Ah the luxury of having a Panamera Turbo. How about having the ability to increase horsepower output by close to 80 at the push of a button? TechArt, famed Porsche tuner, has done just that for the new luxury sedan with their Power Kit.

The Power Kit is labeled as TA 070/T1 and empowers the 4.8-liter Twin Turbo V8 to push out 572-hp with 612 ft-lbs of torque, an increase of 79-hp and 96 ft-lbs from the factory spec. We guess we shouldn’t be surprised one bit that TechArt would be developing a product to increase horsepower from the Panamera Turbo, but the ability and ease of use truly redefines luxury performance. Want the extra power? Just simply push the sport button on the center console. Want to save gas and just cruise? Turn it off.

No pricing is available yet, but TechArt promises that it’ll be available in August.

Official press release available after the break.

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As the collector car world gears up for the annual Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance on August 15, Alfa Romeo fans are looking forward to their favorite marque taking center stage. This year marks Alfa’s centennial and the event will include a display of some of the most rare and significant Alfa Romeo automobiles produced in the last 100 years; including seven that will make the trip all the way from  the Museo Storico Alfa Romeo in Arese, Italy.

Shown above is one of them, a 1938 8C 2900 B Lungo, which was the fastest and one of the most revered Grand Touring cars built prior to the outbreak of World War II. Also on display from the Museo Storico collection will be a 1938 Gran Premio Tipo 158 ‘Alfetta,’ an earlier version of the car that helped Giuseppe Farina and Juan Manuel Fangio, with the first and second ever Formula 1 world championships in 1950 and 1951 respectively.

Other privately owned Alfas on display will include a 1942 6C 2500 coupe by Bertone (one of 40 such cars ever built); a 1936 2900 Carrozzeria Spider – the only one left that still sports its original coachwork and a 1948 6C 2500 SS Competizione, the only survivor of three factory race cars built by Alfa. This particular SS, competed in the grueling Mille Miglia four times in a row, winning three races and finishing runner up five times during it’s competition career.

With Alfa set to return to these shores after an absence of almost two decades, perhaps there are few locations more fitting for celebrating the marque’s centennial that at Pebble Beach in 2010.

[Source: Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance]

The perfect spectator sport, drifting’s rapid growth is also due to its drivers that have come to have their own celebrity-like status. Always overly enthusiastic and true characters of the sport, fans are quick to attach themselves to their favorite driver, much like their favorite basketball player or quarterback.

Will Roegge has been releasing some top-notch digital films centered around the automotive industry and this one is no different. He traveled to the first couple of Formula Drift events, capturing coverage of the Team Need for Speed Drift drivers Matt Powers (Nissan 240SX S14) and Mad Mike (Red Bull Mazda RX-7) along with interviews and highlights.

What this video shows the world is how each and every driver has such different driving styles and personalities on and off the track. But at the end of the day, they’re all still vying for the same championship and share the same passion and love for a growing sport.

Check out the fantastic video after the break.

[Source: Formula Drift]

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Putting a whole new spin to drinking and driving, distiller Whyte & Mackay has blended a special scotch for Force India’s F1 drivers.

Alcohol brands have a long history when it comes to sponsoring race cars, and Whyte & Mackay’s master distiller Richard Paterson decided to take it one step further with this scotch. The special blends were created for each of the team’s drivers: Adrian Sutil, Tonio Liuzzi and test driver Paul di Resta (the only F1 Scot at the moment).

Each special blend was matched to the driver’s character and given to the drivers as a lead-up to the recently concluded British Grand Prix. Here’s what each of the blends say about the individual driver.

Paul Di Resta: A little shy at first on the nose but behind the shyness there is a full bodied explosion brought about by highland malts, giving it great strength and backbone. This whisky has plenty of raw Scottish talent but also displays a sureness and maturity beyond its years. Strong and determined to make its mark on its own, this blend is a born winner.

Adrian Sutil: This blend features selected whiskies as old as 25 years from the four distilling regions of Scotland. Although this blend has a great complexity to it, a great harmony prevails with beautiful mellow flavors coming through to reward the palate.

Vitantonio Liuzzi: This blend reflects his lively Italian personality and celebrates his first full season in the race seat. It is not one for sipping and savoring but is one for pure enjoyment and pleasure with the rest of the team. Islay and Jura single malts are intricately woven together to allow the peat smoke to harmonize.

[Source: TheMasterBlender]

Hot on the heels of Hamann’s Tuning Kit for the new BMW 5-Series, Japanese BMW-specialty tuner 3D Design has released its version of a body kit for the new F10 5-Series. And similar to Hamann’s offering, 3D Design kept it subtle and simple, accenting the natural body lines without going overboard. Truly luxurious with a little hint of Japanese influence.

