German tuning studios are by far the best in Europe. Moreover, many of them simply do not have competitors of an equal "weight" category. All this fully applies to the Brabus studio, which in recent years has grown into a real holding, which, in addition to the studio itself, includes the smart-Brabus joint venture with Daimler AG, a subsidiary of Startech, which is engaged in the “pumping” of Jaguar cars / Land Rover, the restoration division of Brabus Classic and two divisions offering design and interior design for business jets and yachts - Brabus Private Aviation and Brabus Yachting, respectively.
Black Baron - this is the name he received fastest sedan peace. Brabus engineers equipped the car with a unique aerodynamic body kit, a 6.3 liter V12 bi-turbo engine with 800 hp. (1450 N m) and as a result - a maximum speed of 370 km / h. The Black Baron exchanges the first hundred in 3.7 seconds, the second in 9.9 seconds, and the third in 23.9 seconds. In total, ten supersedans were produced at a price of 600,000 euros.
It all started in 1977, when two partners - Klaus Brakman and Bodo Buschmann - founded the Brabus company in the town of Bottrop, the name of which was made up of the initial letters of their surnames. At first, the partners were engaged in minor improvements to cars, and then, after Brackmann sold his share to Bushman, Brabus quickly began to turn into one of the best West German tuning studios. Bodo Bushman managed to create a team that was able to solve any problems. For my Brabus history made several record-breaking cars, many of which are still considered the fastest serial machines planets. Unfortunately, in April of this year, Bushman passed away at the age of 62. However, its working methods, personnel policy and betting on bold technical solutions have become the philosophy of Brabus, and, despite the loss of the founding father, the iconic German studio is unlikely to become one iota weaker.
In America, the Texas company Hennessey Performance has achieved the greatest success. Founded in 1991 by former race car driver John Hennessy, this American workshop has quickly become one of the most productive in the world. Hennessey Performance has a very extensive dealer network, selling its machines in North and South America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East.
The most powerful and dynamic SUV in the world thousand-horsepower Hennessey Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk HPE1000 accelerates to 100 km/h in 2.8 seconds. This is not dreamed of by many supercars. The most surprising thing is that the record-breaking SUV did without a fanciful aerodynamic body kit and outwardly practically does not differ from the usual
In addition, the American studio is a full-fledged automaker that previously produced the Hennessey Venom GT hypercar and announced its successor, the Hennessey Venom F5, last year. The release of this hypercar, which should become the fastest car in the world, will be handled by subsidiary Hennessey Special Vehicles. John Hennessy also owns the Tuner School, an educational institution that trains engineers, many of whom have already found jobs both at Hennessey Performance and other companies of a similar profile. Since 1991, the American tuning studio has "pumped" more than 10,000 cars of various brands - no other studio has achieved similar results so far.
Great Britain
In Britain, with its automotive traditions, the greatest success in tuning has been achieved ... Pakistani Afzal Kan. Rather, a subject of Her Majesty of Pakistani origin. According to Kahn, as a child, he had to go to school in his father's boots, as the family of a poor Pakistani ice cream man did not have enough money. However, the father managed to pay for his son's education, and Afzal Kan received the prestigious profession of an architect. However, he did not work as an architect for a single day, but instead patented the design of a rim with original spokes, then set up its production and earned his first money on this. Further more.
In 1998, Kahn opened Kahn Design, a company engaged in various design projects and trading in car accessories, then a tuning studio, Project Kahn, was opened, and after that, a division of the Chelsea Truck Company, "pumping" exclusively Jeep SUVs and Land Rover. The ambitious Anglo-Pakistani did not stop there, he started producing wristwatches and went into real estate, opening the company Kahn Landmark. Currently, Kahn's enterprises pump about 250 vehicles annually, and he is also a preferred partner for Land Rover, Cosworth, Jeep and the London Taxi Company.
Russia
Russia cannot boast of such a number of tuning studios as in other countries, however, the Moscow company Top Car may well be considered a grand. The projects of the Top Car studio have long been recognized not only in our country, but also abroad, because Top Car engineers create cars that are not inferior to their foreign counterparts. It all started in 2004, when Moscow businessman Oleg Egorov wanted to "pump" his Porsche Cayenne and just couldn't find a suitable tuning studio. Then he decided to correct this misunderstanding and he took up tuning. And as it happened more than once in other countries, a serious business was born from this.
Among the many premium car tuning firms, the recently opened Italian company Ares Performance stands out, positioning itself not just as a "tuning" studio, but as best tuning studio!
The engineers and designers of the company, located in Modena, the birthplace of Enzo Ferrari, compare their approach to business with the work of a tailor who not only approaches the cut and wheelbarrow according to individual patterns with soul, but also carefully selects the material for the future suit. Chief designer Mihai Panaitescu also applies to the choice of materials for the interior - and these are various types of leather, natural wood, high-quality glass and metal - and to the exterior of the cars that Ares Performance works on. Despite his youth, Mihai managed to work at Toyota and Lotus, where he gained experience, but did not lose the creative enthusiasm of a true artist.
For the “stuffing” of Ares Performance products, a man is responsible - the legend of the European automobile industry, Wolf Zimmermann, who is known for his work in MercedesBenz AMG and Lotus. Ares Performance already has tuning programs for Aston Martin rapide s, range rover Sport, Range Rover Vogue, Bentley Continental GT, and in the near future - Rolls-Royce Wraith and Ghost II, as well as Lamborghini Huracan. The “improvement” of cars, which already represent the pearls of the industry, concerns not only the appearance and interiors, but also the increase in engine power. For example, a tuned Aston Martin Rapide S gets an extra 50 hp under the hood. and can accelerate up to 320 km/h. So far, Ares Performance does not have a permanent representative office in Russia, but it counts on our market as one of the key ones. More information about the company's products and plans can be found at www.ares-performance.com
Our reference
Wolf Zimmermann, CTO Ares Performance technical part projects are in charge of Wolf Zimmermann, former chief engineer of Lotus and a legendary figure in general. The fact is that he previously served on the board of directors of MercedesBenz AMG and personally led the development Mercedes-Benz models SLS. This young man has already completed an internship at the Pininfarina studio, and then worked for Toyota and Lotus. For the first time, Mihai Panaitescu was talked about back in 2007, when he, being a 20-year-old student, became the winner of the Peugeot Design Contest.
Good afternoon everyone. I decided to write a post dedicated to tuning companies around the world)
Tuning studio G-power
Founder: Johan Grommisch
Year of foundation of the company: 1983
City: Frankfurt
Country: Germany
Website: www.g-power.de
The Grommisches began working with BMW in 1971, but they managed to establish their own company, which has survived to this day, only in 1983. They called their tuning studio modestly, but with taste: G-power. Despite the fact that the official history of the company is only 26 years old, the founders have more than 38 years of experience in this field of activity.
What is this tuning studio famous for? Yes, at least the fact that its development holds a new world speed record among mass-produced sedans. It was after G-power employees worked on the BMW M5 that the car reached an unprecedented speed for this class of cars - over 367 km / h. The result is impressive.
The tuner is famous for such tricks. To improve the car brand bmw, he has absolutely everything that is needed for this, and even a little more. So, in serial cars, only if the customer wishes, he can install additional equipment, replace some factory parts of both the body and the insides, after which you will see a monster in the same shell with more than 700 "horses" under the hood.
Employees of the company individually approach each client, allowing to individualize each car. BMW - the car itself is perfect in every sense of the word. It turns out that the tuners from G-power, no more, no less, cut diamonds. In addition to improving the technical characteristics, it is worth noting that the studio's specialists are also working hard on the interiors of the salons. Designers bring to life any whim of the client, while using only high-quality, natural materials.
Despite the fact that G-power focuses on sports cars, the tuner also cares about preserving the environment. So the company is developing the latest equipment, which will be able to reduce the harmful effects of combustion processes on the environment.
Tuning studio Gemballa
Founder: Uwe Gemballa
Year of foundation of the company: 1981
City: Leonberg
Country: Germany
Website: www.gemballa.com
Type of tuning: Porsche car tuning
Strict and restrained cars easily turn into aggressive shocking monsters that are not difficult to describe in one word. A seemingly frivolous convertible? Please. Or an aggressive sports car for everyday use that goes completely beyond the standard presentation. Porsche cars? No problem. Any shape, any color - any whim of the client. The only condition is quality, but quality is very high level.
Throughout its work, the Gemballa tuning studio has been constantly improving its products, conducting the necessary examinations, quality assessments and tests. Everything is explained by one simple desire - to achieve perfection. Among other things, this brought the company international fame, and also helped to receive the title of the first Porsche engine tuning company. Improve Porsche car, they say in the company, means to turn it into a perfect unique copy.
Avalanche, Mirage GT and GT Aero 3 are some of the tuning house's most high-profile works that were created on the basis of production models of the 911, Carrera GT and Cayenne. In each of them, the sporty style was especially emphasized. The tuner did not focus on one thing, he approached the solution of the problem in a complex way: the chassis, the aerodynamics of the car, the engine, the exhaust and brake systems - all the main mechanisms were affected.
In the style of Gemballa - to develop and offer several options for tuning one model. This is done so that the client can choose how seriously he wants to modify his car: 100%, beyond recognition, or emphasize individuality with just a few strokes. Despite a significant number of tuning studios specializing in fine-tuning Porsche cars, Gemballa is not lost in this abundance, but rather holds a leading position, favorably differing from its colleagues.
Tuning studio Alpina
Founder: Burkard Bofenzipen
Year of foundation of the company: 1964
City: Bukhloe
Country: Germany
Website: www.alpina-automobile.de
Type of tuning: Tuning BMW cars
Story Alpina originates in the 60s of the last century. It was at this time that Burkard Bofenzipen conducts his first experiments on fine-tuning engines. The first success of Burkard Bofenzipen and his future company was the modernization of the engine of the BMW 1500, the power of which was increased from 80 to 92 hp. BMW specialists, after careful research of the work of Bofenzipen, recognize it as very high quality and retain the factory warranty for the car. In the same period, a company specializing in fine-tuning BMW models is created, which employs 8 people.
To date, Alpina is already a large enterprise, producing about 600 exclusive cars in year. The company continues to work exclusively with car bmw. Alpina gets at its disposal only the body and the engine of the car in disassembled form. Each model is assembled by hand. As a result, we get a variant that is very similar to the donor. Moreover, each model is necessarily equipped with branded rims with 20 spokes, applications along the side of the body, front and rear spoilers.
Particular attention is paid to working with a motor that is assembled by one person, whose initials adorn the plate attached to the motor. The master who assembles the power unit independently decides what needs to be removed or added, after which the motor is sent for a “cold break-in”. Important milestones: modernization of the steering, suspension and brake system.
Tuning studio AMG
Founder: Hans Werner Aufrecht and Erhard Melcher
Year of foundation of the company: 1967
City: Affalterbach
Country: Germany
Website: www.mercedes-amg.com
Mercedes-AMG GmbH traces its history back to 1967. At that time, the workshop was located in an old mill, and its founders, Erhard Melcher and Hans Werner Aufrecht, could not even imagine that their company would become one of the most famous tuners in the world in the future. The name of the company was made up of the first letters of the names of the founders, and the letter G is the first letter in the name of the city of Grosaspach, where Aufrecht was born.
