Tuning. October 2019 review
PaxPower | Ford F-150 platinum front view
PaxPower | Ford F-150 platinum rear view
Brabus | Mercedes-AMG 35 front view
Brabus | Mercedes-AMG 35 rear view
Hennessy | Ford Shelby GT500 rear view
Wolf racing | Ford Mustang front view
Wolf racing | Ford Mustang rear view
Litchfield Motors | Toyota Supra front view
Litchfield Motors | Toyota Supra rear view
Novitec |600LT McLaren front view
Novitec | saloon McLaren 600LT
ABT Series |Audi A1 Sportback Front View
ABT Series |Audi A1 Sportback Rear View
PaxPower
Ford F-150 Platinum
The Texas company employed PaxPower on the Ford F-150 pickup truck. The company's specialists took as a basis the platinum version of a 5-liter naturally aspirated V8, nicknamed “Coyote”, which develops 400 hp. with. and has a powerful 2.9-liter Whipple supercharger built into the drive unit. As a result, the efficiency of the motor reached 710 hp. s., But he (according to the tradition of the American tuning studio), is only the first stage of modernization – the second increases power to 768 hp. with. The company provides its own warranty on both options, which is an impressive 36,000 miles (58,000 km) or 3 years for such a heavily modified engine.
The appearance of the car has been changed with an eye to the factory off-road version of the Raptor, taking attachments from it, with the exception of the wings and sidewalls made specifically for this model. So here the fenders are 7.5cm wider than the Raptor modification, and they're either carbon fiber or fiberglass for the buyer's choice.
Then the studio took on a truck chassis. Parts are also borrowed from the Raptor, such as the rear leaf springs, which were simply swapped to allow for more suspension travel. The front suspension received beefier instrumentation and new adjustable dampers to improve the ride quality over rough terrain. Also, the car was upgraded tie rod and enhanced braking system. Finally, the pickup has been given huge 37-inch BFGoodrich km3 off-road tires, which is significantly larger than the 34-inch tires of the Raptor modification. The cabin has not changed, except for a new overhead console with switches to control the “chandelier” on the roof, which again took over from the Raptor.
Brabus
Mercedes-AMG is in 35
Atelier Brabus from the German Bottrop in performance, in general, should not, because you know, even those who are not interested in cars. All because some models of Mercedes-Benz modified in the workshops of the company, at the time, noted in the Book of Records as the fastest in their Guinness category. This Mercedes AMG for 35, however, the record does not plan just the mechanics of Bottrop made the powerful car even more powerful.
Under the hood of the factory version is a 2-liter turbocharged gasoline engine that develops 306 hp. with. and 400 Nm, which allows the all-wheel drive hatchback to easily accelerate to 100 km / h in 4.7 and reach an electronically limited top speed of 250 km / h. using the PowerXtra B 35 kit, the German tuner displays indicators per unit of power up to 350 hp. with. and 460 Nm. However, this is only the initial version, since there is also a PowerXtra kit + Kit B 35 With which the power reaches 365 hp. with. and the maximum torque rises to 486 Nm. From this “set” to the first “hundred”, the hatchback accelerates in 4.4 seconds, thus reacting to the factory version of 0.3 C. But the maximum speed has not changed, since the electronic limiter cannot be removed.
Nothing to do with the suspension, find the stock version is quite sporty. But they worked on the appearance of the “hot” hatchback, making it more aggressive without sacrificing elegance. So, the car received a two-piece front splitter, a neat rear spoiler, new exhaust pipes and a studio logo instead of the standard Mercedes-Benz emblem. Finishing off the design are the original 19-inch Brabus Monobloc T wheels with low-profile Pirelli P zero-tyre 235/35 tires on both axles.
Hennessy
Ford Shelby GT500
The Hennessey firm, whose workshops are located in the hangars of Houston Airport, has been improving cars since 1991. Company founder John Hennessy started out tuning Japanese cars. Later, he moved on to domestic, American products, and even began to produce their own supercars. However, the model finalized in the studio is also, you can't name it otherwise than supercars. So, this Ford Shelby GT500, after being upgraded in the Hennessy hangar, turned into a real monster.
Already in factory shape, the car is powered by a super-strong supercharged V8 that develops an insane 770 HP and 847 Nm. But after the engine was run by studio mechanics, its power rose to 860 hp. with. and 983 Nm. And this is not the limit, only the first, weaker versions of higher power. The second assumes a higher yield up to 1000 liters. with. and 1152 Nm. But, if this is not enough for the client, Hennessy can bring the power up to 1200 hp. with. and maximum torque – up to 1356 Nm! However, the latter option requires racing fuel, as well as an overhaul of the power unit, including the installation of a new turbine, stronger pistons and connecting rods, a special stainless steel exhaust system, an upgraded intercooler and a special air intake system.
Of course, a standard automatic transmission can't handle that much torque, so the studio was completed and it shattered to pieces the first time you hit the gas. There are some cosmetic changes, such as the logo and badge of the Venom Hennessy 1200. In addition, the owners of the “monster” make a plate on the front with a unique number, signed by John Hennessy.
Wolf Racing
Ford Mustang
In the small Swabian town of Neuenstein is a hard racing wolf, which since 1979 has taken part in various European car racing championships, while also tuning Ford cars. He deals mainly with the models of the European branch of the company, but recently decided to look at the “Americans”, namely the legendary Ford Mustang. I must say, the German master got down to business with all seriousness, and racing experience, they obviously came in handy.
