Tommy Kaira and ASI Toyota Prius

Eco-friendly cars are the talk of the town for the moment. Every manufacturer is either producing one or planning to. Toyota is an acknowledged leader in the field with its Prius hybrid as well as others. Few respected tuners have embraced the green thing so far, unless they are based in Japan where it almost seems the government has a decree forcing tuners to work on "green" cars as well.

How else do you explain the flurry of activity coming from enviro-friendly garages around the country? This Prius done by Tommi Kaira is but one of these. It features low front lips, big front air dams shaped like those of an Audi R8, thick rims, wide side skirts and a new rear bumper. The Prius logo is missing, as is the discretion normally linked to the car. Most striking though are the four tailpipes which do not in any way suggest "green". In fact they have the opposite effect on the eye.

Cars like the GT-R or the Impreza STI are well-suited for power and body upgrades. They are expected to pollute the eardrum along with the planet, and their fans love them for it. Prius and Honda Insight are quite different simply because of the statement they make.



There certainly is a future in eco-tuning (new word for you) but no one is quite sure what it looks like. That's perhaps why cars like this one could be discarded in current tuning circles. One such tuner is Ben Schaffer, owner of Bespoke Ventures. His company is a major American/international parts distributor and marketer for top Japanese tuning brands (KenStyle, Top Secret). Schaffer's view is that eco is good yes, but it has no place in the world of powerhouses like the R35 GT-R. Moderation is the key instead of jumping on the bandwagon. He reminds his fellow competitors/colleagues not to lose sight of their core business and enthusiasm which is sports cars.

Carlsson CK63 RS based on Mercedes Benz E63 AMG

Carlsson a well known tuner for Mercedes Benz is again production powerful version of the new E-Class saloon, the E63 AMG. The German tuner's treatment brings power up from 525HP to 584HP and peak torque from 630Nm to 695Nm (512 lb-ft). The higher performance figures for the 6.3-liter V8 were achieved through a reprogrammed ECU, a sport exhaust system and various other upgrades.

The extra power allows the E63 AMG which Carlsson renamed to CK63 RS, accelerated from zero to 100km/h (62mph) in 4.5 seconds, or three tenths of a second faster than the factory model.

Carlsson also added a few aero parts into the mix like the modified front apron, new side skirts and a rear apron that houses a carbon-fiber diffuser. The company claims that the bodykit helps increase downforce at high speeds. The kit is complemented by a set of 20-inch bi-color 1/5 REVO alloy wheels.

Depending on how much you're willing to spend on the CK63 RS, Carlsson can also dress the entire cabin with special leathers while other highlights include the aluminium trim options and the illuminated floor mats.

Bentley Continental GT Bullet by TopCar

TopCar a well known tuner from Russia has released new package an aerodynamic and wheel programme for Bentley's Continental GT and GT Speed coupe models. Called "Bullet", the package includes a new bonnet with air-intakes, a GT Speed grille (only for the GT obviously), front bumper with LED daytime running lights and a lip spoiler, side skirts and rear bumper with an integrated diffuser and side air-vents.

A discreet boot lid spoiler, new exhaust tips, tinted front and rear lights and the black window frames and lower moldings complete the aero package. Furthermore, the GT Speed's 20-inch alloys are finished in a darker shade and are available for the 'base' Continental GT.



The total cost of the aero kit including the forged alloy wheels amounts to €25,000 (about $37,000 US) while customers can opt for carbon fiber parts in which case the price increases to €30,000 (approximately $44,000 US). If you like the matte black finish on the model pictured here, then you'll have to deposit another €7,000 or $10,300 US.

The company said that it also developing new front fenders with large air-intakes that can be seen on the white Continental GT in the gallery. The cost for the front fenders is €5,000 or $7,300 at today's exchange rates.

Wald International Lexus RX350 - RX450h

Feast your eyes on one of Wald International's latest Black Bison styling packages that give the Lexus RX350 and its hybrid counterpart, the RX450h an aggressive new look. The cosmetic makeover includes a new front bumper with large air-inlets, matching side skirts, a new rear bumper that houses a diffuser, different treatment for the grille and a pair of twin tail pipes.

A roof spoiler and Wald International's multispoke alloy wheels shod in chunkier rubber help complete the new look for the Japanese automaker's luxury SUV. Customers can also upgrade the car with interior enhancements such as an alloy pedal set and specific floor mats.

Ferrari 458 Italia by ASI Tuning

Japanese tuning firm ASI has already got down to tuning the new 458 Italia and has released a set of teaser photo’s of two styling packages currently under consideration. Nothing has been confirmed yet but one thing in common with both design proposals is the F430 like front-end. The 458’s front intake gaps have been replaced with larger twin air inlets that mimic the styling of it’s predecessor - the F430.The package also includes new side skirts, a rear wing and updated alloy wheels, all finished in black. Got to say that the 458 Italia is now one gorgeous prancing beauty. More news on this once we’re updated.

Renault for 2-year Suspended Ban; Briatore Ban for Life

The consensus of opinion following yesterday’s meeting of the World Motor Sport Council (WMSC) and the lifetime ban of the Renault team – suspended for two years – was that the team escaped lightly from what has been perceived as the worst case of cheating in the history of Formula One.