For the first few years, AMG was left to no one well-known company. That changed in '71 when an AMG-owned Mercedes-Benz 300 SEL 6.8 took second place at the Belgian Spa circuit. After that, the company began to actively develop, and by 1978 the AMG office moved to the city of Affalterbach. Ten years later, Mercedes-Benz entrusts AMG with the preparation of its own cars for the championship tourist cars DTM. Since the 1990s, both companies have begun joint development of TOP models. In 1998, a business sale agreement was signed, resulting in the formation of Mercedes-AMG GmbH.
To date, Mercedes-AMG GmbH has produced a wide variety of cars. It may seem to some that the tuner does not offer anything new, limiting the range of its work to the same type of fine-tuning of Mercedes production cars. This is wrong. AMG periodically offers unique models (for example, the E60).
Tuning studio Brabus
Founder: Bodo Buschmann
Year of foundation of the company: 1977
City: Bottrop
Country: Germany
Website: www.brabus.com
Type of tuning: Mercedes-Benz car tuning
One of the most famous closers for Mercedes-Benz cars, the Brabus studio, traces its history back to 1977, when Bodo Buschmann opened a salon selling Mercedes-Benz cars. The enterprising Bodo soon realized that by offering simple cars, he could not stand out from hundreds of competitors. As a result, it was a pleasant decision to offer customers additional services for the individualization of cars. It should be noted that the idea had an effect, and soon the sales salon turned into a tuning studio.
To date, Brabus specialists carry out a full range of work on fine-tuning any car. It all starts with sketches and sketches to change the appearance of the model to give it branded features, and one of the last stages can be considered the choice of engine tuning. The company offers both the most elementary installation of a camshaft with a modified cam profile, and the assembly of a completely new power unit.
It should also be noted that Brabus managed to get into the pages of the Guinness Book of Records several times. In 1996, the company created the Brabus E V12 sedan, based on the Mercedes-Benz W210. The car received a 7.3-liter engine with a capacity of 582 hp, which allowed him to reach a speed of 330 km / h. The car became the fastest production sedan, and was later overthrown by another brainchild of Brabus - Rocket. In the same period, the studio created the world's fastest station wagon Brabus T V12, equipped with the same power unit (maximum speed of 320 km / h).
The next "feat", for which the tuner got on the pages of the Guinness Book of Records, was the creation of the fastest all-wheel drive SUV Brabus M V12, based on the Mercedes M-Class. The car was equipped with a 582-horsepower 7.3-liter engine, and was able to accelerate to 260 km / h.
But the very first work in which the tuner became a champion was the creation of a set of mounted spoilers in 1986. The uniqueness of these spoilers is that they are able to reduce the drag coefficient of the Mercedes-Benz W124 sedan (E Class) to 0.26, which is a record in our time.
Tuning studio AC Schnitzer
Founder: brothers Joseph and Herbert Schnitzer
Year of foundation of the company: 1987
City: Aachen
Country: Germany
Website: www.ac-schnitzer.de
Type of tuning: Complex tuning
In 1936, in Freilassing (Bavaria), Joseph Schnitzer creates an Opel car repair shop. This date can be partly called the beginning of the formation of AC Schnitzer. The company grows and starts selling Ford cars as well. However, in 1945, Joseph Schnitzer dies.
His business is continued by his sons, who, in addition to trading in cars, are actively involved in motorsport. Joseph Schnitzer finalizes cars for racing, and wins a lot of high-profile victories. However, he later decides to help his brother, and also focuses on running a business.
In 1967, the brothers create the Team Schitzer division, responsible for fine-tuning sports cars and participating in competitions. This is followed by a whole series of victories won on cars modified by Team Schitzer specialists. During this period, Joseph Schnitzer manifests himself as a talented engineer, offering a number of new solutions in the field of pumping sports cars. However, in 1978, his life was tragically cut short in a car accident. The development of the company falls entirely on the shoulders of Herbert Schnitzer.
The year 1987 becomes significant for the company, as there is a merger with another company - Kohl Automobile GmbH. As a result, "AC Schnitzer automobile technik GmbH" is formed. The company headquarters is located in Aachen. From now on, the Schnitzer team, together with AC Schnitzer, concentrates all efforts on tuning, and marketing and sales issues fall on the shoulders of Kohl.
The result renders "on the face". The team again wins a lot of high-profile victories in races of various levels. Since the 90s, Team Schnitzer has been cooperating with the Bavarian concern in terms of participation in various competitions. The team wins many victories around the world. Since this period, Schnitzer has continued to work closely with BMW.
The tuning division of the company becomes the undisputed authority in the field of fine-tuning cars, due to numerous victories in races of various levels. AC Schnitzer currently offers the most versatile tuning packages for BMW, Land Rover and MINI. The merits of the company's specialists cannot but include the creation of the fast bmw on the planet (552-horsepower model M6). However, the tuner is known not only for painstaking work on the engine, but also for excellent chassis tuning, which to a large extent affects the sporty character of AC Schnitzer cars.
Tuning studio Mugen
Founder: Hirotoshi Honda
Year of foundation of the company: 1973
Country: Japan
Website: www.mugen-power.com
Type of tuning: Tuning Honda cars
Mugen Motorsports has grown from its father's garage to the world's most famous tuning studio. Mugen Motorsports has been on the market for nearly forty years. The first model that the head of the company, Hirotoshi Honda, worked on while still a student, was the Honda Civic 1200cc. Since then, the company has not changed traditions, it has been tuning Honda cars, although it has nothing to do with Honda itself.
