MINI E Police Car

The AC Schnitzer Mini Cooper Police is based on the MINI E - the electric version of the model - and was premiered at the 2010 Essen Motor Show.

The BMW MINI E is an all-electric car that is powered by an electric motor with 204 hp with 162 lb-ft of torque. The battery can be fully charged through a standard outlet in about eight hours. But there is also a higher amperage charger available that will be installed in the customer’s garage enabling a full recharge in just 2.5 hours. BMW claims that the lithium-ion battery has an estimated driving range of 150 miles, and that is plenty to get around town all day. In acceleration, the MINI E can sprint from 0-62 mph in 8.5 seconds and has a limited top speed of 95 mph.

The vehicle is part of the Verband Deutscher Automobil Tuner’s. (VDAT) TUNE IT SAFE! project, being the sixth release of the campaign, which aims to combine high tuning standards with a maximum safety level.

Dressed up in police guise, the car features modified fascias, aerodynamic side skirts, a ventilated hood, and 18-inch alloy wheels with Hankook tires. Inside, the cabin boasts blue trim, aluminum pedals and custom floor mats.

Interior upgrades includes traditional AC Schnitzer aluminum pedals, footrest and e-brake handle. All of these modifications are currently (or soon-to-be) available for any of the MINI models.




Press Release

Two strong partners for the future: the Electric MINI and AC Schnitzer

MINI Tuning Specialist supports the initiative: "TUNE IT! SAFE!" by the VDAT by kitting out the emission-free concept car

The TUNE IT! SAFE! initiative by the Verband Deutscher Automobil Tuner e.V. (VDAT) impressively shows the future of tuning with its sixth campaign vehicle - an electric MINI in Police Look. Every year since 2004, a special concept car has been presented which meets both the high demands of tuning fans and maximum safety standards.

The campaign, supported by the Federal Ministry of Transport, Building and Urban Development, shows that the yearning for individualisation can continue to be met in the future.

AC Schnitzer, more than almost any other tuning specialist for the MINI brand, stands for individuality and safety. Consequently, the Aachen-based company has largely taken responsibility for the MINI and provided a uniquely spectacular campaign vehicle. The MINI E in Police Look was presented for the first time at the Essen Motor Show 2010 and has since appeared as a symbolic vehicle at numerous shows and tuning events.

The BMW Group is the first manufacturer to apply the latest state of lithium ion technology in a totally electric powered vehicle. So the MINI E lives up to its name - "minimalism" - in terms of drive technology too, thanks to a totally emission-free vehicle. New drive systems have been equipped with complex elements, so the use of safe and reliable products is particularly important here. But there's no lack of sporting performance either, thanks to the tuning package from

AC Schnitzer. The racing suspension takes the MINI perfectly through corners, and the front and rear skirts and bonnet vents both optimise road holding and enhance the styling of the concept car.

The "Police Look" is provided by the latest signalling system from Hella on the roof, and the blue paintwork by AC Schnitzer in conjunction with special stickering from Foliatec.

The Hankook tyres have been given an extra touch by the specialists at AC Schnitzer: in combination with the AC Schnitzer alloy wheels "MI 2" (7.5J x 18"), they transfer the 204 electric HP of the MINI safely to the road.
To enjoy unrestricted driving comfort while being prepared for every situation: this ambition is achieved by the high performance brake system from AC Schnitzer with 4-pot fixed calipers on the front axle. The slotted, internally vented brake discs respond promptly and with precision. At the same time, the high performance brake system is characterised by excellent deceleration values after sustained use, in extreme heat and in the pouring rain. The generously dimensioned discs at 328 x 28 millimetres energetically scrub off the speed with a stable pressure point even after the twentieth downhill hairpin.

AC Schnitzer also shows that safe driving can be combined with individual styling in its design of the interior equipment. The interior is decorated with a pedal set, foot rest and handbrake handle of aluminium. Here, as in all other areas, extracts from AC Schnitzer's wide product range are demonstrated. All the AC Schnitzer accessories are available immediately with TÜV certification, even though the MINI E is not yet available commercially but is well on the way to series production. This almost goes without saying for specialists who have long since made the safe future of tuning their corporate objective.

Brabus Mercedes SLS Widestar to debut at Essen Motorshow

Tuner BRABUS has released the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Widestar edition at the Essen Motor Show.

