Hamann Presents the BMW X5 Flash Evo M with up to 670HP

With 555 hp on tap, the stock BMW X5 M has enough power for most mortals, but Hamann disagrees, hence the birth of the Flash Evo M. Featuring an aggressive bodykit, the German tuner's version of the X5 M can be specified with one of two engines upgrades, delivering up to 670 hp, 22 or 23-inch alloys, tweaked suspension bits and bigger brakes. Various interior appointments are also available.

To improve the SAV's looks, Hamann designers used a new front spoiler, which can be fitted with two or four strips of LED daytime running lights, a carbon fiber bonnet, with additional vents for cooling the engine, and lowered side sills, connecting the massive fender extensions.

Engineers quickly ditched the standard exhaust and opted for two, centrally mounted tailpipes, integrated into the diffuser. Other exterior modifications include an equally aggressive rear spoiler and a roof spoiler (also made of carbon fiber), which increases downforce and improves stability at high speeds.

Buyers can choose between 22- and 23-inch wheels, but Hamann thinks you should take the bigger set claiming it gives the car "a truly sporty appearance".

Two power upgrades are offered, the first of which optimizes the ECU by removing the factory-installed 250 km/h (155 mph) speed-restriction and increases power to 610 hp and 780 Nm (575 lb-ft).

For those who think that more is better, Hamann supplies the HM 670 kit, which, besides the ECU tweak, comes with a sports muffler and catalysts. In this case, peak power is 670 hp, accompanied by 950 Nm (701 lb-ft) of torque, constant between 1,500 and 5,650 rpm. According to Hamann, the Flash Evo M can reach a top speed of 300 km/h (or 186 mph).

A sports suspension kit that lowers the ride height by 30 mm and larger brakes (405 mm front and 340 mm rear discs with 6- and 4-pot calipers, respectively) round off the performance upgrades.

Inside, there's a Hamann sport steering wheel as well as a modified speedometer, which maxes out at 320 km/h (199 mph). As with every Hamann-tuned vehicle, there many additional options, like special leather for the seats, combined with Alcantara, carbon fiber panels, aluminum pedals and stainless steel sill plates with illuminated Hamann logos.

Husqvarna Mille 3

Strange. That's how we'd best sum up this motorcycle concept and the company that made it.

Husqvarna got its start producing muskets for the Swedish military. The company still makes small arms, along with farm equipment, sewing machines, home appliances and motorcycles. Today these businesses are all separate enterprises, the motorcycle manufacturer based today in Italy and acquired three years ago by BMW.

A strange path, but certainly no stranger than their latest unveiling: the Mille 3 concept bike. Unveiled at the EICMA motorcycle show in Milan, the Mille 3 straddles the division between cruiser and sport bike about as widely as the rider would its low-slung seat. The handlebars are taken from an off-road bike, while the foot pegs sit far back like those on a sport bike.

Power is provided by a 933cc fuel-injected three-cylinder engine, but it's the design that sets it apart. Husqvarna says it indicates they're "always ahead of the game", but exactly what game that might be is a mystery to us.

2011 Aprilia Tuono V4R

It takes a lot to make a term like "naked" any sexier, but Aprilia has managed to do exactly that with its latest "naked bike," the new Tuono V4R. A beast of a machine (that looks sort of like an insect), the Tuono is based on the RSV4, but ditches the bodywork for a two-kilogram weight savings and a better view of the 1000cc DOHC V4 engine, which produces 162 horsepower and 81 pound-feet of tire-smoking torque. But the Tuono isn't just about grunt. In fact, it's one of the most sophisticated naked bikes on the market, and it's coming to the United States towards the end of next year.

Keeping all the twist and shout in check are the Aprilia Performance Ride Control and advanced traction control systems. The PRC is a three-position wheelie control system with programmable launch control that employs more accelerometers and gyroscopes than an Apple Store, allowing a little wheelspin out of the corners and offering eight modes that are adjustable right from the handlebars. The traction control, meanwhile, can automatically optimize itself according to the tires you've fitted. Yeah, that's pretty sophisticated. Pretty sexy, too, and you can check it out in closer detail in the high-resolution image gallery below.

Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport

If you live in India, your list of available supercars to purchase just grew by one very fast model. Bugatti has announced it will begin selling its Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport there. Undeterred by the nation's 110-percent import tax, Bugatti is taking orders for the topless two-door, which will cost about 160 million rupees or $3.6 million USD. For reference, the same model would cost you about $2.24 million here in the United States or €1.6 million in places dealing with Euros. After receiving the orders, the cars will take six to eight months to be delivered

India is a blooming market for luxury goods manufacturers, and Ferrari plans to follow Bugatti by shipping over its California hardtop convertible sportscar. Rolls-Royce, Jaguar and Land Rover are already selling in India... and selling quite well, as the number of Indian millionaires continues to grow.

If you do live in India, are in fact a multi-millionaire and are on the fence as to whether a Veyron belongs in your garage, we think you should re-read our First Drive of the Grand Sport. Case closed.

Hennessey's Venom GT is a Corvette-Powered Elise with 1,200HP

Some say you can't make a Lotus any better. Well, maybe they haven't head of Hennessey and its SEMA Show-bound Venom GT. The American firm's new toy is based on the Lotus Elise and, in its flagship version, comes equipped with an out-of-this-world 1,200 hp (895 kW) twin turbocharged V8 engine sourced from the Corvette. Power is sent to the rear wheels through a six-speed manual gearbox.

The V8-powered sports car also gets race-spec disc brakes sourced from Brembo with 15.2-inch diameter carbon-ceramic rotors and 6-piston aluminum calipers.

According to Hennessey, the Venom GT tips the scales at 2,685 lbs (1,220 kg). Estimated performance figures say that, this hypercar, will go from 0 to 60 mph (96 km/h) in just 2.4 seconds, and to 200mph (322 km/h) in 15.6 seconds.

In comparison, the Bugatti Veyron completes the 0-200mph sprint in 24.2 seconds. Hennessey's proposal tops out at a jaw-dropping 267mph or 429km/h.

For those that find 1,200HP a tad too much, Hennessey will also offer two more iterations of the V8 engine, one producing 725 hp (541 kW) and the other 1,000 horses (746 kW).

"We are very excited to have the opportunity to show our Venom GT in the Mobil 1 display at this year's SEMA show," said company founder and president, John Hennessey. "We first announced our interest in developing an ultra lightweight, ultra powerful sports car – the Venom GT concept – nearly three years ago during SEMA."

"Driving the Venom GT is a thrilling experience," Hennessey adds. "It is a driver's car, a supercar with a soul that will give you as much speed and performance as you dare ask of it. If you ever wanted to experience flying a military fighter jet, the Venom GT offers a similar visceral thrill of speed and performance. It's the quickest, fastest and most exciting vehicle that I have ever driven."

2006 Bentley Continental Flying Spur

Axl Rose, front man for hard rock band Guns N' Roses, has an appetite for destruction and his latest target is reportedly a 2006 Bentley Continental Flying Spur. According to celeb dish outlet TMZ.com, Rose is being sued by Bentley over a vehicle he leased. The car was given back several months after its scheduled date of return. That is just icing on a sweet cake of disregard however, as the car was allegedly returned with a cracked windshield, two damaged wheels, a broken taillight, a missing key, dents on the doors and damage to the bumper. Axl or his compadres also racked up serious seat time by going 42,000 miles over the lease limit.

The boys from Crewe have little Patience *ahem* for someone mistreating their property like this, and Bentley is suing Mr. Rose for nearly $74,000.

Making the Audi e-tron Spyder

Audi has pulled back the covers on how it created the e-tron Spyder for the Paris Motor Show, and it's giving us a rare glimpse into what went on behind the scenes. It took five months to turn the sketches into the Paris runway beauty, and Audi tells the story from the viewpoint of the designers modeling and how they balance styling with feasibility. Much of it was, of course, hand made, but even then it went beyond Audi's show-car usual, such as building wheels each containing 66 individual parts.

Not surprisingly, the tale begins like a superhero fable – "It is a functional, rectangular building with a gray facade – a hall like thousands of others in the industrial parks dotting our cities..." – and you'll find the details after the jump.

Cessna Citation Ten - Dashing Air Jet

Cessna Citation Ten - Dashing Air Jet


Latest Citation Ten business jet. Cessna is a well known air jet maker company, a few months rear Cessna announced the Citation Mustang High Sierra Edition and now this latest Citation Ten is its advanced version. It is built with improved technology and equipped in excellent features. It has Garmin G5000 avionics suite, Rolls-Royce engines and a Cessna-elite superior cabin management system.

The company grouped with Garmin and with Rolls-Royce for the Citation Ten jet’s best performance and ideal arrangement of speed,with a boost of 211 maritime miles in assortment at high-speed cruise, a faster rate of climb straight to 45,000 feet and a 214-pound raise in utmost payload. There is a 15-inch longer fuselage for more cabin space, an innovative electrical system, winglets for more well-organized performance, double lithium-ion batteries, auto throttle, new avionics, a proprietary fiber optic-based cabin management system and a redesigned.The company worked together with Dallas-based Heads for used Up Technologies in cabin management system.

However, jet includes avionics, cabin electrical systems and communications during a fiber optic backbone and an instinctive touch-screen user edge. Elective features contain satellite radio, internet browsing and cabin Wi-Fi. The Citation Ten is planned for primary flight in late 2011.

Toyota Tacoma RTR Concept

If you’re a carmaker who’s proud of the one-offs you’ve made as well as the limited versions of your production models, the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show is where you have to be. For this event that will take place this November in Las Vegas, Toyota has prepared several vehicles, including the Tacoma X-Runner RTR, where RTR stands for Ready to Race. The pick-up has received major modifications, especially to the powertrain and undercarriage. This model is powered by an i-Force 5.7l V8 engine, which has an output of 504 hp and 550 lb.-ft of torque due to a TRD (Toyota Racing Development) Supercharger Kit.

This unit is mated to a six-speed automatic transmission and TRD mechanical limited slip differential. The pickup has been lowered 4.5 inches from the stock X-Runner height. It now features 15-inch styled steel wheels at the front (wrapped in Goodyear Eagle Front Runners) and 10-inches at the rear, covered in Goodyear Eagle Dragway Specials.

The exterior wasn’t changed much but with its lowered ride, the paint scheme and other well placed graphics, this Tacoma is definitely unique. The interior gets the same customization as the exterior, getting details like “504 HP” graphics and TRD logos. What’s interesting is that to reduce the pickup’s weight, it had to lose its audio head unit, speakers, air conditioner, power windows, front fog lamps, windshield water bottle, and rear seats.