Mugen Motorsports is actively involved in the development of cars for such races as Japan Le Mans Challenge, Formula 3, Super GT, Integra One-Make Race, Super Taikyu Overseas Race, Formula Nippon and Circuit Challenge. The company is famous for its great engines.
The release of the aerodynamic package for the Honda Ballade CR-X and the appearance of the Mugen NSX prototype can be considered the beginning of the company's heyday. True, after long litigation in the case of tax evasion and a big scandal in connection with this, in 2004 Mugen Motorsports had to undergo a radical reorganization. So the trademark of the company passed to the new concern M-TEC Co. Ltd. However, this did not affect the quality of tuning, which is produced in the company. He is still great. After all, equipment and specialists have not left their jobs. Only the sign has changed.
M-TEC Co. Ltd has not left aside the tradition of Mugen and continues to work on racing cars. Recently, her attention has been directed to road cars Honda. M-TEC Co. Ltd produces a lot of tuning components for them.
The crowning achievement of the company's masters can be called the MF308 motor they created, which is used by leasing in 14 teams of the F3000 racing series. Cars with this engine almost always win competitions. For international F1 competitions, a 3.5-liter V8 engine was created - MF350, which develops a power of 480 "horses". Later, the Mugen V10 was developed for F1, which was tested on different machines. All of them showed excellent results on the track.
Tuning studio Lumma Design
Year of foundation of the company: 2004
City: Winterlingen
Country: Germany
Website: www.lumma-design.com
Type of tuning: Aerodynamic kits
It all started in 1987 when Lumma was founded in Germany. Today, it has been manufacturing aerodynamic kits for more than 20 years. But the heyday of the company came in the millennium. It was then that the company established itself at the international level and was put on a par with the leading tuning agencies in the world. She presented her perspective on vehicles such as the Opel Astra F and G, Opel Tigra, Ford Puma and Focus, and the BMW E36.
Despite the fact that Lumma works with many brands of cars, BMW is still preferred. It was for this brand of cars that Lumma introduced a fresh look at design. In 2004, a new direction was opened in the Lumma company - Lumma Design. Over the years, the division has been able to assemble a collection of striking aerodynamic kits for many BMW models.
Usually, the company's designers create not one, but several design options for popular BMW models, giving the client the opportunity to choose between a more concise and restrained option, and, on the contrary, a more catchy and aggressive design. front bumper. In addition, the client is always given the opportunity to choose the accessories they like: a rear door spoiler, a lightweight carbon fiber hood, new exterior mirror housings, rear lights and exhaust pipes.
Lumma usually doesn't take too long to come up with a fresh design. No sooner has the brand new BMW rolled off the assembly line than the designers of the studio are already working tirelessly to provide the author's version of the car as quickly as possible.
So in 2009, economically difficult for most companies that refused to participate in large car dealerships, tuning studio Lumma Design not only performed at the largest auto show, traditionally held in Geneva, but also exhibited its new product - an inimitable carbon body kit for the BMW X6 .
Tuning studio Loder1899
Founder: Josef Loder
Year of foundation of the company: 1899
City: Unterbach
Country: Germany
Website: www.loder1899.de
Type of tuning: Tuning car range Rover, Ford, Jaguar, Aston Martin
The flint glass grille and headlights emphasize the dynamics of the car, while Loder1899 body kits (front and side spoilers) complete the car with muscular forms. These are the words of experts about one of the latest works of the tuning studio. But once it all started with the banal.
Josef Loder Sr., great-grandfather of today's commercial director of Loder1899, at one time was engaged in the repair and development of motors, tractors and agricultural equipment. His hobby, which it was at first, turned into a profession. And in 1899 Loder founded the company, calling it own name. The company was located in Germany, not far from Munich.
Taking advantage of the fact that cars became not only labor force, but also increasingly used in everyday life, in 1927 the Josef Loder company opened one of the first gas stations in Bavaria. It exists to this day. The slightly modernized gas station is one of the oldest in Germany.
In 1962, Loder's son joined the family business, using his father's workshop for the "restyling" of a Ford car. One of the first full-fledged works was carried out in 1980, when the Loder1899 studio released delta4x4 components.
From 2003 to 2007 family business expanded the range and range of services. Now the company provides maintenance services for Land Rover, and is also engaged in the modernization of Ford vehicles. Since 2003, the tuning studio offers, in addition to its own tuning programs, also own developments, and currently collaborates with luxury brands such as Aston Martin, Jaguar, Ford and Range Rover.
Tuning studio Nismo
Concern founder: Nissan
Year of foundation of the company: 1984
City: Tokyo
Country: Japan
Website: www.nismo.co.jp
Type of tuning: Nissan car tuning
Nismo or Nissan Motorsport International Limited is a subsidiary of the world famous Nissan concern. It was created on the basis of racing bases. The scope of the company's activities includes the production of components and components intended for tuning, as well as the modernization of racing cars. The company's biggest success came with tuning developments on the Nissan Skyline and Nissan Silvia coupes.
Nismo's latest bright project is the charged Nissan Nismo 350Z, made in the spirit of the traditions of the Japanese Gran Tourismo. The car resembles a red line when it rushes along the tracks. Spoilers on the trunk, bumpers, dark side sills and diffusers make up a very beautiful body kit. The rear wheels are 19" and the front wheels are 18". They are ultra-light and have a dark graphite color. In addition, the Nissan Nismo 350Z has significantly improved handling, an independent multi-link suspension, and a V6 engine with 306 hp.
For American market the car will be equipped with a 6-speed gearbox, traction control as well as electric power steering. In the process of developing this car, all the preferences of American drivers were taken into account. The car has sports pedals, electric drives for various nodes, cruise control system. Analysts say the Nissan Nismo 350Z is a perfect car for most sports road car enthusiasts.
However, Nismo is expanding its range of working models. Today, the company is starting to fine-tune production cars. These will include the Nissan Skyline sports coupe, the Nissan Altima, the Nissan GT-R supercar, as well as select family sedans and hatchbacks. The first step has already been taken. The Tiida subcompact car received a completely new body kit, an improved exhaust system and many interesting design developments in the cabin.
Nismo has created the Chassis Package, which is a unique kit for customizing a car's chassis. It includes Bilstein Damptronic dampers, stiffer springs, and forged 20-inch Ray wheels.
Tuning studio Ralliart
Founder: Masao Taguchi
Year of foundation of the company: 1984
City: Tokyo
Country: Japan
Website: www.ralliart.com
Type of tuning: Mitsubishi car tuning
For over 20 years, Ralliart Inc. takes part in various automobile competitions, in particular, in the FIA World Rally Championship, Cross Country Rally (better known as Dakar Rally), Production Car World Rally Championship, Asia-Pacific Rally Championship and many other championships held in Japan and abroad. Today, the Ralliart brand has become a symbol of almost any automotive competition.
Ralliart was originally created to try and combine motorsport with art. And the company succeeded. On the tracks people and cars compete together, but it's a healthy spirit of competition. Ralliart Inc. tries to make any sports cars "friendly" to people.
In addition to cars for racing tracks, the tuning studio is refining civilian vehicles Mitsubishi line. Today it has tuning programs for almost any production car. At the same time, tuning can affect any aspect: from changing the body and installing aero body kits to chip tuning the engine.
Among the latest works of the company - Mitsubishi Galant Fortis Ralliart. Quite a city car of the middle price category, which is made specifically for its daily use on the road. Structural subdivision Mitsubishi went through this model literally by the bones, identifying its strengths and weaknesses, and only after a thorough analysis, presented its own version. Thus, more than a stylish design and excellent driving performance adorned the updated Galant - in the Mitsubishi Galant Fortis Ralliart.
Tuning studio Kleemann
Founder: Private workshop
Year of foundation of the company: 1985
City: Farum
Country: Denmark
Website: www.kleemann.dk
Type of tuning: Improvement of technical characteristics, car individualization
A hobby turns into a profession, and then into art and business. This is how the history of the famous tuning studio from Denmark Kleemann began. First, two young people decided to capitalize on their passion - the development and implementation of extraordinary design solutions for Mercedes-Benz cars, and created a company that later became known throughout the world.
The first serious step towards global recognition was taken five years after the founding of the company. In 1988, for very wealthy clients, the guys created the first compressor, and then developed a promising technology that has proven itself to be the most effective option for increasing engine power. It was possible to put production on stream only in 1994, with the advent of a new very enterprising co-owner in the company. Thanks to him, Kleemann is today called the unofficial king of compressors.
"Comfort Power" - the slogan that the company has chosen for itself, obliges to provide reliability and convenience in everyday use. This also applies to solutions to increase power and other dynamic characteristics. Gearboxes and reliable engines are able to withstand loads that are largely superior to factory ones. The studio extends a guarantee for all its work, and also provides the opportunity to refuse tuning at any time, returning to the factory settings.
Kleemann employees have an individual approach to each order and listen to and take into account the wishes of the client when working on a particular car. The result of tuning will never compromise the style, safety or reliability of the car enthusiast. The combination of power and comfort in everyday use are the main characteristics of any Kleemann vehicle.
The best confirmation of a truly worthy work of the studio are two world speed records. Both are owned by Danish racing driver Jason Watt. He installed the first one on a four-door sedan, accelerating it to 338 km / h, and the second one on an SUV class car, on which the guy managed to reach speeds of up to 282 km / h.
Tuning studio Kicherer
Founder: Private workshop
Year of foundation of the company: 1976
City: Stokach
Country: Germany
Website:
Type of tuning: Car customization
Kicherer was founded in 1976 and was originally engaged in the assembly, sale, and modification of the most famous exclusive Alpina cars. However, the company gained real success and fame in the field of tuning as it collaborated with Mercedes-Benz. For a long time, the tuning studio created unique modifications for different Mercedes lines. In 2003, the atelier finally moved into Mercedes-Benz ownership, taking on the full name of Kicherer Fahrzeugtechnik GmbH & CO. kg.
Today, the company fulfills high-value orders for customers based on high-end vehicles and cooperates with exclusive factories to produce unique auto components.
The work of the Kicherer tuning studio designers is to improve the aerodynamic capabilities of cars by improving the exterior elements; creation of interiors for luxury salons (leather upholstery, replacement of panels and steering wheel with parts made of expensive materials, equipment with the best electronics); deep technical modification (replacement of engines, strengthening of the gearbox, installation of stronger brakes, replacement of the exhaust system) - in a word, bringing to perfection both the internal and external elements of the car.
The result of the work of the studio is always a unique car design that best meets the requirements of the owner, has a modern security complex, and has the most outstanding driving performance, while being completely manageable by the owner.
The company's designers have developed a simple but highly evocative logo: three slanted stripes, each thinner than the last, are placed in front of a clear slanted font: /// KIRCHERER. The logo gives the impression of three-dimensional letters carved from brushed stainless steel. Solid, simple and tasteful.
Kircherer is headquartered in Stokach, Germany. The company also has offices in Norway, the United Arab Emirates, Austria, Italy and the USA.
