AC Schnitzer Tunes BMW Z4 For Speed-Obsessed Hairdressers

AC Schnitzer has plied its tuning skills on the latest iteration of the BMW Z4 and produced a car with more aggressive styling and a most welcomed 54 more horses. It'll look great sitting outside the spa. More »

AC Schnitzer BMW Z4

AC Schnitzer Tweaks Mini Cooper S Convertible

German tuner AC Schnitzer has plied its craft upon the Mini Cooper S Convertible, adding fender flares, more "powah," a limited-slip differential and adjustable suspension. Basically it's a JCW Mini in extravagant duds. More »

AC Schnitzer Digital Shift Knob Is Happy To See You

AC Schnitzer has announced the availability of a new shift knob with a digital gear readout, available for all BMW and Mini models. We're announcing this knob's got a certain phallic sensibility. Aside from the obvious nonsense of a digital readout on a shifter which only your palm can see, something about the shape of the shifter here gives the knob a certain "Enzytic" sense of length-enhancement when gears at the front of the gate are selected. Or maybe Freud would just have a field day with us (or just Ben — Ed). "Full release" from AC Schnitzer after the jump. More »

AC Schnitzer BMW X6 Proves You Can Make The X6 Look Worse

The tuners and tunettes at AC Schnitzer have turned their wrenches toward the 2009 BMW X6, BMW's unique Sports Activity Coupe. When we reviewed the Bimmer, making it look stranger with visual tweaks wasn't high on the list of things we were hoping someone would change. That didn't seem to deter AC Schnitzer, who added a new nose with a lower skirt, along with repositioned intakes and a revised rear diffuser. Lest you think it's all weird show and no go, the company is also tweaking the diesel engines with a new motor control unit, resulting in an unknown amount of horsepower through the Schnitzer's dual-flow exhaust system. More »

AC Schnitzer Takes On The 1-Series With The ACS1 3.5i

The tuners of all things BMW and Land Rover have taken on the new BMW 1-series coupé with what they're calling the ACS1 3.5i. AC Schnitzer's tunage is highlighted by — a "Turbo logo on the front spoiler." OK, they've done much more than that, but that's what the release starts out with so we couldn't just leave it alone. Some of the many enhancements include dropping a full bodykit on the new two-door along with aluminum struts and some enhanced torsional stiffness. For the 1.8d and the 2.0d oil-burning versions of the BMW 1-series, AC Schnitzer offers diesel performance upgrades taking the power up a notch by 30 HP or so. On the petrol side they're even claiming they're getting power up to 360 HP and the top speed from 155 MPH to a touch over 186. Not too shabby for the 2002 wannabe. Full release after the jump. More »

AC Schnitzer R56 Mini Cooper

This isn't the first Mini cooper BMW tuning shop AC Schnitzer's rolled athwart the tarmac, it's just the latest. Welcome the R56, a cosmetics and performance package created specifically for the latest, twin-scroll turbocharged Mini S, which produces 170 hp from the factory. Under ACS's tutelage, the Mini will see a performance bump, though the company hasn't released its underhood kit yet. The suspension setup, ACS says, was tuned on the Nürburgring, and the bodykit — consisting of a front spoiler and rear skirt package with diffuser and new front bumper. Inside is an aluminum gear-shift knob and hand brake, and aluminum pedal trim. John Cooper would likely tip his cap.

Car Hack's Notebook: Reporting from the Essen Show, Day Three

Most people would be more than satisfied with the fast-as-amphetamines Porsche Carrera GT, which is famous for knife-edge handling and a capacity to test even the best driver. But apparently not everyone is so easily pleased, as Gemballa has now seen fit to strap two turbochargers to the Carrera's engine to create the Mirage GT. More »

World's Fastest Fish: AC Schnitzer's BMW Tension Breaks BMW Speed Record

AC Schnitzer's Tension concept hit 206 mph on the Nardo test track in Southern Italy, stopping far short of schooling the Brabus Rocket Mercedes CLS, which peaked at 227 mph during the same AutoBild magazine showdown. But it's enough for the AC boys to call their creation the world's fastest street-legal production BMW. The Tension — like the BMW 6-Series that provides its base — is nonetheless a divisive vehicle in the looks department. And the cartoonishly appointed tuner doesn't do much to bring the poles of taste together. – Mike Spinelli More »

