Gloucestershire-based Forge motorsport has launched an impressive pair of dump valves for the new R60 Mini Countryman; A vent-to-atmosphere ‘Blow Off’ valve and a recirculation valve. Both have been beautifully designed and precision CNC machined to offer a direct replacement for the OEM parts.

Each unit is entirely hand-fabricated by Forge’s time-served craftsmen here in the UK, and uses motorsport-quality materials and fabrication methods to create a unit which is both hugely effective and aesthetically pleasing at the same time.

These valves take into account the car’s electronically controlled bypass valves, where fitted, and are recommended where the car’s boost pressure has been increased by an ECU software upgrade or simply for those wanting an improved Blow off sound, a more efficient operation, or simply as a solution to the many failures that have occurred.

The most common complaint on the OEM solenoid valve is a split diaphragm preventing the valve from opening fully, or not at all. This doesn’t always result in a check engine light, as the valve can still be blown open by the boost pressure. Forge’s engineers have seen many valves with this problem during testing. The other common problem is that the diaphragm retaining ring is made from very thin plastic that goes brittle with heat cycles, and eventually fails. This may prevents the diaphragm from sealing correctly, causing the same problems as mentioned above. This particular failure has also been known to result in the valve falling apart upon removal from the turbo, though in extreme cases, bits of plastic can enter the turbo and destroy it.

Forge’s alternative is a fully engineered solution offering both significantly improved reliability .The new vales are piston based, with no internal diaphragm to fail. Being of all aluminium construction, it replaces the original unit with a pressure/vacuum operated piston valve that still also retains the desirable OEM ECU control over valve actuation. This design of valve has been proved on the VAG scene for many years. The spring is interchangeable for different levels of boost, and the solenoid is ‘plug and play’ with the wiring harness which is included.

Priced from just £189.79 including VAT, the Forge valves looks as well as they performs. An essential upgrade for any Countryman!

For more information or to buy this part online, please click to www.forgemotorsport.co.uk.

Better look
With its new body kit for the VW Touareg II Hofele-Design turns the Touareg into the „Royal GT 470“. With this new body kit the Touareg gets the occurrence of a real „royal greatness“!

The impressive design lines of the new edge accented VW design are kept and are dynamically sharpened through the emotional wheel arch extensions of the Hofele-Design body kit.

The aero dynamic front end attachment elements with openings for the original fog lamps and the ACC / lane assistant guide the air flow CW optimised to the sides and over the wheel arch extensions. Additionally developed was the Hofele-Design rear apron diffuser. This rear apron is put into the original rear bumper and replaces the original rear apron. Another strong design element are the 4-tube stainless steel tailpipes which are available as “integrated double oval” or “double round” version. These tailpipes simply replace the original tailpipes and are bolted onto the serial VW mufflers. The interaction of these 4-tube tailpipes with the wider diffuser rear apron makes the rear of the Touareg look very powerful.

As alternative the Hofele-Design rear apron can be combined with the original Touareg tailpipes.

The front grill with the two dynamic bars and the „Hofele Bear“ crest shows the distinctive and independent face of the „Royal GT 470“.

More elegance
In the interior Hofele-Design indulges with their own “Bi-Colour“ leather design „Star-Light“.
The bi-colour „StarLight“ leather interior has the Hofele-Design style with nested stripes, inserted leather crest, quilted elements and offset decorative stitching.

As addition to the „StarLight“ seat covers the door panels and arm rest can be covered with leather as well. Indeed a „royal feeling!“

More dynamic
The Hofele-Design product range features a variety of elegant designer wheels in the sizes between  20“ and 22“.

The electric lowering module lowers the Touareg with air suspension up to 40mm while standing and while driving up to 80km/h. On speeds over 80 km/h the module is deactivated to retain the serial height to give the chassis its full comfort and reserves on high speeds.

But what presses the passengers into the elegant seats in the royal interior?
The engine tuning for the Touareg by Hofele-Design!
Hofele-Design increases the power of the 3.0 TDI CR from 240 PS to 275 PS and the torque from 500 Nm to 580 Nm. Results on the street: acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in 6.9 sec and a final speed of 229 km/h.
That is something for fast royals.

As usual all parts are being mounted to the original points of attachment. This is easy-going, fast and requires no modifications to the car at all. For more information visit: www.hofeleamerica.com

Öhlins, the highly respected specialists in advanced suspension has released the new benchmark in road-friendly, track-ready coilovers for perennial BMW Mini. As the official suppliers to Prodrive’s latest Countryman WRC, the Swedish firm has enviable experience with the marque dating back to the late 1980’s when Öhlins first entered the road and track market with dampers for the original shape MINI. The result is a kit that offers unrivalled levels of performance, allied to notable levels of comfort.

The already capable credentials of Munich’s pint-sized pup, combined with its exquisite chassis, makes it the perfect recipient for the unique features of the Öhlins kit, which finally solves the puzzle of how to achieve a truly comfortable ride from competition-quality units.

Both front and rear coilovers are precision-machined from carbon steel and feature full dust and weather protection. With single bleed adjustment, the Öhlins units have inbuilt adjustable platforms and are pre-assembled with 60/50 N/mm springs front and rear respectively. Build quality is exceptional, with flawless anodised detailing and deep, lustrous powder coating. Öhlins’ pioneering dual-flow valve technology means that despite their light weight and slim-line profile, the Road and Track kit responds to road undulations in exactly the same manner as a traditional Macpherson strut set-up. The use of needle valves in the damping unit also means that even when the oil gets hot after a hard session on the circuit or ‘B’ road, the damping rate is kept absolutely consistent, even when the viscosity of the damping fluid changes. The front units arrive pre-assembled with superbly engineered ball-bearing top mounts, whilst the rears bolt directly to the OEM top mounts.

