Autoblog

Click the pic above for more high-res shots of the BRABUS Bullit.

The term "sleeper" isn't quite accurate when referring to the BRABUS Bullit. It has presence, with an air of understated brutality. The aero mods speak volumes about its predilection for sinister speed, and the V12 emblems flanking the sides only tell half the story. Housed within the engine bay is BRABUS' own SV12 Biturbo mill, producing 720 HP and an electronically governed 811 lb.-ft. of torque (974 lb.-ft. of twist would be available if it wouldn't tear apart the rear diff and liquify the tires). On your way up to the 224 MPH top speed, you'll pass 62 MPH in just under four seconds, and if you want all the details, you can read through our initial post here and check out our high-res pics in the gallery below.

Click the image above for a high-res gallery.

The German tuners over at Kicherer have turned their attention towards the SL600, as the firm's previous iterations of the V12-powered coupe have been a popular product. One good turn deserves another, and this time, it gets the Darth Vader treatment.

To begin with, the bi-turbo V12 gets a power upgrade to the tune of 605 HP, allowing a run to 62 to be dispatched in 4.3 seconds, continuing on to 200 km/h in 14.2 seconds. Power is fed through the stock transmission and sent to the rear rollers consisting of 20-inch deep-dish wheels with 305mm Continental tires. The revised suspension drops the SL down another 25mm, while the active body control system has been tweaked to keep roll at bay.

The exterior benefits from a carbon fiber bootlid and hood, along with a revised aero kit, that includes a front spoiler and a rear diffuser. On the inside, the stock steering wheel has been replaced with a smaller, F1-style unit, complete with carbon fiber paddles.

Kicherer's press release, outlining all the mods, is posted after the jump and a gallery of images is included below.

Click the image for our gallery.

BMW's foray into turbocharging, in the form of the 335i, has been met with tremendous enthusiasm from both journos and consumers alike. But as any pistonhead knows, when a vehicle gets a turbo bolted on at the factory, invariably, there's more performance to be had. Vishnu has already upped the ante with their Procede ECU upgrade, which brings horsepower into the 360-380 realm, along with a substantial increase in torque. Coupled with their soon-to-be-released exhaust system, the sky is quickly becoming the limit.

For those that are looking for a thoroughly reworked system that can be bought outright, Alpina released its B3 Biturbo at the Geneva Motor Show that combines both performance and aesthetic enhancements in one complete package.

The result of Alpina's diligence under the hood (boost pressure is up to 16 psi) and the replacement of the stock exhaust, is 360 HP between 5,500 and 6,000 RPM and 368 lb.-ft. of torque available from 3,800 to 5,000 RPM. The tweaked engine routes power to the ZF six-speed automatic gearbox -- complete with SWITCH-TRONIC manumatic mode – that allows the B3 to breach the 62 MPH mark in just under five seconds.

[Source: Alpina]

How can you not love Brabus? The German tuning house's specialty is taking exceedingly powerful Mercedes-Benz automobiles and elevating them to sublime new levels of performance. Case in point: their latest monster, the SV12 S Biturbo Roadster. It's just the ticket if your SL65 AMG, with its 600+ horsepower and 700+ lb ft of torque, just isn't getting it done.

Brabus' killer roadster is driven by a 6.3L twin-turbo V12 worked over by its in-house witch doctors. After working their black magic on it, the engine produces 730 horsepower and 738 lb ft of torque (500/500 is so passé). 62 mph arrives in 4 seconds, and the top speed is electronically capped at 217 mph.

Revised bodywork, a lowered and retuned suspension, and wheel/tire/brake upgrades complete the overhaul and ensure that the car's appearance and handling complement its gaudy performance capabilities. Naturally, the interior can be completely customized to suit the driver's personal needs and desires.

No pricing information was released, but chances are that if you're ordering one of these puppies, money's not really an object anyway.

(Additional photos, press release after the jump)

[Source: Brabus]