You have to admit that at first glance, this BMW does not look any different from any other BMW. Start the engine and you immediately notice that it runs quite differently from other engines.

This is the Hartge BMW 535 H35d. Hartge is a premier tuner from Germany and they are showing that they can also serve the other side of the performance market, with expertise in tuning diesel engines.

Tuned Performance

It has a diesel engine, a 3 liter straight six featuring not one but two turbochargers, upping its horsepower output from 274hp and 445 ft/lb or torque to a massive 354HP and 516 ft/lb of torque.

With the extra power of the engine, you also need to improve the suspension to cope up with the increased stresses on the suspension.

Hartge then replaced the suspension of the H35d with one of their 535D suspensions kits. This allows the car to sit up to 30mm lower and updated springs and dampers ensure that grip is maximized on the tire at all times.

Interior

Inside the cabin, Hartge also offers a variety of accessories to improve the looks of your 535d. From 200 mph speedometers to racing inspired pedals and aluminum handbrake lever inserts, Hartge has all the improvements that you need.

The wheels and tires all received one of Hartge’s specialty rims. You have the option of picking one of six designs that Hartge offers and pick the size, width and the tire that you want to go with it.

Specifications

Chevrolet recently introduced the Malibu ECO, dubbed the most efficient midsized sedan in Chevrolet’s history.

One important feature of the new ECO car is the eAssist technology which is capable of delivering 26mpg when you’re city driving and up to 38mpg when you’re driving on the highway – all without compromising the overall performance of the vehicle.

According to Chevrolet, the Malibu ECO is the perfect choice for customers that want to have a car which is fuel efficient and doesn’t come with the hefty price tag often associated with other hybrid sedans. The price tag isn’t the only thing that should be attracting people to Chevy’s new offering though – let’s take a look at how the technology and the design make this car a top, fuel efficient, choice.

Performance

The eAssist system found in the new 2013 Chevrolet Malibu Eco is comprised of a lithium ion battery coupled with an electric motor generator that allows ‘regenerative braking’ and a decent start/stop functionality.

The eAssist system comes in weighing only 29kg, it is efficiently sized and certainly appears a very promising addition to the new eco-friendly Malibu. Coupled with the 2.4L direct injection, Ecotec, four cylinder engine and next-gen six-speed auto-transmission makes the eAssist system look very promising indeed.

New Addition

The Malibu ECO is part of Chevrolet’s 2013 line-up and is attempting to provide customers with more style, efficiency, content and features than ever before. Highlights of the new ECO vehicle design include the wider, more aggressive and athletic exterior (wider body, shorter wheelbases, and underbody aerodynamic enhancements) and interior dual cockpit design, additional interior volume, extra trunk space, ambient lighting and so much more.

The new Chevrolet MyLink software is also worth a mention, as it allows drivers to seamlessly integrate services like Pandora’s internet radio service. The infotainment package that comes with the new Chevy Malibu Eco also integrates Bluetooth, selected SmartPhone applications with a high-res touch screen display.

All in all, the new 2013 Chevrolet Malibu ECO appears to be just as the name says – very economical!

Specifications

The word custom in the CCG Custom GT quite literally means ‘you have a choice in what you want’. This is one sports car designed not only to provide as much fun as you normally have on the track, but also to provide the perfect feel for what a sports car should have on the road.

Exterior & Interior

The chassis of the CCG is made in the US and uses a tubular space frame in its design. This tubular frame design ensures that it has as much strength as it should in any given amount of weight. That translates to a car that can weigh less than most other sports car of its class.

The body itself can be made either in fiberglass or carbon fiber. The suspension uses coil-over springs and dampers, and was designed specifically for this car for maximum performance on the road and on the track. And the interior is done in black. The Interior can be redesigned according to what the customer wants, and how the customer wants it.

Performance

The engine also comes from the US, being a GM 7 liter power plant that produces 550 HP without any turbo charging. The six speed transmission is modified for use in this car by CCG themselves.

Additionally, the car itself can be ordered for use with LPG, or Liquefied Petroleum Gas, or what is known as auto gas. This makes the car greener than most other super cars since you essentially pay less and get the same performance with LPG than with gasoline.

Specifications

The 2012 Porsche Panamera GTS was unveiled last November 16, 2011 during the Los Angeles Auto Show. The sportiest of all Panamera model is easily distinguished through its distinctive front, side and rear area design most especially with its highlights. It features a black exterior package with side window trims, headlight washer unit cover, rear diffuser, trim on the rear lid, and the black side skirts. Its body is lowered by 10 millimeters, and offers more power and larger brake discs.

Performance

The Panamera GTS is a four passenger, all-wheel drive powered by a 4.8 liter V8 engine that generates 430 horsepower at 6,700rpm and 384 lb-ft of torque, 30 horsepower higher than the Standard 4S model. The standard transmission used for this engine is a seven-speed Porsche Doppelkupplungsgetriebe that sends power to all four wheels simultaneously, providing a comfortable and efficient performance.

The 2012 Panamera GTS can go from 0 to 60mph in 4.3 seconds, with the top speed at 178mph. The fuel consumption is also remarkable with 10.9liter/100km, and only 10.7liter/100km when using low-friction tires.

Interior

The GTS features a leather interior and Alcantara surfaces with SportsDesign steering wheel including shift paddles and 18-way adaptive sports seats. The standard equipment consists of Porsche Communication Management that features touch-screen satellite navigation, front and rear ParkAssist, cruise control and a 3-year warranty. An interesting feature of the GTS is the Sound Symposer that is activated using the Sport button, which directs the intake noise to the interior by an acoustic channel that picks up the intake vibration between the throttle valve and air filter.

Specifications

The Mercedes Benz 300 SL Gullwing was launched in February 1954 at the New York International Auto Show.

The Mercedes 300 SL Gullwing, internally known as W198 at Daimler-Benz, was the commercial version of the competition-only sports car of 1952, the carbureted Mercedes 300SL (W194).

Stylish Design

The 300 SL Gullwing was a two seater sports car with the unique gull-wing shaped doors. At the time of its launch, the 300 SL Gullwing was the fastest production car till that date. The 300SL was designed with the objective of minimizing the aerodynamic drag and thus making it light and nimble. It was built around a tubular chassis, design limitation of which led to innovation of upward swinging door, which became the hallmark of the car.

The tubular metal skeleton helped in cutting down weight while maintaining high level of strength. Car body was primarily steel, but Aluminum was used in hood, doors and trunk lids to reduce the weight. Customer had the option to order the car in an All-Aluminum body, which was 80kgs lighter. The well sculpted design of the car was ground breaking and the characteristic Gullwing doors were a crowd puller.

Performance

The 300 SL Gullwing was powered by a 212 hp 3 liter straight-6 engine. This was the first ever 4 stroke gasoline engine with direct fuel injection system. The direct injection nearly doubled the power of the original carbureted version which produced around 115hp.

This innovative fuel injection meant that the car was fastest production car in the world then, with top speed of 260 km/h or 161 mph. The car achieved 0 to 100 km/h (0 to 60 mph) in about 10 seconds.

A total of 1400 Gullwings were a produced between 1955 and 1957 and 80% of these were sold in the United States. The 300 SL Gullwing is still revered as one of the classic automobiles of the 20th century and is still a sought after vehicle.

The stunning design of the car is ageless and the spirit of the same can be seen in the new age Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG.