Category Archives: Tuning

Tuning

Larte Design Gives the Lamborghini Urus S a Two-Tone Attitude Adjustment

Larte Design isn’t exactly new to the Lamborghini world, but they’re certainly making up for lost time. When we last checked in back in October, the tuner was busy sculpting the already-bold Urus into an even sharper creation. That project, finished in loud green and gray, marked the brand’s first direct encounter with Sant’Agata’s best-selling bull. Now the shop is back with a fresh take on the updated Urus S—and it’s even more theatrical.

A Satin Twin, but Not a Copy-Paste Job

At first glance, the latest Larte-tweaked Urus might look familiar. That’s because the body kit is largely the same: aggressive fender inserts, roof and rear spoilers, beefier door moldings, wider arches, and a front fascia bristling with add-ons. The vented hood is pure Larte, as is the redesigned rear diffuser, which houses dual brake lights and new openings for the custom exhaust finishers.

But the biggest departure from the first build isn’t shape—it’s shade. Instead of the shouty green-gray combo, this Urus S wears a satin wrap that flows between blue and purple depending on the light. It’s a chromatic mood ring for the wealthy and impatient.

Rolling Stock and Carbon Flair

The wheels are the same design as the previous project, but this time they get a glossy black treatment with subtle purple accents. The body kit, unsurprisingly, is fashioned from carbon fiber—because even when modifying a 2.2-ton SUV, weight savings still photograph well. Tinted windows complete the aesthetic, adding privacy and sharpening the contrast against the shifting body color.

Inside? Larte hasn’t shown anything new, which likely means the cabin stays factory fresh—unless a mystery tuner made a pit stop along the way.

Power, Price, and the Usual Mystique

As with any Urus S, power remains at Performante levels: 666 horsepower from the familiar 4.0-liter twin-turbo V-8, good for a 0–100 km/h sprint in 3.5 seconds. What Larte will charge for the makeover remains a secret, though we’re guessing it’s the sort of number that will not be printed on a window sticker anytime soon.

Still, the message is clear: if the standard Urus S feels too subtle—and yes, that’s a sentence we can barely type with a straight face—Larte Design stands ready with more carbon, more presence, and far more color.

Source: Larte Design

Tuning

The Yenko SC Silverado: A 1,000-HP Middle Finger to Subtlety

Street trucks might be about to stage the kind of comeback usually reserved for rock bands and questionable fashion trends. Ford fired the opening salvo with its Lobo-branded Maverick and F-150. Then Ram teamed with Fox to cook up a 650-hp pavement-scraper. And now Chevrolet—backed by the mad scientists at Specialty Vehicle Engineering—has rolled out a hand grenade with headlights.

Meet the Yenko SC Silverado, a 1,000-horsepower, rear-drive, manual-transmission pickup that seems less like a product plan and more like something someone dared the engineers to build after midnight. Totally unhinged. Completely unnecessary. Absolutely glorious.

The Powertrain: Four Digits, Zero Shame

SVE starts with GM’s familiar 6.2-liter aluminum V-8, then essentially turns it into a rolling middle school science fair volcano—only this one’s forged. A 1538MV steel crankshaft, forged rods, forged pistons, upgraded heads, and a supercharger hanging on top like a chrome exclamation point all come together for a reliable, warrantied (yes, really) 1,000 horsepower.

A “Boost By Wire” system manages the mayhem, and buyers get a choice between 91- or 93-octane calibrations. A stainless steel dual cat-back exhaust adds the kind of soundtrack that’ll make the local noise ordinance committee reach for the phone.

Six-piston Brembo fronts clamp down on 16.1-inch rotors—because eventually, you will need to slow this thing down. But the biggest headline has nothing to do with power.

The Manual Lives—In a Pickup

In an era where trucks are becoming more like iPads on 35-inch tires, the wildest choice SVE made wasn’t horsepower—it was the gearbox.

They installed a six-speed manual.

Take a second and let that sink in. Neither Ford nor Ram offers a stick in their street trucks. GM doesn’t offer one in the production Silverado. Yet here we are, staring at a 1,000-hp, rear-drive pickup with three pedals. It’s like finding out your accountant moonlights as a stunt pilot.

The chassis gets its own transformation: a two-inch drop up front and a five-inch drop in the rear, with Fox performance shocks tuning out the slop. The result? A truck that squats, plants, and corners more like a muscle coupe that swallowed a toolbox.