The red AMG sports car is outfitted with the exterior carbon fiber body kit, lowering module, Brabus exhaust system and a set of Matt Dark Grey rims sizing 9.5Jx20 in front and 11Jx21 on the rear axle. The setup of the red car is a great example of a superb tuning style. The mixture between the rims, the carbon fiber parts and the red body color gives the SLS AMG a more exclusive muscular look.

The new Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Widestar offer the driver can adjust the suspension’s height with the touch of a button to make the car sportier or more comfortable than the stock SLS. Stiffer sway bars are also on the menu. It is because the ride height was lowered by 30 mm and a new, height-adjustable suspension was developed in collaboration with Bilstein.

A proper set of wheels strongly define the Brabus brand and in the case of the Widestar SLS, the customers are offered custom tailored ultra-light 20- and 21-inch front and rear Monoblock F Platinum Edition forged wheels, which appear wrapped around in 275/30 ZR20 and 295/25 ZR21 Yokohama rubber. The weight is also reduced by bigger and lighter new rims, which offer an improved handling, according to the tuner’s official reports. The power will be provided by the same 6.2-liter V8 engine, which received a lighter and high-performance titanium exhaust system with sound management, adding 10 hp. Premium upholstery, made from fine leather and Alcantara is offered by Brabus for the interior.




Press Release

Lending an exclusive automobile an even more dominant presence is the domain of BRABUS (Brabus-Allee, D-46240 Bottrop, phone + 49 / (0) 2041 / 777-0, fax + 49 / (0) 2041 / 777 111, Internet www.brabus.com). The new BRABUS WIDESTAR wide version represents a custom-tailored designer suit for the Mercedes SLS AMG. In addition to the extravagant high-tech carbon-fiber body program for the gullwing the tuner also offers ultralight forged wheels, an electronically adjustable Ride Control smooth-ride suspension, a titanium high-performance exhaust system with electronically controlled sound management and custom BRABUS interiors.

To give the SLS an even more muscular appearance the BRABUS designers have developed custom-tailored BRABUS WIDESTAR components for the rear axle. Like all other body components they are made from extremely light yet very strong carbon fibers identical to the ones used in Formula 1 racing. The add-on parts for the rear fenders and the rear fascia create an even more spectacular look and make room for special wheels that widen the rear track by 20 millimeters for even further improved driving dynamics.

The suspension engineers developed custom-tailored versions of the ultralight BRABUS Monoblock F PLATINUM EDITION forged wheels in sizes 9.5Jx20 in front and 11Jx21 on the rear axle for the wide version of the SLS. These wheels are available with a brushed-design or ceramics-polished surface and can also be painted in any desired color. The staggered wheels with 20- and 21-inch diameters on front and rear axles further emphasize the wedge-shaped look of the sports car.

Despite the wheels’ bigger size they deliver a weight reduction of up to 12 percent compared to the SLS production wheels. The reduced unsprung weight further results in even more agile handling. BRABUS technology partners Pirelli and YOKOHAMA supply the optimal high-performance tires in sizes 275/30 ZR 20 and 295/25 ZR 21.

The wide version is rounded out by aerodynamic-enhancement components developed in the wind tunnel. All BRABUS aerodynamic-enhancement components are made from carbon fibers and are available with a matte or glossy clear-coated finish for a true racing look. Optionally these components can be painted in body or contrasting color.

To further reduce lift on front and rear axle BRABUS equips the SLS with a front spoiler for the production front fascia, a rear spoiler and a rear diffuser. Together these components create an even better aerodynamic balance. Two BRABUS covers for the upper air dams of the bumper and side air outlets for the rear fascia are further visual details of the BRABUS WIDESTAR version.

The work of the BRABUS designers also gives the sides of the gullwing more profile and further improved aerodynamic efficiency. The rocker panels were sculpted to optimize the airflow between front and rear axle and to create a perfect transition to the WIDESTAR components on the rear axle. Integrated entrance lights ensure safe entering and exiting of the vehicle in the dark.

The BRABUS air outlets for the front fenders add more of sporty touches. At night they draw attention with their integrated blue-illuminated BRABUS logos that are activated via the keyless fob or by pulling on a door handle.

