ABT Bids Farewell to VW Golf GTI Mk6 with Last Edition Special at Essen Motor Show

With the presentation of the VW Golf GTI Mk7 Concept alongside the regular Golf hatchbacks at the Paris Motor Show in September, it’s only a matter of time before we see the production ready model – as little as three months, if the Germans decide to show the car in Geneva, as we've heard. 

To honor the departing model, German tuning brand of all things related to the VW Group, ABT Sportsline, introduced a "Last Edition" version of the current Golf GTI Mk6 at the Essen Motor Show, which runs until December 9.

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9ff Brings New Porsche 911-Based GT9 Vmax with 1,381hp to Essen Motor Show

When it comes to insane Porsche builds, few companies can compete with Germany's 9ff and especially its crown jewel, the GT9, which is appearing in an updated form at this week's 2012 Essen Motor Show.

The GT9 Vmax is a new edition of the 9ff's supercar that is loosely based on the previous Porsche 911.

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Startech Goes Retro with Land Rover Series 3.1 Concept at the Essen Motor Show

Startech, a Brabus subsidiary that focuses its tuning attention on Jaguar-Land Rover Group models, released a new concept based on the latest Land Rover Defender at the Essen Motor Show that runs for the public from December 1 to 9.

Named the Defender Series 3.1 Concept, the study is inspired by the classic Land Rover Series III, which was produced from 1971 to 1984.

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TMG TS-650 Concept is a Lexus LS on Some Crazy Steroids and We Like It

We all know that automakers and custom shops alike often overdo it with their tuning concepts at events like the SEMA Show in Las Vegas and the Essen Motor Show in Germany, but once in a while, you see some pretty nifty creations like the TS-650 Concept made by Toyota's motorsports division and Lexus Europe.

The only thing that looks out of place on the TS-650 that made its world premiere today at the 2012 Essen Motor Show are the Toyota Motorsport GmbH (TMG) logos that replace the Lexus badges on the car.

We would also have preferred to see TMG base the TS-650 on the recently facelifted Lexus LS with its more sculpted body, but still, the Japanese brand's European designers deserve praise for turning a dull luxury limo into a fully fledged sports sedan.

The muscled up concept gains a wider body with blistered wheel arches along with matching front and rear bumpers, and a carbon fiber aero kit comprising a front lip spoiler, extended side skirts, rear diffuser and boot lid wing. The same lightweight material is also used on the roof and the front fender air vent trims.

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New Lexus LS TMG Sports 650 Concept Featuring a 641HP Twin-Turbo'd V8

So you think that the Lexus LS is a traditional luxury sedan for customers ripe in age with deep pockets who don't care about race tracks and performance numbers?

Well, that may hold true for the regular LS, which was recently redesign adopting a more modern appearance, but that's definitely not the case with the concept pictured here and which was prepared by Toyota Motorsport GmbH (TMG).

Based on the pre-facelift Lexus LS, the TMG Sport or TS-650 Concept is a track ready, high-performance saloon fitted with a 5.0-liter twin-turbocharged engine capable of reaching 9,000 rpm while delivering 641hp (650PS) and a peak torque of 710Nm (524 lb-ft).

An eight-speed transmission drives the car's wheels (we still don't know if the concept is all- or rear-wheel drive).

According to the Japanese carmaker's motorsport division, "its aerodynamics were developed in TMG's wind tunnels and significant development has been dedicated to handling."

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SpeedART Shows us What it Did to the New Porsche Boxster 981's Interior

After sharing pictures and details about the exterior and performance modifications it performed on the new generation Porsche Boxster (codenamed 981) as part of its SP81-R package, German tuning house SpeedART is now providing us with a glimpse of the work it did in the interior of the roadster model. Read more »

Toyota Motorsport GmbH Teases Lexus LS TS-650 Ahead of Essen Motor Show Debut

Remember the muscular Lexus LS prototype prepared by Toyota Motorsport GmbH (TMG) that our spies nabbed racing around the Nürburgring track last year?

Well, Toyota's motorsport division has finally made the decision to reveal the car in front of the public for the very first time at this month's 2012 Essen Motor Show in Germany, which runs from November 30 to December 9.

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TechArt Shows More of its New Porsche Boxster (981) Tuning Program

After a giving us a first taste of what it is preparing for the new generation of the Porsche Boxster (with the internal codename 981) in September, German aftermarket tuner TechArt released a fresh set of photos and some additional details on its styling and performance program.

"Our aim was to give the Porsche Boxster an even sportier expression with intelligently applied exterior components while simultaneously underlining the elegant look of the vehicle", says TechArt's Managing Director Thomas Behringer.

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Brabus Unleashes its Tuning Program for the New Mercedes-Benz A-Class

Mercedes-Benz's longtime tuning partner Brabus has come out with fresh details and visuals on the styling and performance accessories it has been working on for the new A-Class that is just being released in Europe, ahead of the program's world premiere at the 2012 Essen Motor Show in Germany this December.

Previously, Brabus had showed us an A-Class rolling on 19-inch wheels and a sports suspension kit, but the tuner's program is far more elaborate.

