Xenatec is a German-based company that often times fulfills special vehicle requests of a particular nature. This can range from stretching an Audi R8 to bullet-proofing your Rolls-Royce Ghost. Whatever may be the case, Xenatec clearly has the expertise, knowledge and engineers to safely take on the task of heavy chassis modification. So it’s no surprise that Xenatec will be heading the limited edition production of the Maybach 57S Coupe.

Only 100 of these bad boys will be produced, making it extremely limited for the extremely luxurious and extremely wealthy. Priced at slightly over $800,000 depending on the conversion, this exclusive Maybach has been widened and the roof lowered compared to its original 57S form but kept the same length (5.7-meters). The vehicle will still be powered by the same power plant, a 6.0L Twin Turbo V12 that pumps out 612-hp, shooting the sedan to 62-mph in five seconds flat. We don’t expect the overall performance to change by much in the coupe altercation.

Giving it an overall sleeker look, the lower roof and longer doors may be what Maybach needed all along to move along some more vehicles. But hey, as far as we’re concerned, Bentley and Rolls-Royce still have our attention. We’ll have to see this one in person before we crown a new king.

GALLERY: Xenatec Maybach 57S Coupe

[Source: Autocar]

K-Pax Racing, which runs the successful Volvo S60 team in the World Challenge GT series, is working with the Swedish automaker to offer a line of Volvo performance parts. The parts will be offered exclusively through certified Volvo dealers in both the U.S. and Canada, according to K-Pax Performance Cars president Peter Nielsen. Nielsen spoke with AutoGuide track-side at Mosport International Raceway where the team is competing in two races this weekend.

As exciting as this is for performance-minded Volvo owners, the best news is not just that the parts will be sold and installed by Volvo dealers, but that they will not void the factory warranty.

According to Nielsen the company will initially offer parts for the C30 as well as the new S60 model – with plans to expand beyond that depending upon customer feedback. The parts won’t just be limited to add-on spoilers and shift-knobs either. Instead, it will include intake and exhaust systems as well as upgraded suspension components. K-Pax has already built a modified C30 using its full performance package for that car, bumping horsepower from 227-hp to 300-hp – although this kit is likely to be detuned slightly to 280-hp when it hits the market.

If all goes as planned, K-Pax intends to offer the first parts for the C30 model this Fall.

Zero Hedge, a blog more concerned with the imminent destruction of our economy than the demise of the internal combustion engine, recently obtained word that the U.S. Tresury is going to be auctioning off some serious machinery made in the U.S., Italy, France and England.

Thanks to the Treasury’s asset seizure program, the property of fraudsters like Scott Rothstein is sold off to anyone with enough cash. Rothstein himself had a large collection of exotic cars and it looks like some of them might have ended up in the government auction, including his prized Bugatti Veyrons. Unlike most supercar brokers, the Treasury is quite reasonable about their sales tactics; the minimum bid on the Veyron is only $100,00 – the price of a new Mercedes S-Class. Why even bother with something so pedestrian when you can own the most powerful car in the world. It’s a no brainer, really. As long as you can afford the costs of maintaining it…

[Source: Zero Hedge]

“A racecar for the street” is one of auto journalism’s most wretched cliches, but the moniker might be fit for one car in the world; the Porsche 911 GT3 RS.

The most hardcore 911 features things like ceramic brakes, one piece bucket seats, adjustable aerodynamics and a rollcage, making it suitable for racing right off the showroom floor. Porsche decided to enter a GT3 RS into the Nurburgring 24 Hour race, and ended up starting 42nd and  finishing a very respectable 13th. The car was driven to and from the track under its own power, and competed with its license plates still on the car, the only car in the entire field to do so.

Porsche also had the benefit of having hot shoes like British auto journalist Chris Harris and pro drivers Patrick Simon and Horst von Saurma to help bring the 911 home, not to mention better than average fuel economy (the car could go 11 laps before needing a refuel, a significant distance compared to its rivals) meant that the GT3 RS was able to overcome the odds and show that Porsche’s baddest street car really is an everyday racer.

GALLERY: Porsche GT3 RS Nurburgring 30 Hour

If one were to look up the definition of “pathetic” in the dictionary, the following story would be it. A Georgia driver of a Toyota Prius, tired of being mocked for his hybrid car, had enough teasing one day, and attempted to prove just how awesome his car’s acceleration capabilities are – by trying to out-drag a Honda Civic that attempted to pass him.

The Athens Banner Herald reported that Timothy Hird, 23, was tired of being mocked over his choice of vehicle. Hird and Alejandro Gamboa, 18, were both charged with reckless driving after Gamboa’s Civic nearly hit a police cruiser while him and Hird were battling it out along a curvy stretch of road.

