CARGRAPHIC Launches their Fully Reworked AirLift Evolution System

When CARGRAPHIC launched its first patented front axle system, the original AirLift in 2008, the positive feedback was overwhelming. World Rally Champion Walter Röhrl tested the system on the Hockenheim track and was impressed with its handling ability and everyday driving usability. CARGRAPHIC is now proud to present their new fully reworked AirLift Evolution System, 100% developed and made in Germany. Be sure to take a browse through our entire collection of CARGRAPHIC parts here.

The CARGRAPHIC AirLift system was originally developed for the 997 Porsche series and will be provided in combination with a BILSTEIN B16 suspension kit. However, the product range is still expanding with further vehicles from various manufactures joining the ranks of its new product generation.

Overcoming obstacles on the road like speed bumps or ramps is alleviated with this airlift system. This is because the system allows the front of the vehicle to be lifted up to 55mm at the wheel (72mm at the front spoiler lip) to provide additional road clearance. The air bellow unit will be fitted underneath the suspension camber plate, and does not affect the choice of wheel and tire combinations.

The AirLift System is Available in 2 Versions:

– As complete kit including BILSTEIN B16 suspension

– As an upgrade kit for factory or aftermarket coilover suspensions.

Features/Advantages: 

– No reduction in boot space

– Light weight: approx 3kg / 6.6lbs

– No limitations to the driving performance.

– Short assembly time: approx 3hrs

– System uses an onboard Air Compressor; no hydraulic fluid inside car

– Max. air uplift requires 15 seconds, increasing the components longevity

– System works up to 30mph / 50km/h there after automatic lowering proceeds

– Control is either with a remote or a built-in switch

– TÃœV Parts Certificate

CARGRAPHIC Launches their Fully Reworked AirLift Evolution System

IDP Releases New Video on Heat Soak and Thermal Conductivity

IPD, also known as Innovative Pro Design has been designing, testing and manufacturing plenums since 2004. Their plenums and thermal blankets are nothing short of top quality, and IPD  has the best dyno proven bolt-on power in the industry. You can check out Vivid Racing’s entire stock of IPD plenums here.

IPD sales manager Greg Martin discusses the topic of heat soak and thermal conductivity with IPD plenums in the video below. He explains the reasoning behind why these plenums do not experience heat soak during driving and racing conditions.

Q: Do the cast aluminum IPD Plenums experience “heat soak”?

A: Aluminum has a relatively low thermal mass. It’s capable of heating up quickly but because of its molecular packing configuration it’s not capable of storing much energy. While theoretically it does have a higher thermal mass than plastic, the resulting change in inlet air temperature is minimal. At IPD we pay close attention to the whole package; not only the fluid effects of air flow, but also the thermal and mechanical. Extensive testing keeps our claims honest and we will continue to share data as we improve our product.

Comparing aluminum to plastic. Aluminum no doubt gets hotter faster, but it also gets colder faster. Once the car is parked, the Plenum as well as the entire intake system, experience “Heat Soak”. On the other hand, when the car is being driven the intake air being drawn through the intake system actually cools the Plenum more quickly therefore dropping charged intake air temperatures.

The colder the air traveling through the intake system the higher the increase in horsepower. Cooler air is “denser” air, because cooler charged air carries more potential energy. This increase in energy allows for greater combustion within a given volume, ultimately yielding more power and efficiency.

IDP Releases New Video on Heat Soak and Thermal Conductivity

Centric Introduces the All-New StopTech Sport and Street Brake Pads

Centric Parts, North America’s leading manufacturer and supplier of OE and aftermarket brake and chassis components, has announced important changes to its high performance StopTech Brake Pad range. This includes the introduction of a new StopTech Street Brake Pad, in addition to a new name for the former StopTech Street Performance Pads, which are now known as StopTech Sport Brake Pads. While both new StopTech brake pad lines offer high performance braking gains, the street pads are intended for road use only, while sport pads are engineered for occasional track duty as well.

