Filed under: Aftermarket , Performance , SUV , Geneva Motor Show , Land Rover , Luxury Hamann Conqueror II - Click above for high-res image gallery There were so many debuts at the Geneva Motor Show this year that a few new cars were bound to slip through the cracks. We happened to miss this custom Range Rover Sport from Hamann, probably because the 670 horsepower Tycoon Evo M was sharing the same stand. Named the Conqueror II, it follows up on Hamann's first take of the Range Rover Sport that debuted a few years ago. Benefiting from the RR Sport Supercharged's new 5.0-liter V8, the Conqueror II packs 560 horsepower and 506 lb-ft torque thanks to a revised engine management system and a sport exhaust. The exterior gets the full Hamann treatment, with a full body kit, carbon fiber hood, LED running lights and forged 23-inch wheels. Interior modifications are relatively subtle (the snakeskin seats in Conqueror I are thankfully absent) and include the usual stuff like embriodered mats, plus aluminum and carbon fiber accents. Hit the jump for full details, and high-res photos can be found in the gallery below. Gallery: Hamann Conqueror II [Source: Hamann] Continue reading Conqueror II: Hamann builds second rendition of Range Rover Sport Conqueror II: Hamann builds second rendition of Range Rover Sport originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 06 Mar 2010 14:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink

Filed under: Crossover , BMW , Luxury 2011 BMW X6 with Performance Accessories - Click above for high-res image gallery When BMW debuted the X6 M last year, we were initially a bit skeptical about how the porky crossover (still having a hard time calling it a Sports Activity Coupe) would be received by enthusiasts. However, after a good deal of seat time , we learned that while the X6 M is ridiculously unnecessary, it's a total blast to drive, especially on the track. Now, enthusiasts looking to get some of the X6 M's mystique without shelling out $89,000 can have their own unique version of the X6, thanks to new accessories from BMW Performance. The list of optional modifications starts with two different power kits, depending on which engine the stock X6 is equipped with. xDrive35i models gain an additional 20 horsepower and 37 pound-feet, bringing the total output to 326 hp and 332 lb-ft. The xDrive50i gets a bit more oomph, with power increased to 448 hp (up by 41) and 479 lb-ft (up by 37). Keep in mind, these power figures are based on of the 2011 X6, which has slightly different powertrains from the current model. What does it all mean? Six-cylinder X6s will be able to do 0-60 runs in just 6.5 seconds, and V8 models will do it in just 5.2. From there, BMW Performance offers an aerodynamics kit, which includes a revised front bumper, side sills and an insert for the rear bumper. Other aero options include a rear spoiler, matte black rear fins, and a black front grid

Filed under: Aftermarket , Performance , Hatchback , Volkswagen , Canada Ask us what Euro-only model we'd import to the States and the Volkswagen Scirocco would be near the top of the list. It combines everything we love about the GTI into a more attractive, racy package and, just like it's boxy brethren, it's packed with tuning potential. HPA has been at the forefront of VW and Audi modifications for years, and the Canadian tuning firm has worked out a deal with V-Dub to import a handful of Sciroccos into British Colombia each year to finally offer North American gearheads the hot hatch we deserve. But naturally, they're not leaving good-enough alone. Although the Scirocco tops out in R trim with a 265-horsepower 2.0-liter TSI four-cylinder, HPA will swap in a fully-built 3.2-liter V6 complete with a pair of Garrett H25 turbochargers, along with all-wheel drive. The result is the FT565, good for 550 hp and 500 pound-feet of torque. Bump it up to the Stage 2 package and torque swells to 600 lb-ft and the 0-60 time drops to 3.4 seconds, with a quarter-mile time of 11.3 seconds. Top speed? HPA claims 200 mph... in a hatchback. In addition to the engine mods, the stock brakes have been swapped out in favor of 14-inch, eight-piston units in front and 13-inch rotors out back, with 19-inch aluminum BBS coated in Dunlop SP Sport Maxx tires. As you'd expect, such a conversion and importation doesn't come cheap: HPA only plans to build 10 FT565 Sciroccos each year, at a cost of $150,000 a piece. And no, there's no word on whether the Scirocco will be available here in the U.S. Dammit.

Filed under: Performance , Technology , Videos , BMW , Motorcycle BMW S 1000 RR valvetrain - Click above to watch the video after the break It takes a ton of engineering prowess to create any functional internal combustion engine, but especially one that's capable of spinning itself up to 14,200 RPM... without blowing itself to bits in the process, of course. Such high rotational speeds are rarely seen on the street - except in high-performance motorcycle engines such as the BMW S 1000 RR 's new 1000cc four cylinder mill. BMW 's most powerful production motorcycle engine cranks out 193 horsepower at 13,000 RPM and 82.5 pound-feet of torque at 9,750 RPM. Reliably. Perhaps the most impressive piece of engineering in such a high-strung engine is the valvetrain, which in this case is comprised of two intake and exhaust valves per cylinder made of lightweight and strong titanium. Each valve is operated by tiny single cam followers with camshafts driven by a very short sprocket driven via an intermediate gear. This technology was borrowed from BMW's Formula 1 racing endeavor and is put spectacularly on display in the video that you'll find after the break . Trust us, seeing the valves clicking away at 14,200 RPM is not to be missed, and be sure to keep an especially close eye on those springs as they spin on their perches while constantly being pounded into submission from overhead. Amazing.

