The sub-$20,000.00 2010 Kia Forte Koup has made quite the splash amongst the younger demographics with its attractive price tag and 2.4L 173-hp engine. Its attractive, stylish yet aggressive lines clearly make a statement that Kia has stepped up to the plate to play ball, capturing a market that used to be almost exclusive to Honda, Acura and Scion. But much like their Japanese counterparts, Kia has looked towards marketing with customization and personalization, especially with the hip Forte Koup. The result? The Kia Forte Koup SX-R with a fine collection of accessories that have Forte Koup SX owners going wild for. The major disappointment for those in the US? It’s currently only available in Canada.

The buzz was started with the official debut at the Toronto Auto Show and a little less than a month later the orders are coming in. The Forte Koup SX-R will be made available to Canadian Kia dealers by mid-May with pre-orders starting now. The aesthetics of the Forte Koup has been further complemented with a front chin spoilers, new side skirts, and a rear lip spoiler. Minor details on the outside come in the form of chrome “R” badges while the interior receives “R” branded door sills. Engine performance has been enhanced thanks to an AEM Performance drop-in air filter and performance axle-back exhaust system. The car rides lower and stiffer thanks to a set of Eibach Pro lowering springs (1.3-inch drop) and a front upper strut brace. No custom car is complete without a fine set of wheels and tires and Kia delivers in a big way with a set of 18-inch Europa wheels wrapped with, surprisingly, Yokohama S-Drive performance tires. The Kia Forte Koup SX-R is available in three attractive colors: Titanium Silver, Racing Red and Black.

Now all these accessories will be available for order through Canadian Kia dealerships only for those already cruising around in  Forte Koup SX. American enthusiasts will probably have to open up their wallet a little bit for freight across the border, but we anticipate many of them to be willing to do so. If you’re interested, contact any Canadian Kia dealership and reference accessory bulletin AY10 007. It’s exciting times for Kia owners and we can’t wait to see what’s next from the Korean manufacturer.

[Source: ForteForums.com]

Gallery: Kia Forte Koup SX-R

The first ever Camaro to be built by Hurst Performance Vehicles has been sold for a sum of $61,900  at an eBay auction. The car makes 445-hp and is outfitted with a complete modification package including Hurst wheels, an Eibach suspension, a Magnaflow exhaust, as well as a selection of Hurst aerodynamic modifications and, of course, a Hurst shifter.

The winning bidder won’t be able to drive the car just yet, however, as it is first scheduled to appear at the SEMA Show next week. As the highest bidder, however, the new owner will be flown down to see his new car in Las Vegas at the SEMA Show, where he can drool all over it – as well as all over every other wild car there.

AutoGuide’s live coverage of the SEMA Show starts November 3rd.

See AutoGuide’s live SEMA Coverage here!

GALLERY: Hurst Camaro

More on the Hurst Camaro after the jump:

A special pre-production Hurst-modified Camaro will be put to auction ahead of the car’s official unveiling at the 2009 SEMA Show. Proceeds from the car’s sale will benefit the SEMA Memorial Scholarship Fund.

Hurst is also expected to announce a new performance series of Camaros (a first for Hurst) at the SEMA Show.

General Motors donated the one-off car to support the fund which helps students pursue a future in the automotive aftermarket industry.

“We are thrilled to be able to support the SEMA Scholarship Fund by contributing this very special Camaro,” said Bob Kern, General Motors SEMA Relations Manager. “GM is very committed to growing this industry and we are certainly dedicated to be part of a program that helps enrich the lives of so many young, aspiring automotive scholars.”

The Brilliant Black Camaro with silver and red striping is equipped with 20-inch polished forged aluminum wheels, a rear deck spoiler, Eibach suspension, a Magnaflow exhaust system and Hurst Competition Plus short-throw shifter with a red anodized Hard-Drive Billet pistol grip handle. Other touches include metal exterior badges, a Hurst/Camaro dash plaque and logos embroidered floor mats. And to guarantee the car’s uniqueness, the Hurst executive team has signed the trunk lid.

“This is hands-down the coolest Hurst Camaro ever…in fact, it’s the first one!” said Hurst Performance CEO and 25 year SEMA Scholarship Committee member, Chris Phillips. “At Hurst Performance, we are committed making a difference with our cars and that includes helping young people get started in their careers in this industry. We are honored to join SEMA and GM in donating this car to this very worthy cause.”

The car will be auctioned on eBay Motors two weeks before the 2009 SEMA Show in Las Vegas, where it will be on display from Nov. 3rd to 6th.

Official release after the jump:

With the Targa Newfoundland just two weeks away, Stillen has unleashed its race-ready Nissan GT-R upon the internet.

Prior to the race Stillen took its 620hp monster to the El Toro Marine base for a little performance test organized by Road & Track and the results are more than impressive. The tests revealed a 0-60 mph time of just 2.9 seconds, with a 1/4 mile time of 11 seconds flat at 127.9 mph! Don’t believe us? Watch the video below.

Along with a host of performance adders, like a Turbosmart boost controller and a Stillen exhaust setup, the Stillen GT-R also received a set of AP Racing brakes, Eibach springs and several other Stillen suspension bits. Stillen even set about manufacturing a polyurethane body kit and then contracted Password JDM for a long list of carbon fiber panels. Those panels, along with a stripped-out interior, mean the Stilen GT-R weighs significantly less than stock.

We’ll be sure to keep an eye on Steve Millen’s progress at the Targa Newfoundland, which runs from September 12th to 19th.