StopTech Sport Brake Pad Features:

• High MOT (Max Operating Temperature) to Eliminate Fade

• Excellent Actuation, Modulation and Release Characteristics

• 100% Positive Molded for Uniform Friction Material Density

• Scorched to Raise Initial Cold Effectiveness and Ease Bed-In

• Para-Aramid Composites Provide Linear Response at All Temps

• Dynamometer Tested for Maximum Performance and Service Life

• Lab-Developed Formulas with Strong Initial Bite

• Ideal for Autocross and Light Track Day Use

Formerly known as the StopTech Street Performance Brake Pad, the Sport Brake Pads are engineered to meet the demands of high performance driving situations while maintaining their ability to work in normal driving conditions. These pads combine the benefits of premium street brake pads with aggressive friction formulas suitable for track day and autocross use. Para-Aramid composites deliver optimum stopping performance over a wide temperature range and are specially formulated to deliver linear response in both cold and hot conditions. All StopTech Sport Brake Pads are 100% positive molded and include OE designed shims to eliminate noise associated with brake pad vibration. In addition, each StopTech pad is scorched to remove any impurities in the friction material. While this does not eliminate the need to bed-in new pads, it does provide improved stopping power right out of the box.

StopTech Street Brake Pad Features:

• Superior Braking Performance for Everyday “Street” Drivers

• Lab-Tested, OE-Style Design, Manufacturing and Features

• Rotor-Friendly, Low-Dust Formula for Cleaner Wheels

• Dyno-Proven, Noise-Isolating Shims for Quiet Operation

• 100% Positive Molded for Life-Long Consistent Performance

• Scorched to Raise Initial Cold Effectiveness and Ease Bed-In

• Includes Premium Hardware for Precision OE Fitment

• Application Specific Brake Hardware included

• Dynamometer Tested for Maximum Performance and Service Life

• Platform Specific Friction Compounds

• Ideal for Daily Driving and Touring

The StopTech Street Brake Pads are a new addition to the StopTech product portfolio. StopTech street pads are engineered to provide superior braking performance for everyday street driven vehicles. The lab-developed and dyno-tested friction formulations provide the perfect combination of performance braking characteristics with the lowest dust and quietest operation available. The advanced friction compound delivers optimum stopping performance over a wide temperature range and is specially formulated to deliver linear response in both cold and hot conditions. All StopTech brake pads are 100% positive molded and include OE style shims to eliminate noise associated with brake pad vibration. In addition, each StopTech brake pad is scorched to remove any impurities in the friction material. While this does not eliminate the need to bed-in new pads it does provide improved stopping power right out of the box.

Centric Introduces the All-New StopTech Sport and Street Brake Pads

Fast, Powerful and Impressive: The BMW X6 FALCON by AC Schnitzer

If you haven’t yet heard of the German tuning company AC Schnitzer, you’re about to never forget them! AC Schnitzer likes to get their hands on powerful, German-engineered beasts and turn them into greater works of art. They recently got their hands on the BMW X6, a sporty SUV, and transformed it into FALCON form.

Check out all AC Schnitzer products here.

Press Release: With performance upgrades from 306 to 360 hp for the X6 35i and from 575 to an incredible 650 hp for the BMW X6 M, the speed of the petrol-engined models has been significantly increased. But in FALCON form, the BMW X6 30d, 40d and M50d – delivering 309 instead of 258 hp, 360 instead of 313 hp and 49 more hp than the standard engine respectively – also leave the competition far behind.

All AC Schnitzer performance upgrades always come complete with a two-year warranty, which can be optionally extended to three years. The new AC Schnitzer engine styling is also available for all models (except X6 M).

Any vehicle displaying such speed shouldn’t do it silently. So the X6 FALCON announces its presence with a range of AC Schnitzer silencer options with “Racing”, “Sport” and “Sport Black” tailpipes. For the X6 M, there are other variants of the AC Schnitzer silencer with flap control and two “Carbon Evo”, “Sport”, “Sport Black” and “Carbon Evo” tailpipes available. With export version silencers, the FALCON X6 M explores the auditive boundaries abroad beyond the standard.

There is also a new diesel sound for the X6: The AC Schnitzer sound module set for diesel vehicles consists of a twin silencer with various tailpipes and a sound module which, via remote control, offers seven different exhaust notes (six + standard) to allow diesel variants of the X6 to deliver a characteristic sound even at low revs.

