Shelby 800-Horsepower Super Snake

Shelby American, the company responsible for creating modern "Shelby" Mustangs (except for Ford's own GT500), has released details about its Super Snake package for the 2011 Mustang GT500. No surprise there, except that the "post title" package can be pushed up to 800 horsepower (no torque figures have been released for that one, yet). Interested? Get in line, because only 1,000 will be built for 2011.

The base 2011 Super Snake package gets people a 660-horsepower / 590 lb-ft supercharged V8, a Ford Racing suspension kit, Borla exhaust system, new Shelby-designed Alcoa rims, and more (check out the rest below, because the list is just your standard bolt-ons and my fingers grow weary).

Package options include a supercharger upgrade to Shelby / Ford Racing or Shelby / Kenne Bell supercharger - anything to tack "Shelby" onto a part - that puts out 750 horsepower and throws in a new driveshaft, throttle body, and badges for good measure; or, if you're really in the mood to spend some cash, you can opt for that 800-pony package. Shelby American says that its Super Snake packages will only be available from the company or one of its "mod shops".

Company president John Luft says, "Ford Motor Company did a marvelous job making the 2011 model year GT500 lighter and more powerful. Our team applied its experience building Super Snakes over the past several years to offer a package that dramatically increases the new car's capabilities. And with the visual changes we've made, it will be a definite stand out on the road or track."

To give you an idea of pricing, the 750-horse package will run $30,245 including installation. You know, don't worry about getting in that line I mentioned earlier; if the price adds that kind of cash to the $49,500 price of a base...BASE...GT500, just go get yourself a Viper. Hell, at least you'll be driving one hell of a cool snake-themed sports car. That, and your neighbor's kid won't have a V6 version of the same thing.

By Phil AlexVia: Jalopnik , Source: Shelby

The 2011 Ford Shelby GT500 Super Snake post title package includes:
• Ford Racing handling pack including dynamic adjustable dampers, lowering springs, tuned stabilizer bars, and front strut tower brace
• 6-speed manual transmission with 3.73:1 rear axle ratio
• Shelby/Ford Racing supercharger upgrade producing over 660 HP and 590 ft.-lbs. of torque
• Either a Shelby/Ford Racing or Shelby/Kenne Bell supercharger kit producing 750 HP with upgraded drive shaft, billet twin 75mm throttle body and exclusive badges
• Optional Shelby/Kenne Bell 800 horsepower tune on pump gas
• Borla exhaust system
• An optional Shelby / Eibach handling pack is also available
• Shelby-designed Alcoa 20-inch wheels in durabright or anthracite
• Short-throw shifter
• Forged Shelby / Baer brakes with 6 piston calipers and cross drilled / vented rotors
• Front brake cooling ducts and behind the door side scoops
• Unique fiberglass hood featuring classic Shelby design and pins
• Shelby signature Super Snake stripes in either matte black or matte white
• "Shelby" lettering across the rear deck lid
• "Super Snake" vehicle badges and official Shelby CSM interior plate
• Optional two tone leather interior
• Shelby signature embroidered headrests, floor mats and other Shelby designed components

Hello Kitty - Agip Motor Oil

The product is the result of the cooperation between the company the owns the right to the Hello Kitty name and AGIP, a subsidiary of Italy's oil company, ENI SpA. It will be distributed in the Japanese market by Showa Boeki.

Source: Showa Boeki / Ameblo

Classic MINI gets a 78-liter V18 Diesel Engine with 12 Turbochargers and 3,500HP

If you visit this week's Goodwood Festival of Speed in the UK, make sure you stop by Cummins' stand to check out this one-of-a-kind Austin Mini with a unique engine-swap. In case you didn't notice, there's a colossal engine sitting just behind the passenger compartment on the classic Mini's stretched platform.

Cummins, an independent maker of diesel engines, fitted its biggest powerplant on one of the smallest cars around. The QSK78 diesel engine, which is used to power mining industry dump trucks capable of carrying 360 tonnes, is a 78-liter, 18-cylinder monster with 12 turbochargers producing 3,500HP (take that Veyron) at 1,900 rpm and 10,157 lb-ft / 13,771Nm of peak torque at 1,500 rpm.

Weighing in at over 11 tonnes (24,912 lbs), the V18 unit measures an astonishing 3,327mm (131-in.) in length, 1,633mm (65.5-in.) in width and 2,429mm (95.6-in) in height.

"We never like to let a challenge go by unanswered so we got to thinking maybe we could fit the QSK78 into an original Austin Mini," said Steve Nendick, Cummins' Communications Director. " It proved to be a bit tricky to fit under the bonnet but our engineers came up with a more creative solution. We're certain that the Goodwood crowd will have difficulty believing what they are seeing", he added.

No word from Cummins on whether or not the V18 diesel actually motivates the Mini, but we wouldn't bet on it.

