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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.

04/05/2010 | By: Jason Siu

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Titan Motorsports has long been paving the way in the sport compact drag racing segment, setting records in their Street Tire Supra in the early 2000s, before moving onto the NHRA Sport Compact Pro RWD class with their Toyota Celicas. They then powered their way to 6-second passes on the quarter-mile before Scion jumped on board on contributed to two new chassis. Once the NHRA Sport Compact Drag Racing Series merged with NOPI, and NOPI disappeared, Titan Motorsports looked for a new challenge to please its sponsors and continue drag racing while setting records and raising eyebrows.

In what was an interesting move on their part, Titan Motorsports decided to campaign their Scion tC drag car at the ADRL series which is mostly dominated by American muscle. In fact, they are probably the only import-powered vehicle there at most events. With a Toyota 2JZ Supra Turbo engine with only 186 cubic inches, most ADRL competitors were skeptical that Titan could even come close to competing with the 800+ cubic inch motors that were all forced induced. Needless to say they attracted a lot of attention once they became very competitive in the 10.5-inch tire field.

But a new goal was on the horizon for 2010. After making numerous low 4-second passes in the 1/8th-mile, Titan Motorsports knew they had it in their car to go into the mystical 3-second mark. A 3.999 or faster pass would not only make Titan’s car the fastest sport compact/import in the world but they would also become part of an exclusive Mickey Thompson 3 Second Club. Entering this club rewards the team with a custom ring, custom leather jacket and $3000.00 bounty to the first five members.

At the ADRL Georgia Drags VI, Titan Motorsports finally achieved their goal with a record-setting 3.996 @ 182.45 mph. They have made their way into the coveted Mickey Thompson 3 Second Club as one of the first five cars into the 3′s and guaranteed themselves as the fastest import in the world for many years to come. Watch the record setting pass after the jump!

[Source: Titan Motorsports Blog]

GALLERY: Titan Motorsports 3-second Scion tC

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28/04/2010 | By: Jason Siu

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In March of 2009, we reported several exotics that broke the 200-mph barrier out in Florida. Underground Racing was one of those exotic tuners that were on hand including several of their twin-turbo Lamborghini Gallardos. A little over a year later, Underground Racing has surprised the world in a story that makes everyone just a little bit jealous.

Underground Racing has built a huge reputation of applying twin-turbo kits to many of the world’s fanciest exotics including Lamborghini’s MurciĆ©lago and Gallardo, Ferrari’s F430, Dodge’s Viper, Ford’s GT and Audi’s R8. Much of its goal is to break the 1,000-hp mark on certain applications, meanwhile being notorious for tackling the mile-straightaway at blistering speeds.

Earlier in March, they took a Lamborghini Gallardo Superlegerra, tossed on their trademark twin-turbo kit and proceeded to blast away at 250.1-mph at The Texas Mile after rigorous tuning and testing of turbo and suspension configurations. Your eyes do not deceive you, this exotic bull flew past the competition in attack mode while still enjoying air conditioning and the stereo blasting while waiting at the line. Owner and driver Richard Holt could never be happier.

Make sure to check out the video that just surfaced this week, sporting three different views, after the jump.

[Source: Underground Racing]

GALLERY: Underground Racing Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera

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09/04/2010 | By: Jason Siu

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Over four years ago, AMS shocked the world taking a Mitsubishi EVO VIII and setting all sorts of new records with it. Back then it eclipsed the mid-to-low 9-second mark on the drag strip and a couple of years later they bested all the marks with a new world record at 8.42 @ 168.7 mph. The car then went on to break horsepower records dropping 1,181 all wheel horsepower. So everyone had to ask, what was left for this straight-line bullet to achieve in the record books? Well, why not the world’s fastest standing mile for a four-cylinder? And that’s exactly what AMS did with their EVO at The Texas Mile a few weeks back, breaking yet another world record and going 228 mph.

It wasn’t all that happened that fateful run however. It seemed as if the car itself knew that there was very little left it could achieve after four years of dominating all sorts of records. The car unfortunately catches fire and driver Eric Jones wisely bails himself out of a vehicle that had just gone close to 230 mph. While it seems very tragic that AMS’ EVO VIII was on fire, we’re sure deep down the boys over there are looking forward to building something new. We know we all are, after four years of watching this one succeed.

Make sure to check out the in-car video of this record-setting Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VIII after the jump:

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23/03/2010 | By: Jason Siu

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AMS Performance, based out of West Chicago, IL are no strangers to the track. They have dominated all facets of motorsports from road racing to drag racing. They’re known for building some of the strongest engines known to mankind, perfecting their techniques across several makes and models. While the Nissan GT-R, much like many Porsche bodies, weren’t made for drag racing, some owners take the opportunity to shoot down the quarter mile at blistering speeds. Yes, the GT-R was made to carry itself through the winding twists of any road course, and at ridiculous times, but why can’t the GT-R be built for straight line drag racing?

The team at AMS thought the same and brought their brilliant minds together to set a landmark – build the first 9-second Nissan GT-R in the world. There have been several GT-R’s trying to this task with some getting in the mid to low 10-second range, but AMS has finally entered the 9-second range at the recent TX2K10 event. Their best ET of the day was a 9.89 @ 145-mph, though they did achieve a higher-mph pass with 146.96. Just by looking at the time slip there’s clearly more to the car given its less than perfect 0-60 foot time.

This 9-second GT-R is equipped with AMS’ SR850 upgrade package which will be available to the general public shortly. The tuning package includes upgraded bolt-on turbos, upgraded actuators, HKS blow-off valves, Cobb AccessPORT for tuning (with a custom AMS race map) and a collection of AMS goods: 90mm downpipes, resonated midpipe, exhaust, front mount intercooler with 3-inch intercooler piping; large MAF intake pipes and fuel system upgrade.

We’ll be keeping our eyes out for the video of this record setting pass and will be sure to update this post as soon as it hits the Web.

[Source: GTRblog.com]

GALLERY: AMG GT-R

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