The four piece kit focuses more on the rear than the front, with just a front lip spoiler accenting the bumper while the rear receives a new diffuser, trunk spoiler and roof spoiler. In keeping up with 3D Design’s impeccable quality, the front lip is made out of polyurethane instead of fiberglass, while the rear diffuser is their signature 1×1 twill carbon fiber. The rear spoilers are also constructed out of polyurethane with a sleek and subtle application.

3D Design also offers a tuned exhaust system and pedals for the interior for those interested. We can’t wait to see what’s next on the market for BMW’s newest 5-series chassis.

GALLERY: 3D Design BMW 5-Series F10

[Source: Jon Sibal]

You’re always on the go. At times, you’ve even been mistaken as a chicken with its head cut off. It’s not unheard of for you to misplace important items, like your mind, your priorities and your sanity. Well, Zomm won’t be able to help you keep track of those items, but it will help you keep tabs on your cell phone.

Ideal for busy moms and dads, the Zomm puts your cell on a leash – it’s a wireless cell phone leash that works with Bluetooth-enabled cell phones. Designed by busy mom Laurie Penix, it will ensure that you always keep your cell phone close.

Here’s how it works: you attach a small fob to your keychain. If you wander too far away from your cell, it will flash, beep and vibrate as a reminder that you’ve left something behind. That means never forgetting your cell at home or work ever again, or leaving it unattended in the car while you run around doing errands.

But that’s not all it does. Zomm also pulls double duty as a noise-canceling speakerphone, which comes in handy while you’re driving. You can answer your cell phone while driving without reaching for either it or for your Bluetooth headset. Zomm always has your back. Just push the Z button down for a couple of seconds and it acts as a personal safety device that emits a loud alarm. Hold the button down longer and it will call an emergency phone number as well.

Zomm is available in either black or white at Zomm.com and Amazon.com for $79.99. Watch for it to hit stores in the near future.

[Source: Motherproof]

Ever wanted to laugh at the plebian masses in the Ferrari F430s and Lamborghini Gallardos? Ever wanted to do it from the other side of the car’s cabin? Now you can, if you are Scrooge McDuck and have the requisite amount of gold coins needed to buy the Sultan of Brunei’s Ferrari F50, one of two right hand drive models produced.

The F50 was never was well received as the F40 or the Enzo, but with a barely-legal, Formula 1 derived V12, pushrod-actuated dampers and a targa roof, it might be the ultimate in “Look at me, I’m rich, f**k you, peasants” motoring. Sure, a modern Corvette is capable of beating its 3.7 second 0-60 time, but when your car sounds like this, the only numbers you should care about are the ones in your Swiss bank account.

[Source: Jameslist]

China’s Ministry of Commerce and its National Development and Reform Commission has signed off on a deal that will let Chinese carmaker Geely to purchase Volvo from Ford for $1.8 billion.

“We have received all approvals required from the central government,” Ning Shuyong a spokesman from Geely, told Reuters. “We are currently working on closing the deal.” China’s tight state control of the economy means that government approval is essential for any deals of this nature.

Geely is expected to help double Volvo’s output by investing in a new Chinese factory to produce cars under the Swedish nameplate. Geely is said to be willing to spend another $900 million to ensure that Volvo stays competitive. Currently, Volvo assembles the S40 and S80 sedans at the Ford-Chongqing Changan Automobile, but will likely have to move production due to the sale.

[Source: Reuters]

Ford‘s Explorer Sport Track has always been a bit of an oddball. Overlooked by a fair number of consumers, it was every bit as capable as a Nissan Frontier or Toyota Tacoma, they never really sold – sales figures show that Ford moved 75% more Explorers than Sport Tracs.

The ones that did make it on to the streets were often festooned with ugly bodykits and chrome rims, leading us to believe the demise of this vehicle. With the 2011 Explorer switching to a unibody construction, any replacement for the Sport Trac (if there’s one at all) will likely resemble the Honda Ridgeline.

[Source: Autoblog]

Nissan is apparently planning on bringing a convertible version of its Murano crossover to market, with a debut set for this November’s Los Angeles Auto Show.

Convertible SUVs have always been oddballs, from the Suzuki X90 to the Toyota RAV4 and all points in between. The only successful model we can think of, the Jeep Wrangler, is a bit of an anomaly, and Nissan’s decision to bring it out is a little surprising. Perhaps they’re hoping to go after people who don’t want the rugged truck-like Wrangler, but still we can’t see it being a very big market.

Power should come from the same ubiquitous Nissan 3.5L V6. Autoguide will have full coverage of this vehicle if it does show up at the L.A. Auto Show, otherwise we’ll focus on Nissan’s delightfully weird Juke, which seems like a better candidate for a roof-ectomy than the Mommy-ish Murano.

[Source: Inside Line]