Tuning studio Carlsson
Founder: The Hartge Brothers
Year of foundation of the company: 1989
City: Merzig
Country: Germany
Website: www.carlsson.de
Type of tuning: Mercedes-Benz car tuning
Carlsson is one of the world's most famous door closers for Mercedes-Benz vehicles. Paradoxical as it may seem, the history of the tuner began with the refinement of BMW cars. Back in the 70s of the last century, the brothers Herbert and Rolf Hartge, being official dealer BMW, were fond of racing and fine-tuning cars. Gradually, tuning began to dominate the family business, resulting in the emergence of Herbert Hartge GmbH, a company specializing in the "pumping" of various BMW models. After the release of the Mercedes 190 (W201), the brothers decided to also deal with cars from Mercedes, but it was impossible to work within the framework of an already existing studio, because. the name Herbert Hartge GmbH was strongly associated with BMW tuning.
So in 1989 Carlsson Autotechnik GmbH was born. By the way, the name is borrowed from the Swedish racer Ingmar Carlson, who is a friend of the Hartge brothers. At the moment, Carlsson is a relatively small but very reputable company. Atelier specialists produce about 120 cars a year, and an average of 5,000 different cars are equipped with Carlsson branded components. The tuner has a well-developed dealer network (more than 40 dealers worldwide).
As for the direct pumping of Mercedes-Benz cars, Carlsson works with all available models: R-Class, C-Class, SL-Class and GL-Class and others. Atelier projects stand out for their originality and professionalism. This fact can be proved by the fact that at the SEMA 2006 exhibition, the CL500 coupe, pumped by Carlsson specialists, was called by the well-known edition of Modified Luxury & Exotics a better purchase than the Bentley Continental.
Tuning studio M-Sys GmbH
M-Sys GmbH was founded in 1998 by Martin Blankl, an engineer (automation technology) by profession. He implemented innovative programs for managing production processes.
In 2000, the company entered the following areas of activity: infotainment systems and multimedia in the automotive sector. In 2006 we added Web Design and Web Applications to our portfolio.
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A car that rolls off the assembly line can be arbitrarily good in everything - in terms of dynamics, design, appearance and interior luxury, but only one is bad - anyone can have exactly the same. Automakers take into account this complex psychological factor, which they call the "unique consumption syndrome" and willingly give their stock cars for revision to various tuning studios. Someone prefers to create such studios right at their side, someone uses the services of third-party specialists, but as a result, one thing happens - a unique car is created that simply exudes technical and design excellence. We have selected the ten best, in our opinion, cars that are created in a tuning studio.
Hennessey Performance Venom GT
The creator of the Hennessey brand, John Hennessy, was obsessed with the idea of \u200b\u200bcreating a crazy supercar. And each time for revision, he took exactly those cars that already had incredible dynamics in the stock version. Since the early nineties, he has turned his attention to all generations of the Dodge Viper, turning them into track monsters with outrageous power and torque. But recently, he has moved away from the usual policy a bit and chose the “modest” Lotus for fine-tuning. Hennessey Performance Venom GT has little in common with the serial prototype. The car, weighing less than a ton, has a seven-liter 1120-horsepower V8 engine that accelerates the car to hundreds in less than three seconds. The cost of the car is about $1,250,000.
Icon Thriftmaster Pickup
Automotive Studio Icon specializes in the restoration of vintage cars and custom projects based on models of past years. Perhaps the main achievement of the studio was the Icon Thriftmaster Pickup project, which became the most massive in the history of Icon - several dozen cars have already been produced.
The Icon Thriftmaster Pickup is based on the Chevrolet pickup truck, which has been produced since the early fifties of the last century and became one of the most popular cars of that time. The exterior of the car has been thoroughly restored, with the exception of a new, lower suspension, and an interior recreated using more luxurious materials.
Singer Vehicle Design Porsche 911
For half a century now, the Porsche 911 has been an icon of sporty style. Each new generation of the car undoubtedly surpasses the previous one in terms of technology and dynamics, but there are still enough people in the world who love exclusively old Porsche 911 models. It is for such connoisseurs that Singer Vehicle Design produces restored versions of the Porsche 911 of the early nineties of the last century. The car body is made of carbon fiber, new Bi-Xenon lighting equipment and replicas of the original 17-inch forged wheels are installed.
Lingenfelter Performance Engineering Reaper
A subsidiary of General Motors is engaged in super-powerful variations on the theme of stock Chevrolet cars. Lingenfelter Performance's to-do lists are full of crazy super-powered Corvettes, like the latest 1,000-horsepower C7 Stingray. A recent atelier project called Reaper is an American redneck dream embodied in metal. Under the hood of a pickup truck is a turbocharged V8 that develops about 550 horsepower and produces an incredible torque of 1000 Nm. The already high suspension is lifted up in order to fit huge 33-inch wheels with toothy rubber into the arches.
Shelby 427 Cobra 50th Anniversary Edition
Exactly half a century ago, Carroll Shelby did something absolutely incredible. He took a stock Ac Cobra, already one of the most dynamic cars in the world, and turned it into a power marvel called the 427 Cobra. The car was such an amazing success that for the next 50 years it became a model of a non-alternative sports car, tough and fast. In honor of the 50th anniversary, Shelby decided to shake the old days and release the anniversary version of the 427 Cobra.
VL Automotive Destino
Destino is the only car on the list that is not yet available for purchase. And we are not sure that you will ever succeed. A low-volume supercar made from a Fisker hybrid (which ceased production due to the bankruptcy of the brand) turned from a conventional sedan into a supercar that is equipped with a 600-horsepower Chevrolet Corvette engine and an ultra-luxury interior.
Superformance Caterham Seven
Superformance is a South African small-scale atelier that specializes in the production of variations on the legendary Caterham Seven sports car. Atelier produces five variations of the car with different power plants, the most powerful of which is the 260-horsepower version, exchanging the first hundred in three seconds.
