By Adrian Padeanu, Motor1.com
When stock just won't cut it, tuners are happy to help.
We’re kicking off a new series here at Motor1.com by doing a roundup of the main highlights from the aftermarket scene. The weekly roundup will focus primarily on cars modified by tuning companies, but we’ll also share the occasional project created by enthusiasts looking for something to stand out. From hot hatches to supercars and from trucks to SUVs, we’re covering all the bases.
Whether you’re a fan of current cars or you’d rather have something from yesteryear, we’ll do our best to include some of your favorites. As you’re about to see, tuning doesn’t necessarily mean adding gargantuan wings and oversized wheels as there are many aftermarket specialists able to tastefully modify a vehicle without fiddling too much with the OEM look.
Audi Q5 55 TFSIe by ABT
Save for the custom 20-inch alloy wheels, this plug-in hybrid Audi Q5 looks virtually the same as the standard model. However, it’s hiding a secret underneath the hood as this is actually the first electrified model modified by ABT. The tuner worked on the more powerful version of Ingolstadt’s PHEV by tweaking its combustion engine, specifically the turbocharged 2.0-liter four-pot.
Taking into account the electric motor, the standard variant of the Audi Q5 55 TFSIe offers an already generous 362 hp and 500 Newton-meters (369 pound-feet) of torque. After ABT got its hands on the SUV, the combined output was increased to 420 hp and 550 Nm (406 lb-ft). That should lower the 5.3-second sprint time of the standard model by a couple of tenths of a second.
Mercedes-AMG A45 S by Posaidon
Mercedes-AMG already has the world’s most powerful four-cylinder engine installed in a road car, but the 416 horsepower and 500 Newton-meters (369 pound-feet) of torque still weren’t enough for Posaidon. The turbocharged 2.0-liter installed in the A45 S hot hatch has been massaged to deliver a whopping 518 hp and 600 Nm (443 lb-ft).
With the newly gained muscle, the A45 S tuned by Posaidon does the 0-62 mph (0-100 km/h) run in 3.4 seconds (down by half a second) and maxes out at an amazing 201 mph (324 km/h), which makes it one of the fastest compact cars in the world.
1999 Chevy Corvette Buggy
The fifth-generation Chevrolet Corvette has been quite popular among tuners, but we haven’t seen anything like this before. You can hardly tell this is a 1999 C5 coupe as most of the fiberglass body panels have been removed to shave weight, while the front bumper was sourced from a Jeep Wrangler Rubicon. It sits on 17-inch wheels sourced from a Z06 of the same generation, but with chunky Firestone Destination MT2 tires.
New wheels and tires forced the people behind the project to turn off the tire pressure monitoring system, traction control, and even the ABS. Modified to be a speedy dune buggy, this rugged Corvette has a lifted suspension for better ground clearance and to enhance that off-road look. It even has a fire extinguisher in case something goes horribly wrong, while the two hooks could come in handy in an emergency situation.
BMW i8 by DTE Systems
The BMW i8 hasn’t exactly been a popular car among tuners. Two reasons that spring to mind include the sports car’s complex hybrid powertrain and the relatively reduced customer base determined by the high price tag. That said, DTE Systems has now decided to unveil an upgrade program for the performance-oriented plug-in hybrid, just weeks after BMW finalized production of the avant-garde i8.
DTE Systems managed to lift combined output of the three-cylinder 1.5-liter gasoline engine and electric motor from 369 horsepower and 420 pound-feet (570 Newton-meters) of torque to 409 hp and 469 lb-ft (636 Nm) via a plug-and-play chip tuning module. The standard BMW i8 sprints to 62 mph (100 km/h) in 4.6 seconds, so look for the tuned version to complete the task in the low four-second range.
Ken Block's Hoonifox based on Fox Body Ford Mustang
Ken Block has had his fair share of impressive builds, but this one is a bit more special than the others. Designed by the same man in charge of the latest Batmobile’s appearance, the Hoonifox is a wild Ford Mustang from the Fox Body era with a giant hood scoop featuring visible individual throttle bodies. Huge vents for the front fenders are noticeable, as are the side exhaust tips and a roof scoop.
Moving at the back, the retro-flavored louvers are a nice touch, while the massive rear spoiler is derived from a DTM-spec Fox Body Mustang from back in the 1980s. In case you haven’t noticed by now, we’re dealing with just a rendering of the so-called Hoonifox for the time being, but we’re hoping this extravagant build will see the light of day in the near future.
Lamborghini Huracan Evo by Novitec
The Lamborghini Huracan Evo is already one of the sharpest supercars out there, so why mess around with its design? ABT did make some changes to the V10 raging bull, but they were smart enough not to fiddle too much with the OEM look. In fact, this discreetly modified variant of the naturally aspirated machine looks like something you’d expect to roll off the assembly line in Sant’Agata Bolognese.
There is a subtle aero kit sending a Huracan Performante vibe thanks to that rear wing, with all the aftermarket bits made from carbon fiber to keep weight in check. ABT mentions all the new parts were perfected in the wind tunnel to make them as aerodynamic as possible, so these bits are more than just for show. Rounding off the changes are custom 20- and 21-inch wheels, a new F1-derived exhaust, and a modified suspension bringing the car closer to the road by 35 millimeters (1.37 inches).
Mercedes V-Class by Schawe Car Design
Tuning jobs aren’t necessarily about squeezing more power from the engine as the aftermarket scene also focuses on other aspects of a car. Take for example the folks over at Schawe Car Design, which decided to give the Mercedes V-Class the tuning equivalent of Maybach by making the already luxurious minivan’s interior truly opulent.
They picked the finest leather and Alcantara available to wrap basically all surfaces on the inside where there are two pairs of seats facing each other. From electrically operated tables to colorful LED ambient lighting, the V-Class is loaded up with just about everything you’d want from a mobile lounge. In case you want to party, there are two crystal carafes available.
Toyota Supra Mk4 by EKanooRacing
While everyone seems to be talking about the BMW Z4-based Toyota Supra, there are still tuners out there turning their attention towards the legendary Mk4 generation. You’ve probably seen or heard stories of A80 Supras being dialed to ridiculously high levels of power, but this one takes the cake. Enter the heavily modified 2JZ engine, putting down a whopping 2,033 horsepower and 1,303 pound-feet (1,766 Newton-meters) of torque during a recent dyno test.
Still not impressed? Well, it’s worth noting these amazing output numbers were measured at the wheels, so the engine’s output is even higher at the crank. Considering an industry-accepted 15 percent power loss from the crank to the wheels, this amped-up Supra could be making roughly 2,390 hp and 1,535 lb-ft (2,081 Nm).
See more at: Motor1.com
