Hot Cars

Sinister Six The Evil BMW

Modified by Alpine work from a BMW 645 convertible, Sinister Six has got to be one of the most evil looking modified car. It is equipped with a 26 inch wheel where it has at least 7 monitor installed in its interior.

2007 Hamann Lamborghini Murcielago LP640

It looks like a Stealth-Bomber on four wheels. It is one of the most masculine looking sports cars as well as one of the fastest. Through its appearance the Lamborghini LP640 gives a clear impression it’s not just for show. German tuning company Hamann set out to sharpen the Italian steer’s horns through modifications for appearance, driving dynamics and sound to create a distinct difference between the Hamann and factory versions.

Maintenance of road contact is most essential when one is pushing a super sports car to the limit. To achieve greater downforce on the front and rear axle Hamann offers a front spoiler as well as a rear wing. Whoever prefers to show their affiliation to motor sports can order the parts in Carbon-Kevlar instead of the fiberglass version.

Hamann applies further aerodynamic components in the form of a two-part rear diffuser with additional air hoses for the extendable side air intakes, side sills as well as a two-part front wing and Carbon-pendants for the original side intakes in the sills in front of the rear wheels. Furthermore, a central running air box on the roof brings back memories of past Lamborghini Diablo GT-R days. Naturally, these parts are also available in Carbon-Kevlar or fiberglass.

The Hamann dual stainless sports rear silencer (2×120mm end pipes) emits a sound similar to that generated from race tracks announcing the arrival of the vehicle. A positive side effect is an even sportier rear look. Export customers can extend their exhaust system with a Hamann sport metallic catalytic converter.

For the individualization of vehicles within this high performance calibre, a choice of new wheel design is inherent. Hamann suggests its own creation “Edition Race”. This multipieced, forged light alloy metal wheel with black wheel spider, “Y” spoke design, Titan bolts and high polished rim flange utilized for Lamborghini Murciélago LP640 comes in the combination 8.5 x 20″ front and 13 x 20″ rear. As expected, Hamann also offers here a complete wheel set with typical tires sizes 235/30 ZR 20 (FA) und 325/25 ZR20 (RA).

Hamann prepares the cockpit of the Super-Lambo providing even more sports racing atmosphere. For this, the tuners from Laupheim, Germany offer an 8-part carbon-look interior set. The race car look is established through instrument cockpit bordure, the air bleed jet, the gear shifting panel as well as the cigarette ashtray console. Naturally, Hamann offers each Lamborghini customer preferred alterations on an individual basis. For instance, extravagant leather furnishing in a variety of colours is possible or additional of multi-media articles.

Audi TT Clubsport Quattro

The Audi TT clubsport quattro study reduces the TT Roadster to a pure driving machine. A powerful engine, state-of-the-art technology and numerous traits borrowed from the world of motorsport are the dominant features of the TT clubsport quattro. The goal that the development engineers set themselves for this vehicle study was to achieve purism at a premium level.

No hood, no A-post – instead, a wraparound windscreen kept extremely low which deliberately evokes images of a speedster. The flat, slightly tinted window strip surrounds the cockpit. The panoramic windscreen and the two humps located behind the interior in place of the hood compartment are reminiscent of a racing car. The rollover bars familiar from the TT Roadster are kept flatter and are the same height as the sports bucket seats.

The front end is dominated by the single-frame grille which has aluminium inserts to give its design a horizontal emphasis. This makes the TT clubsport quattro appear even flatter than it already is. The four rings of the logo are not located in the grille as on most Audi models, but on the bonnet.

The large air inlets in the front end supply additional air to the more potent TFSI engine. LED daytime running lights provide an eye-catching highlight at all times of day. The visible stainless steel rear silencer is the striking feature in the rear bumper, while the blade under the rear silencer visibly underscores the vehicle’s sports character. The dual-branch exhaust system with its oval tailpipes calls to mind the sporty Audi production models such as the RS 4.

There is a deliberate lack of visual interruptions in the side line and you will look in vain for door handles. The TT clubsport quattro is opened by remote control: the doors spring open at the press of a button. The size of the two exterior mirrors has also been minimised. 20-inch wheels with tyres of size 265/30 R20 emphasise the car’s muscular appearance, as does its track width which has been increased by a total of 80 millimetres compared with a production TT. Not only that, but the wheel arches have also been enlarged additionally.

The car is painted Daytona Grey, a colour that Audi used for the first time on the RS 4 and the S8. The exterior design features dark shades of grey. This forms a contrast with the metallic elements, with the grille and side grille in Gun Metal, a steely colour which imbues the TT clubsport quattro with a look which is both sporty and pure.

The brake callipers, the orange colour of which links the exterior design to the interior, provide a visual contrast. These bright colour highlights also provide attractive visual touches in the interior, on elements such as the instrument cowl, the armrest and on the back of the bucket seats. The black leather seat itself also boasts a special feature in the shape of a laser pattern worked into the seat. This was specially designed for the TT clubsport quattro and plays on the TT logo.