Legacy Classic Truck Power Wagon
Willys MB is a classic American SUV with a rich history. He participated in various military conflicts, worked off-road around the world and today is an object of desire for collectors around the world. Legacy Classic produces custom versions of the famous SUV, from which only the body remains. Inside, there are 6.7-liter engines from modern Dodges, transmissions with reduction gears and powerful chassis with differential locks and 42-inch tires that can cross any obstacle. Optionally, winch systems, tire inflation and other off-road devices are installed on the machines.
American Expedition Vehicles Brute Double Cab
There have never been pickup trucks in the Jeep line, although the company's management from time to time announced their plans to create cargo SUV. Nevertheless, these plans were not destined to come true, so American Expedition Vehicles took on this burden. They took a stock Wrangler, stretched the chassis over a meter, added a composite body, and made a solid off-road pickup truck.
Brabus B63S-700 6X6
A six-wheeled Mercedes built on the basis of a three-axle G-Class pickup truck, which is in service with the Austrian army. Overall length of the model is 5875 mm, width - 2110 mm, height - 2280 mm. The curb weight of the SUV is 3850 kilograms, and the ground clearance reaches 460 millimeters. The SUV is equipped with a 5.5-liter gasoline engine with two turbines, which develops 544 horsepower and 760 Nm of torque. The transmission is a seven-speed automatic.
Photo courtesy of racefriv.com
We will talk about a very popular side of tuning - the modification of external parts.
And let's start with small review eminent world tuning studios, from which you can order any body kit or its parts, as well as develop an exclusive design (including on the Internet). I will make a reservation right away, this is not a cheap pleasure, it is for those who are really ready to invest in their favorite car to the fullest.
Tuning as a concept
Car tuning has recently gained incredible popularity all over the world, including ours. Interest in this topic is largely fueled by a number of popular feature films, such as "Fast and the Furious", "Taxi", "Transporter", as well as a whole galaxy of computer racing simulators that can captivate not only teenagers, but also respectable uncles.
Tuning from English - adjustment, tuning. In the automotive industry, tuning means improving the driving characteristics of a car: maximum speed, aerodynamics, acceleration and braking efficiency, cross-country ability (if we are talking about SUVs), etc.
In the philistine environment (that is, among us - ordinary motorists), the concept of "tuning" is much broader: it includes a change in appearance, and alteration of the interior, and sound improvement, and even coloring.
In America and Western Europe, a "pumped car" is a car made for a specific owner, based on his preferences and interests. And so far, only a few people can be called connoisseurs of this car tuning. Yes, and workshops where they can competently "pump" a car, making significant changes to the design of the engine, suspension and other elements of the car, can be counted on the fingers of one hand.
However, the phrase "car tuning" most often means only the exterior, which, in general, is not bad in itself, since it indicates the owner's desire to make his car something different from thousands of other cars.
Tuning can change the appearance of the car beyond recognition / Photo from pcauto.com.cn
Some people think that exterior decoration is the easiest thing to do. After all, it extends from banal stickers, moldings and tinting to plastic canopies and chrome plating. And at the same time, rarely anyone at this level is engaged in calculations and research. As a rule, the bulk of motorists need only be guided by aesthetic considerations. And they are, in principle, right, since these bells and whistles do not carry any practical load on a standard car. The main thing is not to harm.
But for those who have improved the more technical part of the car, such additions will even be useful, because all these spoilers, wings, body kits, etc. increase the pressure on the road, create the “correct” air flows and rarefaction areas in the right places, contribute to additional cooling engine compartment and brake system. However, people preparing the car so that it “does not drive fast, but fly low” know that external tuning can really affect the increase in power and speed of the car.
One of the implementation options is to order the delivery of a "bodykit" (body kit, a set of equipment for external tuning), ready solution For specific car. Moreover, there are plenty of manufacturers of high-quality components for finalizing cars in the world. Often their products - aerodynamic body kits - are included in standard equipment some cars.
As you know, an aerodynamic body kit is a variety of lining on the body to increase the streamlining of the car. The smaller the coefficient drag Cx, the higher the streamlining - not only the maximum speed and acceleration dynamics depend on this, but also fuel consumption.
So, for example, at a speed of about 100 km / h in a rather angular car of the late 1980s, noise appears in the area of \u200b\u200bthe racks windshield, and on cars of the late 1990s this is not observed precisely due to more thoughtful aerodynamics. To increase the maximum speed by 8 km / h of the cars of the American racing series Nascar, according to engineering calculations, either an increase in engine power by 50 hp will be required. s., or a decrease in Cx by 15%. Here is such arithmetic in favor of aerodynamics.
However, when it comes to improving aerodynamic properties, it should be remembered that it is necessary to use high-quality components, which are not only thought out by experts in terms of shape, but also made of high-quality materials with guaranteed reliable fastening.
Manufacturing companies
Who makes really worthwhile body kits that pass all sorts of checks?
I’ll make a reservation right away, I don’t take into account the “court” ateliers of automakers, such as the Fiat Abarth or Hamann from BMW. We are talking strictly about "free artists" who are able to create outside of any allotted framework and marketing conventions.
One of the most famous manufacturers of body kits and their elements for European car brands are Kerscher Tuning and Rieger Tuning.
The first of these companies specializes not only in the production of external elements, but also in the manufacture exhaust systems, rims and spacers for them and much more. Body kits from Kerscher are available to car owners of almost all DM different classes and years of manufacture (the only exception is Mercedes-Benz, which has its own "court" tuning studio with the exclusive right to any improvements in the design). The company's specialists work with plastic, which, unlike fiberglass, does not break upon impact, is more durable, and also cheaper.
