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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.
 |  Apr 20, 3:22 PM

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Just when we thought the matte black fad (or style) was starting to fade, TechArt introduces the Porsche Panamera Black Edition to the world. Porsche’s entry to the luxury sedan market has been well received so far, combining Porsche performance with traditional comforts that drivers and passengers are used to seeing in say, a Mercedes-Benz S-Class or BMW 7-Series. TechArt, a Porsche-exclusive tuner, has been merging design with functional technology since 1987.

TechArt’s newest tuning program for the Panamera gives a full car option – the Panamera Black Edition – available for just shy of $300,000 U.S. The base Panamera Turbo gets a complete overhaul inside and out, starting with traditional TechArt-styling with their aerodynamic kit. Accenting the new aesthetics is a set of 22-inch wheels in black and trendy LED daytime running lights. Engine modifications are light, with the Panamera sporting a new exhaust.

The Black Edition-theme continues onto the interior, with black leather and Alcantara seats and TechArt repainting everything possible in the interior to matte black: dash, door panel trim, center console, air vents, cup holders, etc.

For close to $115,000 U.S. over retail pricing (in Germany), the Techart Black Edition carries a real premium price tag. Chances are all the modifications could be had for less, including the paint job, but for those distinguished enough to even consider it, chances are they’ll pay for the convenience to just have it delivered complete and ready to be driven in.

The official press release is available after the jump.

GALLERY: Techart Porsche Panamera Black Edition

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 |  Mar 01, 1:18 PM

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With most of the German tuning companies in attendance at the Geneva Auto Show, we were able to get a good look at most of their creations before the show officially kicks off tomorrow (March 2nd). Along with the more typically-TechArt GT Street R, it was interesting to look at the Porsche tuner’s Panamera-based Concept One.

Looking just like a manufacturer concept car (minus the Lambo doors of course), the Concept One has an extremely unique interior with funky materials and designs. The entire cabin is all black and white, except for some minor lime-green detailing. There’s even a 10.2-inch LCD screen in the rear. Outside, the car gets plenty of unique options, like 22-inch wheels and a widebody kit. The purpose of the Concept One is to highlight TechArt’s individualization program, which it offers to clients. And as much as this looks like a concept, TechArt isn’t the sort of company to toss it’s money around needlessly and so you can be sure that as wild as the Concept One looks, it likely belongs to a customer who actually intends to drive it.

We also managed to snag quite a few photos of the GT Street R, a significantly modified version of the new 2010 911 Turbo, with 660-hp and 635 ft-lbs of torque. This model is more in line with TechArt’s usual creations, delivering incredible amounts of power in a show car package. We particularly like all the dry carbon body parts and the massive (and adjustable) rear spoiler. Much like the Concept One, the interior of the GTStreet R is also a work of art, but on a more realistic level with bountiful amounts of carbon fiber, black leather and red stitching.

Importantly, the GTStreet R, it is intended to be a serious performance machine (on the street or the track), delivering a 0-60 mph time of 3.5 seconds and a top speed o 214 mph – autobahn anyone?

GALLERY: TechArt Concept One

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GALLERY: TechArt GTStreet R

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 |  Feb 26, 1:34 PM

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German Porsche tuner TechArt has two new projects in store for the Geneva Auto Show, one powerful and traditional, and one that takes the tuner in a whole new direction. First up is the Concept One, based on the Panamera Turbo. Looking quite like a concept, particularly on the inside, where unique materials and funky designs meet up with a black and white canvass highlighted by lime-green detailing. There’s even a 10.2-inch LCD screen in the rear. Outside, the car gets plenty of unique options, like 22-inch wheels and a widebody kit. The purpose of the Concept One is to highlight TechArt’s individualization program, which it offers to clients. And as much as this looks like a concept, TechArt isn’t the sort of company to toss it’s money around needlessly and so you can be sure that as wild as the Concept One looks, it likely belongs to a customer who actually intends to drive it.

Next up is the GT Street R, a significantly modified version of the new 2010 911 Turbo, with 660-hp and 635 ft-lbs of torque. This model is more in line with TechArt’s usual creations, delivering incredible amounts of power in a show car package. We particularly like all the dry carbon body parts and the massive (and adjustable) rear spoiler. Much like the Concept One, the interior of the GTStreet R is also a work of art, but on a more realistic level with bountiful amounts of carbon fiber, black leather and red stitching.

Importantly, the GTStreet R, it is intended to be a serious performance machine (on the street or the track), delivering a 0-60 mph time of 3.5 seconds and a top speed o 214 mph – autobahn anyone?

See here for AutoGuide’s live 2010 Geneva Auto Show coverage starting Monday, March 1st.

GALLERY: TechArt Concept One

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GALLERY: TechArt GTStreet R

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Official release after the jump:

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 |  Feb 11, 3:43 PM

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With what might be the largest Porsche dealer in Canada, Pfaff also has a tuning department, dedicated to giving more power and performance to customer’s who demand more from their car. And apparently, Pfaff also likes to deliver more style, showing off both a matte-black Audi R8, as well as a matte-black Carrera C4S.

The Carrera is a special model, featuring a mild upgrade package from Champion Motorsport, a Florida-based tuner associated with the Champion race team that ran the Audi R8 race cars in North American several years back. Rather than the low-cost option of a wrap, this matte-black Porsche is actually painted. It also features a set of black Champion RF67 wheels with a nice red pinstripe.

