Autoblog

Click above for high-res gallery of the IMSA Murcielago Spyder

Not many cars can compete with the Lamborghini Murcielago Spyder's ability to attract attention. With 640 horsepower on tap, not many cars can keep up with it either. Even German tuner IMSA questioned whether the car could be improved, but, of course, that didn't stop them from trying. They have developed an engine package that pumps the V12 up to 708 horsepower, knocking off a tenth in the sprint to 60 mph and raising top speed to 217 mph. IMSA adds its GTR widebody kit as well that includes a new front bumper, side skirts with widened intakes, a carbon fiber diffuser and rear spoiler. Inside, the carbon fiber and leather seats have been color-matched to the exterior. It's not necessarily everyone's taste, but it is wickedly fast and sure to attract attention. Full details are in the press release after the jump, and plenty of high resolution photos are in the gallery below.

[Source: IMSA via SeriousWheels.com]

BMW's performance division has made such a name for itself that the letter M has become synonymous with high-performance German sedans and coupes. But the vehicle that started it all was about as Italian as any Teutonic sports car could ever be: a low-slung, mid-engined machine designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro's ItalDesign and built in cooperation with Lamborghini as a homologation special.

The only mid-engine BMW ever made, the roadgoing M1 featured the naturally-aspirated 3.5-liter 279hp twin-cam six later used in the 635CSi and M5. Like a great many short-lived supercars, we have homologation regulations to thank for the M1's existence: 456 examples were built between 1978 and 1981 in order to qualify for Group 5 competition.

Although the turbocharged 850-horsepower version was never a great success in Group 5 racing, it was later entered in the Procar series in support of Formula One races in the late seventies, in which a Marlboro-sponsored Niki Lauda took the title in 1979. The M1 went on to win the IMSA GTO title in 1981.

Follow the jump to check out the video action.

[Source: Carscoop]

Some people just can't leave exotic-enough alone, and IMSA is all too happy to help out – sometimes to unfortunate ends. The firm has had its hand in developing aero parts for both the Lamborghini Gallardo coupe and spyder, and has now put the larger, more powerful Murcielago LP640 under the knife. The result is the rolling anathema you see above, which eschews the clean lines of the Murcie in favor of excessive excess.

The carbon fiber body kit can be had either unpainted or color matched, and includes a new front clip, additional air ducting, a new rear diffuser, rear spoiler and fender flares that bring the track out an additional 70 mm in total. If money, and taste, is no object, IMSA is taking orders now and will begin manufacturing parts for the base Murcielago in the future.

[Source: Carscoop]

Old Audis are cool, and old racing Audis are even cooler. A Swedish Audi fanatic seems to think so, too, and has gone to extreme lengths to transform a workaday Audi 90 into the IMSA GTO version of that car. Not wanting to go the stripe-and-bodykit route, this Audi's flares were painstakingly constructed from many pieces of metal, intricately tacked into place. Replica body pieces like splitters were created in composite after measurements of an original car were taken, and the authentically nutty looking rims are custom-modified VW pieces. The doors still open, despite 8 additional inches of width, and the amount of work that went into the body modifications is truly incredible. It looks like a scale model was built first, and once the form was perfected, it was "blown up" to the actual car - we don't know Svenska, and translators aren't terribly useful. Motivation is provided by an A8's 4.2 liter V8, which must make the replica pretty zippy, but probably not as fast as those IMSA cars were. Still, though, it's a hell of a thing to see lurking in your rearview, and the handiwork is truly impressive. We see the most insane stuff coming out of Sweden – must be something in the water aquavit. AudiMotorSport's got galleries of the build here.

[Source: AudiMotorSport.se via German Car Scene]

Click for a high-res gallery of 14 photos

German tuner IMSA (not to be confused with this IMSA) established itself as a serious player with its rather splendid Lamborghini Gallardo-based GTV. The trick Lambo was tuned to produce 610 horsepower, and its tastefully-done widebody kit and bespoke wheel package made it look every bit the the supercar the new juice underhood indicated it was.

Since all the engine modifications in place on the GTV work just as well on the Gallardo Spyder, IMSA went ahead and applied them. Enter the IMSA Spyder, which produces the same 610 horsepower as its hard-topped sibling. The suspension and AWD system has been recalibrated to handle the monstrous power in such a manner that the Spyder is perfectly usable as a daily driver (not that we'd know firsthand, but we'll take IMSA's word for it). In addition to the updated power and look, the interior of the car can be completely customized to suit the owner's taste. Hey, we'll happily roll with just the engine and suspension tuning. You know -- eschew the (very sweet) widebody kit and just keep the Gallardo looking like a "sleeper." If that's even possible...

IMSA's press release is posted after the jump, and you can feast your eyes on 14 high-res shots in the gallery.


Related Items

• Widebody Gallardo GTV by IMSA | GTV Gallery

[Source: IMSA]