Source: Carscoop.blogspot.com

Pogea Racing Fiat 500 Abarth Ferrari Dealers Edition

German tuning firm Pogea Racing believes that there's something fundamentally wrong about a hot hatch carrying the Ferrari nameplate that's powered by an engine producing only 165-ponies . So the tuner decided to do something about it.

The car in question is the extremely rare Fiat 500 Abarth Ferrari Dealers Edition (there's also a non-Abarth model). Starting with the stock engine, Pogea Racing upgraded the 1.4-liter turbocharged unit with a larger turbocharger and intercoolers, new exhaust system, modified downpipe, new catalytic converter and recalibrated ECU.

The result? Output has been inflated from 165HP to 268HP, with torque climbing from 230Nm to 330Nm / 243.4 lb-ft.

There's also a more powerful braking system that is said to reduce braking distance by around 1.8 meters or 6 feet compared.

The tuner said that the same performance upgrades can be applied on the standard Abarth models, while the company also offers a complete styling kit with exterior and interior bits.

RDX-Racedesign VW Scirocco Coupe

RDX Racedesign, a German tuning house, has completed a new styling package for the Volkswagen Scirocco coupe. The tuner modifies the Scirocco's appearance with a comprehensive body kit that includes a front apron, beefier side skirts, headlamp covers, a rear apron that incorporates a protruding diffuser and an extra-large roof spoiler. All components are made from PU-ABS thermoplastic. The car's looks can be further enhanced with a set of multispoke alloy wheels.

Hofele Design RIVAGE GT 970 Porsche Panamera

The new Porsche Panamera sports saloon continues to attract the attention of numerous tuners, the most recent being Hofele Design that has presented a new styling package called RIVAGE GT 970.

The body kit starts off with a new front bumper complete with LED-daytime running lights, a fixed rear spoiler, side skirts and a redesigned rear bumper with additional air vents that bring to mind the Audi R8 and a diffuser.

The exterior is further enhanced with four stainless steel tail pipes and newly designed 22-inch alloy wheels. An electronic module that allows the driver to lower the ride height and a high-performance brake system with six-piston calipers are also included in the package.

As for the interior, Hofele Design says that upon request, it can upgrade the look of the cabin with new materials and colors.

BMW Z4 400HP Custom Build Inspired by Nike's Slingshot Golf Clubs Series

Sometimes inspiration can come from the most unlikely sources. Take MWDesign, for instance. For their latest project based on the BMW Z4 E89 hardtop-roadster with straight-six turbo, the Vancouver-based tuning shop drew their design inspiration from Nike's Slingshot golf clubs series.

The tuner started out by adding an AC Schnitzer front spoiler complete with custom carbon fiber lower splitters, 3D Design matte carbon fiber rear diffuser and boot lid spoiler, BMW Performance kidney grilles, a carbon fiber hood strip and a set of 20-inch Modular alloy wheels with glossy black outer rims.

MWDesign's next assignment was to apply lime green accents on the front air-ducts, the alloy wheels, the tail pipe surrounds and the twin roll bars. The custom carbon fiber exterior accents with primer grey on the hood, the trunk and the retractable hardtop along with the matte black tailpipes complete the visual makeover.

The Z4 Slingshot also benefits from numerous performance upgrades including -but not limited to- a power kit from Dinan, a sport exhaust system from Eisenmann USA and a new intercooler, all of which help boost output to 400-horsepower and 420 lb-ft of peak torque.

To improve handling, the Z4 was fitted 245/30 Toyo tires, Eibach Pro Sports Springs with reinforced shock mounts and bump stops, and H&R adjustable front and rear swaybars.

Source: MWDesign

BMW Z4 Slingshot Upgrades:

Performance
Dinan Stage II+ ECU Upgrade
**power rating at 400hp @ 420lb.ft torque
Eisenmann "Black Series" Quad Exhaust System + Midpipe
Stett Performance Front Mount Intercooler
Stett Performance Diverter Valves + Charge Pipe
Race Precision Intake Filter

Exterior
AC Schnitzer Front Addon Spoiler with Custom Lime Green Vinyl Accents
3DDesign Matte Carbon Fibre Quad Rear Diffuser with Custom Lime Green Vinyl Accents
3DDesign Rear Spoiler
Custom Carbon Fibre Front Lower Splitters
OEM BMW Performance Front Kidney Grilles
Custom Carbon Fibre Vinyl Exterior Accents with Primer Grey Bordering
Custom Lime Green Painted Roll Bars with Plexi Wind Deflector

Wheels/Tires/Suspension
Modulare Forged H1 20×8.5 F 20×10 R Wheels in Tinted Brushed Center + Gloss Black Lip Finish with Custom Primer Grey/Lime Green Accents
Custom Tinted Brushed Aluminium Center Caps with Primer Grey Accents
Toyo Proxes T1R 245/30/20 F 285/25/20 R Tires
Eibach Pro Sports Springs with Reinforced Shock Mounts and Bump Stops
H&R Adjustable Front and Rear Swaybars