The power increase is significant, but the performance gains are surprisingly small

You’d think that spending the time, effort and money to get another 92hp out of your car would yield more than 0.1 seconds in the 0-62mph dash and the same top speed, but for the Swiss tuners at Sportec, that’s unfortunately exactly what happened. Despite cranking the car up to 425hp from the stock 333hp, the resulting vehicle just isn’t much faster.

It sports a more aggressive look, however, thanks to a body kit and 19 or 20in wheels. Handling should be improved as well, with a 30mm lower ride height, stiffer springs and upgraded brakes also on tap.

Of course, despite the small gain in 0-62mph acceleration, performance all over the rest of the charts is improved, illustrating that acceleration from a stop isn’t the be-all, end-all of performance metrics.

In-gear acceleration, rolling acceleration and everyday driving will all be improved by the extra power, and Sportec claims it does it all while delivering a significant savings in fuel consumption versus the similarly powerful Audi 4.2L V8 found in other vehicles.

Like many of Sportec’s tuning packages, the S4 Avant kit can be had piecemeal or as a complete treatment, with each part customizable by the buyer.

Source:motorauthority.com

The new car sports a more dramatic look and 35hp more than the original

Improving on a Ferrari design is tough – some would say impossible. But it’s still attempted often enough, this time by the tuners at Inden Design.

Perhaps better known for their work with German cars – especially Mercedes-Benz – the tuners at Inden took a tried-and-true approach to tuning the Ferrari F430.

Adding carbon fiber and leather wherever possible, fitting a more aggressive – if somewhat awkward up front – body kit, slapping on 20in wheels and cranking up the engine’s electronics to 525hp from the stock 490hp rating, the Inden F430 is a straightforward attempt at sharpening an already razor-sharp platform.

Other enhancements include a new stainless steel exhaust with a special damper control that automatically opens until full throttle, but can also be controlled remotely to modulate the engine’s sound.

Source:motorauthority.com

The tattoo-inspired designs of Ed Hardy can now be found on a fashion Mercedes CL63 in Dubai

The marriage of fashion and automobilia is a natural, if at times awkward, relationship. No mass-market manufacturer knows or exploits this fact better than Mercedes Benz, and now the fashion industry is returning the favor. Designed by Christian Audigier, branded by Ed Hardy and built by Empire Coachworks, the Ed Hardy Mercedes-Benz CL63 is a prime example.

The outside of the CL is the first thing that grabs the eye, with a rubberized, self-healing synthetic matte finish and Ed Hardy tattoo-style designs. Custom wheels a some unique aero pieces and lighting are all that’s done to the exterior aside from the new hood scoop.

Inside, the car gets a complete custom build with black crocodile leather upholstery. The rear-seat armrest also feature a built-in wine bottle cooler for those times when the celebration just can’t wait.

Empire Coachworks is a U.S.-based outfit that specializes in complete custom builds of everything from SUVs to stretch limos – but all extremely high-end and all built-to-order. It was Empire that approached Audigier and invited the designer to their New Jersey factory.

Once there, Audigier was so impressed with what he saw that the contracted with Empire to license out the Audigier and Ed Hardy labels for a range of custom vehicles.

Expect more joint creations from this pairing of speed and style, but don’t expect them to adhere to conventional rules of automotive design wisdom.
Via: Autogespot