The ride-height lowering by up to 30 millimeters (1.2 inches) also plays an important role in the striking appearance of the BRABUS-modified SLS. The BRABUS suspension is height-adjustable and was developed in cooperation with technology partner BILSTEIN. At the push of a button its integrated Ride Control function also offers a smoother ride than the production car. From the cockpit the driver can at any time – even while driving – switch between damper settings that offer a more comfortable or a sportier ride than the production car.

For sporty-minded SLS owners BRABUS offers stiffer sway bars for front and rear axle that reduce body roll for even more precise handling.

The BRABUS high-performance exhaust system with four slanted exhaust tips with diameters of 84 millimeters (3.3 inches) is somewhat atypical for traditional tuning. Its sound management, controlled by the driver and activated by a pneumatic flap, includes a ‘coming home’ setting that is quieter than the production exhaust. In ‘sport’ mode the 6.3-liter eight-cylinder engine produces an even more powerful exhaust note than with the production exhaust. The BRABUS exhaust system is manufactured from extremely lightweight titanium and weighs 12 kilograms (26 lbs.) or 40 percent less than the production exhaust. Another welcome by-product of this exhaust is an increase in power output by 10 hp / 7.4 kW.

BRABUS offers a multitude of exclusive custom interior options for the two-seater car as well. Carbon-fiber inlays in any desired color and matte anodized aluminum pedals and foot rest add sporty highlights.

The ergonomically shaped sport steering wheel is made from a combination of leather and Alcantara and provides especially good grip for further improved road feedback. The speedometer with 400-km/h scale (250 mph) already hints at the car’s future performance with BRABUS engine tuning.

The BRABUS upholstery shop offers a sheer endless multitude of colors and designs for the masterfully crafted SLS interiors made from the finest leathers and Alcantara. These interiors can be custom-tailored to suit each SLS owner’s personal taste down to the last detail.

STARTECH Land Rover Defender 90 Yachting

An exclusive Land Rover Defender 90 Yachting Edition is one of the projects which STARTECH plans to showcase at this weekend’s starting Essen Motor Show in Germany. The STARTECH Land Rover Defender 90 Yachting features various cosmetic upgrades, without the huge power upgrades the company is known for.

The Land Rover Defender 90 Yachting Edition comes with a bright white exterior paint and rides on light weight 5-spoke aluminum wheels with massive 265/75 R16 tires.  The Defender also comes with an SVX front grill and body color finish on the light covers.

The interior also features Recaro sport seats, leather upholstery, sport steering wheel, and navy blue leather package for handbrake, gear knobs, and center console. A kicking sound system with an in -dash touchscreen is also provided for your entertainment.




Press Release

The Off-Road Capable Dinghy for the Yacht: The STARTECH Land Rover Defender 90 Yachting Edition

From the marina directly into rough terrain: The STARTECH Land Rover Defender 90 Yachting Edition looks as great at the marina as it does on magnificent boulevards or when venturing off road.

Painted bright white, the premium leather/Alcantara interior dyed navy blue, foot wells and trunk clad in the finest teak � the English off-roader with lavish STARTECH design perfectly transfers maritime ambiance into the automobile.

Wide tires in size 265/75 R 16 bring three additional centimeters of tread in contact with the road and give the Land Rover an even brawnier appearance. To complement the wider tires the STARTECH designers developed new running boards with integrated entrance lights that are activated via the keyless fob or by opening one of the doors.

The exterior appearance of the STARTECH Yachting Edition further includes such tasteful details as the SVX front grille and headlight covers painted in body color.

Getting into the STARTECH Land Rover Defender 90 Yachting Edition, made easier by the STARTECH running boards, is a very special experience. The captain and his crew are welcomed by classic yacht design, which uses genuine oiled teak following the best ship-building traditions. This fine material lends the trunk and the foot wells a unique air.

The company upholstery shop attended to the remaining interior of the Defender 90 and transformed it from a rather mundane cockpit into an exclusively appointed wellness space.

The finest navy-blue leather with white contrasting seams refines door and side panels alike and adorns dashboard, center console and
the Recaro sport seats. The new seats offer much better lateral support than the stock seats. But that�s not all: Their leather upholstery is masterfully sewn using white baseball-style cross stitching and adds a modern contrast to the classic Land Rover interior. The shells of the seatbacks are painted white to match the exterior.

