Issue 94 March 2013 AED 25 1 The end of an era, and a start of a new one! March of 2013 is a crucial month for us at Top Performance and a mini jubilee too! First of all, it marks the eighth anniversary of our magazine and it also happens to be our last printed issue, as we make the switch to digital format. Yes, the time has finally come, and the April issue will be making history as our first digital magazine. As much as we are going to miss our first baby, the printed version, we're looking to the future and are so excited about going digital. The new format will broaden our reach, multiply our readership and give us the flexibility we never had with traditional media. Best of all, the magazine will be offered at no cost, making it accessible to everyone here in the United Arab Emirates, the Middle East and beyond. So, without further ado, I invite you all to check us out online. Come 1st of April 2013, Top Performance will be available to both read on- line at www.performancemag.net or to download to a device of your choice. Let us have your feedback and help us make your favourite magazine even better. [email protected] See you on the other side! OUR TEAM CONTACT US INTERNATIONAL MEDIA AGENTS Chief Editor K. M. Khalifa Business address: Europe: MediaTel Werbe-/PR-Agentur GmbH & Co. KG Top Performance Magazine Haldenweg 2, D-72505 Krauchenwies, Germany Editorial Zlatko Mulabegovic Tel: (+49) 7576 9616-12 Fax: (+49) 7576 9616-38 P.O. Box 215783, Dubai, U.A.E., www.mediatel.biz Nitish Ramanujam Tel: +971 4 3585349, Fax: +971 4 3546938 Contributors Stephen Bijoux Advertising & marketing China: Hangzhou JR Exhibition Co, .Ltd Tel: +86-571-28803067, Fax: +86-571-28035956 Dan Mermelstein [email protected] [email protected] www.jrexpo.com Mike Davies Comments and suggestions David Parkins [email protected] Peter De Vido Taiwan: Infotrade Media Co., Ltd. Tel: +886-4-23132189 EXT 203, Fax:+886-4-23133239 Editorial & contents [email protected] Information Systems Ranjith Babu [email protected] Technical Australia: SOON Marketing P/L Business Development Zlatko Mulabegovic [email protected] Po Box 198, Crafers, South Australia, 5152 Australia Tel: +61 417171730 Fax: +61 8 8390 1815 Design & Digital Thishan Dissanayake [email protected] www.soonmarketing.com.au Top Performance Magazine is published by West Side Publishing, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Photography Zlatko Mulabegovic Middle East: Spellbound ME Nitish Ramanujam All efforts are taken to provide accurate information, P.O. Box 12022, Dubai, U.A.E., Tel: +971 4 3412228, Thishan Dissanayake therefore the publisher will not be held responsible for Fax: +971 4 3412229, [email protected] www.spellboundme.com Ahmad Al Shishtawi the accuracy of information supplied by third parties, or the consequences of performing any of the modifications Sameer Arshad contained in the magazine. All vehicle modifications Darren Rycroft should be performed by a qualified automotive technician in compliance with relevant regulations and laws. www.performancemag.net 3 4 Tuning News Hottest tuner cars and gear 12 Tokyo Express 18 Big in Japan 12 24 King Of The Mountain 30 Wide Load 36 Forza Induction 40 Mine’s R35 GT-R 44 Fortune Favors The Brave 48 Club 1000 36 52 The Return Of The Devil 56 Poker Face 60 The Red Dragon Dynasty 64 The Daddy 44 68 Test Drive It's a coupe thing, as we belt two new Hyundais and a Honda Accord 76 News Latest industry news 68 80 Ducati 1098R "Flashback" Exquisite custom Ducati from Mr. Martini 82 SSC Shakey #67 Shaw Speed & Custom build a sweet H-D for racer Shane Byrne 84 News Latest motorcycling news 80 www.performancemag.net 4 top performance tuning news Hennessey Venom GT Sets New World Record! Hennessey Performance Engineering has the seventh production Venom GT - a 17.68 seconds time- 3.17 seconds slower revealed that, early in January 2013, its street-legal car that makes use of Michelin than the Venom GT. By comparison, the street-legal Venom GT supercar accel- Pilot Sport Cup DOT-approved radial tires, Bugatti Veyron Super Sport (powered by erated from 0-300 km/h in just 13.63 93-octane pump fuel, and a full interior a 1,200 horsepower 8.0-litre, quad-tur- seconds, thus establishing the vehicle as a replete with high-end stereo, air condi- bocharged 16-cylinder engine channeling new record holder according to Guinness tioning, and bespoke leather / Alcantara power through an all-wheel-drive system) World Records. The acceleration time was seats. Powered by a 7.0-litre V8 engine ran 0-200 mph in 22.2 seconds- 7.7 sec- an average of two runs made in opposite fed by twin Precision turbochargers, the