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Author: Olly

  • 2020 AUDI TT RS REVIEW

    The 2020 Audi TT RS had a little rework to help it meet strict EU emissions laws. We got behind the wheel to find out whether it has lost some of its urgency.

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    With 400hp on tap, you might not be questioning the 2020 Audi TT RS’s urgency. But, the 2.5-litre, turbocharged five-pot felt a touch lethargic in the Audi RS Q3 we drove recently. The changes to the engine thanks to emissions laws means that while power and technical specifications remain the same, from behind the wheel, power down low feels obsolete.

    Sadly, the engine suffers massively with turbo lag, with you having to wait a good few seconds for boost to come on tap should you be under around 3000rpm and plant your foot. Thankfully, elsewhere, the TT RS stands tall against its competitors, offering good road comfort, huge levels of grip thanks to that quattro system, and an interior that puts it at the top of its class.

    With plenty of mods available for the 2020 Audi TT RS, and the news that Audi will no longer be building a TT as we know it, is now the time to buy the baby supercar?

    shop.kelsey.co.uk/AUT20P
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  • MANHART SUPRA GR 550 REVEALED

    After just half a year since it released the Manhart Supra GR 450, the German tuners are back with another, the Manhart Supra GR 550. And as the name suggests, it gets 550hp!

    Manhart is no stranger to tuning BMWs, and as we all know the majority of the Toyota Supra GR is BMW, it meant that Manhart could turn its attention to the legendary Supra.

    While the specialists from Wuppertal unveiled an optimized version of the Japanese two-door model for the first time about six months ago with the Supra GR 450, it is now adding another: with the Manhart Supra GR 550. As usual, the numbers in the designations stand for the performance. The 3.0-litre, in-line six-cylinder (B58) now produces 550ps (542hp), an increase of around 207hp over the standard car.

    Manhart Supra GR 550

    The maximum torque increases at the same time to up to 568lb ft thanks to a TTE 685 turbo upgrades. 770 Nm (series: 500 Nm). A more powerful Manhart radiator kit by Wagner Tuning was also installed under the hood. In addition, there is a Manhart exhaust system by FI Exhaust and sports downpipe by Wagner Tuning.

    In keeping with its power, the Manhart GR 550 has a dynamic look with in-house Concave One wheels finished in satin black measuring 9×20 and 10.5×20 inch front to back.

    Manhart Supra GR 550

    The matte foiling in Manhart-typical golden yellow, which is provided with decorative stripes in black and fine red accent lines, forms a strong contrast. At the front, an AC Schnitzer lip spoiler helps increase visual drama as well as H&R lowering springs.

    Want the power upgrade? That comes in at around £8840. For this, that includes the TTE 625 turbo, the Wagner Tuning Radiator, Manhart charge pips and a Manhart carbon intake. The electronically-controlled valved exhaust comes in at £4000, while the sports cat downpipe comes in at just over £1300. The wheels? £1950. Combine that with the AC Schnitzer lip at £800, the H&R springs at £293 and the decals and gold wrap (£3090) and suddenly the sum of all these upgrades costs just over £20,000… But it looks awesome, doesn’t it?

    Manhart Supra GR 550
    shop.kelsey.co.uk/AUT20P
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  • Nismo starts restoration service for R32, R33 and R34 Skyline GT-Rs

    The values of old Nissan Skyline GT-Rs continue to soar, especially now that more and more examples are becoming eligible for import into North America.

    As a result, the cars are becoming more sought after by collectors, though given the nameplate’s popularity with the tuning scene, finding original examples in prime condition is rare. That’s where Nissan, more specifically the automaker’s Nismo performance arm, can help.

    Nismo has had some success with the launch of official parts for the R32, R33 and R34 generations of the GT-R, but is now offering a full and rather comprehensive restoration service where a customer can have their car stripped to its bare structure, repaired if necessary (with stiffness and dimension measurements taken), and even coated in rust protection before a full repainting.

    There are also options for owners on smaller budgets. For example, the restoration can focus on just one element, such as the powertrain, drivetrain or interior. For each restoration, every part involved is inspected and tested, after which it is either refurbished or replaced by an official part. A detailed log of all the work done, along with part numbers, is included in the process.

    R32 Nissan Skyline GT-R undergoing Nismo restoration

    R32 Nissan Skyline GT-R undergoing Nismo restoration

    For the interior, original trim fabrics can’t be replaced due to changes in flame retardant standards. Depending on the owner’s wishes, Nismo’s restorers can clean the original fabric for reuse or add new fabrics used in production of the current R35 GT-R.

    The final step of the restoration is a run on a dyno and a test drive on a racetrack with a professional driver behind the wheel. A special build plate is then attached to show that the car was restored, and a one-year, 20,000-kilometer (12,427-mile) limited warranty is included.

    Nismo also offers as part of the service a chance for owners to upgrade their cars, for example from a standard GT-R to a V-Spec or V-Spec II Nur. This will depend on the availability of parts, Nismo said.

    The restoration takes place at Nismo’s main facility in Yokohama, Japan, and can last up to a year depending on the level of work done. Nismo said it has restored cars for sale and can also source cars for the service if anyone is looking to join the Skyline GT-R ownership club.

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