turbo
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Superchargers, twin turbos, body kits and handling upgrades - all this and more is on the Lingenfelter docket for the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS. Ranging in power from 550hp to 800hp, the tuned 'Maros will be among the most powerful on the road. The new images of the body kit and wheels show that Lingenfelter will be making their cars look every bit as aggressive as they are built. A custom hood - no doubt to help accommodate the various forced-induction mods inside the engine bay - complements a very low and wide front splitter, reworked lower fascia, side skirts, rear diffuser and larger rear...
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Build your own: Porsche launches configurator for Panamera
Call it a blessing or call it blashpemy, Porsche's four-door Panamera is here to stay. And despite an odd angle here and there, it has a certain charm about it. If you're a believer, or even if you're in doubt, Porsche has launched a new Panamera Configurator that lets you see what you can do to...
Nelson Ireson -
Trio of modified SUVs highlight Brabus’ stand at the Geneva Motor Show
It's not often that a full-sized SUV with the same power output of a Ferrari Enzo and a capability to hit almost 200mph comes along, unless of course you find yourself at the Brabus stand at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show. The Mercedes Benz specialist tuner has chosen the Geneva event to unveil three...
Alex Kaufmann -
Subaru’s sporty WRX STI now available with automatic gearbox
Subaru’s WRX STI has always been about extreme performance. The car itself was developed by the Subaru Tecnica International (STI) division, the same group responsible for development of Subaru’s World Rally Championship cars, and thus next-to-little compromises to performance were...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Jaguar XK Coupe to get new diesel, Convertible likely to miss out
Even the makers of luxury saloons and sports cars are having to adapt their lineups to meet toughening fuel economy and emissions standards all around the world. Porsche recently bowed down to all the environmental pressure with the unveiling of the Cayenne Diesel late last year and now Jaguar is...
Kenneth Hall -
New Barnard supercar born in South Africa
Right now the finishing touches are being put to South Africa’s latest supercar in a secluded factory outside Bloemfontein in the nation’s heart. The car is the new Barnard, and while its name may not generate the kind of excitement as names such as Zonda or Veyron, its expected...
Ralph Hanson -
It wouldn’t be the Geneva Motor Show without some outrageous creation from Brabus and for this year’s event the German tuner hasn’t disappointed. Next month Brabus will unveil what it claims to be the world’s most powerful off-roader: the new G V12 S Biturbo based on the Mercedes Benz G-Class. The modified SUV has been fitted with the tuning firm’s twin-turbocharged V12 S engine, which in its latest form outputs 700hp (522kW) and 973lb-ft (1,320Nm). The engine has been lifted out of the S600 saloon and before being implanted into the engine bay of the G-Class its...
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Volvo adds pair of new five-cylinder turbodiesels to engine lineup
Diesel is the way of the present in Europe, and to hear some tell it, it's the future for the U.S. as well. Either way, Volvo will be prepared with two new diesels announced in detail today. The D5 five-cylinder diesel was announced for the S80 sedan back in January, but now full details on both...
Kenneth Hall -
Hennessey announces plans to modify the Ford Taurus SHO
Twin-turbos, 365hp - stock - aggressive looks and...four doors? A Blue Oval on the grille? The Ford Taurus SHO is a legendary nameplate with a promising new face for the 2010 model year, and the tuners at Hennessey Performance have taken notice. Not much about the planned modifications are yet...
Nelson Ireson -
Ford working four-cylinders into every car and crossover in its range
So smaller engines get better fuel economy - big surprise, right? Ford has recently been making a lot of noises about a transition to smaller engines based around their EcoBoost twin-turbo technology, but today the company is saying they'll be going four-pot in every car and crossover they offer by...
Nelson Ireson -
AVL Turbohybrid Concept mates driving fun with efficiency
Turbocharged, fun-to-drive hatchbacks and sedans - not the first things that come to mind when we hear the word 'hybrid' but one company is working to change that. Hybrid technology has become hugely important in the industry and to many eco-conscious drivers as well, and though it offers some...
Nelson Ireson -
Report: AMG to shrink engines in addition to direct-injeciton, stop-start tech
With AMG no longer focused on chasing big horsepower numbers, efficiency could quickly become the new performance benchmark for the Affalterbach tuner. To that end, Mercedes' performance arm may be cutting the displacement of its engines in addition to the debut of new direct-injection and...