Old-School Yenko Style, New-School Violence

SVE leans heavily on the nostalgia that made classic Yenko Camaros and Novas legendary. Buyers can pick from bold side stripes in classic colors—Gloss Black, Hugger Orange, Silver—and a cowl hood stamped proudly with a 1,000 HP badge the size of your ego.

Lightweight 22-inch wheels come in multiple finishes, wrapped in Nitto rubber that will probably die heroic, smoky deaths. Badges everywhere remind the world that this isn’t just another Silverado; it’s a Yenko. And if the badges don’t do it, the stance and the idle certainly will.

What It Costs to Cause Trouble

Here’s where things get spicy.
SVE starts with the most basic 2026 Silverado W/T—rear-drive, regular cab, short bed, the pickup equivalent of a blank canvas—priced at $36,950. Then they add the YENKO/SC package for $89,995.

By the time the dust settles, you’re signing paperwork for roughly $127,000. That’s supercar money. Then again, this thing’s built to humiliate supercars, not compete with them politely.

Every truck comes with SVE’s 3-year/36,000-mile warranty on the engine and supercharger. So at least when you grenade a set of rear tires, you’ll know the drivetrain is still covered.

The Yenko SC Silverado makes no attempt at practicality. It’s not here for towing, commuting, or being reasonable. It exists for one reason: to prove that the street-truck era isn’t just back—it’s louder, faster, and more unhinged than ever.

And if this is where the segment is headed, count us in.

Source: specialty_vehicle_engineering via Instagram

Tuning

ABT Turns Up the Heat on Audi’s SQ5: More Power, Sharper Looks, Same Daily Usability

Audi’s second-generation Q5 arrived earlier this year with a sleeker design, a richer tech suite, and a familiar focus on comfort and refinement. But for those hoping Ingolstadt might finally unleash a full-fat RS Q5, the wait continues. The SQ5 remains the range’s performance flagship—at least until the tuners step in.

Enter ABT Sportsline, the German outfit that has made a business out of pushing Audi performance into uncharted territory. Their latest project takes the SQ5 and gives it the muscle, stance, and attitude Audi itself never quite dared to deliver.

Understated Muscle, ABT Style

ABT’s recipe starts with subtle aggression. A new aero package brings a front splitter, a body-colored rear diffuser, and a chunkier roof spoiler that somehow manage to amplify the SUV’s presence without shouting about it. The look is factory-smooth, but it clearly means business.

The finishing touch? 22-inch ABT Evo wheels, finished in gloss black and filling the arches to perfection. For those who prefer a touch less drama, 20-inch multi-spoke Sport GR wheels are also available, finished in the same dark hue.

At the rear, four matte-black, stainless-steel exhaust tips—each with a 10-centimeter diameter—underline the car’s new-found intent. They look the part and, if past ABT creations are anything to go by, sound it too.

Power Boost: The SQ5 That Audi Didn’t Build

The heart of this transformation lies under the hood. ABT’s Power S performance module coaxes the turbocharged 3.0-liter TFSI V6 to produce 440 horsepower and 600 Nm of torque—healthy bumps over the stock 354 hp and 500 Nm.

That’s essentially S5 Avant power levels, which isn’t surprising since the two share the same engine. ABT also fits lowered springs that drop the ride height by up to 45 millimeters, giving the SQ5 a lower, more planted stance and, reportedly, a sharper response through corners. The result? An SUV that finally feels as sporty as its badge promises.

Interior Tweaks, Minimal but Meaningful

Inside, ABT has wisely kept things restrained. Bespoke door trims and illuminated ABT logos in the front doors provide just enough differentiation to make the cabin feel special without disrupting Audi’s clean, tech-forward design language.

Available for Both SQ5 Styles

For now, ABT’s package is officially shown on the standard SQ5, though the same upgrades—minus the rear spoiler—fit the sleeker SQ5 Sportback as well. Pricing hasn’t yet been announced, but prospective buyers can contact ABT directly for details.

In typical ABT fashion, the SQ5 transformation doesn’t rewrite the SUV’s DNA—it refines it. The result is a machine that combines Audi’s signature refinement with the kind of dynamic edge and presence that enthusiasts have long been craving.

Until Audi decides to build a true RS Q5, ABT’s take might just be the next best thing.

Source: ABT Sportsline