Many of us feel that aerodynamic add-on to the front of any car should be relegated to a simple and tasteful lip spoiler.  If you have a GT-R such a thing may be pretty hard to find but there are a few out there.  One of my favorites is the VTR front spoiler by Ventross.  It is a great alternative to their more aggressive front bumper, it also has a simple clean design, and it is still made with Ventross’ trademark honeycomb dry carbon fiber production methods.

It has been a long while since I’ve posted any Password:JDM goodies but that hasn’t stopped them from continuing to produce some fresh stuff.  Right now they have a special going on in which you can pick up an entire Mitsubishi Evo X carbon kevlar engine packagefor just under $1,400.  That isn’t bad considering the quality of these carbon kevlar pieces!

So what do you get in the package?  It comes with: cold air intake box, aluminum MAF with velocity stack, high-flow reusable air filter, radiator cooling plate with integrated ram air scoops, engine cover, spark plug cover, and all the hardware you need to mount it on.

Is a product still considered “aftermarket” if it’s offered by the OEM themselves?  I asked myself this question when I read the press release from BMW about their new line of carbon fiber exterior parts for the M3.  The menu so far consists of front lip add-ons, side mirror caps, and a deck lid spoiler.  I think someone from BMW has been paying close attention to our friends at Vorsteiner!  Either way the pieces look pretty nice but I wonder if the price point (not announced in press release) will make it worth the time to buy parts from BMW rather than sticking with the aftermarket.

Not sure why SP Engineering shipped in these Recaro Carbon Fiber GT-R Spec V seats but I’m glad they did because I finally get a closer look at these bad boys!  If Recaro took the GT-R emboss off the middle of these seats they could sell them to anyone for almost any price.  Heck, they’re probably doing that already!  They’re way too beautiful to discriminate against just because of a mere logo!

I’ve decided to follow up one Euro post with another.  This time I’m throwing up the new Vorsteiner V6E aero package for the Mercedes Benz E63 AMG sedan.  Normally one wouldn’t think it would be possible to make an AMG variant look even more aggressive than it is already but as usual Vorsteiner found a way.  The carbon fiber front spoiler, rear diffuser, and deck-lid spoiler really add another dimension of brutality to an otherwise refined roughneck.  The V-308 concave wheels doesn’t hurt the situation either.

No, you haven’t suddenly become illiterate.  That is in fact a “2″ not a “3″ in front of that “GT” and behind that “RS”.  Could it mean a lighter, more powerful version of ’ ultimate twin-turbo beast?  Yes Virgina, there is a new supercar..  The 2011 Porsche 911 GT2 RS recently broke cover due to some cell-phone spy shots at a recent dealer conference so Porsche decided to fully yank the curtain off and debut the new turbo-beast.  So what do we get in the GT2 RS?  How about 90 extra horses and a diet of 154lbs.  Sprinkle in some carbon fiber, alcantara, a roll cage, a $245,000 MSRP, and you have the new subject of our automotive wet dreams.  Check out the video below for some footage of the new German superhero in action.

This press release came out a little while ago but I didn’t get around to it until now.  Despite recent troubles Toyota/Lexus has been a pioneer in hybrid cars.  And since they’ve pretty much run the gamut in all things automotive, the engineers at Lexus decided to adapt they’re hybrid tech to a bike!  When you pedal you have the assistance of a 240W electric motor boosting the front wheel for you.  Also, like their hybrid cars the battery for the bicycle is recharged using kinetic energy displaced under breaking.  The bike also has an electric 8-speed transmission and a carbon fiber frame.  I’d much rather ride around one of these instead of those flimsy fixed-gear bikes that the kids are peddling around these days..

Press Release:

Introducing the Lexus Hybrid Bicycle Concept

Lexus has established itself as an industry leader in bringing advanced technologies to the premium car market. Now it has applied the same thinking on a smaller scale to create the Lexus Hybrid Bicycle, a design concept the captures the fundamental engineering and design values of the brand, but with two wheels rather than four.

In every aspect this is Lexus, from the L-finesse design language of the engaging and elegant frame, to the application of hybrid power, an electric eight-speed transmission and lightweight carbon fibre construction.

Lexus has brought what is one of the only two examples in existence to the UK for the first time, following the bicycle’s debut at the 2009 Tokyo motor show. Its arrival coincides with the announcement of Lexus’s title sponsorship of the Great British Bike Ride, a four-day charity fun ride that will see hundreds of cyclists following a course from Land’s End to the home of English rugby at Twickenham.

Lexus has pioneered high performance, low emissions and optimum fuel efficiency with its full hybrid Lexus Hybrid Drive powertrain technology. The Hybrid Bicycle adopts similar principles, with the pedal power of the rider boosted by assistance to the front wheel from a 240W electric motor, via a 25.9V Lithium-ion battery, with a choice of Eco or Power modes. And, as with Lexus Hybrid Drive, there is an energy regeneration function that helps recharge the battery by capturing kinetic energy generated under braking.