GALLERY: Stillen  Nissan GT-R

[Source: Stillen]

Full stats on the Stilen Nissan GT-R after the jump:

With the debut of its Series 4 Supercharged Challenger at the Woodward Dream Cruise, Hurst Performance decided to bring back the company’s classic silver and black color combo. The limited edition silver and black cars come with a metallic red Hard-Drive pistol grip Hurst shifter, 20-inch one-piece Hurst wheels and a custom Hurst/Katzkin interior with red inserts, red stitching and red logos. In addition each car will get Hurst red and black logos on the dash and grille with badging on the wheel center caps and embroidered logos on the floor mats.

All Performance Series cars get Hurst’s Air-Speed rear spoiler, an Eibach suspension as well as new shocks and sway bars, a Magnaflow catback exhaust, BF Goodrich KDW tires and K&N air filters. Series 3 through 5 get Vortech superchargers, with the Series 4 model shown here making 572hp and 528 ft-lbs of torque.

“We are honored to be here in Flint today to introduce the newest Hurst Executive Hot Rod,” said Hurst chairman Nate Shelton, who was joined by Hurst legend Doc Watson and Ron Flint of Hurst Performance Vheicle to unveil that car at the “Back to the Bricks” event in Flint, Michigan. “The Back to the Bricks celebration is the perfect place for us to join Doc and introduce this stunning car as a tribute to Hurst’s legacy.”

“I am proud to be part of the continuation of a great Hurst tradition.” said Watson. “These wonderful vehicles should prove to be some of the most collectible Hurst cars in the future.”

GALLERY: Series 4 Supercharged 2010 Hurst/HEMI Challenger

Official release after the jump:

Those shifter experts at Hurst have just announced that they will offer a new modification package for the Dodge Challenger… and the real surprise is that it is available for Challengers of all colors.

Hurst is well-known for its either white/gold or black/gold paint schemes, but that certainly limits the company’s customer group. This new setup, the Competition/Plus package, will be available for any Challenger, be it B5 Blue, Hemi Orange, TorRed or any other color.

Along with appealing to a broader audience, the new kit is designed to offer performance at an affordable price. It includes Eibach springs, a Magnaflow exhaust, 20-inch Hurst wheels, color-matched leather seat inserts and stitching and a Competition/Plus shifter with a classic white shift knob ball.

Hurst just announced the new Competition/Plus package for the Challenger at the NHRA Motorsports Museum in Pomona, CA.The Competition/Plus package is available for the RT and SRT8 Dodge Challenger at Hurst Dodge Dealers at cost of $18,495 above the factory Challenger price.

[Source: Autoblog]

[Photo Credit: Drew Phillips]

GALLERY: Hurst Competition/Plus Challenger

Official release after the jump:

Shelby Automobiles, Inc., the Las Vegas tuning shop that bears the name of Carroll Shelby himself, has just announced that it will offer a Super Snake kit for the new 2010 Ford Shelby GT500.

Customers will be able to choose from two supercharger kits with a Shelby/Ford Racing kit increasing output to 630hp or a Shelby/Kenne Bell blower kit pumping out 725hp. That 725hp kit will also include a new driveshaft capable of handling all that power, as well as twin 75mm throttle bodies to feed the supercharger. A Borla exhaust will also be included, as will a six-speed transmission with a 3.73 rear axle ratio.

Shelby Autos will offer two suspension setups, including a Shelby/Eibach package or a Ford Racing package with adjustable shocks, lowering springs, sway bars and a front strut tower brace.

A set of Shelby-design Alcoa 20-inch wheels comes on the Super Snake with a massive set of six-piston front brakes.

Outside the Super Snake can be distinguished by a unique fiberglass hood, Super Snake stripes, Shelby lettering on the rear decklid and Super Snake badges. The interior will also feature plenty of unique Shelby and Super Snake items.

“We take great pride in engineering fast, fun cars that people love to drive,” said Carroll Shelby. “Over the past 12 months, my team of hot rodders was hard at work on a Super Snake package for the next generation GT500. Every lesson we learned kicking the competition around on the track over the past two years has been poured into this new car to keep Shelby owners out front.”

“Since we introduced the Super Snake package for the GT500 in 2007, this Shelby has become the pinnacle of current generation muscle cars,” said Amy Boylan, president of Shelby Automobiles. “While the stock GT500 is a fine car, serious enthusiasts know that they can come to us to make their Shelby even better. For those who crave a harder edged Shelby, this is your car.”

The 2010 Ford Shelby GT500 Super Snake is available through Shelby Automobiles at a cost of $29,495 for the 630hp package and $33,495 for the 725hp package. The Super Snake transformation will be offered in limited numbers to retain exclusivity.

GALLERY: 2010 Ford Shelby GT500 Super Snake

Official release after the jump:

No matter how cool a U.S.-spec car is, foreign automakers always seem to have an even more impressive and hard-core version for oversea’s markets. The Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution is a stellar performer, but in the U.K. apparently there’s a demand foreven more power – 36 more horsepower to be precise.

Named the FQ-330, this new model generates 329hp and gets a bump of 22 ft-lbs of torque for a total of 322 ft-lbs. The added power is acheived through the use of a new high-flow exhaust, a new downpipe, as well as new intercooler piping and a new catalytic converter.

Standard equipment on the FQ-330 includes Eibach springs, Bilstein shocks, Brembo brakes, Recaro seats, 18-inch Enkei wheels and Mitsubishi’s amazing double-clutch TC-SST transmission..

Pricing for the new model is set at £35,999 (roughly $56,0000), a £3,000 premium over the standard Evo model. It will be offered in four different colors: Cool Silver, Orient Red, Lightning Blue and Phantom Black.

Official release after the jump: