Auto News

AutoGuide News Blog


The AutoGuide News Blog is your source for breaking stories from the auto industry. Delivering news immediately, the AutoGuide Blog is constantly updated with the latest information, photos and video from manufacturers, auto shows, the aftermarket and professional racing.
 |  Jun 10, 10:03 PM

Oh boy – it looks like the gauntlet has been thrown down and G-Power now has a true challenger. We first showed off GTHaus’ Meisterschaft Widebody E92 BMW M3 and then G-Power’s Pair of Clubsport M3s available to the public. Probably given the hype that G-Power’s parts produced, GTHaus didn’t sit around to be overtaken. They refreshed the decals of their demo car to reflect more of the M-moniker (cyan, blue, red vs. black, orange and red) and scored themselves some wicked photos by Jeremy Cliff. All in hopes of marketing the widebody kit to the public – yes, it’ll be available!

As we covered earlier, the BMW E92 M3 has been custom widebodied and sports massive 20-inch wheels, KW suspension and Brembo’s big brakes. The widebody will apparently be available for $12,500 in full carbon fiber. Now will that include Meisterschaft’s exhaust? Who knows. But in case you need a refresher, the widebody kit comes complete with a new front bumper with splitter, flared fenders, side skirts with triple winglets and the rear widebody arches.

Check out the video and gallery after the jump – GTHaus is on a rampage!

[Source: MyCreative via WorldCarFans]

Continue Reading…

 |  Jun 09, 10:14 PM

white-x6-3.jpg

Finally! After all the bickering we have done on black demo cars, we have the chance to check out Lumma Design’s BWW X6 M styling on both a black and white platform. Lumma Design offers a plethora of kits for various Porsche, BMW and Mercedes-Benz vehicles, so their expertise is well varied. Their BMW X6 M package is dubbed the CLR X 650 M, clearly a more menacing title than just X6 M, and the exterior styling shows.

Clearly there is no subtlety in what Lumma Design has done for the X6 M, turning the family SAV to a widebody monster. With large openings in the front bumper and a wild, yet refined rear bumper anyone that opts for Lumma’s kit on their X6 means serious business. The eyelids are a fantastic touch making it even more aggressive from the front.

But back to what we always complain about. It’s startling how different the two vehicles look just based on their exterior colors. The black X6 M looks more evil and menacing, blending in a lot of the aggressive lines of the kit with the sharper edges not being as prominent as the white X6 M. Even though the white lip with black center on the wheels is a nice change of pace, the style and size of the wheel just doesn’t seem to fit that X6 M as well as the black on black.

There’s a host of interior upgrades available too and we were really thrown off with the blue scheme that is seen in the black one. The large checkerboard style looks like carbon fiber gone way wrong. But the interior in the white X6 is nice and stylish, clean and subtle.

We’d probably take either one of these, although we’re surprised that the white one looks just as mean as the black one, though the darker one is definitely more sleek. Darth Vader anyone?

GALLERY: Lumma Design BMW X6 M

black-x6-1.jpg white-x6-11.jpg black-x6-2.jpg white-x6-7.jpg black-x6-3.jpg white-x6-19.jpg

[Source: Jon Sibal]

 |  Jun 08, 9:56 PM

Almost two months ago we debuted Vorsteiner’s GT3RS Widebody M3 and now we have much better photos of the vehicle they used to demo the kit. The project vehicle is actually VF Engineering’s, a company that specializes in manufacturing superchargers. Their BMW M3 kit has been highly successful within the market and a huge hit amongst fans. EAS (European Auto Source) recently had the vehicle after Bimmerfest, so they decided to do a photoshoot paired with their own project BMW M3.

The photos are a great example of how enthusiasts can really contrast the builds of the cars. The widebody M3 from VF Engineering is clearly the more aggressive one while EAS’ own is a nice, clean street car. At the same time though, but are to die for and very worth of eye candy.

VF Engineering has taken the widebody M3 and adopted a nice “stealth fighter” theme to it. And that’s really what comes to our mind when we see the car. It’s mean, aggressive and ready to drop a bomb on any unsuspecting victim. The graphics on the car is a nice and subtle contrast on the matte green paint and does its job well. We can only imagine how well it performs with that blower under the hood!

[Source: European Auto Source]

GALLERY: EAS / VF Engineering BMW E92 M3s

 |  Jun 04, 2:28 PM

emotion_m3_1.jpg

Yes, yes, yes – finally! While the entire world is focusing on building hybrids that save gas, aftermarket tuners are focusing on hybrids that are well, our definition of a hybrid. That is, a vehicle sporting a motor from a bigger brother that hardly saves gas, but gives a whole new foundation for even more power.

In the late 90s, the biggest Honda craze in the world was shoehorning an Integra GS-R B18C into the engine bay of a lowly Honda Civic. And now that’s expanded with Honda’s K-Series and much more, but we’re not here to talk about that. We’re here to talk about this BMW E92 M3 from Emotion Wheels.

You’re probably scratching your head right now, wondering what can possibly be wrong with the M3′s 4.0L V8 motor that pushes out just north of400-hp. Well how about the 555-hp X5 M / X6 M twin-turbo motor? Yes, Emotion Wheels has outfitted their M3 project with the 4.4L V8 twin-turbo monster that’s known to power BMW’s extra sporty SUV. And naturally with a twin-turbo powerplant at their disposal, Emotion Wheels was able to easily push out over 700-hp from the car. Yes you read that right, over 700.

To complement the rest of the car are upgrades to the chassis and suspension, a carbon fiber hood and 19-inch Wasabi matte black wheels. With all that power though, we’d like to have seen the car sporting a nice set of 20′s with much wider tires. Surely it can spin ‘em quick enough.

GALLERY: Emotion Wheels 700-hp BMW E92 M3

emotion_m3_1.jpgemotion_m3_2.jpgemotion_m3_3.jpgemotion_m3_4.jpgemotion_m3_5.jpg

[Source: WorldCarFans]


 |  Jun 03, 12:25 PM

arkym_1.jpg

Showing that the economy is truly turning around, the aftermarket industry (fueled by disposable income) continues to pick up steam. Recently ARKYM announced its AeroRace Kit for the BMW E92 M3. With yet another entry to the BMW E92 M3 segment for body styling options, we groaned when we saw that ARKYM’s slogan is “The Ultimate Aerodynamic Experience.” Surprisingly ARKYM’s take on the BMW E92 M3 is a splendid one.

Based out of California, ARKYM does its own original design work in-house, priding itself on “combining form, function and aerodynamic theory with industry standard materials and production efficiency.” Again, not something entirely novel for body kit companies to make these claims, but taking a look at ARKYM’s product shows that the proof is in the pudding.

The AeroRace Kit includes full double-sided carbon fiber on the hood and the trunk, freeing up weight while giving it a nice and fresh aggressive design. The vents are subtle enough to not be gaudy and the fitment looks fantastic based on the photos. There’s a price to pay for the products though, with the MSRP on the hood set at $1,999.00 while the trunk will set you back $1,249.00.

We’ re just thrilled that some companies are still kicking strong and thinking outside the box instead of simply replicating what’s existing at a cheaper price.

GALLERY: ARKYM BMW E92 M3 AeroRace Kit

arkym_1.jpgarkym_2.jpgarkym_3.jpgarkym_4.jpg

[Source: BMW Blog]

 |  May 26, 7:42 AM

alpina_1.jpg

Alpina is an interesting BMW tuner, taking run-of-the-mill BMWs and transforming them directly on the BMW assembly line. In some markets, like here in Southern California, you can walk into your local BMW dealership and see a (grossly inflated) Alpina vehicle on the showroom floor. The company’s resume extends from 3-Series E21 to E90, 5-Series E12 to E60/61, 6-Series E24 to E63/64, 7-Series E32 to E65/66, and even the 8-Series E31. Oh yeah, they like to dabble with the Z1, Z4 and Z8 roadsters too.

Now naturally since Alpina sells full automobiles rather than just tuning packages, their end product better be impressive. They claim the new B3 S sports 400-hp and 400 ft-lbs of torque, a 33.33-percent increase from the factory 300/300 figures. They don’t really elaborate on how these figures are achieved, but if we had to guess it’s pretty simple through an ECU upgrade that tosses in (safely of course) more boost and fuel to the 3.0L inline-six twin-turbo. Oh, and apparently the increased horsepower and torque comes with a side-effect of lowered emissions. We’re pretty sure that’s just negated though since you’ll just be more tempted to romp on the throttle.

On the exterior is a front spoiler and a new rear diffuser, both sporting very traditional Alpina styling. Their Classic alloy wheel gets a new treatment as seen on their previously released B7.

