German tuning brand DMC is sharing these images of a blacked out Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4 built by Japan's Autoproject-D. Now, you might be wondering why one tuner is advertising the work of another. The answer is because Autoproject-D used DMC's "Molto Veloce" styling kit. The exterior updates include an aerodynamic package with an array of carbon fiber parts like the front apron, side panels and skirts, fixed rear wing and diffuser, that work together with gloss black alloy wheels and a new exhaust to give the Aventador an "I'm bad and I know it" kind of look. While DMC offers many upgrades the Aventador's V12 engine, including an optimized ECU, the use of 12 unique single intake throttle plates, new gasoline pumps and injection nozzles, plus a lighter Titanium Exhaust system, Autoproject-D kept the Lamborghini's inner works stock. DMC itself say that while it will ship any parts to its global dealers located in North America, Asia and the Middle East, it "highly suggests" that owners opting for the engine upgrades to "fly" their car company‘s workshops in Germany or Switzerland.
All those crazy dash-cam videos from Russia that are circulating on the internet would lead you to believe that any car footage related to the land of vodka, babushkas and caviar would entail a crash or at least someone pointing a gun to a motorist. But it's not always like that, especially when it comes to politically correct television commercials like this one from Mercedes-Benz's AMG performance car division – though, we're pretty sure that a number of viewers would have preferred something a tad more exciting and unpredictable than what the brand with the star came up with here. The AMG models featured in the promo film include the E63, CLS 63, SLS gullwing coupe, SL63 roadster and the G Wagen. You can check it out for yourself right below the break.
Audi has always been very proud of its racing heritage, and while before it was all about Quattro and rallying, over the years, they’ve made their presence felt in the world of Le Mans, too. Now, they have chosen this year’s Worthersee GTI meeting to reveal a specially themed A1, which features the R18 competition kit. However, before you get all excited, let us first mention that this kit or pack does nothing to the performance of the car. Actually, all it offers are a unique rear spoiler, red and grey accents across its body, as well as new-design alloy rims. Inside, the A1 Le Mans features unique branded floor mats and interior trim pieces finished in the same red/grey color combo. In conclusion, this is not a special edition car designed for enthusiasts. However, it does boost the appeal of the A1, and makes these cars, with their stickers and different rims, just a bit more exclusive than the regular models.
Chevrolet announced on Tuesday that the 2014 Corvette Stingray's all-new LT1 6.2-liter V8 engine has been SAE-certified at 455 horsepower (339 kW or 461PS) and 460 lb-ft (624 Nm) of torque. With the available performance exhaust system, these numbers are lifted to 460 horsepower (343 kW or 466PS) at 6,000 rpm and 465 lb-ft of torque (630 Nm) at 4,600 rpm, respectively. Both power levels are valid for the Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Convertible as well. Chevrolet says these are the highest power ratings ever for an entry-level Corvette model. Fuel economy is expected to exceed 26 mpg US (9 liters/100 km) on the highway. The base Corvette will run from 0 to 60 mph (96 km/h) in less than 4 seconds, according to Chevrolet. However, the carmaker doesn’t say if it the estimate corresponds to the 455- or 460-hp model. With 74 horsepower per liter, the LT1 has greater power density than the C6 Corvette’s LS3 6.2-liter engine and even the C6 Z06’s racing-derived 7.0-liter LS7. Up to 4,700 rpm, torque levels are comparable to the LS7, while peak torque is only 5 lb-ft (6.8 Nm) lower than of the 7.0-liter engine. The new engine delivers 316 lb-ft (428 Nm) from as low as 1,000 rpm, with 90 percent of peak torque being available from 3,000 rpm to 5,500 rpm. This ensures better acceleration is at all engine speeds. The engine features advanced technologies including direct injection, an all-new combustion system and continuously variable valve timing. For the first time in a Corvette, the engine can shut down half of its cylinders in light-load driving thanks to the Active Fuel Management system.
You could say that, compared to some of its prior projects (the Porsche Tornado and even more so the Mistrale, come to mind), Gemballa's styling take on the new McLaren MP4-12C Spider is subtle, but we don't mean that in a bad way, quite the opposite actually. The German tuner's cosmetic touches accentuate the 12C Spider's lines affording it a more individualized appearance that could have very well originated from McLaren's factory. Announced at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show in March, the package is now available for order starting at €19,980 (about US$25,800) excluding VAT (taxes) for the aero kit that includes a new front bumper with a lip spoiler, side skirts and rear diffuser. Another €7,980 (US$10,300) will get you 20 and 21-inch diameter alloy wheels for the front and rear axles respectively shod in high performance tires, while the tune is completed with an an upgraded interior featuring individual colored leathers and instrument dials (no pricing was announced).
Have you ever wondered how aftermarket companies apply chrome wrap to cars? Well, if you haven't seen it done before, now is your chance to find out, as UK’s Creative FX firm has shared a “how it’s made” video showing the entire operation of wrapping a VW Golf Mk7 in chrome foil. Although the car, supplied by a UK dealer, is not the most popular choice for chrome wrapping, watching the Golf being transformed from a boring hatchback into a very shiny boring hatchback is quite interesting. Extreme attention to detail, firm hands and patience, are necessary to fit the foil perfectly onto the car’s bodywork.