The sports character demonstrated by the exterior design is continued inside the car, where purism was also the driving element. Racing bucket seats are provided for both occupants. Together with four-point belts that are three inches wide, these offer both driver and passenger excellent support, even in extreme driving situations – on the racetrack, for example. The generous use of aluminium is characteristic of Audi. This starts with the steering wheel which is adorned with a twin spoke crafted from this lightweight metal. The pedals are also made of aluminium and exhibit a grooved structure. They consequently not only afford a better grip, but also help to save weight. Foot rests are provided for both driver and passenger in the TT clubsport quattro.

The gear lever gate adopted from the new mid-engined sports car, the Audi R8, and the aluminium gear knob are a joy to behold. This lightweight metal is also used for the door pull and the door opener, both of which are cut-out, a feature which further underlines the interior’s purist character.

The sill area has also been restyled compared with the production model. Rather than being interrupted by a sill strip, it now emphasises the width of the car. A new door sill trim located further inside the car, along with floor mats sporting the TT logo as an aluminium inlay provide further visual highlights. The surrounding strip on the top shoulder is also made of this lightweight metal.

The Audi designers came up with a special idea in the field of entertainment. Instead of the middle of the three round air vents in the upper part of the dashboard, they integrated an interface here, designed among other things for the B&O MP3 player BeoSound 2. The round player built by Audi’s premium partner fits exactly into the circular opening and is a sheer delight for the senses, both visually and acoustically.

The instrument cluster is very different from the one in a production model. The vertical needles and colour graphics are the eye-catching features. The clock and odometer have been omitted in keeping with the car’s underlying purist philosophy.

The racing character of the Audi TT clubsport quattro is underscored by its technology. The Audi engineers have packed the 2.0 TFSI engine with even more power than the 260 bhp familiar from the Audi S3. The turbocharged four-cylinder unit with petrol direct injection breaks the magic 300 bhp barrier. Thanks to a modified intake manifold, it has been possible to get even more power out of this highly efficient engine (which was “Engine of the Year” in its class in 2005 and 2006). Power is transferred to all four wheels, making the TT clubsport quattro the first new-generation TT with four-cylinder engine and quattro permanent four-wheel drive.

The transmission is also new in this performance category. Thanks to its dual clutch, the S tronic direct-shift gearbox changes gear virtually without interrupting the flow of power, a process that goes unnoticed by the driver. The six gears can, however, also be changed manually, with gearshifts taking just fractions of a second.

Anyone opening the bonnet will be met by a fascinating sight. Thanks to a lack of cables and auxiliaries, the engine compartment looks extremely clean. The engine has deliberately not been hidden under a cover. The cross brace running above the engine is a technical stroke of genius. It not only makes the car more rigid, but also contains the coolant expansion tank. The ABS system has been moved from the engine compartment to the interior.

The air conditioning and activated charcoal filter are not to be found in the engine compartment either. A racing air filter ensures that the engine takes in a sufficient amount of air. The exhaust system has been adapted to suit the car’s sporty performance: the specially tuned exhaust emits the genuine sound of motor racing.

Ceramic brakes are fitted in the TT for the first time. These are absolutely non-fading and enable countless sharp braking manoeuvres without any loss of stopping power. Once again, Audi has taken advantage of its superior wealth of experience: ceramic brakes are already offered for the RS 4, the A8 and S8, for example, and are enjoying increasing popularity with customers.

The Audi TT clubsport quattro is a purist driving machine that combines the performance of a sports car with a unique design language. It consequently remains a TT on the one hand, while at the same time demonstrating just what is possible with such a fascinating production vehicle. The possible small-series production of this model is being considered.

Cool Car Paint

2007 Hamann Ferrari F430 Black Miracle

The Ferrari F430 already is a brilliant, eye-catching vehicle. The “look“ as well as engineering technology presents many similarities to motor sports racing. In the latter instance, most vehicles here feature a catchy paint finish in “warrior look”. Hamann Motorsport now offers the mid-engine Ferrari a special outstanding design that equally provides a racing car look standing out from the crowd. It’s called “Black Miracle“ and will be responsible for great deal of turned heads.

Hamann’s “Black Miracle“ designed black car body via a foil suggests the appearance of a primary base coat versus a ready-finished lacquered vehicle. It leaves an impression as if the entire car body is covered in velvet. Here as well, comes an idea directly from motor sports racing scene where motor covers are often finished in black matt to aide drivers with glare reduction. The “Black Miracle” design by Hamann acts similar to a black hole absorbing all light.

For the “light at the end of the tunnel” Hamann provides additional parts following customer preferences in brilliant red, orange or yellow finish. The contrast between black matt and each “luminizing” addition is unquestionably mesmerizing especially for countless admirers at Ferrari meetings. Such an individualized F430 entrance has never been seen before! The highlight of the “Black Miracle“ designs: when the black matt color doesn’t seem pleasing anymore, the foil can be easily removed.

