Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano by Anderson Germany

Many often ponder if an exotic Italian supercar like the Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano really needs to be customized. Well, while it’s a legit question, it really comes down to personal preferences. Fortunately, for those that want to go down that road, there are plenty of tuners willing to modify the 599 according to each customer's tastes and needs.

Anderson Germany is one of those tuners and it has presented a second take on the Ferrari 599. While similar to its previous tune shown in March, Anderson's newest black-widow style Ferrari has some differences, mainly inside where the entire interior has been trimmed in a combination of quilted red leather and black carbon leather with red stitching.

In addition, the gearshift, door handles, door sills and center console have been manufactured entirely from carbon fiber – allegedly to reduce the car's weight.

On the outside, the Dusseldorf-based tuner finished the 599 in a black color with contrasting red stripes running over the top of the car. The Ferrari model also gets an aero kit made out of carbon-fiber along with red brake calipers, while it rides on a new set of 21-inch glossy black wheels with a red rim.

The final touch is under the hood where Anderson Germany modified the V12's ECU software and added a custom-made sports exhaust system the bring output to 674-horses allowing the 599 to complete the standard 0 to 100km/h (62mph) sprint in a little over 3 seconds.

Nissan Juke Nismo Concept Sports

Nissan just couldn't wait for the 2011 Tokyo Motor Show on Wednesday to share the news on a fresh concept version of its Juke crossover prepared by its in-house motorsports and performance division, Nismo.

Unlike the extremely radical Juke-R project, which features the inner works of the GT-R sports car including its twin-turbo V6 engine and advanced all-wheel drive system, the Juke Nismo concept is a very realistic study for a down-to-earth sporty variant of the regular model.

“The global sales success of Nissan Juke has proved beyond doubt that customers are looking for something different,” said Andy Palmer, Executive Vice President of Nissan. “The Juke Nismo Concept takes that idea to the next level. It’s energetic, distinctive and highly desirable.”

Nismo's technical team started out by tuning the Juke's 1.6-liter direct injection turbo gasoline engine that has been uprated to deliver more power and performance, though Nissan didn't provide any specific numbers. For the record, in standard JDM trim, the four-cylinder engine produces 190-horses.

They then proceeded with the chasses that was lowered and stiffened using parts of the same kind that will be available from Nismo’s parts catalogue. The 19-inch multispoke alloy wheels with wider tires round out the performance improvements.

No tune is complete without a visual makeover, and Nismo doesn't disappoint with a new aero kit that bundles a revised front bumper and grille, side skirts, wider fenders, side skirts, a new roof spoiler, different mirrors and a bespoke rear bumper that houses a diffuser and the twin chrome exhaust pipes. The Juke Nismo is finished in a white paint with red highlights.

We won't see the interior until Wednesday, but Nissan tells us that the Juke Nismo's cabin has been upgraded with several sporty touches that include the steering wheel, pedals, gauges, shifter knob, door trims and bucket seats.

Dodge Viper GTS-R Race

Usually, you hear about street-legal sports cars converted into racers but this time we have the exact opposite.

After acquiring a Zakspeed Racing Dodge Viper GTS-R in 2010, the current owner of the 1998 model turned to Heurich Classics, a Germany company that specializes in the maintenance, repair and optimization of vintage and classic cars.

The owner had two very special requests for Heurich Classics: recreate the looks of the Hasseroder Viper GTS-R that won the 24 hours of Nürburgring endurance race in 1999 and at the same time, make it completely street legal.

The German firm started out by eliminating, replacing, adding or modifying certain components of the Viper GTS-R to allow it to achieve road-legal status in Europe.

Understandably, a lot had to be done but among other mods, Heurich Classics removed the rear diffuser, replaced the brake system, added a hand brake, increased the steering angle, added a passenger seat, and completely revamped the electrical system while also adding regular sport tires.

The Viper is currently powered by a 6.2-liter V8 delivering 600 horsepower, matched to a Tremec six-speed manual gearbox. According to Heurich Classics, the GTS-R tips the scales at just 1350 kg or 2,796 pounds.

Last but not least, the German company wrapped the Dodge in the traditional colors and livery of the original Hasseroder Viper GTS-R.

Nissan Plans Major Expansion for its Nismo Performance Division

If you are a gaming, racecar, then you already know about Nismo. For the rest, it’s an abbreviation of Nissan Motorsports, the Japanese carmaker’s in-house performance division established in 1984.

Yet its activities have been restricted mainly in motorsports, where it has been involved with great success in events like the FIA GT1 World Championship, the 24 Hours of Le Mans and of course, numerous racing series in Japan .

Its road car presence has been limited to tuning parts and a very small number of special edition models such as the 370Z NISMO (Fairlady Z in Japan). But this will soon change as Nissan announced today the initiation of a major expansion program for its performance arm which will use its race and tuning expertise to spice up the company’s road cars.

"Nismo has carved out an enviable reputation in motor racing", said Carlos Ghosn, Nissan President and CEO. “In fact, in 2011, Nismo cars and engines won in every category they competed in - the first time we have achieved this milestone."

"The time is now right to let ordinary drivers experience what our racing drivers enjoy every time they head out onto the track. We aim to bring Nismo's passion and focus on driving excitement to mainstream models, and the Juke Nismo Concept shows what we can do”, he added.

Ghosn’s intention to compete with other carmakers’ performance divisions, like BMW’s M and Mercedes-Benz’ AMG, is more than evident in the building of an all-new global Nismo headquarters in Tsurumi, Yokohama, in the beginning of 2013.

Looks like the Juke Nismo Concept is just the warning shot in the war Ghosn is planning to wage against rivals in the performance segment.

Mercedes sls Brabus Unleashes a 611HP

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.

A performance kit that consists of newly calibrated engine electronics with special mapping for ignition and injection, and a high-performance, titanium exhaust system with four tail pipes that's 40 percent lighter than the factory unit, bumps maximum output from 571HP (563 bhp) to 611HP (600 bhp).

Additional hardware modifications include an adjustable sport suspension from Bilstein that lowers the ride height by up to 40 mm (1.6-inches) at the touch of a button while the driver can also choose between damper settings that offer a more comfortable or sportier ride than the production car.

As an option, Brabus offers a Front Lift System that can raise the front end of the SLS AMG roadster by 50 millimeters (2.0-inches) by pushing a button on the center console in order to navigate over speed bumps or parking garage ramps. The system works at speeds of up to 30km/h (19mph), at which point it reverts to its original position.

The car also rides on more aggressive rubber - 275/30 ZR 20 at the front and 295/25 ZR 21 at the rear - mounted on 21 inch wheels on the front axle and 22 inch in the rear.

In appearance, the SLS AMG Roadster gains a modified version of the carbon-fibre aero-kit that Brabus has previously developed for the gullwing-door coupe. It includes a front spoiler, covers for the upper air-ducts, side skirts with illuminated Brabus logos, side air-vent trim, gas tank cap, a new rear bumper with side air vents and a diffuser, plus a discreet boot lid spoiler.

Brabus says that customers can order all the aero components in a high-gloss finish, a matte finish or in any color they want.

The final touch is the reworked interior sporting a different speedometer with a 400-km/h (250-mph) dial, stainless-steel scuff plates with backlit BRABUS logo, matte-anodized pedals and custom upholstery.