Flavio Briatore was handed a lifetime ban from any FIA sanctioned series, while co-conspirator Pat Symonds received a five year ban. The team itself however were not fined and did not have any points deducted as had been widely predicted. Instead the team was forced to pay the costs of the investigation – estimated at US $1.6m - and make an undisclosed contribution to the FIA’s safety programme.

“A suspended two year ban for Renault means nothing, they’re not really going to do that again are they,” Martin Brundle told the BBC. “They’re having to put some money into the safety fund - we don’t know how much. Many will perceive them as having been treated quite lightly compared to say McLaren of 2007.”

FIA president Max Mosley claimed that the penalty handed out was the “harshest one we can inflict,” something that few publicly support given that it is suspended - and diametrically opposed to the punishment faced by McLaren when they were found guilty of breaching the same regulation (Article 151c) in 2007. The WMSC found McLaren guilty of possessing confidential data from Ferrari and the team were hit with a US $100m fine - which brings up the issue of collective responsibility as well as parity.

“The FIA cannot have it both ways,” reported the Times.”The bill for the investigation is about $1.6 million, which makes Renault’s sanction roughly $98.4 million cheaper [than that faced by McLaren]”. Spain’s El Mundo agreed, calling crash-gate “a scandal without precedent and almost without punishment.”

The Daily Mail likened Renault’s feat to “The Great Escape”, arguing that the French team “should not only be permanently expelled from the track, but face serious criminal charges.”

Singapore newspaper The Straits Times accused F1’s governing body of “one of sport’s biggest cop-outs” and said by not harshly penalising the deliberate crash, the FIA is telling F1’s fans and marshals “that their lives are far less important than possibly losing the support of a car-making giant.”

The New York Times agreed that the FIA had moved to safeguard “the participation of one of its most powerful and wealthy sponsors”, and Britain’s Daily Telegraph said “no one had foreseen quite how lenient the punishment would be”.

The decision clearly pins the blame on three individuals, two of which have been banned from the sport and one who was granted immunity for ‘blowing the whistle’. In the past, ‘rogue’ activities from individuals employed by a team have resulted in the whole team being punished, be that in Formula One or the World Rally Championship.

It is of little surprise that headlines such as “Fury as Renault get easy ride over crash-gate” (The Times), “Renault are lucky to get away with suspended ban” (The Guardian) and “Teams are in the driving seat” (The Independent) are adorning the back pages of our newspapers.

Max Mosley can talk of the WMSC handing down the “harshest” penalty available to the governing body, but he defends the decision to penalise only the individual conspirators rather than revert to the principle of collective responsibility.

“Renault has demonstrated that they have absolutely no moral responsibility for what took place so it would be wrong to impose an immediate penalty,” Mosley insisted. “The blame has been placed where it should be placed and it’s the right decision.”

Clearly not everyone is buying Mosley’s line. Ari Vatanen, an independent candidate to succeed Mosley in October’s presidential elections, said the fact that the world smells an inside deal strengthens his case for “absolutely independent justice” in these sorts of disciplinary matters. World champion Damon Hill agreed. “Knowing what we know, we cannot dissociate this from the power play going on behind the scenes for control of Formula One,” he said.

French industry minister Christian Estrosi. “It is a good thing for French industry and a good thing for the sport in general,” he told L’Equipe.”

Double world champion Mika Hakkinen meanwhile simply wants the sport to move on from the latest controversy. “The show must go on,” he told Reuters. “People who have done wrong, they need a penalty. Life has to go on. I think what is important now is a great grand prix is coming…”

Kimi Raikkonen Signs For Mclaren

Kimi Raikkonen has signed an “outline agreement” to kick off a second tenure with the McLaren team beginning next season, the Mirror newspaper reported on Sunday.

The British newspaper said the 29-year-old Finn, who raced with the Woking based outfit between 2002 and 2006, must first reach an agreement with Ferrari, with whom he is under contract for one more season.

The Mirror cited “paddock sources” in claiming that Raikkonen is prepared to vacate his contracted Ferrari seat in 2010, but only if the famous Italian outfit pays his salary. The newspaper estimated Raikkonen’s 2010 Ferrari contract at nearly US $49m.

The report also said the news ties in with Nico Rosberg’s link with Brawn and the Brackley team’s burgeoning relationship with Mercedes-Benz.

The German manufacturer Mercedes was said to be pushing for Rosberg to replace Heikki Kovalainen at McLaren, but may now have resolved to push the German driver to Brawn and increase its involvement with the Ross Brawn-led outfit.

MFK Autosport Gives a Small Boost to the Audi R8

MFK Autosports a well known tuner from Germany has gotten its hands on the Audi R8 offering a series of small upgrades for the 'entry-level' V8 model. Thanks to the reprogrammed electronics, the 4.2-liter FSI engine's output climbs from 420 horsepower to 450HP while buyers may also opt for a "flap-controlled sport exhaust system". The price for the upgraded ECU is €1,995 and for the exhaust system including mounting, €5,700.

The tuner also offers a set of Schmidt Revolution GT Performance 19-inch alloy wheels mounted on beefy 245/35 tires on the front axle and 315/30 at the back. The complete set of wheels is available for €7,699.

For those that want to further personalize their car, MFK Autosport said that it offers an extensive list with additional features and performance upgrades.