According to Gamboa and his passenger, both Hird and Gamboa’s Civic left a Publix supermarket at the same time, and headed down Georgia Highway 211. Hird allegedly sped up to pass Gamboa, pulling along side and yelling “Watch This” as he did so. Hird apparently blocked Gamboa from passing him multiple times, and would repeatedly tap his brakes when Gamboa’s car was behind his own.

Hird denied the allegations, but according to a police officer who filed a report on the matter, “Hird repeatedly told me that people are always harassing him on the road because he drives a Prius.”

[Source: Jalopnik]

Volkswagen confirmed today that an Audi S1 and a Jetta R are in the pipeline, but quashed rumors of an upcoming Polo R model. In an interview with drive.com.au, Dr. Ernst Linder, responsible for developing the Polo GTI, said that an Audi S1 would be offered with the familiar 1.4L twincharge unit and 7-speed DSG used in the Polo GTI. The S1 will also be front-drive, despite Audi’s legacy of using the quattro all-wheel-drive system.

Linder also denied that a Polo R would be coming, stating “From the technical point-of-view, of course we can do something, but from the financial point-of-view it makes not so much sense,” he said. “It would be too expensive and we have the S1. The S1 will have 136kW and it’s a very sporty car. If we put much more horsepower in the [Polo], we need something like four-wheel-drive. This is a technical feature that is very expensive.”

The Jetta R, on the other hand, was confirmed, but technical details are vague. Expect the familiar 2.0TFSI turbo engine, all-wheel drive and a DSG gearbox.

[Source: Drive.com.au]

The Chinese city of Shenzen recieved a fleet of 40 electric taxicabs last week, marking a historic milestone for China and electric vehicles. The taxis, made by Chinese automaker BYD have a top speed of 140 km/h, and are capable of getting 300 miles on a single charge.BYD, backed by American investor Warren Buffet, is planning to launch its cars in the U.S. market in late 2010, becoming one of the first makers of all-electric vehicles.

BYD also expects Shenzen to have 100 electric taxis running by the end of June. With a population of over 1 billion, poor air quality due to coal-fired power plants and rising energy costs, China is the perfect market for electric vehicles, and it would not be unreasonable to see BYD and other Chinese automakers make significant moves towards promoting electric vehicles both at home and abroad.

[Source: Autospies]

It’s been three years since Formula 1 last raced on American soil at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, but the owners of the exclusive Monticello Motor Club (essentially a country club with a race track rather than a golf course) are hoping that the sport will return to the United States at their venue.

According to a report in Autoweek, Ari Strauss, president of the Monticello Motor Club, has been sending overtures to F1 head honco Bernie Eccelstone, and has secured the blessing of F1 track architect Herman Tilke. Strauss, who is trying to obtain support from local, state and federal politicians, noted that “…securing F1 is like winning the Olympics; competition is fierce, and this is not a done deal.” Monticello is in a good position, since it’s 90 minutes from Manhattan and 10 minutes from a major airport. Hit the jump to read the full text of Strauss’ letter to club members regarding the race.

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Whatever you think of the Dodge Journey’s subjective attributes, nobody can deny that it’s a family hauler that is the further thing from a performance vehicle. But somehow, German tuner Irmscher found it pertinent to modify a Dodge Journey with some kind of aggressive body kit, racing stripes, a chrome tailpipe, a “sports steering wheel” and the best modification of all…”aluminum sports pedals.”

The most galling part of the package is that Irmscher wants just under $39,000 for this car. Good luck.

[Source: TopSpeed]

Gallery: Dodge Journey Irmscher

Since it’s debut two years ago, the Flex hasn’t quite lived up to Ford‘s expectations, at least from a sales standpoint. However, one thing that has been significant is the number of Flex buyers that opt for the high-zoot Limited model (around 40 percent). Well Ford has decided to go one better and offer this, the Flex Titanium. As the name suggests this is a fully tricked out bread van with SEMA overtones. Not surprisingly, it’s based on the Limited, but adds a unique, black chrome finished grille and rear panel treatment, along with ‘blackened’ belt line moldings, fog lamp bezels and side mirror housing caps. The Flex Titanium rolls on 20-inch polished aluminum wheels.

The charcoal/black theme is carried over inside, with special upholstery trim, including Alcantara on the seats, circle check patterns on the door panels and dash, plus a painted alloy finish for the center stack console. Added feature options on the Flex Titanium include High Definition Radio and one-touch folding third row seats. Despite the somewhat pimped up Vegas style, the Flex Titanium was inspired by Ford offerings in usually conservative Europe. The  S-MAX  Titanium people carrier has been a surprising hit with audiences across the pond, so Ford is betting that North Americans, with our generally more ‘vulgar’ tastes will buy into the whole thing. And in case you’re wondering, the 2011 Focus will be getting the Platinum treatment too, when it arrives on these shores. Here comes the $40,000 compact.

GALLERY: Ford Flex Titanium Edition

Official release after the jump:

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