mclaren cars 2012 McLaren MP4-12C FAB Design Terso by Office-K

In an effort to be bigger and badder in the tuning world, some tuners go the way of updating a vehicle that has already been graced with tuning hands once before. Last year, FAB Design unveiled a sleek Terso package based on the McLaren MP4-12C and this year, Japanese tuner, Office-K, has taken a crack at the Terso package to further update its look. Looking at the vehicle before and after Office-K got to work is like checking out the angel before it heads to the dark side. Both cars are exquisite, but the after model has a lot more edge.

The obvious starting point for the Office-K package is the black paint finish for the exterior, as well as the addition of a new rear spoiler, a new front spoiler fitted below the front windscreen, and a new exhaust system with three end pipes. The interior has also been updated with black leather and red accents. The tuner then added crocodile leather on the doors, foot-wells, central armrest, seats, and headliners. There is also a new carbon fiber trim that make the sports coupe look even cooler. The final piece is a new set of three-part forged wheels.

The McLaren MP4-12C Terso by Fab Design was hooked up with an engine upgrade that netted the V8 680 HP. This boost in power left it with a 0-60 mph sprint time of just 3 seconds to go with a top speed of 213 mph. As of right now, we are unaware of any other changes to the McLaren’s engine from Office-K, but the previous engine upgrade is certainly enough for just about any MP4-12C owner.

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Next Renault Alpine could be developed in cooperation with Caterham

There are some whispers spreading around on the good ol’ Net that Renault and Caterham may be teaming up to facilitate the return of the Alpine name. The ball has already started rolling with the introduction of the Renault Alpine A110-50 Concept, but a French report is stating that this team effort will benefit the lineups of both manufacturers.

Renault’s goal is to create a light and agile Alpine which will be easier with the help of a smaller company, while Caterham is looking to build a new range-topping sports car that will be made possible with the knowledge provided by a larger, more experienced manufacturer. It’s the classic, "You scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours" scenario. What we’ll get out of it is a light rear-engined Alpine priced somewhere between $44,000 to $50,000 which is expected to be unveiled sometime in 2015.

"We’ve had talks with potential partners," said Carlos Tavares, Renault’s Chief Operating Officer in a previous interview. "We’ll decide whether or not to revive Alpine before the end of this year, but I think there’s a good chance that a new Alpine will see the light of day."

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2012 Land Rover Range Rover Sport GTS-X by Overfinch

While everyone is waiting for the new generation Range Rover Sport to arrive, the British guys over at Overfinch have developed a very cool tuning package based on the current generation SUV. The package not only includes a vivacious exterior tuning package, but also increases the engine’s output to an amazing 575 HP - a 50 HP increase over the car’s standard 525 HP.

This power increase was achieved by an ECU remapping for the supercharged 5.0 V8 engine, a custom airbox, and a new exhaust system. As a result, the Range Rover Sport goes from 0 to 60 mph in just 5 seconds, while top speed goes up to 145 mph.

Adding to the pizzazz of the Range Rover Sport is a bright orange exterior paint finish with massive 22-inch Titan alloy wheels combined with new Brembo disk brakes. The tuner has also installed a new lowering module for a more menacing stance and a clean carbon fiber package for the interior.

You want power and good looks, it’ll cost you. The car and package combo for the Land Rover Range Rover Sport GTS-X by Overfinch will set customers back £147,500 (about $230,000 at the current exchange rates), which is almost double the price of the standard Ranger Rover Sport.

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Spyker Sues GM; Where will the C8’s engine come from now?

Chrysler

Chrysler is definitely a long shot in this deal, but it is a possibility. Fiat definitely needs to maximize Chrysler’s profit while increasing costs a minimal amount to keep itself afloat. Chrysler has really come to bat and Fiat is now showing profit, despite it losing money itself. Providing the 470-horsepower 6.4-liter Hemi engine to Spyker at a decent cost could really help inject some low-cost profit into the company, and give the Hemi some exposure in other markets. We are not too sure if the Hemi engine meets the EU’s stringent emission requirements, but Spyker may be able to reciprocate in the deal by helping Chrysler meet these requirements, if needed.

This is a win-win for both parties, but Chrysler is not one to share its engine technology with many companies.

 

 

2011 Ford Mustang 5.0L V8 Engine

The new 5.0-liter V-8 in the Mustang is an engineering marvel and there is likely more in store for the 5.0, like direct injection, with the upcoming redesign in 2015. At 420 horsepower, the current 5.0 is a little underpowered for Spyker’s liking, but it has been shown again and again that this 5.0-liter V-8 engine is easily tuned to produce well over 500 horsepower. Ford could lend its Hi-Po 5.0 from the Boss 302, but we’re not sure if Ford would want that kind of technology floating around in too many hands. This can also be an additional profit driver for Ford, as it continues to prove it can win without any assistance.