Filed under: Motorsports , Etc. A TRACK DAY WITH SNOWBANKS This week we're taking a bit of a break from the on-ice action that we've been covering so far this season , trading wheel-to-wheel antics for something more controlled. Way up north in the wilds of Quebec there's a facility called Mecaglisse that runs driving schools all year round. In the winter it hosts snowbound track days , events where people (generally in Subarus ) show up and strut their stuff on a perfectly groomed ice surface bordered by tall snowbanks. It's like a stage plucked out of WRC Sweden, coiled around such that its end and beginning meet, and then presented for you to just keep on rallying over and over until you run out of gas -- which we very nearly did. A track day at Mecaglisse was an opportunity for low-grip practice that we couldn't pass up, and we'll take you along with video of a hot lap on this frigid circuit. You'll also find some discussion about shifting technique below, so if you've ever wondered how to cover all three pedals in a standard car with only two feet, you'll want to click on through. Gallery: Winter Track Day at Mecaglisse Continue reading Introduction to Ice Racing: Part 5 [w/video] Introduction to Ice Racing: Part 5 [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 19 Feb 2010 11:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink

Review: 2010 Jaguar XF Supercharged is the Goldilocks of Q-ships It may be the middle child of the XF line-up, but Jaguar has managed to strike a perfect balance between power and poise. Rumormill: Honda CR-Z Type-R in the works If the rumormill is to be believed, Honda and Mugen are working on a hotter version of the CR-Z with 200 hp and a host of modifications. Three Tesla employees die in Palo Alto plane crash *UPDATE Tragedy struck Tesla Motors today after a small plane carrying three employees crashed in a residential neighborhood in Northern California. Also of interest: Geneva Preview: 178-hp Volkswagen Polo GTI revealed Report: Rumors swirl about possible demise of USF1 team Jaguar to unveil faster, blacker XKR Special Edition in Geneva Buick considering coupe to stoke youthful image? Akio Toyoda outlines quality reform , won't attend U.S. hearings Report: Electric Volvo C30 won't arrive in U.S. Browse our archive of Daily U-Turn posts or subscribe to the RSS feed Daily U-Turn: What you missed on 2.17.10 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 17 Feb 2010 19:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink

Filed under: EV/Plug-in , Tesla Motors , Geneva Motor Show , Europe/EU IED Tesla EYE concept - Click above for high-res image gallery Though it proudly sports a chrome Tesla Motors logo on its nose, the Geneva-bound EYE concept pictured above was not penned by that California company's designers. Not directly anyway. That credit goes to 11 transportation design master course students at the Istituto Europeo di Design of Turin ( IED ). That's not to say Tesla Motors weren't involved in the effort though. In a bid to uncover the student's future-vision, the school decided to hook up with the company whose name they felt is "synonymous with innovation" and the team went on to develop their green dream under the supervising eye of Franz von Holzhausen, Tesla's chief designer. Though we'll likely never see how this full-size model looks rolling down the road, we will get see it posing for the public at the Geneva Motor Show . Perhaps our photos taken there will better reveal whether the concept has successfully achieved its maker's goal of creating a 2 + 2 sportscar "conceived to become a status-symbol." Gallery: IED Tesla EYE concept [Source: Istituto Europeo di Design of Turin ] Geneva preview: EYE concept has connection to Tesla Motors originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 17 Feb 2010 18:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Read

Filed under: MPG , Nissan Click above to view the video after the jump Past generations of the Nissan Micra have done well for the company, garnering accolades and proving its worth in the marketplace. There's a new compact Nissan coming, which we're likely to see for the first time at the Geneva Motor Show . Nissan has released a video covering some of the new car's details as a way to whet our appetite. There's a sharp-looking rendering at the very end of the video, after you've learned about the 1.2-liter three-cylinder engine, which Nissan claims has NVH levels equivalent to a four cylinder. There's a new constantly variable transmission, and the V platform, as its named, is also a clean sheet design and developed for flexibility and packaging. Sounds like every other press release lately - "better performance, more efficient, more flexibly packaged, cures warts!" We'll see. Make the jump to watch the video. Continue reading Video: Nissan teases new compact global compact car, Micra replacement ahead of Geneva Video: Nissan teases new compact global compact car, Micra replacement ahead of Geneva originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 17 Feb 2010 17:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Read

Filed under: Aftermarket , Coupe , Performance , Bentley , Luxury Onyx Bentley Continental Platinum GTO - Click above for high-res images GTOs come, and GTOs go. Although the Pontiac GTO may be long gone , Ferrari is working on a new 599 GTO . Now Irish tuning house Onyx Concept - which previously worked up the Range Rover Sport and Vogue - is releasing a GTO of its own. Based, as you can see, on the Bentley Continental GT , the Onyx Continental Platinum GTO packs a host of visual and performance modifications in an effort to take what is widely known as the "Camry for rich folks" to GTO levels of performance. That includes boosting the power from the W12 engine from 553 horsepower to beyond 640, although Onyx hasn't disclosed exactly how that's been done. The suspension has also been dropped to the ground like the pants on an American Idol contestant. 22-inch matte black alloys compliment a body kit comprising of a new front bumper with LED daytime running lights, wider wheel arches and carbon fiber splitter, decklid spoiler and rear diffuser. Onyx says the Platinum GTO will be available beginning next month. Along with the pair of images (which we've posted to the gallery below), those are all the details available at this point in the press release after the jump. Gallery: Onyx Bentley Continental Platinum GTO [Source: Onyx Concept ] Continue reading Onyx gives the Bentley Continental the Platinum GTO treatment Onyx gives the Bentley Continental the Platinum GTO treatment originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 12 Feb 2010 10:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Read

Filed under: Concept Cars , Geneva Motor Show , Crossover , Citroën , Luxury Citro