This unparalleled quality helps to explain Öhlins 2 year warranty and thanks to their racing heritage, each unit is fully serviceable and even upgradeable, should requirements or car specs change.  
Height adjustment is achieved by simple adjustment of the precision-machined threaded body and damping and rebound are tweaked simultaneously in one simple twist of the easily accessible knurled knob; allowing the daily commute to be clicked off with limo-style smoothness, but, after a few seconds of adjustment, track days to be dispatched with racecar precision.

The racing credentials of this kit are further endorsed through the successful partnership between Öhlins and BMW Motorsport.  When BMW replaced the 320i E46 S2000 touring car with the E90 in 2006, they turned to Öhlins and this gave birth to an active development partnership that has led to Öhlins dampers being the preferred choice for their GT/Touring Car Race programme.  So it’s no surprise when BMW and Prodrive joined forces that Öhlins was nominated as suspension partners on the MINI Countryman WRC project.

If you are a ‘no-nonsense’ individual who feels that the standard Range Rover Vogue is just too cultivated then the new Project Kahn Black Vogue is for you.

The roguish Black Vogue is a rousing entity with aspiration; yet, the sound of its engine can instantaneously inspire you.

You cannot really comprehend the Black Vogue nor can you understand the feel of this irresistible vehicle until you actually get behind the wheel yourself.
From exterior styling to performance and lifestyle accessories, the Black Vogue exudes craftsmanship and performance enhancing features.

The Black Vogue comes with an impressive aerodynamic pack consisting of a front and back bumper, side vents, billet finish side skirts, sports exhaust system along with Kahn branding.

Inside is the new "bespoke touch" with a whole new personalised leather treatment to suit the customer’s own specifications.

Evolved through skilled artistic innovation and state-of-the art manufacturing and materials technology- our 22-inch RS600 wheels in matt black – exemplify what A. Kahn Design is all about: elegance and skilled artistic innovation. Furthermore, the RS600 wheels accommodate all original Land Rover centre caps.

Project Kahn vehicles are for the individual who will not submit to a life of uniformity and who will only accept perfection. Dedicated to the creation of luxury bespoke vehicles, we redesign the ordered monotony of mass produced vehicles and rebuild them into individually tailored creations.

For more information e-mail: Kahn@kahndesign.com

The Pro-R Time Attack team, headed up by pilot Jon Mathers and his supporting team from Cross Roads Garage in Warwickshire, racked up another solid points finish from their recent trip to the picturesque Knockhill circuit in Scotland, gaining their first podium along the way!

Despite ever-changing weather conditions – and the fact that Mathers had never set a wheel on the iconic circuit before race day, the team worked quickly and accurately from the first timed session to achieve the perfect set-up. Something that proved to be rather difficult, given the constantly variable Scottish weather. With the new high kerbs in place at the circuit, Mathers had to adjust his lines accordingly, with the Cross Roads team making their most of their Eibach/AST chassis set-up. Sitting lower to the tarmac than at the previous round at Oulton Park, BTCC style corner cutting was not an option! (more…)

Featuring the kind of treatment that makes Project Kahn’s bespoke vehicle a favourite amongst celebrities; the fugi white ‘Davis Mark II’ is essentially a 12 piece pace car which boasts an exceptional styling package.

Priced at £69,875, this spectacular vehicle started life as a 2011 Range Rover Sport 3.0tdv6se – but is now a moving catalogue for all the latest modifications available from Project Kahn.

On the outside, it looks immaculate. The body kit makes the Range Rover’s already flawless lines continue: the new lower front bumper, rear low valance, RS grille and floating roof- all painted in Matt pearl grey draw you in like a guiding light.

Inside is the “bespoke touch” with a quilted carbon fibre bespoke leather interior in red, Kahn billet steering wheel, Project Kahn mats and Kahn aluminum foot pedals.

In addition, matt pearl grey door handles, LED strip lights in the front arches, red rubber side steps, red calipers, RS300 rev counter, speedo, time clock, stainless steel door entry sills and a quad exhaust system which is positively addictive - demonstrate improved interaction coupled with a sense of motor supremacy, performance and style.

Furthermore, to mark the16th anniversary of the creation of the RS-R alloy wheel, Afzal Kahn has started as he means to go on by ‘going back to the future’ and re-vamping the RS-R wheels in order to complement the ‘Davis Mark II’.

Available in 9.5 x 22 and 10.5 x 22 sizes, the key design elements of the RS-R remain the same, simple clean lines, soft organic surfaces on the edges of the spoke and a purposeful mechanical centre.

The RS-R wheel was the very first wheel designed and manufactured by Afzal Kahn, earning him world-wide acclaim for fashioning the first wheel with a spoke running to the very edge of the rim.

The classic RS-R conjured up a sense of power, performance and style that was incredibly popular with drivers around the world, so much so that it is the most imitated wheel design to date. From the UK to the Middle East, from Russia to America and from the road to the cinema screen, chances are that if you’ve spotted a beautiful, high – flying alloy wheel design, it will have stemmed from Afzal Kahn’s original design.