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BMW to Debut M Performance 3-Series Touring Line at Essen Motor Show

About a month after the SEMA Show that kicks off today, Europe will have its own aftermarket festival in the guise of the 45th annual Essen Motor Show, which takes place in Germany from December 1 to 9.

The BMW brand will be there with a host of production and racing models including its full M Performance range and Original BMW Accessories lineup.

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New Renault Clio IV gets its First Tuning Job, Courtesy of Elia AG

It hasn't even been a month since Renault hosted the world premiere of the fourth generation of the Clio at the Paris Motor Show, yet German firm Elia AG has already come out with a tuning proposition for the French supermini.

Set to be revealed in the flesh at the upcoming the 2012 Essen Motor Show in Germany, which will be open to the public from December 1 to 9, Elia's aftermarket package will include both styling and mechanical upgrades.

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TechArt Previews Styling and Chassis Upgrades for New Porsche Boxster

About a month after the 2012 SEMA Show in Las Vegas at the end of October, Europe will host its own aftermarket and tuning show in Essen, Germany, and it is at this event that Porsche tuning specialist TechArt will perform the world premiere of a new package for the third generation Boxster roadster (codenamed 981). Read more »

Steinmetz Hatches New Tuning Program for Opel Astra GTC

With the upcoming Astra OPC, Opel and its sister company Vauxhall have pretty much covered the needs of the go-fast crowd, but for those that already have a regular GTC model and would like some modest upgrades, Steinmetz revealed a new tuning program at the Essen Motor Show that runs from November 26 to December 4. Read more »

Brabus Unleashes a 611HP Hair Blower at the Essen Motor Show

Renowned Mercedes-Benz tuning house, Brabus, has chosen the Essen Motor Show, which is Europe's annual tuning extravaganza, to reveal its customized Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Roadster.

Targeting those that want added power and a more personalized look for their open-top SLS AMG, Brabus has developed a detailed program that starts with the engine bay.

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Startech Shows Off New Range Rover Evoque at Essen Motor Show

Making its European debut at this week's Essen Motor Show is the Startech tuning program for the new Range Rover Evoque. Startech, which is a sub-division of the Brabus brand, first revealed its take on the British crossover model at the Dubai International Motor Show earlier this month.

Rather than improve its off-road capabilities, the German tuning company says that all of the available upgrades for the three- and five-door variants of the Evoque were developed to make the crossover more capable on the road where it will spend if not all, most of its time.

The product lineup includes a new front apron, a roof wing and a rear apron that houses a diffuser and the reshaped quad tail pipes. The crossover model's sportier stance is further enhanced with suspension kit that lowers the ride height by up to 30mm (1.2-inches) and custom-tailored alloy wheels offered in various color combos and 20- or 22-inch diameters.

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Brabus Celebrates 2012 Mercedes-Benz M-Class Tune at Essen Motor Show:

Brabus has arrived at this year's Essen Motor Show with a new tuning program for the latest generation of Mercedes-Benz's M-Class SUV.

Starting with the visual upgrades, the German tuner has developed a comprehensive aero package that includes a front apron, side skirts, a front fender attachment with an illuminated Brabus logo, a rear apron with a diffuser and an available roof spoiler.

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AC Schnitzer Reveals 2012 BMW 650i Coupe Tune Ahead of Essen Motor Show [with Video]

Looking to offer enthusiasts more options for customizing the new 2012 BMW 6-Series Coupe, AC Schnitzer will unveil its new tuning program for the 650i at this week's 2011 Essen Motor Show in Germany.

Dubbed the ACS6 5.0i, the package includes a performance upgrade with unspecified modifications for the 4.4-liter turbocharged V8 engine that help lift output from 407HP to 540-horses.

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Essen Motor Show: AC Schnitzer Adds Speed and Style to New BMW 1-Series F20

Making its world premiere at this week's 2011 Essen Motor Show in Germany is AC Schnitzer's tuning program for the new BMW 1-Series F20 hatchback with both styling and performance upgrades.

AC Schnitzer starts with a power kit that is available initially on the four-cylinder diesel models of the 1-Series, which get a reprogrammed engine control unit and other unspecified mods. In the 118d, output is lifted from 143HP to 171HP, while in the 120d, from 184HP to 210HP.

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Hofele-Design to Debut Porsche Cayster GT670 at the 2011 Essen Motor Show

Next up on our motor show calendar is the largest tuning event in Europe, the 2011 Essen show in Germany, where Hofele-Design will introduce its own bespoke take on the Porsche Cayenne called the Cayster GT 670.

The package bundles a new aero body kit that includes wheel arch extensions, a rear apron with a diffuser, a front apron with a skid plate, side skirts, a roof spoiler and real carbon fiber trim bits for the body.

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Premiere for BMW and BMW M Performance at the 2011 Essen Motor Show

November is shaping up to be by far the most intense motor show month of the year as we've already had two major events, the 2011 SEMA Show and this week's 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show, with two more heading our way, the 2011 Essen Motor Show and the 2011 Tokyo Motor Show.

The Essen Motor Show, which is the European equivalent of SEMA and takes place in Germany from November 26 to December 4, is up next. Today, BMW announced that its BMW Performance and BMW M Performance divisions will officially participate in the tuning show for the very first time (for those of you counting, we used the word "Show" 8 times, and the word "BMW" three times…in the same sentence).

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