Category Archives: Tuning

Tuning

Novitec Turns Ferrari 12Cilindri Into the Loud, Unfiltered Supercar Enthusiasts Wanted

The German tuning powerhouse Novitec has done it again. Few names are as closely linked with Ferrari refinement as the Stetten-based specialists, and their latest project—the Ferrari 12Cilindri—proves exactly why.

When Maranello unveiled the 12Cilindri last May, it was billed as a love letter to tradition: a naturally aspirated, 6.5-liter V-12 sending 830 horsepower at a screaming 9,250 rpm to the rear wheels through an eight-speed dual-clutch gearbox. No hybrid assist, no electrification—just twelve cylinders of mechanical glory. It was Ferrari at its purest.

But there was one problem. In the age of tightening EU noise regulations, the 12Cilindri arrived too polite. Enthusiasts praised its performance yet quietly lamented that the car didn’t sound like a proper Ferrari V-12 should.

Enter Novitec, armed with a solution—and a set of Inconel pipes that could wake the dead.

The tuner swapped out the stock exhaust system for a custom adaptive exhaust crafted from lightweight Inconel, a material typically used in Formula 1 for its heat resistance and resonance. The result is a wilder, more operatic exhaust note, one that restores the goosebump factor Ferrari’s fans crave. The car now sounds every bit as exotic as it looks—snarling, climbing, and then howling past 9,000 rpm with the kind of mechanical theater that modern regulations have tried to silence.

Novitec didn’t stop there. The subtle black panel between the headlights has been replaced by a body-colored insert, giving the car a cleaner, more cohesive face. Around the body, carbon fiber accents sharpen the already sculpted lines, while a new set of Vossen NF11 forged wheels—21 inches up front, 22 at the rear—fill the arches perfectly. Wrapped in 275/35 and 325/30 performance rubber, they complement a chassis that now sits 30 millimeters lower thanks to Novitec’s adjustable suspension setup.

The performance numbers remain theoretical until Novitec finishes tuning the V-12 itself, but the company promises an even greater output than the factory’s 830 hp. If history is any guide, expect that figure to edge northward once development wraps up. The standard 12Cilindri already posts supercar benchmarks—0 to 100 km/h in under 2.9 seconds and a top speed beyond 340 km/h—so any gain here would push it into the realm of absurdity.

And knowing Novitec, this might only be the beginning. Rumors suggest that a widened N-Largo variant is already in the pipeline, bringing the tuner’s trademark widebody stance to Ferrari’s latest flagship.

Someone once said Ferrari should ban Mansory from touching its cars. After seeing what Novitec has done with the 12Cilindri, we’d argue Ferrari should hand them the keys instead.

Source: Novitec

Tuning

Carlex Design G63 Himalaya Is Retro Opulence on Steroids

If you thought the Mercedes-AMG G63 couldn’t get any more ostentatious, you clearly haven’t met the mad geniuses at Carlex Design. The Polish tuner—best known for its extravagant reinterpretations of high-end SUVs—has just taken the G-Class and hurled it straight into a snowstorm of retro glamour and unapologetic excess. Welcome to the G63 Himalaya, a one-off creation that’s part time machine, part diamond mine, and all madness.

This isn’t just another blacked-out G-Wagen with some fancy wheels and a loud exhaust. No, this is something far stranger—a reverse restomod, if you will. Carlex has effectively taken a brand-new AMG G63 and spun the styling clock backwards, drawing inspiration from the rugged, chrome-laden classics of yesteryear. But instead of dull nostalgia, the result is a glimmering retro-futurist SUV that looks like it belongs equally at a 1970s safari lodge and a Monaco yacht party.

And glimmer it does. That shimmering white paint you’re looking at isn’t just pearlescent trickery—it’s literally infused with diamonds. One entire kilogram of diamond powder was mixed into the finish. That’s right, the paint on this G-Class is more valuable than most people’s entire cars. You can practically hear the painter’s heartbeat through the spray gun: one wrong move, and there goes a five-figure dust cloud.