BMW

BMW has no beef with Spyker and no direct competitor either. Plus, it’s much closer than Ford or Chrysler. In addition, BMW is pretty free in offering up its engines for use in other vehicles, giving there is a little reciprocity in the deal. The 4.4-liter V-8 from the 5-Series is one engine that BMW has lent out before and will likely do so again. Granted, it pumps out a little less horsepower than Spyker would like, but with the savings it would gain by not importing engines from overseas, it could tune the 4.4-liter to a healthy 550 ponies easy. An added benefit is that the 4.4-liter plant is slightly smaller than the other engines we have looked at, keeping the C8’s overall weight more manageable.

Hyundai

Yeah, we said it, Hyundai. Believe it or not, Hyundai is now a player in the performance car realm and there have already been rumors of a high-performance version of its 421-horsepower, 5.0-liter V-8 finding its way into a supercar. Spyker would be a willing and beneficial candidate to test out such a possibility with little risk on Hyundai’s end. The chances of this are very slim, as Hyundai already shares engine technology with Oullim Motors, in the form of the 2.7-liter found in the Spirra. Then again, Hyundai has already shown that it is willing and ready to join forces with someone, given its rumored recent link-up with BMW.

Image is of the 5.0L V8 engine found in the current Hyundai Genesis R-Spec.

Conclusion

Those are the four most likely candidates that we could see Spyker sourcing engines from. There is the outside chance of Spyker calling up Mercedes and borrowing an engine, but Mercedes has already shared its engines and may not be game for another partner. We feel that either Ford or BMW are the two most likely candidates, since Hyundai very well may develop its own supercar of sorts one day and Chrysler is greedy with its high-output engines.

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2012 Jeep Wrangler Chelsea Truck CJ300 Expedition Vehicle by Kahn Design

If auto tuning was an actual Olympic event, British tuner Kahn Design would probably be the odds-on favorite to win the most gold medals by sheer quantity of programs alone. Don’t sleep on these guys though, because they’ve got top-class quality covered too.

For their latest offering, Azfal Kahn and his team decided to go the utilitarian route by releasing a new program for the Jeep Wrangler, called the Chelsea Truck CJ 300 Expedition Vehicle.

The most distinguishable element of the program for the Chelsea Truck CJ 300 is its military green paint finish, which pretty much gives away the underlying purpose of the vehicle. Moreover, a lot of intricate modifications were given to the Wrangler to ensure that it keeps true to its new looks, including the smoked headlights and indicators to go with LED daytime running lights. The front grille was also abjectly modified to give the Wrangler’s front profile a more menacing look while also getting some technical boost thanks to new openings on the valance and grille area, providing better airflow to the radiator, intercooler and brakes. etc. Over at the back, Kahn Design added a new enamel tailgate, cross hair exhausts in stainless steel, and a new 20" smoked black Kahn RS spare wheel.

Moving inside, the British tuner added heated perforated leather seats with matching stitching, aluminum pedals, and a red speedometer and rev counter fascia to complete the aesthetic overhaul for this off-road menace.

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SSC Tuatara vs. Bugatti Veyron: An Automotive David vs. Goliath

When we decided to pit the two top supercars against one another, the list had to include the Bugatti Veyron, the Goliath of the supercar world. Its competitor, on the other hand, wasn’t nearly as clear cut, as there are numerous cars that you can match up against the Veyron and get a good fight.

The first one that we looked at was the Hennessey Venom GT and its 1,244-horsepower V-8. In all honesty, the Hennessey just feels more like a kit car to us, thanks to its Lotus Elise base. Granted, that’s one bad-ass, Bugatti killing kit car, but it still just didn’t feel right to us.

After spanning the globe trying to find a good competitor, we ended up right back in the U.S. with the all-new SSC Tuatara. This limited production supercar definitely has the power to handle the likes of the Veyron on paper, but we really need to dig in deep to see what really happens when we put them up against each other.

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Chrysler Mulling Over Plans to Sell EVs and Announces Production of Fiat 500EV

Chrysler has had only one mass-produced electrified vehicle in its history and that was the now-discontinued Durango hybrid. According to a report from Bloomberg, Chrysler is once again kicking around the thought of electrified vehicles, be it by 100 percent electricity or some sort of hybrid system.

Bob Lee, the head of Chrysler’s engine and electrified propulsion engineering department was quoted as saying “We do believe in electrification, sparingly and for the right kinds of targeted applications.” This basically means that Chrysler is taking its dive into electric propulsion very carefully until it knows that there is a market among Chrysler buyers.

That’s not a huge shock, considering that Chrysler was pulled from the financial flames twice in the last decade, or so – once by Daimler and once by Fiat. Chrysler is finally pulling in a profit and now it’s actually carrying its parent company, Fiat, on its shoulders to keep it from drowning in debt.

Speaking of Fiat, Lee also confirmed in the same report that Fiat is moving into production of the anticipated 500EV, the electric-powered Fiat 500. The 500EV will go into production later on this year and be ready for release sometime in the 2013 model year.

The 500EV will likely be the testing grounds for Chrysler to see if it is a profitable venture or not. We are willing to bet that buyers gobble up the 500EV and that Chrysler soon follows suit with a small EV of their own. Down the road, with fuel prices going how they are, we may even see the Viper utilizing a hybrid system, much like Ferrari is planing to install on its upcoming Enzo/F70.

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