The VW and Audi aftermarket specialists at ABT Sportsline decided that the 184PS Golf 7 GTD is neither powerful, nor sporty-looking enough, so they set out to customize it with a power upgrade and an aerodynamic kit to alleviate the problem. “The objective was to make this compact diesel even sportier. Our ABT Golf VII GTD is a very, very stylish power package,” says Hans-Jürgen Abt, CEO of the world’s largest tuner of cars produced by the Volkswagen Group. I don’t know if “very stylish package” is the appropriate term to describe the ABT Golf GTD, but i have to admit ABT did manage to make the Golf GTD look more aggressive by applying aerodynamic elements such as the front spoiler and grille, side skirts and trunk lid attachment (almost identical to their Golf GTI tune). The headlights also received thin eyelids, while the mirrors are fitted with different covers. At the back, the four-pipe exhaust and rear skirt insert contribute to a more menacing look, as do the 18- or 19-inch alloy wheels available. Getting to the mechanical part, ABT Power upgraded the 2.0-liter diesel engine from 184 PS (181 hp) to 210 PS (207 hp), with torque also going up from 380 Nm (280 lb-ft) to 430 Nm (317 lb-ft). ABT Sportsline doesn’t say how the increased power and torque influence the 0 to 100 km/h sprint and top speed of the GTD, but we’re going to assume both are improved. For the record, the standard Golf GTD accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 7.5 seconds and reaches a top speed of 229 km/h (142 mph).
BMW and Pininfarina have blown the covers off their new jointly designed and developed Gran Lusso Coupé in advanced of the one-off model's world premiere at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este 2013 this weekend. The large coupe model is the outcome of the first collaboration between BMW and Pininfarina, and it follows the BMW Z4-based Zagato Coupé presented at last year's Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este. When the Bavarian carmaker shared a sketch and a couple of cropped details of the car along with the information that it uses a V12 powerplant earlier this month, the first thing that came to mind was the possibility of a 21st century version of the 8-Series Coupe that was built from 1989 to 1999. 
In our eyes, the BMW Pininfarina Gran Lusso V12 Coupé looks more like a two-door, coachbuilt version of a future 7-Series made to compete against the Bentley Continental GT, than a true successor to the 8-Series, but BMW officials think otherwise. According to an Autoweek report, sources from within BMW, who asked to remain anonymous, said that the concept could provide a glimpse to a high-end coupe wearing the 8-Series badge. "We want to send out the message the future is not all about electric cars, but also traditional models with real emotional appeal," said the BMW source. "Whether that includes an 8 series is not yet decided. But the Pininfarina Gran Lusso Coupe gives an indication of how such a car might look.". The big BMW coupe's foundation is borrowed from the 7-Series coupe with the 760Li's 6.0-liter turbocharged unit providing power to the rear wheels. How much power that is remains unknown, but in the 760Li, the V12 delivers 535-horses. Inside, the dashboard looks very much like the one in the 5-Series and 7-Series models (you'll have a hard time telling the difference between the two), sans the more exclusive and stylish materials and color combinations, courtesy of Pininfarina's eye for design.
The festivities and special models dedicated to Aston Martin's centenary continue with yet another teaser for a new car, bits and parts of which are shown in a video that was released today. In the clip, we see the outline of a coupe model and a collection of images detailing certain elements of the car such as the hood vents, center stack, and headlamps. To spare you from entering game-mode with the pause button, we did the work for you by attaching the screen shots below. Take a look at them along with the video and tell us what you think Aston Martin is teasing here. This new model follows the unveiling of the one-off CC 100 Speedster Concept at the Nürburgring 24 Hours last weekend.
Pagani might not produce many models – in fact, the Modena-based carmaker has only built two supercars since its inception in the early 1990s, the Zonda and more recently, the Huayra, but it sure has many different editions and versions of each car, especially of the former that has been around longer. One of the last special editions of the Zonda is the R Evolution model based on the non-road homologated Zonda R, which was first shown to the public during the 2012 Goodwood Festival of Speed where it took part in the famed Goodwood hillclimb race. As reported by GTspirit, the Italian company will build five cars at a factory price of around €1.76 million (equal to US$2.27 million at today's exchange rates) excluding local taxes, four of which have already been spoken for, with the first example heading towards its very, very lucky owner. It is this car that the crew at Prototypezero snapped on a delivery truck this week. The carbon-fiber bodied Zonda R Evolution sports a stronger 800hp version of the company's Mercedes-Benz AMG-sourced V12 engine, as well as new aerodynamic parts and also weighs less than the regular Zonda R. In 2010, the base Zonda R had lapped the Nürburgring Nordschleife in a record-breaking time of 6:47.5 minutes (see video below), which means the Evolution has the potential to be even faster…