The rest of the exterior is pure vintage bravado. There’s a wide-body kit with flared arches that make the already imposing G63 look like it’s been hitting the gym on pure testosterone. Retro alloy wheels wrapped in classic white-wall tires give it an unmistakable old-school charm, while chrome bumpers, a reworked grille, and period-style badging complete the “heritage chic” vibe. It’s the automotive equivalent of wearing a tailored tuxedo to a mud-wrestling match.

Step inside, and Carlex’s vision really comes to life. The interior is draped in the most outrageous of materials—Himalaya leather, the same ultra-exclusive crocodile hide made famous by Hermès and its Birkin bags. It covers the front seats and even the center rear seat, creating an atmosphere that’s equal parts private jet and Bond villain lair. The rest of the cabin blends buttery brown and white leather with Alcantara headliners, because of course it does. If you’re sitting in this thing, you’re not so much driving as curating an experience.

The Himalaya G63 is part of a seven-car “ultra-luxury” project from Carlex, with each bespoke SUV getting the same diamond-and-leather treatment. The lineup includes automotive royalty: Rolls-Royce Cullinan, Lamborghini Urus, Aston Martin DBX, Range Rover Vogue, Ferrari Purosangue, and Bentley Bentayga. But the G63 might just be the crown jewel—the one that feels most naturally suited to this level of unhinged decadence.

All this excess comes at a predictably eye-watering price. The Carlex G63 Himalaya costs nearly €1.5 million, a figure that makes AMG’s own top-tier offerings look like bargain-bin specials. But for that money, you don’t just get a car—you get a statement piece, a rolling museum of craftsmanship and insanity that could make even a sheikh blush.

It’s over the top, utterly unnecessary, and completely magnificent. Exactly how a G-Class should be.

Source: Carlex Design

Tuning

Meet the RTR Spec 5: A Mustang That Costs More Than a Dark Horse and Outpowers a GTD

RTR Vehicles has unleashed its wildest pony yet—the 2026 Mustang Spec 5. At $159,999, the latest RTR creation costs almost $95,000 more than Ford’s new Dark Horse Mustang, yet still undercuts the Shelby Super Snake. Exclusivity helps soften the sticker shock: only 50 examples of the Spec 5 will roll out for the 2026 model year.

At its core, the Spec 5 starts life as a Mustang GT with the Performance Package, but RTR doesn’t leave much untouched. Under the hood, the familiar 5.0-liter Coyote V-8 gets force-fed by a Whipple 3.0-liter supercharger, an HD race intercooler, and a Borla cat-back exhaust. The result is a monstrous 882 horsepower and 894 Nm of torque—that’s nearly 400 more horses than a stock GT and even more grunt than Ford’s track-ready Mustang GTD. Buyers can row their own gears with a six-speed manual or opt for the 10-speed automatic.

The upgrades continue under the skin. RTR equips the coupe with its Tactical Performance suspension system, featuring adjustable shocks, height-adjustable springs, and beefier anti-roll bars. 20-inch forged aluminum wheels wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires put the power to the ground, while six-piston Brembos with two-piece rotors rein it all back in.

The exterior isn’t shy about its intentions. The Spec 5 wears a wide-body kit with unique fenders, bumper extensions, composite side skirts, and a vented hood. Carbon-fiber aero bits, a towering rear spoiler, and RTR’s illuminated grille treatment add to the visual punch. Even the fuel-filler cap has been redesigned to flip upward—something RTR curiously brags about as a symbol of its “relentless dedication to detail.”

Inside, the changes are subtler but purposeful. Expect RTR-branded Recaro seats with gray leather bolsters, black suede trim, and Vaughn Gittin Jr.’s signature etched into a serialized dash plate. Other touches include RTR floor mats and a teardrop shifter.

With its limited run of 50 cars, outrageous power figures, and brash styling, the Spec 5 is aimed at collectors as much as drivers. Whether its nearly $160K price tag makes sense when a Mustang GTD exists—or whether that even matters to the few lucky buyers—is another story.

One thing’s clear: the Spec 5 cements RTR’s reputation for turning Ford’s pony car into something that looks—and sounds—like it escaped from a racetrack.

Source: RTR Vehicles