Everything in the X6 FALCON by AC Schnitzer is tailored to impressive speed: The powerful and beefy form of the brand-new, ten-piece AC Schnitzer FALCON widening kit for the front and rear wings, including FALCON emblem, gives the vehicle a masculine and powerful appearance even when stationary. The front is widened by 50 mm and the rear by 90 mm.

Individual special developments, such as the AC Schnitzer front skirt, bonnet vents (with optional Chrome Design elements), carbon mirror cover (not for X6 M), rear wing in the export version, rear diffusor, carbon rear skirt insert (X6 M) and rear skirt film, all show that the FALCON is headed in the right direction. The lowering of 20-30 mm front and 15- 25 mm rear thanks to the AC Schnitzer suspension spring sets provides the necessary precision and control for the chase.

Power paired with speed and elegance: the X6 FALCON by AC Schnitzer shows its colors in the inside too. The interior of this exceptional vehicle impresses with its aluminum pedal set and foot rest, AC Schnitzer keyholder and velours foot mats. Elegance is again combined with masculine design in the re-interpreted classic double spoke AC1 wheel generation. The one-piece AC1 wheels are weight-optimised cast alloys produced in the low-pressure casting method. They are available in BiColor or matte anthracite in 22 inch for the X6 FALCON.

 

The technical evolution of the AC1 wheel is the three-piece AC1 Forged Racing Rim, recognizable by its visible bolts. These come in black high gloss or BiColor hand-polished for the X6 FALCON and are available in 22- and 23-inch with an offset of up to -20. The AC1 Forged Racing Rims are extremely strong, thanks to their design with forged outer bed and star combined with milled inner bed. And of course they give the X6 FALCON the perfect hybrid sporting look.

Alternatively, when the X6 FALCON is rolling on the road, choose from Type VIII forged racing alloys in BiColor (22 inch), Type VIII rims in BiColor black or silver (20 inch), Type V forged alloys in BiColor or anthracite (22 inch), or Type IV wheels in BiColor black (20 inch), all with corresponding tires.

With the latest model from the FALCON series, the Aachen-based tuning experts once again demonstrate that anything is possible beyond the standard. Because the X6 FALCON by AC Schnitzer will defeat any flightless rivals on the road.

 

Fast, Powerful and Impressive: The BMW X6 FALCON by AC Schnitzer

WP Pro Rotor Kit for R35 Nissan GT-R

Currently, WP Pro holds one of the largest selections of big brake kits on the market. They have more than 400 big brake kit applications available today. To check out our collection of WP Pro brakes, click here.

The photos below feature a WP Pro rotor kit for the R35 Nissan GT-R. A car with such power is certainly in need of reliable, high-performance brakes with incredible stopping ability.

Front Rotor Kit (Part Number: NS35OE20)

Rotor 400x34mm, Weight: 11.16kg/24.5lbs, Directionally vented, Forged alloy hats, Includes pads and spacers

MSRP: $2500 temporarily

Rear Rotor Kit (Part Number: NS35RRPOE20)

Rotor 385x30mm, Weight 10.8kg/23.8lbs, Directionally vented, Forged hats with steel liners for hand brakes, Includes pads and spacers

MSRP: $1300 temporarily

 

WP Pro Rotor Kit for R35 Nissan GT-R

Understanding Wheel Load Ratings with Forgeline Wheels

Harrop Engineering’s Heath Moore discusses with Forgeline president Dave Schardt the importance of load ratings and how the choice of tire compounds can dramatically affect that rating.

Forgeline Motorsports manufactures the world’s finest custom made-to-order lightweight forged aluminum street and racing performance wheels for the most discerning enthusiasts and the most demanding applications. Their wheels are chosen by top professional motorsports teams as well as the enthusiast club driver that loves to get out on the track on the weekend, but still drives the car on the street Monday-Friday. Their technical innovations and pedigree in motorports are what makes Forgeline not just another wheel company in the industry.

Click here to view all Forgeline wheels

If you have question or would like to custom order a set of Forgeline Wheels for your vehicle call 1-866-448-4843

 

 

Understanding Wheel Load Ratings with Forgeline Wheels