The car has also been equipped with a Werks1 front lip and rear diffuser (Werks1 being Champion’s line of aerodynamic parts). Added power comes from a Tubi exhaust an a GIAC ECU tune, while the car’s handling has been increased thanks to some H&R springs.

We took plenty of snaps of both cars, so feel free to browse though them all in the gallery below.

GALLERY: Champion Motorsport Porsche Carrera and Audi R8

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 |  Sep 04, 10:00 AM

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European coachbuilder Mansory continues to take its tuning to new excesses with an even more extreme version of the Chopster – a modified Porsche Cayenne Turbo S.

With an almost completely carbon fiber body, including massively flared fenders there is also plenty of carbon fiber inside, with four carbon fiber sport seats. Plenty of work has been done under the hood as well, where the factory turbocharger have been replaced with larger ones to make no less than 710hp and 664 ft-lbs of torque. Mansory claims a top speed of 188mph, riding on an electronically adjustable suspension and a set of massive 23-inch rims.

Mansory plans to debut the new Chopster at the Frankfurt Auto Show later this month.

GALLERY: Mansory Chopster

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Official release:

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 |  Aug 21, 10:04 AM

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In true Gemballa fashion, the German Porsche tuner has just released details of its extreme ‘Mistrale’ transformation for the new 2010 Porsche Panamera.

Taking hints from the classic 911 design as well as from the company’s own Mirage GT (a modified Carrera GT), the Mistrale features a new front bumper with a gaping front air inlet. The new bumper also features a new carbon fiber lip, as well as a new vented hood to keep the big V8 engine cool under extreme operation. Gemballa has added wider fenders to help make room for a set of massive 22-inch wheels. Out back a new rear bumper with integrated diffuser also features four integrated exhaust pipes.

To further improve the performance of the Panamera, Gemballa offers a 6-piston front brake kit with massive 16.5-inch rotors and 4-piston calipers with 15-inch rotors behind.

Also available is reprogrammed unit for the air suspension that helps the Panamera sit 40mm (almost 2-inches) lower. There is also an available coilover suspension for more extreme performance.

And speaking of extreme performance, Gemballa will offer engine packages for the Panamera with output of up to 750hp – a 50 percent increase over the Panamera Turbo’s stock 500hp!

GALLERY: Gemballa Mistrale

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Official release after the jump:

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 |  Jul 24, 10:42 AM

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What’s the only Porsche faster than a RUF? Why, another RUF of course.

The Germany Porsche experts at RUF have just release an even more powerful version of the 911 Turbo-based RT12, the RS12 S. Standard RT12 models range from 530 to 650hp, but this new model takes it a step further with 685hp and and equally insane 649 ft-lbs of torque.

Outside the car gets a few different parts from the standard RT12, including LED lights, a carbon-fiber spoiler, as well as mirrors and wider fenders borrowed from the RUF CTR3.

Inside the cabin gets a complete work-over and comes with a specially designed roll cage.

A set of 19-inch RUF wheels comes with the complete car, as does a set of carbon ceramic brakes. There is also an optional height-adjustable suspension.

RUF says it will offer the RT12 S as either all-wheel drive or rear-wheel drive, which would presumably mean RWD versions would be based on the GT2 and not the Turbo.

The vehicle is currently offered in Europe with sales in the U.S. expected to follow. Pricing in Europe is set at 255,900 Euros (or roughly $400,000 USD).

GALLERY: RUF RT12 S

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Official release after the jump:

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 |  Apr 17, 10:39 AM

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It’s not quite official yet, but gold is definitely in the running to become the next big trend for the ridiculously wealthy. So move over matte-black.

We’ve already brought you pictures of a gold C63 from Dubai.. and just a few weeks ago we posted some photos of a gold SLR from (where else), that same sunny desert location. Now the fad seems to be spreading and thanks to our palls over at Luxury4Play.com we have some shots of a gold Cayenne Turbo with what appears to be a SpeedArt Titan aero kit.

And it’s not just the body that’s gold either, check out those hideous wheels.

[Source: Luxury4Play.com]

GALLERY: Gold Cayenne

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GALLERY: Gold Mercedes C63

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GALLERY: Gold McLaren SLR

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 |  Apr 17, 10:10 AM

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A regular at the Top Marques Monaco show, German Porsche tuner and car manufacturer Gemballa is back again for 2009 with an expectedly outrageous creation. It might not be the sparkly bass-boat Mirage GT (based on the Porsche Carrera GT) that Gemballa had on show last year, but the Tornado GTS is sure to get a lot of looks.

Based on the new 957-chassis Cayenne Turbo, it has been transformed into a widebody beast with a certifiably unique new front end. Coated in a matte-black paint (or what Gemballa calls gunmetal matte-gray), the body of the car also features plenty of carbon fiber accents. The SUV also rolls on Gemballa’s latest wheel design, the Tornado GT Sport Forged.

Under the new hood (which flips forward by the way) is the Porsche Cayenne Turbo 4.8-liter twin-turbo engine which has been upgraded to produces no less than 750hp.

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Inside the Cayenne has been transformed to the same extent as the outside, something which is hinted about in the Gemballa designation. Technically called the Tornado GTS 750 4, this SUV is now a four-seater and treats every occupant with the same level of Alcantara-coated luxury.

For more information visit:

http://www.gemballa.com/

GALLERY: Gemballa Tornado GTS 750 4

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