Currently the offering is only available in the U.K. and this isn’t just available for the coupes and convertibles, they’ve got a similar package for the E90 sedan.

Official press release available after the break.

GALLERY: Alpina BMW B3 S

alpina_1.jpgalpina_2.jpg

Continue Reading…

 |  May 20, 11:27 AM

acs_x6_20.jpg

The BMW X6 M continues to be a confused child in our eyes in the crossover segment. The twin-turbocharged 4.4L V8 tosses out 555-hp and 501 ft-lbs of torque, numbers that rival the much larger and more popular Porsche Cayenne Turbo. But BMW sticking their coveted M-badge on a SAV (or SUV, whichever you’d like to believe the X6 is) almost seems sacrilegious to us. But hey, the world is changing and so we have to accept that people want performance-themed utility vehicles.

So all we can do is go with the flow and accept it for what it is. But thankfully there are companies like AC Schnitzer out there that are trying to make the X6 M find its identity. And naturally, with all the performance the X6 M has from the factory, AC Schnitzer mostly focused on the aesthetics inside and out.

With a contrasting combination of carbon fiber and chrome, AC Schnitzer’s offerings to enhance the exterior include a front spoiler, front grille, hood vents, wheel arch extensions, rear roof wing, rear spoiler and rear diffuser. And one interesting modification is a hood top that is made of carbon with an acrylic glass window displaying the insides of the engine bay. Perhaps AC Schnitzer caught a glimpse of all those Photoshop “see-through” hoods everyone seems to do.

Inside the X6 M, one can get themselves a collection of AC Schnitzer-branded parts. The gauge cluster converts the speedometer to 360 km/h while sporting a fashionable AC Schnitzer logo on the tachometer. The new cluster sports a white background and red illuminated needles. Then there are the “black Exclusiv” carbon fiber interior pieces and steering wheel insert. The rest are just simple amenities including a carbon cover for the automatic gear knob, aluminum cover for the i-Drive system and aluminum foot rest and pedal set. If that isn’t enough, velour floor mats are available with AC Schnitzer branding.

AC Schnitzer also has an impressive catalog of wheels and their 20-, 22-, and 23-inch offerings for the X6 M gives a variety of choices.

Check out the extensive gallery for all detailed photos of everything AC Schnitzer is offering for the X6 M.

GALLERY: AC Schnitzer BMW X6 M

acs_x6_10.jpgacs_x6_20.jpgacs_x6_2.jpgacs_x6_12.jpgacs_x6_18.jpgacs_x6_22.jpg

Official press release available after the jump:

Continue Reading…

 |  May 20, 11:12 AM

3d_z4_2.jpg

Things have gotten very interesting in Japan now that many tuners are expanding the term JDM (Japanese Domestic Market) to encompass European vehicles. Japanese tuner 3D Design specializes in tuning BMWs and has made quite the splash in its young American presence. The company is already quite popular with the newer model E90 and E92 crowd, many of whom probably grew up modifying Hondas and Acuras. Taking the simple JDM philosophy and applying it to German vehicles, 3D Design has manufactured lip add-ons that are appreciated for their simplicity and Japanese origin.

New to 3D Design’s catalog is their front lip, rear diffuser and rear lip spoiler for the newly facelifted BMW Z4 E89. Unlike what we’re used to seeing, this isn’t a full out body kit and doesn’t even have matching side skirts. 3D Design’s package are simple add-ons to the OE front bumper, requiring little body work – just paint and install. Their fitment is near flawless and their products are one of the highest quality pieces we’ve ever set our eyes on.

As you can tell by the photos, 3D’s kit really beautifies the natural lines of the Z4 without going crazy. The rear lip add-on spoiler is subtle, and they even thought one step ahead by offering a third brake light cover that raises the housing so it’s still visible over the rear deck spoiler. The rear diffuser is made from fine 1×1 twill carbon fiber providing room for a quad tip exhaust setup.

Even though we’re huge fans of a black on black setup, we’re hoping photos surface of a 3D Design decked out Z4 in a different shade so we can really see the details in the kit. For now these will have to do!