Based on a version with a 5-liter naturally aspirated V8, in the database “” develops 421 hp. with. and 530 Nm. With this engine, the coupe accelerates to “hundreds” in 4.8 and has a top speed of 250 km / h. Neuenstein mechanics, of course, lacked this, they “googled” and ordered the state, Edelbrock supercharger with related parts. And the power immediately jumped to 745 hp. with. Torque has also increased to 880 Nm. The modified engine is combined with a 6-speed manual transmission, and in a 10-band “automatic”. How to increase the maximum speed is not reported. But the studio says the 0-60 mph time has been reduced to 4 seconds.
It may be faster, but the rear-wheel drive layout does not allow sticking to the asphalt. And this is despite the fact that the tuning studio installs a limited slip differential on the Mustang and new sports suspension springs that reduce the ground clearance by 30 mm. the new 21-inch low-profile Michelin Pilot Sport tires don't help either. But the charisma of this coupe will be more than enough. Particularly noteworthy is the fact that there will be only 7 copies, in honor of the company's 40th anniversary.
Litchfield Motors
Toyota Supra
Litchfield's Atelier Hydromotors is nestled among the beautiful hills of the Cotswolds, two miles from the English city of Tewkesbury. He started the firm 21 years ago with Subaru's power increase, but eventually moved on to other brands. So, now specialists from Lichfield are regularly updating models of Audi, BMW, Ferrari, Ford, Nissan, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche and Volkswagen. And recently in the Cotswolds, I decided to take on the new Toyota Supra sports car.
Using the standard reprogramming of the “brains” of the power unit, it was possible to increase the power of the 3-liter turbo “six” from 340 to 425 hp. with. peak torque, of course, also rose from 500 to 597 Nm. But the mechanics of the studio promise not to stop. So, they have already announced a partnership with Milltek and Akrapovic, who are preparing for the new Supra an upgraded exhaust system, so that the power will exceed 450 hp. with. In addition, the studio is developing a new engine oil cooler, further increasing its influence.
Suspension revision specialists did not stand aside either. For cars, the new sports springs from KW, which reduce the already low ground clearance and promise a significant improvement in handling. The same purpose is served by other absorbers, which are supplied by another well-known company – Bilstein. The replacement of silent blocks is on the way. In short, the Lichfield studio accepted Toyota a long time ago. It's just that the designers seem to have nothing to do – no one realized how harsh the reality of this car is.
Novitec
McLaren 600LT
Tuning firm Novitec from the German city of Stettin is recognized as one of the most famous and titled ateliers for fine-tuning supercars – mostly Italian. Recently, however, Novitec founder Wolfgang Hagedorn has increasingly turned his attention to the McLaren brand, which produces many different models that compete in speed with Ferrari and Lamborghini. So this time in Stetten they decided to take over the completion of the representative of the British brand McLaren 600LT.
Of course, Novitec specialists were involved in the development of the powertrain. The efforts of the mechanics from Stetten to the 3.8-liter turbo “eight” increased in power from 600 to 688 hp. with. and torque – from 620 to 712 Nm. This was achieved with a new management program and the installation of a high performance exhaust system. Which, in turn, made it possible to improve acceleration to “hundreds” by 0.1 C – from 2.9 to 2.8 s. The maximum speed has increased from 328 to 333 km/h. it's unlikely that this increase can be felt even when comparing stock and tuned cars directly, and the studio says the difference will be noticeable on the track. After all, in addition to upgrading the engine was the suspension of a sports car.
So with a set of sport springs, the ground clearance is reduced by 30mm for improved handling and big Vossen wheels measuring 20 inches in front and 21 inches in the rear with super-speed tires. (For comparison, the factory version is 19 and 20 inches, respectively). Changes to the body only with a “leaky” cover, in the place where the other car is hood, but two carbon fiber air intakes on the roof.
ABT Sportsline is not
Audi A1 Sportback
The company ABT Sportsline from the German city of Kempten has been redesigning cars since 1960, making it one of the oldest tuning companies in the world. And all this time the studio does not change the Volkswagen group. However, staying true is easy because there are many brands under its wing. So, one of the latest works of AVT was the compact hatchback Audi A1 Sportback, because the company from Ingolstadt, as you know, also belongs to Volkswagen.
Due to the fact that the new generation of the model is not planned to release a sports version of the C1, the craftsman from Kempten decided to offer an alternative, using the standard modification of the A1, under the hood of which a 2-liter gasoline turbo engine with an efficiency of 200 hp is working. with. and 320 Nm. After installing a new engine management program with increased power up to 239 hp. with. and torque up to 360 Nm. Please note that this is 8 liters. with. more, but 10 Nm less than the C1 version of the previous generation. Unfortunately, the studio won't tell you how much the performance of the modified copy has improved compared to the stock model, which accelerates to “hundreds” in 6.5 C and a top speed of 235 km/h.
In addition to the increase in power, the AVT improved handling by installing a new set of shorter and stiffer springs on the hatchback, which reduced the ride height by 30mm. In order to make the behavior on the road more sporty and new 18-inch wheels with low-profile tires have been developed, filling the wheel arches with virtually no gap. As for the car body, it did not receive any new elements. Even the exhaust pipe, and they left the factory.