BXR Motors’ Bailey Blade XTR Supercar Looks Like an American Shed-Built Wiesmann

BXR Motors is a small American car builder that noticeably raised its head for the first time in May of this year, when they first showed off their first ever product, a front-engined supercarcalled the Bailey Blade XTR.

Now, they have presented the project to the public for the very first time, detailed the specs and put their strategy for future expansion into context - the official site goes into a lot more detail.

The Bailey Blade XTR is meant to embody the philosophy of the “average American man,” and is touted as being the “reinvented American machine.” Style-wise, to me, it looks like a less serious take on the Wiesmann formula, which itself is an adaptation of the classic British sports car shape.

The XTR oozes American brawn, though, and it should, as it's said to be powered by a twin-turbo V8 motor, with a claimed 750 hp, and a top speed in excess of 200 mph (320 km/h); only the rear wheels are driven, via a six-speed manual gearbox for added connectedness. The benchmark sprint is said to come up in 3.2 seconds.

The technical stuff will be sorted more towards the car’s launch date, which is expected to arrive in the latter part of 2014.

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Brabus Brings the Thunder to Mercedes' ML63 and GL63 AMG SUVs

Do you really need to have more than 500-horses under the hood of luxury, family orientated SUVs like the Mercedes-Benz ML or its longer sibling, the GL? The answer is no, but that's the wrong thing to ask buyers of these type of vehicles as they would rather prefer the question, 'Is it cool to have more than 500 ponies on tap?'

If you agree with the above, then read on to learn what famed Mercedes-Benz tuner Brabus has prepared for the latest ML 63 AMG and GL 63 AMG, which in factory guise, come with a twin-turbo V8 churning out up to 550hp (557PS) and 760Nm (560 lb-ft) of peak torque.

The package is named the "Brabus B63S - 700 Widestar" and it begins with the engine bay where the V8's output is boosted to 690hp (700PS) and peak torque to an electronically limited 960 Nm (708 lb-ft) to protect the drivetrain from…exploding.

The result is a 0-100km/h (62mph) acceleration figure of 4.4 seconds for the ML 63 and 4.6 seconds for the heavier GL 63 AMG, with both SUVs sporting an electronically limited top speed of 300 km/h (186 mph) to protect the tires.

Talking about the rubber, the Brabus package includes 22- or optionally 23-inch alloy wheels, the latter wrapped in high-performance tires in size 315/25 ZR 23 for the ML and 305/30 ZR 23 for the GL. There's also a special control module for the AIRMATIC air suspension that lowers the ride height of the high-performance SUVs.

Visually, the two Brabus-prepped models obtain a wide-body kit comprising fender flares that add 60mm (2.4 inches) to the width of the ML and 80mm (3.1 inches) to the GL, new front and rear bumpers, an assortment of spoilers, new exhaust tips and a raft of available upgrades for the interior trim and upholstery.

BRABUS ML 63 AMG

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StudioTorino Puts an Italian Twist to New Porsche Cayman, Only 20 will be Built

Whereas the previous model we showed you from StudioTorino, the Mercedes-Benz SL Shooting Brake, was a purely conceptual project, the Porsche Cayman S-based Moncenisio previewed in these sketches will be built in a limited run of 20 numbered units that will be available for order beginning from this November, following the release a real-life prototype model in October.

The Italian design studio and coachbuilder will keep the Porsche Cayman S' mechanicals intact, meaning it will be powered by a 321hp (325PS) 3.4-liter flat-six engine linked to either a manual gearbox or a PDK dual-clutch transmission.

The rest of the car, including the exterior and the interior, will be heavily re-worked with the Porsche gaining a new body with plenty of carbon fiber parts, different 20-inch wheels and a fresh paint job in a special shade of blue, plus a customized interior.

On its website, StudioTorino notes: "The price for the transformation of a new “Fuoriserie MONCENISIO” is €135,000 [about US$180,500 at today's rates]. It is understood that the client will provide Studiotorino with his/her own  licensed and registered Cayman S."

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Hennessey Gives the Ford Taurus SHO a Good Power-Kick in the Back

The Ford Taurus SHO is a very unlikely performance car to arouse interest with enthusiasts, because it’s anything but light and sporty, according to the multitude of reviews available online.Still, its 3.5-liter turbocharged V6 EcoBoost engine has lots of tuning potential, which has been exploited by Hennessey Performance, which has raised the car’s power output figure from 365 hp to 445 hp, this having a significant impact on the performance.
The car is now capable of completing the benchmark 0-60mph (96km/h) sprint in a mere 4.3 seconds, and it can reportedly run the quarter-mile in 12.8 seconds, crossing the line at 109 mph or 175 km/h. The increase in power comes courtesy of extensive modifications done to the engine, all of which void the warranty. Hennessey offers its own 1-year or 12,000-mile deal that is a welcome addition and will offer owners extra piece of mind (and make the upgrade itself even more appealing).
The pack, called MaxBoost 445, also includes non-performance mods, like numbered plaques, Hennessey logos, exterior badging which can be either chrome or black and finally headrests with the embroidered company name.

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Heico Sportiv Previews V40 Tuning Program and Bio-Diesel Racer

The ongoing 2012 Auto Mobil International (AMI) in Leipzig, Germany, saw Volvo tuning specialist Heico Sportiv reveal the first-ever racing version of the V40 as well as the first real life photos and details of its upcoming performance and styling program for the production model.

Heico Sportiv, which is the official Volvo Car Germany partner for road vehicle customization, says it is developing a raft of parts for the V40 premium compact hatchback.

The V40 tuning program will cover ECU upgrades for all mainstream engines, custom exhaust systems, sporty suspension and braking systems, a choice of alloy wheel designs along with interior applications and body styling kits.

Heico Sportiv has also prepared a new Volvo V40 racer, with which it will compete in next year's 24 Hour Endurance Race at the Nürburgring.

The motorsports V40 is powered by a five-cylinder turbo diesel D5 engine tuned to produce 296hp (300PS) and a peak torque of 600 Nm (442 lb-ft). It also features a lightweight, carbon fiber body kit highlighted by the huge wing at the rear.

Kudos to Geenen Raphaël from VolvoPassion for the tip!

HEICO SPORTIV VOLVO V40 TUNING PROGRAM

HEICO SPORTIV VOLVO V40 RACER

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