The headliner is made from Alcantara dyed the same color as the leather appointments. Precision-sewn white seams add magnificent highlights here as well.
Among the numerous other loving STARTECH details are an ergonomically shaped sport steering wheel, shifter, emergency brake and reduction gear lever all covered with navy-blue leather and a Yachting Edition plaque on the center console.

Rounding out the STARTECH treatment is a high-end sound system calibrated to the Defender interior. The sound system also features an integrated touch screen navigation system.

Fiat 500 Abarth Polizia

German suspension tuner will bring a VW Golf VI R20, a Fiat 500 Abarth in police livery and an Audi R8 530 PS VLN to Essen motor show this weekend.

The Fiat 500 Abarth Police livery is inspired by Italy's Polizia enforcement cars and it also features the BILSTEIN B14 threaded kit, while other models present at the show will include the VW Golf 6 R20 from Rothe Motorsport with BILSTEIN B16 PSS 10 threaded kit and a 530 PS Audi R8 in BILSTEIN outfit.
 
The R20 is fitted with a Bilstein B16 PSS 10 threaded kit. The B14 kit on the Fiat 500 provides the petite hatch with a height adjustable suspension normally reserved for grander models. The R8 comes with Bilstein's MDS shock absorbers.

Apart from the Fiat 500 Abarth Police car, BILSTEIN will also display at this year's Essen show a 338 PS VW Golf R20 by Rothe Motorsport and the 530 PS VLN Audi R8 wearing the aftermarket specialists livery.





Press Release

Guest appearances on the BILSTEIN stand by Lina Van de Mars, Hans-Joachim "Striezel" Stuck and Frank Stippler

Ennepetal, 22 November, 2010 - BILSTEIN - the epitome of sporty driving. BILSTEIN is presenting its broad range of sport and threaded ride height adjustable kits to fans of sports cars, car tuning and motor sports at the Essen Motor Show 2010 from 27 November to 5 December.

One of the highlights for all tuning fans will be the appearances by Lina Van de Mars on the BILSTEIN stand (Hall 3.0, stand 307). The well-known German TV personality and tuning expert will be demonstrating suspension tuning from 2 to 4 pm on Sunday 28 November and from 11 to 12 am and 4 to 6 pm on Saturday 4 December.

And anyone interested in meeting genuine motor racing stars in the flesh should not miss the opportunity to hear what VLN star Frank Stippler and racing legend Hans-Jochim "Striezel" Stuck have to say at noon and 2 pm on 27 November.

A number of exhibition vehicles will also be drawing visitors to the BILSTEIN stand: the Fiat 500 Abarth in Polizia livery with the BILSTEIN B14 threaded kit, the VW Golf 6 R20 from Rothe Motorsport with BILSTEIN B16 PSS10 threaded kit and the 530 PS VLN Audi R8 in BILSTEIN outfit.

Fitted with the BILSTEIN B16 PSS 10 threaded kit, the 338 PS VW Golf R20 by Rothe Motorsport came top in the Compact Class at this year's Tuner Grand Prix at the Hockenheimring.

The Fiat 500 Abarth in Polizia livery is a real eye-catcher for car-tuning aficionados because the BILSTEIN B14 threaded kit with variable height-adjustment gives the vehicle a cool tuning look while injecting a powerful shot of sports energy into the compact Italian car.

All motor sport fans will be familiar with the blue and yellow Audi R8 LMS with BILSTEIN MDS shock absorbers. The BILSTEIN Audi successfully demonstrated its motor sport credentials on the legendary Nordschleife and other racing tracks. With its range of sport and threaded ride height adjustable kits, the suspension specialists from Ennepetal are putting racing technology onto the road.

Anyone interested in checking out state-of-the-art technology should visit the BILSTEIN stand at the Essen Motor Show. There they'll be treated to captivating show cars, appearances by tuning and motor racing stars, but above all - top quality suspension technology including customised tuning and motor sport solutions.

BILSTEIN stand (Hall 3.0, Stand 307)

www.bilstein.com

Essen 2009: Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing 'Dragstar'

One of the most eye-catching vehicles to go on display at this week's 2009 Essen Motor Show is the Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing 'Dragstar'. Inspired from the classic 1956 Mercedes sports car, the dragster was built in Switzerland and is driven by Stefan Winter. It features a fibreglass body and a 6.9-liter engine that produces 1,050bhp with power transferred to the rear wheels through a three-speed automatic gearbox.






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