Jeremy Weber -
Diesels may account for half of all vehicle sales in Europe but in the U.S. their numbers still hover barely above the 3% mark. A lack of availability, a dirty image, and higher prices for the fuel itself have all had negative effects on the popularity of diesels in the U.S. but a new coalition has now formed that aims to promote the benefits of modern diesels and hopefully speed up the importation. The new group is called the U.S. Coalition for Advanced Diesel Cars (USCAD) and their plan is to urge federal, state and local legislators and regulators to support public policies helping to...
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Spy shots: 998 Porsche 911 Turbo
The current 997 generation Porsche 911 is still being updated for its mid-cycle refresh, with only the standard Carrera, Carrera 4, and Targa variants receiving the update. Still in the works are the new Turbo and the GT3 models, though they too are drawing near to their expected unveiling...
Alex Kaufmann -
Leaked brochure confirms EcoBoost for 2010 Ford Taurus
It's amazing what a few lines of text can do, and while a few leaked details on the powertrain of the 2010 Ford Taurus is not in a league with the Declaration of Independence, both serve to illustrate the power of words. In this case, it's the power of an acronym - 3.5L GTDI - that conveys a hint...
Nelson Ireson -
VW Bluesport could go to production if approved by Audi, Porsche
Moving forward with production of even the most interesting designs is difficult work in today's economic climate. Volkswagen's Bluesport roadster, for instance, was well-received at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show, but it won't see production unless both Audi and Porsche agree to build versions of the...
Nelson Ireson -
Volkswagen execs hint at production possibility for Bluesport concept
Volkswagen has made no secret of its desire to revive the compact roadster market with numerous concept cars over the last decade. The most recent of these was the Bluesport roadster that was unveiled this week at the Detroit Auto Show. The latest design takes the compact roadster concept to a new...
Alex Kaufmann -
Ford and Navistar end 30 year deal
Ford and engine supplier Navistar International have finally ended a dispute over the supply contract for a diesel engine that has been ongoing for several years. The two companies have reached a settlement that brings the legal fight to an end and effectively dissolves a partnership that has...
Ralph Hanson -
The Nissan GT-R has been called a supercar-killer for its astonishing performance in spite of what have classically been seen as huge barriers: its heavy weight, low cost and non-exotic origins. However, regardless of how one comes out on the 'supercar/non supercar' debate, the sheer impressiveness of this four-way forced induction system from the aptly-named Power Enterprise can't be denied. Power Enterprise's approach to modifying the Nissan GT-R follows the tried and true approach of tuning the ECU, adding sticky tires and putting a little color under the hood, but then it goes into...
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Audi confirms A3 TDI for U.S.
The horsepower wars are being supplemented by the efficiency wars now that global warming issues are being taken seriously by the world's major governments, and one of the primary weapons of the new war is the diesel engine. Audi cars have long had a close relationship with diesel fuel, and since...
Kenneth Hall -
Volkswagen rolls out Touareg Lux Limited and V6 TDI SUVs at Detroit Auto Show
Diesels are quickly joining hybrids and plug-in electrics as the new show-car theme. The reasons are simple: efficiency, both in terms of fuel and finance, is driving carmakers and consumers to give diesel-fueled vehicles another chance. In keeping with this, Volkswagen is once again showcasing its...
Alex Kaufmann -
Land Rover to benefit from new Jaguar diesel
Jaguar recently revealed details for its brand new AJ-V6D Gen III S 3.0L six-cylinder turbodiesel engine, which in its most powerful trim is rated at 271hp (202kW) and 443lb-ft (600Nm) of torque. A less powerful 237hp (177kW) is also available and according to latest reports the new...
Kenneth Hall -
Dyno tests confirm Nissan GT-R drivetrain loss, power ratings
Testing cars for power ratings is a tough and tricky business - accounting for different conditions, locations, equipment and techniques can make it tough to generalize results. And to make matters worse, there is often a lot of guesswork employed to get between real, delivered wheel horsepower and...
Ralph Hanson -
Jaguar unveils XF Diesel S for Europe
Jaguar has just taken the wraps off its most advanced and powerful diesel model in its history, the all-new XF Diesel S. Powered by the carmaker’s new AJ-V6D Gen III S 3.0L six-cylinder turbodiesel engine, the sporty, yet efficient sedan will accelerate from 0-60mph in just 5.9 seconds and...
Kenneth Hall