Thursday, July 29, 2010

Mean 300km/h Audi RS5 by MTM


German tuner MTM is known for its high powered mean looking Euro machines and has been at it again. This time they got a hold of the new Audi RS5, sprinkled a bit of tuning dust and ended up with this mean red 300km/h machine.

However, instead of taking the entire car apart and reworking it like most tuners do, this MTM Audi RS5 is stock standard. MTM simply upped the speed limiter to allow for a higher top speed, all that for a cheque of US$1,429.

According to MTM, the RS5 powerplant still produces 450hp but that could be turned up a few more figures thanks to the company's new free-breathing exhaust system. To match the go, MTM also offers plenty of show in the form of new wheels, but that's it for now. Currently in the development process, MTM will soon introduce a complete suspension kit as well as very competent brakes for the RS5. For now, MTM fans are going to have to make do with a higher top end and mean rims.

Fully restored to new, 516hp Nissan Skyline R34 Z-tune


A Nissan GTR R34 is still one of the most desirable machines to come out of Japan, high up there with the NSX-R, R35 GTR, and other iconic Japanese machines. Sadly, they are aged and finding a used example in near perfect condition is close to impossible. Well almost impossible.

German tuner JAPO Motorsport is offering a near brand-new R34 GTR NISMO Z-tune for those willing to fork out the cash for it. The Essen-based tuner bought a stock 1999 GT-R and spent a lot of time and money tearing it apart and restoring it as close to the original as possible.

In putting it all back together, the tuner used original Z-tune parts (like the front skirts, mudguards and rear wheel housing) and original sil "KY0" paint which was exclusive to the Z-tune back then (only 20 Z-tune's were made). Also part of the package are NISMO Z-tune five spoke wheels, Toyo semi-slick tires, alcantara leather upholstery, an updated multifunctional display, and a revised speedometer that now tops out at 320km/h.

The exterior is completely stock but the German tuner could not hold back from working on the internals. Power from the 2.5-liter straight six is now up thanks to GT RS turbochargers, a new intercooler, a racing suction/chamber kit, enhanced fuel injectors, and high performance spark plugs.

These mods contribute to the 516hp and 597Nm of torque that the new Z-tune now boasts. Just for the record, a standard R34 Skyline GTR churns out 327hp and 392Nm of torque while the standard Z-tune boasted 493hp and 540Nm of torque.

Other upgrades include a HKS clutch kit, an ARC strut bar, and StopTech brakes. There's no indication of how much the entire restoration process costs but the restored GTR seen in the pictures here is available for sale for a princely sum of US$116,960.

Saturday, July 24, 2010

Jennifer Lopez to Launch New Fragrance, Love and Glamour









Jennifer Lopez announced today that she will be launching a new fragrance in October. Called Love and Glamour, this latest scent is inspired by her own return to life on the A-list. Lopez pioneered the celebrity fragrance category back in 2002 and her other 16 fragrances have taken in a whopping $1 billion over the course of 16 launches. Not too bad for a girl from the block.

But how does Lopez feel about the other celebs who have jumped on the celebrity fragrance band wagon? “More power to them,” Lopez tells WWD. “I am very competitive, but I don’t look at it [as a competition.] I’ve always thought that authenticity, at the end of the day, wins, and the cream always rises to the top. I really don’t worry about other people, because I’m in competition with myself.”

Lopez, who is set to renew her vows with husband of six years, Marc Anthony this Saturday, also says that the creation of Love and Glamour was an “exacting process.” “I drive [Coty] a little bit crazy,” she said. “Because it’s always not signature enough. I go back and say things like, ‘Can we push the sandalwood a little bit more, can we make it a tiny bit more sexy?’ To translate that into actual chemistry is a difficult thing. Then they go back and say, ‘What does she mean by sexy?’ she explains to WWD.

But how did she come up with the concept? “What I always like to do is look at where I am in my life at the moment. [Here] it was right after the babies and was when I was getting back to work and getting back to what I do again. It just felt like a time of a lot of love and that seemed very romantic to me — I said it seems like love and glamour. As a name, Love and Glamour seemed like a really aspirational, fun and beautiful thing that we could work with in many, many ways.”

If your tastes in fragrance leans toward notes of Italian mandarin, guava and nectarine pulp, or if you’re a fan of, coconut orchid, you’re going to delight in Love and Glamour. But, will you buy yet another fragrance from Jennifer Lopez? Or have you had enough?

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