scheduled to be revealed at the 2011 Chicago Auto Show in just a few days!

The Lexus CT 200h by Five Axis will be showcasing some serious custom aerodynamics, a Tein suspension, 19-inch wheels, Stoptech brakes, and a custom touch-screen interface. All of the updates are purely aesthetic - no engine work here - because the tuner wants to focus on improving the car’s look to attract younger buyers.

The CT 200h’s full hybrid system combines a 1.8 liter VVT-i petrol engine, a powerful electric motor, a generator, a high performance battery, a power control unit, and a power split device. Not sure how this 134hp engine setup will go over with the younger crowd, but thinking "green" is such a fad nowadays that aesthetics improvements just may be enough to win them over.

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Wald Maserati Quattroporte

Here is a stunning Maserati Quattroporte, and the tuners from Wald International have improved it with their Black Bison line of styling kits. Included in the package is a new bumper, carbon fiber front splitter, and LED daytime running lights up front. At the rear you will find a revised bumper, roof-mounted spoiler, trunk-mounted spoiler, and chrome exhaust system. The headlights and taillights on the Maserati Quattroporte have also been blacked out to continue the white and black theme with the new wheels. It’s also fitted with new aero side skirts and reasonably priced. Minus the new wheels, the Black Bison kit for the Maserati is priced at ¥870,000 (€7,735 or $10,650) however the aftermarket parts are also available separately.

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The new XKR-S represents the most potent mass production car ever from Jauguar and it will be presented at the Geneva Motor Show, exactly one year after the introduction of the updated XKR. The most important features of the vehicle are the new aerodynamic enhancements, an overhauled suspension and the supercharged V8 engine, which is, more exactly, a modified version of the Jaguar's 5.0-liter supercharged V8, delivering 550HP and 680 Nm of peak torque. The figures announce an improvement regarding the powertrain of the car, mainly an increase of 40HP and 70 Nm as compared to the standard model. Thus, the top speed reaches 186mph, which translates in 300 km/h and it takes only 4.2 seconds to achieve a 0-60mph sprint time, while its CO2 emissions are less than 300g/km, which, according to Jaguar, make the car unique in its class. While the XKR-S rides on a new set of lightweight alloy wheels shod in performance tires, the engineers from the British firm made some changes to the suspension and also reprogrammed the Adaptive Dynamics system. By taking a simple look at the pictures, one can easily distinguish a more aggressive looking front bumper due to the new aerodynamics package, as well as the re-profiled side skirts, additional air vents on the bumpers and hood, a redesigned rear bumper which houses quad tail pipes and diffuser and a large rear wing.
Adrian Hallmark, Jaguar's new Global Brand Director stated that the XKR-S was an exciting new model for Jaguar, offering class, comfort, combined with inspirational performance, which only Jaguar could offer for the driving enthusiasts. More details will be released at the Geneva Motor Show.

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2011 AC Schnitzer ACS5 Sport S

AC Schnitzer’s second Geneva-bound model is the ACS5 Sport S, a model based on the BMW 550i. Looking at their creation, no one would be all that impressed; there aren’t many changes done to the exterior leading people to believe it was just another minor and unimpressive upgrade for yet another BMW model. Then there are those other people that would expect a fantastically upgraded engine to counteract the anticlimactic exterior. The second group of people would be correct in their assumptions.

The ACS5 Sport S takes the standard 4.4L V8 engine found in the BMW 550i and has toyed with it enough to bump the standard 400hp to a phenomenal 540 hp and 750 Nm of torque. With the extra 140 HP, the ACS5 Sport S will sprint from 0 to 60 mph in 4.5 seconds with a top speed of 200mph. Flying through the corner will also be made easy with an added limited slip differential.

More information to come as the Geneva Motor Show’s doors will be welcoming visitors in just a few days!

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2011 Novitec Rosso Ferrari 599 GTO

Novitec Rosso, the same tuning firm that brought us the Ferrari 458 Italia and the Race 606 Carbon Ferrari California, is headed to the 2011 Geneva Motor Show scheduled to kick off in just a few days. At the show, Novitec Rosso plans to present a tuning package for the most powerful 599 in the line-up: the GTO

Not much was done to the exterior of the Ferrari, but the makeover provided for the engine more than makes up for whatever they did do on the outside. If anyone thinks that the 670 galloping horses found underneath the 599 GTO’s hood are enough bang for their buck, then they need to get ready to be pleasantly surprised. Novitec Rosso was able to tweak and massage an extra 218hp out of the sports car’s already powerful V12 engine. Anything else done to the vehicle is just icing on the cake.