The Lexus Hybrid Bicycle has all-wheel drive, by means of a belt system. It is equipped with an electric eight-speed Shimano internal gear system, which references the sophisticated eight-speed shift-by-wire automatic transmission of Lexus’s LS 600h limousine. The carbon fibre construction shares the same light-but-strong composite materials technology that was used on Valentino Rossi’s MotoGP-winning motorcycle.

There are no current plans for the Lexus Hybrid Bicycle to become a production model.

Vorsteiner just pulled the curtain off their latest creation dubbed the “GTRS3“.  This tuning program for the E92 M3 is one of the FRESHEST aero treatments I’ve seen in a long time! But the GTRS3 is beyond just a body kit.  It also includes Vorsteiner concave V-308 three piece forged wheels to fill in all that delicious rear fender arch space.  The package also includes special German flag colored BMW roundels and other badging.  This set up is THE WAY TO GO if you are looking to go full-on with your E92 M3.

Press Release:

Vorsteiner announces the world debut of the GTRS3 M3 Widebody Aero Package

Vorsteiner is proud to announce the world debut of the GTRS3 M3 Widebody Coupe. The GTRS3 represents a breathtaking leap into the more intrepid side of our GTS model, pronounced by the GTRS3’s exaggerated wide body stance.

The GTRS3’s all-new aerodynamic package is summed up by the GTRS3 Carbon Fiber Front Bumper, GTRS3 Carbon Fiber Front Fenders, GTRS3 Carbon Fiber Side Skirts, GTRS3 Carbon Fiber Extended Rear Quarter Panels, and the GTRS3 Carbon Fiber Rear Bumper.

The GTRS3 Carbon Fiber Front Bumper features a wider, race car-like stance with our trademark GTS Carbon Fiber Front Spoiler. The GTS Carbon Fiber Spoiler may be replaced as a separate unit in the event that it is ever damaged without disrupting the front bumper. Its aggressive lines flow smoothly into the GTRS3 Carbon Fiber Front Fenders, which are accented by the vertical vents allowing for greater air flow to cool down the front large disc monobloc brakes from Brembo.

From the front fenders, the aggressive lines are maintained by the GTRS3 Carbon Fiber Side Skirts. The GTRS3 Side Skirts keep the new added width, enhancing the air flow and reducing drag. The GTRS3 Side Skirts are followed fluidly by the GTRS3 Carbon Fiber Extended Rear Quarter Panels that house the V-308 20 inch forged 3-piece wheels with its 12.5J width and massive Michelin PS2 Tires in 325/25ZR20. The GTRS3 Extended Rear Quarter Panels present an imposing race car like stance, complemented by the GTRS3 Carbon Fiber Rear Bumper.

The GTRS3 Rear Bumper features dual side vents at the rear wheel well as well as a large integrated optical carbon fiber rear diffuser with dual aero fins.

The GTRS3 M3 Widebody Aero Package comes standard with a choice of 1-piece or 3-Piece Vorsteiner wheels as well as Michelin PS2 Sport tires as part of the overall package.

The demonstration vehicle also features a forced induction power kit from VF Engineering that takes the stock E92 M3 coupe from 414bhp to 600bhp on 91 octane gasoline that has been custom software tuned by GIAC.

The custom matte green paint work and installation has been exclusively performed by C&C Collision based out of Pasadena, California. C&C Collision Inc. has also been selected as the exclusive installer for the GTRS3 kit within North America.

The GTRS3 Coupe package is our flagship product within the BMW product lineup with only 100 examples being produced worldwide with individual serial identification plates & badges which will be included with the car.

Our valued technology partners in creating the GTRS3 Coupe includes:

 

• VF Engineering
• C&C Collision
• Brembo
• GIAC
• Michelin Tires
• KW Suspension

The GTRS3 is now available for customer orders through our qualified Premier authorized Vorsteiner dealers worldwide. For more information please visit our website at: www.vorsteiner.com/gtrs3

I’ve always asked myself when Vorsteiner would start working on Italian supercars and it looks like that day is soon coming.  The So Cal based Euro tuner has released a few preview images of a new dry carbon rear diffuser for the Ferrari F430.  Their version is 30% lighter than the stock piece and looks pretty serious.  A release date has not been announced yet but we’ll keep you posted!

I love Ferrari stuff almost as much as I love their cars.  Just look at this Black-Carbon “Paddock” chronograph.  Isn’t this the hardest watch you’ve ever seen!?  And it also comes with carbon fiber cufflinks!  Its only draw-back is that it costs nearly a grand!  I guess only people who already have Ferrari’s can afford this thing.