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  • Chris Harris drives the Singer 911

    Singer 911
    Following on from last week’s teaser here’s the new DRIVE video, which sees Chris Harris behind the wheel of a stunning Singer 911 for his first review of 2013.

    First, the Brit made his way over to Singer’s factory in California to see how the Cosworth-engined, carbon fibre-bodied reimagined vehicles are constructed, before being handed the keys to the 350 hp work of art.

    If you’re interested in owning one, pricing starts way above $300,000 and goes beyond the $500,000 mark.
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  • Audi SQ5 TDI by B&B Automobiltechnik

    B&B Audi SQ5 TDI
    Birlenbach-based tuninghouse B&B Automobiltechnik has applied its upgrade to Audi’s SQ5 TDI model, taking it’s output beyond the recently revealed 3.0 TFSI version.

    Already developing a healthy 230 kW (313 hp) and 650 Nm of torque in factory form, Stage 1 costs € 1,498 and involves a remapped ECU and mild boost increase to 0.15 bar which yields 254 kW (340 hp) and 720 Nm from the 3.0 BiTDI. Stage 2 sees more boost, resulting in 272 kW (365 hp) and 750 Nm, for € 1,698. The third program, priced at € 4,950, includes high performance injectors and an uprated air intake and intercooler, making 295 kW (395 hp) and 800 Nm. For € 1,950, the stainless steel exhaust system adds around 4 kW (5 hp). Those changes see 100 km/h appear in 4.7 seconds (series 5.2s), 200 km/h in 19.4 s (22.5s), while the limited top speed climbs from 250 km/h to 270 km/h.

    Chassis upgrades begins with a -25 mm spring kit for €398 or adjustable coilover option for €1,698, followed by a six-piston brake system starting at €4,995. A range of alloy wheels up to 22-inch diameter can also be specified, along with the company’s 15-piece aero package and tailpipes.
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  • BMW 1 Series PDM1 by Prior Design

    Prior Design BMW 1 Series PDM1
    Kamp-Lintfort styling company Prior Design has released further images and pricing for its PDM1 program which replicates the appearance of BMW’s 250 kW (335 hp) 1 Series M Coupé.

    The aero package includes a replacement front bumper, wider front fenders, side skirts, a rear bumper with integrated diffuser. These components are constructed from PU-RIM, while the rear arch extensions are DURA-FLEX.

    The kit is priced at €2,999, with the optional trunk spoiler available for an additional €299.
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  • Evolution Motorsport’s ‘Mayhem’ Porsche 911 Turbo in action

    EVOMS 'Mayhem' Porsche 911 Turbo
    Whilst attending Shift S3ctor’s Airstrip Attack, The Smoking Tire’s Matt Farah was handed the keys to Evolution Motorsport’s ‘Mayhem’ 911 Turbo to sample a expeditious rolling half-mile journey down the runway. Developing a road-bending 1,119 kW (1,500 hp), it was built specifically to race in standing mile events, which is very big in the States. And in terms of a standing mile, this is the fastest recorded 997 at 378 km/h (235 mph).
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  • Porsche Museum Treasures looks at the 917 Pink Pig

    Porsche 917 Pink Pig
    This latest video in the Porsche Museum Treasures series sees Porsche Chief Driving Instructor Gordon Robertson take us for a look around the iconic 917 Pink Pig.

    Following the FIA’s announcement of a class of “homologated sports cars” with up to five litres cubic capacity and a minimum weight of 800 kilograms, Ferdinand Piëch supervised the construction of the stipulated 25 units which were completed by April 1969. Technical problems forced the car out of its first three races, but the success story began in august of the same year, following a victorious 1,000-kilometre race at the Österreichring with Jo Siffert and Kurt Ahrens at the wheel.

    The 917/20’s nickname came about thanks to its pink paintwork for the 24 hours race, with names of meat cuts written across it in a similar fashion to a butcher’s carcass diagram, earning it the nickname The Truffelhunter of Zuffenhausen or simply the Pink Pig.
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  • CUT48 Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren

    CUT48 Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren
    Known for coating anything that moves – if it stands still for long enough, Münster-based CUT48 Carwrapping has just completed its latest project based on a Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren.

    Originally silver, CUT48 wrapped the ‘shell in blue foil with the mirrors, vents and side gills in contrasting black foil. The wheels were also painted in high-gloss black. Pricing for the body conversion starts at €4,350.

    Beneath that long hood, CUT48 called upon EDO competition to perform a power upgrade on the 5.4-litre supercharged V8 engine. Changes include optimised ECU software, modifications to the air intake and compressor, sport air filters, new exhaust manifolds and sport catalytic converters, which sees output rise to 538 kW (722 hp) and 890 Nm of torque, up from 460 kW (617 hp) and 780 Nm. On the road, the SLR flies to 200 km/h in under ten seconds and reaches a new electronically limited top speed of 345 km/h (214 mph).
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