[Source: Jon Sibal]

GALLERY: 3D Design BMW Z4 E89

3d_z4_1.jpg3d_z4_8.jpg3d_z4_7.jpg3d_z4_2.jpg3d_z4_4.jpg3d_z4_9.jpg

 |  May 11, 9:59 AM

HAMANN 5er GT front.jpg

The verdict is still out on the styling of the BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo with the interesting crossover concept of sedan and crossover in one. As we noted in our First Drive, the 5 Series Gran Turismo is more based on the 7-series sedan than the 5-series but has fantastic performance that makes it exhilarating to drive. Well for those that aren’t exactly in love with the 5 Series Gran Turismo styling, but love the concept and functionality of it, Hamann has you covered.

In typical Hamann fashion, a complete tuning program has been designed and manufactured for the Gran Turismo that’s exclusive to the North American market. Knowing that the Gran Turismo is targeted towards a slightly older demographic, Hamann has developed styling accessories that seamlessly bolt-on to existing body parts rather than full front and rear bumper replacements.

The front spoiler is mounted onto the OEM front bumper offering the car a slightly lower profile and more aggressive style while keeping it extremely clean and simple. Side skirts are replaced with sportier options while the rear sports a fashionable spoiler and rear valence insert. For those not familiar with Hamann’s rear valence inserts, you simply cut (a template is normally provided) your stock bumper and integrate the valence that is modified to sport Hamann’s quad-tip exhaust system.

Their engine modifications are targeted towards the European-market 530d increasing the factory 240-hp to 270-hp. Torque goes up from 400 ft-lbs to nearly 460 ft-lbs giving it more torque and performance than the more expensive 535d.

Interestingly enough, Hamann has outfitted the 5 Series Gran Turismo with a monoblock-style wheel sporting a 22×9-inch fitment in the front and 22×10.5 in the rear. We’re not a huge fan of the one-piece wheels, so one of Hamann’s 22-inch multi-piece offerings might give the car a more exotic and sophisticated look. But hey, the option’s there if it’s your cup of tea.

Interior amenities are standard offerings with aluminum pedals and footrest. And as always, a full custom interior can be done to your preference by Hamann.

We have to admit that we’ve always been on the fence with the styling of the Gran Turismo, but Hamann has done a real good job in making it stylish, sporty and attractive. We’re definitely fans!

GALLERY: Hamann BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo

HAMANN 5er GT site.jpgHAMANN 5er GT rear.jpgHAMANN 5er GT Exhaust.jpgHAMANN 5er GT front.jpg

The official press release from Hamann is available after the break:

Continue Reading…

 |  Apr 22, 2:13 PM

hamann_z4_1.jpg

Founded in 1986 by Richard Hamann, Hamann Motorsport has been personalizing and customizing a plethora of European makes including Audi, Aston Martin, Bentley, BMW, Mini, Ferrari, Fiat, Jaguar, Land Rover, Maserati, Mercedes-Benz, Rolls-Royce, Porsche and Lamborghini ever since. Even though they have a collection of goods for all these various makes, Hamann is best-known for its BMW tuning programs. Much like Brabus is for Mercedes-Benz, Hamann is for BMW. So it’s no surprise that the German tuner has just released a new list of modifications for the newly face lifted BMW Z4 Roadster.

For those that are fans of Hamann’s styling, there’s simply no way to mistake it for something else. There is a sense of consistency in all their products from their subtle lip kits to full bumper replacements. The newest edition to their catalog is for the E89, with a collection of goods to not only look good, but to go fast. Your typical front bumper, side skirts, rear valence and rear spoiler is available in addition to (yet again) LED day lights in the front bumper.

Under the hood, performance enhancements boost horsepower from 306 to 360 and torque jumps from approximately 295 ft-lbs to close to 400 ft-lbs. The stylish matte black wheels are available in a 20-inch variety – staggered of course. (We really love the way these rollers look, but Hamann seems to stick them on every model.) The package also gets the car stiffer and closer to the ground by 30mm.

The hard top roadster from BMW is looking more and more appealing with each generation, and Hamann’s enhancements only make it more beautiful.

Check out the official press release after the break.

GALLERY: Hamann-tuned BMW Z4 Roadster

hamann_z4_10.jpghamann_z4_14.jpghamann_z4_16.jpghamann_z4_4.jpghamann_z4_7.jpghamann_z4_2.jpg

Continue Reading…

 |  Apr 19, 2:43 PM

156.jpg

The carbon fiber experts at Vorsteiner have out-done themselves, with their latest creation the widebody GTRS3 M3. Designed for the E92 M3, the kit includes a new carbon fiber bumper with a removable splitter, as well as carbon fiber front and rear fenders, side skirts and a new carbon rear bumper with a racing-style diffuser. A carbon fiber hood is also available, as is a carbon trunk and a stainless steel exhaust system.