The noted Hamann aerodynamic kit for the Ferrari F430 in dazzling colors grasps many elements directly out of motor sports. Front impressions of the F430 “Black Miracle“ through Hamann’s front spoiler provide a distinct racing sports face and minimize front axle buoyancy. The wide rocker panel wings give a lowering impression. Further reminiscence of sports racing awakens at the rear end through the Hamann diffuser and a powerful rear wing which provides more downthrust on the rear axle. Hamann air dams for the downforce generating Venturi Tunnel boosts the effect.

Additionally included in the “Black Miracle“ design are finished aerodynamic parts in red, orange or yellow as well as colored side mirrors and brake calipers, tinted rear lights, a colored engine cover framing, dark tinted windows (including front window), bi-colored leather furnishings (any choice of color combinations), Hamann logos within the head rests as well as the wheels finished in the color of the aerodynamic components and with completely covered black matt rim flange.

The Finest Detail Through Wing Doors

The absolute show stopper effect with the eye-catching “Black Miracle” colour in combination to the car body is achieved with the addition of Hamann constructed wing doors. This process is completed without compromise as Hamann offers a completely full car body integration through guaranteed technology minus that look of actually being built-in. In other words, this vehicle looks as if it just rolled directly off the assembly line.

Increased Performance

Through new motronic programming including a new rear silencer plus a sporty high-performance header and sport steel catalyst, the F430 in Hamann “Black Miracle” style has a performance increase of 50 bhp which is naturally a plus for vehicle performance.

Even more driving pleasure is promised with a specially designed set of suspension springs. Through the Hamann springs, not only does the F430 lurk lower to the ground, it also moves noticeably with more agility.

The F430 “Black Miracle” comes equipped from Hamann with a 3-pieced, forged light weight wheel “Edition Race” in 20-inch. Available for the front axle in size 8,5 x 20 (tires 235/30 R20) and for the rear axle in size 12,75 x 20 (tires 325/25 R20).

One example of the ultra lightweight wheels with dimensions of 12,75 x 20 have an astounding weight of only 34 lbs! As previously indicated, within the “Black Miracle” package Hamann finishes a wheel spider in the color of the aerodynamic components and rim flange matching to the car body in black matt.

Volkswagen Unveils Golf GTI W12 Design Study

Volkswagen has unveiled a unique design study which is set to feature at the largest GTI festival in Europe this week. The GTI W12-650 mates a Golf GTI three-door bodyshell to a bespoke mid-mounted bi-turbo W12 650 PS engine channelling drive to the rear wheels. Not only is it the most powerful Golf ever produced by Volkswagen but it’s also the fastest.

The sprint from standstill to 62 mph takes 3.7 seconds. A potential maximum speed of 201.8 mph is made possible through a 70 mm lower ride height and the extensive use of under floor aerodynamic aids including a diffuser negating the need for a large rear wing to keep the vehicle pinned to the ground at very high speeds.

At the vehicle’s heart is a bespoke mid-mounted W12 engine linked to a pair of turbochargers. In order to make the installation possible Volkswagen engineers created a unique aluminium subframe onto which the engine could be mounted. The engine’s cooling systems are fed by a pair of side-mounted cooling vents placed in the airflow just ahead of the rear wheels.

The 5,998 cc W12 engine is an evolution of the 450 PS version fitted to the Phaeton. The engine is made from aluminium to reduce weight further and features four valves per cylinder and two overhead camshafts per cylinder head. Extremely compact in design, measuring only 513 mm in length, 715 mm in height and 710 mm in breadth, it’s effectively made up of a pair of narrow-angle V6 engines laid alongside each other.

The engine is linked to a six-speed Tiptronic automatic transmission. With the fitment of a pair of turbochargers power rises to 650 PS at 6,000 rpm while peak torque is capped at 553 lbs ft delivered at 4,500 rpm making it over three times more powerful than the conventional Golf GTI.

A 160 mm gain in width over the standard GTI is designed to accommodate the mid-mounted engine, bespoke drivetrain and the side-mounted cooling systems. The roof is constructed out of carbon fibre and features an integrated cooling scoop to channel air into the rear-mounted radiators. The redesigned floating C-pillars further aid the cooling systems to feed air into the engine.

The purposeful new stance is further emphasised by a set of 19-inch wheels styled to mimic the standard wheels fitted to the Golf GTI but, in the case of the GTI W12-650 wrapped in 295-profile tyres to aid traction.

The GTI W12-650 is a bespoke design study built by Volkswagen to mark the annual GTI festival in Worthersee, Austria. The event, the biggest of its kind in Europe, sees fans congregate to pay homage to the GTI, now in its fifth generation and celebrating its 30 th anniversary in the UK.