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2011 Mercedes SLS AMG Widebody

Outside the impending spotlight that will fall down in Geneva next week is a showroom in Dubai that has a vehicle that should get everybody’s attention. The car is a Mercedes SLS AMG, but it’s not just any other SLS AMG, it’s one that was spruced-up by noted tuning firm, Fab Design. If you recall from a few months ago, the company released their tuning package for the SLS AMG so it really begs the question, why do another sample of the same thing?

The answer, as it turns out, is that it’s the same thing, albeit with a different aerodynamic package. Ladies and gentlemen, say hello to the Mercedes SLS AMG Widebody by FAB Design.

Keeping to its widebody package, this particular SLS AMG comes with re-sculpted fenders with the quarter panels and side skirts making up an entire panel that fits snugly over the supercar’s existing panels. Over at the rear, the SLS AMG also got a retooled bumper fascia with wider quarter panels, giving the rear a more sinister look than FAB Design’s previous work.

Performance modifications on the SLS AMG Widebody weren’t released, but if you go back to the ‘standard’ SLS AMG that FAB Design worked on back in October, you might remember that it came with a new sport exhaust system that bumped up the Mercedes supercar’s output from 563 horsepower to 611 horsepower. Whether the same powertrain lies under this particular SLS AMG is anyone’s guess, but we won’t be surprised if it does come with the same performance modifications.

In any case, the widebody version of FAB Design’s SLS AMG looks far more aggressive and intimidating than the ‘standard’ type. It might be a matter of subjectivity as far as how its received, but in our case, it looks pretty impressive.

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2011 Infiniti M30d S

Infiniti is one of those brands that tuning firms just skim past while deciding on their next project, so finding a decent package for Nissan’s luxury division is not something we come across on a daily - or even monthly - basis. And today isn’t going to be any different as this custom M30d comes to us from a dealer in Hamburg, Germany, and not a tuning professional.

"Infiniti Zentrum Hamburg" is offering two different stages for their M30d S. The package for Stage 1 includes painted door handles, red brake calipers with Infiniti lettering, a black radiator grille, and a black, foil covered roof. The dealer has also added an H+R suspension which lowers the vehicle by 25mm, as well as performance optimization for the V6 diesel engine. This engine now delivers a total of 280hp and 450 lb-ft of torque, up from the standard 235 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque. Total price for the Stage 1 package is 5775 euros ($7,947 at the current rates).

For Stage 2, the dealer takes the modifications from the first package and adds a new set of 22" wheels with 265/30R22 Pirelli tires in the front and 295/25R22 in the rear. The wheels add an additional 6800 euros ($9,358 at the current rates).

The dealer also announced that the same packages can be applied to any other Infiniti model in the line-up upon request.

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2011 Audi R8 V10 Biturbo

Just a few months ago, we caught wind of a prototype vehicle parked outside of tuning company MTM’s headquarters in Germany. This prototype carried the name Audi R8 V10 BiTurbo and was rumored to pack crazy amounts of power underneath its capable hood. Fast forward to the present and that prototype seems to have developed into a full-fledged tuning package and is headed to the 2011 Geneva Motor Show.

MTM chose to use the 5.0L V10 engine used on their Audi RS6 Clubsport for this model as well, but the RS6’s 730hp rating still falls short of what MTM accomplished with the R8 BiTurbo. The R8 V10 BiTurbo is now capable of 777 hp and 888 NM of torque. Yep, 777 HP. With these updates, the MTM R8 will sprint from 0 to 60 mph in 3.0 seconds, from 0 to 124 in 9.37 seconds, and will hit a top speed of 217 mph.

The engine wasn’t all that was changed though. To get that shiny, mirrored look on the sports car, MTM completely removed its paint and polished it up real nice which took over 700 working hours. An adjustable rear spoiler, a front lip, and MTM Bimoto 20 inch forged rims were also added, as well as some leather on the inside of the R8.

Now that MTM has dazzled everyone with their impressive work on the R8 V10 sports car, we think it’s time to let everyone know that, in order to get this finger-lickin’, suped up Audi, customers will have to dish out $550,000. Yeah, you can pick your jaws up off the floor now.

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2012 Mercedes CLS 63 AMG by Carlsson

At the end of 2010, Carlsson revealed an impressive tuning package for the new generation Mercedes CLS-Class. Now the tuner has moved on to the most powerful model in the CLS lineup: the CLS 63 AMG.

For the CLS 63 AMG package, the 5.5-liter twin-turbocharged V8 engine has been updated to deliver an impressive 600 HP, up from the standard 518 HP and 516 lb.-ft. of torque. Next to this, the tuner is offering a nifty aerodynamic package that includes a new front spoiler, an RS front spoiler lip (available in real carbon), a new rear spoiler, a rear apron, and a built-in diffuser which functions as a tailplane and ensures extra downforce and more stable road holding at high speeds.

As an added bonus, this package can be applied to any other model in the CLS-Class line-up.

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