And to fill those big fenders you’re going to need big wheels, so Vorsteiner has designed its own twin-spoke 7-spoke V-308 concave forged wheels, which are available in 18 or 20-inch fitments – although there’s no word on just how wide those rear wheels will be.

For more on the GTRS3 package click here

GALLERY: Vorsteiner GTRS3 M3

wow3.jpgwow5.jpg216.jpg514.jpg614.jpg318.jpg

[Source: Bimmerboost via WorldCarFans]

For a brief video highlighting the details of the kit, see after the jump:

Continue Reading…

 |  Apr 14, 2:36 PM

meisterschaft_bmw_1.jpg

GTHaus, manufacturers and distributors of Meisterschaft exhausts systems, designed and built a widebody E92 BMW M3 to showcase their brand and products. Meisterschaft has had huge success over the last years designing, developing and building high quality exhaust systems for popular sport-luxury cars such as the Nissan GT-R and the BMW M3.

There’s no better way to garner attention to your brand than with a show-stopper like this. It might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but there’s no arguing the quality and attention to detail on the build. Anyone that has ever been involved with building a custom widebody for any chassis knows the difficulty with making it work from bumper to bumper. The project is clearly modeled after the ALMS GT BMWs with a race-inspired look.

The car sports a custom set of Savini wheels, but definitely could use a more aggressive fitment or a lower stance to really complete the race look. Rumor has it that the car has undergone some more transformations, so we’ll be keeping our eyes out for the updated look.

[Source: Luxury4Play]

GALERY: GTHaus / Meisterschaft Widebody E92 BMW M3

meisterschaft_bmw_1.jpgmeisterschaft_bmw_2.jpgmeisterschaft_bmw_3.jpg

 |  Mar 22, 4:41 PM

vorsteiner_x6_m_1.jpg

The first ever “Sports Activity Coupe”, the X6 is quite the interesting vehicle from BMW. It’s been a controversial crossover since its release, especially with the addition of the M-moniker to the car. The X6 M features more aggressive styling than the standard-issue model while being powered with BMW’s twin-turbocharged 4.4L V8. With 555-hp and 501 ft-lbs of torque, the X6 M is a perfect competitor to Porsche’s Cayenne Turbo and Turbo S at a more affordable MSRP of $89,000. So it’s not surprise that the aftermarket has jumped on this hot new crossover with the carbon-fiber experts at Vorsteiner leading the way.

In recent years, Vorsteiner has made a huge name for itself with fantastic tuning packages for multiple BMW, Porsche, Mercedes-Benz and Bentley models. From performance to wheels to aesthetics, Vorsteiner’s trademark has been a nice blend of carbon fiber to its mild aggressiveness. The BMW X6 M aerodynamic package from Vorsteiner comes complete with a front spoiler, vented hood, roof and deck lid spoilers and a rear diffuser. Vorsteiner claims the vented hood is 40-percent lighter than factory and adds some big vents for cooling. Vorsteiner is also pushing its 23-inch V-102 wheels on their demo car. The VRS X6 M aero kit will be available in the summer of 2010.

[Source: Vorsteiner News]

GALLERY: Vorsteiner BMW X6 M

vorsteiner_x6_m_1.jpgvorsteiner_x6_m_2.jpg

 |  Feb 23, 6:12 PM

G-POWER 760i STORM front.jpg

German BMW tuner G Power has just announced its latest high-horsepower transformation, the 760i. Powered by an already impressive twin-turbo V12, G Power modified the existing units to pump out an additional 181-hp for a total of 725-hp at just 5500 rpm. Torque also gets a dramatic increase, rising to 737 ft-lbs at just 2000 rpm. G Power claims this is enough for a 4.2 second 0-62 mph time and a top speed of 214 mph. That speed might seem unrealistic, were it not for G Power’s record holding M5 Hurricane, which reached an astounding 228 mph in testing.

Sold as a package complete with aerodynamic and interior upgrades, the Storm will be limited to just 10 units and is priced from a lofty 365,000 Euros, or roughly $500,000.

GALLERY: G Power BMW 760i Storm

G-POWER 760i STORM front.jpgG-POWER 760i STORM rear.jpg

Official release after the jump:

Continue Reading…