Photo courtesy jms-fahrzeugteile.de
Except in Germany at our own factory, Kerscher products are not produced anywhere else. So that the buyer cannot face poor quality products and the inability to install "seemingly suitable" components on stock cars. The delivery set includes all necessary fasteners.
The second company producing aerodynamic body kits for "Europeans" is Rieger Tuning. It is not sharpened, like the first one, strictly for the German auto industry, and therefore its body kits improve the appearance of representatives of a number of other brands, such as Skoda, SEAT, FIAT, Peugeot and the "European" Ford. The company was founded in Germany in 1987 and in addition to the production of body kits, it sells technical tuning components from third-party manufacturers.
Car tuning / Photo from fancytuning.com
You can say about the Rieger catalog as an encyclopedia of European styling, since the company's assortment allows you to radically rework the appearance of the car, and make only minor changes. Rieger Tuning also provides certification services to firms dealing with low volume kits or unique products.
Another well-known manufacturer of body kits for SUVs, whose workshops and headquarters are based in Germany (near the old town of Bielefeld) is Cobra Technologie & Lifestyle. Basically, this studio works on SUVs. Moreover, "jeeper" body kits from "Cobra" are also produced for a large number of Japanese and Korean models (globalization, however). For example, kits for finalizing the appearance are very interesting. Nissan Murano and the previous generation Pathfinder.
I note that the body kit for an SUV is completely different from the body kit for a passenger car - it differs not only in appearance, but also in functional features: instead of "sleek" side "skirts", the jeep should have chrome arcs that can protect the thresholds and the bottom when dirt road driving.
VeilSide is one of the most famous and honored in our country and abroad Japanese manufacturer external elements. It is enough to note the fact that in 1991 at the Tokyo Motor Show this tuning company received the main prize in the nomination "Best Modified Car". But at that time the company was not yet six months old. Since then, she has gained worldwide fame.
Photo courtesy of dianliwenmi.com
When creating body kits and their elements, VeilSide freely relies on the activities of third-party companies: for example, organizations involved in the study of aerodynamics and new materials. In addition, the company's management managed to certify its original parts, and as a result, VeilSide became the first manufacturer of tuning products to receive a quality certificate.
Now, in addition to the head Japanese enterprise, there is also an American branch.
Among other popular manufacturers aerodynamic body kits and their components from the Land of the Rising Sun should be noted Auto Couture, Impul and Varis.
Auto Couture produces, so to speak, elite products. Here they are working on the appearance of not only cars produced for the domestic market, but also on purely export models such as Lexus. And even the owners of some European cars have the opportunity to refine the exterior styling of their cars with Japanese elements (since Auto Couture products are exclusive, in model range firms only have samples for high-end models, such as the Mercedes-Benz S600, the BMW 7 Series or the Maseratti Quattroporte).
Photo courtesy of autohome.com.cn
As for Impul, it is tailored exclusively for Nissan. But they make such body kits that with them the appearance of even seemingly non-styling "Japanese women" changes. So the stock Nissan March (in the K11 body) with the efforts of Impul turns from a “female car” into a thunderstorm of circuit racing: a rear spoiler, massive bumpers with huge slots and linings that make the wheel arches visually wider. In addition to the production of aerodynamic body kits, Impul is also engaged in the manufacture of exhaust systems, filters, instruments, suspension parts and much more.
Kanagawa-based Varis, on the other hand, works on the look of cars from almost all local manufacturers (with the exception of small-scale production plants). Varis has a wealth of experience with the now trendy carbon and the similar but much stronger Kevlar. But composites are expensive items for high-end customers or wealthy sports car clubs.
For the average car owner, the company produces a large range of plastic body kits, very interesting shapes and designs. Moreover, Varis still makes kits for some of the machines that have long been discontinued. For example, even today the owners of "Skylines" in the 32nd body and "Levins" AE86 can find a hood or trunk lid in their catalog.
If we touch on globalization again, then in the European market you can find many exterior body solutions with the inscription "Made in Australia" on the accompanying documents. You can, of course, be surprised how products from the Green Continent were brought here, but nevertheless, EGR from Brisbane, which employs more than 800 specialists, creates aerodynamic body kits for models that have just appeared on the market, that is, for the most advanced. And because the company is provided with a constant demand for its products.
EGR / Photo from autoaccessoriesgarage.com
In order to still be closer to the client, in 1990 EGR opened a British branch of the company with its own design office.
Alternatives
These are far from all companies involved in the production of aerodynamic body kits. But the above, in addition to the originality of solutions, guarantee 100% quality. For some of them, the production of external tuning elements is the main occupation, for others - just one of the activities. Someone works with plastic, a smaller part - with fiberglass, and some can offer carbon parts. But no matter what material the products of these firms are made of, it will never come off on high speed from the vehicle for which it is designed and will not cause an accident to vehicles following you.
However, if a venerable foreign tuning studio cannot afford to pay for an order (I agree, there will certainly be much more important use for money), then you can contact our own workshop in your own (or neighboring) city, which has a positive reputation (or better, if examples I managed to inspect its tuning myself, and with different parties). It will come out cheaper. That's just the timing of the project will probably be greatly extended, since the local workshop, with all the skill of the staff, is not a factory that produces products using the industrial method.
Well, for those who have their hands sharpened correctly, and besides, there is an opportunity to carve out free time, the so-called garage tuning may well come up. Why not? What is the main thing here? Follow technology. Well, act according to the principle of the attending physician: "Do no harm." But the savings in funds will be significant (but not in time - in this case it is rather difficult to set deadlines). And the result may turn out to be very even nothing - depending on the possession of a "sense of beauty" and the necessary diligence.