onds slower than the Venom GT. directions within one hour and validated Venom GT produces 1,244 horsepower by a VBox 3i GPS-based data logging and 1,566Nm of torque. Weighing just Hennessey only plans to build a total of system. VBox officials were on hand to 1,244 kg, the rear-wheel-drive Venom 29 Venom GTs, with one-third of the pro- certify the numbers as required by Guin- GT delivers a power-to-weight ratio of 1 duction run already being sold. Thus, the ness rules. The first run was completed in horsepower per each kilogram of vehicle Venom GT is not only the fastest acceler- 13.18 seconds with a 4 mph tailwind. The curb weight. ating production car in the world, it's also second run was made in 14.08 seconds one of the most exclusive. The Venom GT while encountering a 6 mph headwind. Although Guinness only recognizes runs costs $1.2 million US Dollars plus shipping The resulting two-way 0-300 km/h aver- made in kilometers per hour, the Venom and not including options. Each vehicle age was 13.63 seconds. GT also set a new unofficial acceleration is custom built to order and requires six record of 0-200 miles per hour in 14.51 months for completion. The acceleration runs were conducted seconds as verified by VBox GPS. The at Ellington Airport (also used by NASA) 0-200 mph record was previous held located southeast of Houston, Texas, using by the Koenigsegg Agera R that required www.hennesseyperformance.com ! 6 top performance tuning news ABT shows off the new Audi AS3 Sportback Two upgrades have already been conclu- new ABT AS3 Sportback an economically compact car appear even more com- sively tested for their dependability and and ecologically creditable car for a both pact. Handling is upgraded by means of roadworthiness. Thanks to ABT POWER pleasurable and sensible way of driving. chassis springs that lower the car's body "New Generation", the economical 1.4 by 35mm. The ABT brake system with its TFSI now makes 160hp, up from its stan- The dynamism of the Audi A3 Sportback huge 345mm discs and matching steel- dard 122hp. Torque has been increased from ABT is also reflected in its design - it flex brake lines make for ideal stopping from 200 to 250Nm. The 2-litre turbod- comes across as assertive, powerful and abilities. iesel, meanwhile, now has 170hp as at the same time elegant. The large front against the regular 150hp. Its torque is up spoiler lip and the ABT grille are fully in The tweaked Audi rolls on DR alloy from 320 to 360Nm. Two further engines line with the fender inserts and side skirts. wheels, available in 18 and 19 inches. are currently being developed, a 1.6 TDI The rear skirt set, with its typical 4-pipe and 1.8 TFSI, which will also make the exhaust and the rear spoiler, make this www.abt-sportsline.de ! CODENAME MC700 | SLS AMG powered by mcchip-dkr.com To eke out more power from the mighty system. The latter comes from Capristo Ex- DDC- or HLS 4-sports chassis (hydrauli- Merc, the guys at MCCHIP-DKR have haust Systems and significantly enhances cally controlled) manufactured by KW, come up with a "Stage 2" supercharger the performance and efficiency of the lets you raise the SLS AMG as required on kit, dubbed MC700, and comes in two whole set-up. Power jumps from 571hp to both axles up to a specified level, retaining versions. Stage one of the upgrade, which 680hp, with torque rising from the stock all comfort and dynamic driving features is operated by means of a mechanically 650Nm to 770Nm. of the AMG RIDE CONTROL sports driven compressor, is joined by a pure chassis. Topping off the performance is a compressor kit, while, for the Stage 3 Finally, the Stage 4 upgrade sees sports complete matt grey foil complemented by upgrade, it comes with a high-end exhaust cats and further enhanced software, result- red accents. system together with a valve control ing in 706hp and 793Nm of torque. www.mcchip-dkr.com ! 8 top performance BRABUS UNVEILS THE INSANE 800 WIDESTAR tuning news The BRABUS 800 engine conversion un- a sound management system courtesy of a tronically to 250km/h. Without the limiter, leashes the power reserves inherent in the butterfly valve in the exhaust. the high-performance off-roader would be 6.0-litre V12 Biturbo engine. The exhaust capable of reaching a speed of 270km/h. manifolds custom-designed for the G 65 The BRABUS 800 engine produces 800hp AMG with integrated turbine housings and at a low 5,500 rpm and an even more im- The widened wheel wells can be filled high-performance turbochargers optimize pressive peak torque of 1,420Nm, already with a choice of three "Platinum Edition" throttle response and produce a higher on tap from 2,100 rpm.