AC Schnitzer's New BMW Coupe, Roadster

AC Schnitzer, as part of its press prep for Germany's Essen show, revealed a new tuning package for the BMW M Roadster and Coupe. The Z4Ms have been accessorizied to within an inch of their lives, with compatible kitting that include carbon aerodynamic add-ons, a 3.91 : 1 axle ratio (compared to the standard 3.62 : 1), undisclosed suspension tweaks, stainless-steel tailpipe (natch) and a range of available ACS alloy wheels. Other interior and exterior cosmetic trimmings include grillework and interior fittings like shift knob and carbon-fiber accents. Model-specific parts include a clear-glass wind deflector and two-piece rear wing for the roadster, and three-piece rear wing for the coupe. No engine mods this go-round, but the company says the change in axle ratio is enough to make the cars feel ever so much more spry. – Mike Spinelli More »

AC Schnitzer's Twin-Turbo BMW E92 to Debut at Essen Show

The Bayerische tweakers at AC Schnitzer released pics of their new, twin-turbo BMW E92 3-Series coupe, ahead of its unveiling at the Essen show next month. A shot of the tuner 335i leaked out last week, sending those who fancy such beasts into a tailspin of anticipation. But the pics are just a tease; the company hasn't released performance numbers or specifics of the tuning program yet. For more, you'll just have to hit up exhibition stand no. C 124 in Hall 3. – Mike Spinelli More »

Do Not Front on My Brabus, Nor Should You Front upon Mein Bruce: Claus Ettenberger's Florida Shop Due in February

We like Claus Ettenberger, a man who can rock a Hugo Boss cap without irony, and will complete a cross-country rally as fast as possible simply to have time to shower, say hello to his family and then head up to Ventura to play fu ball. As an official installer of all things Brabus and AC Schnitzer, not to mention Oettinger, Herr Ettenberger has chiseled a career from the embrace of Bruce. The new highly-precise (although our jury is still out on Schnitzer precision) facility will offer the sale and installation of hop-up pieces from Novitec, TechArt, Azev and Antera, as well as the aforementioned brands. Rich people who prefer hurricanes to earthquakes and snow, warm up your checkbooks: the new shop opens February 24th in Miami. More »

AC Schnitzer's New BMW 3-Series on the Way

A photo of of tuning shop AC Schnitzer's latest BMW tweaker slammed into the internets today, offering a preview of the company's plans for the 335i turbo. There's no real info on the coming tuner, but we suspect it'll have the same suspension tweaks designed for the E90 (antiroll bar kit, plus stiffer strut brace for the front), AC Schnitzer Type IV wheels, stainless steel exhaust and aero kit. No word on engine mods, but if the E90 is an indication of what's to come, expect some manner of ECU hack. We'll find out more any day now. – Mike Spinelli More »

Apply Directly to the Forehead: AC Schnitzer's Street Tension

Last year at the Frankfurt show, BMW tuning house AC Schnitzer unveiled a radical take on the 6-Series that seemed spectacularly over-flamboyant to have been created by a bunch of German guys. It was called the Tension, and it divided the Frankfurt into two camps, the delighted and the disgusted. But it was just a concept. Now, just about exactly one year later, the production kit is out. They're only converting 50 6-Series models into Tension Street tuners, so act fast. Or look away. Click through for a spec sheet and more pics. More »

Last Night Everything Broke/Dietrich Ate My Homework: Jalopnik/TTAC's AC Schnitzer Adventure

So what happens when two punk rockin' autojournalists attempt to make an attempt to retrace the route of Stefan and "Dietrich" in an AC Schnitzer-tuned 6-Series droptop while cranking Jawbreaker's Bivouac album? The front fascia decides to take a dirt-nap as a result of aerodynamic pressure at 70mph (approximately 90 mph slower than Eriksson's wee mishap) and they ride back to the Claus Ettenberger shop in a big honkin' International flatbed driven by a gregarious man in a Dodgers cap. More »

AC Schnitzer Does the BMW M6

After allowing its team of designers and engineers to toke on a nuclear-powered crack pipe, which produced the Tension concept — unveiled at the Frankfurt motor show last year — someone at BMW tuning house AC Schnitzer grabbed the freaky knob and dialed it back to a more acceptable factor. The result is the ACS6 Sport version of the BMW M6 coupe, which reflects the company's latest tuning kit package, adapted from its M5 design line. Toys include carbon fiber aerodynamics add-ons, custom alloys, stainless-steel exhaust and various suspension-tuning gadgets. No word on engine tuning toys for the V10 at this juncture. More »

AC Schnitzer's New Mini Cooper S Concept

John Cooper Works, check the rear-view. German tuning house, AC Schnitzer will be showing off its new Mini Cooper concept tuner at the Essen Euro-tuner hoedown next week. The Mini was designed — A collaboration with GT-car builder Drexler Motorsport — to adopt the road feel of a race car, from its cockpit (Recaro buckets, altered steering wheel position) to the pavement (custom limited slip differential, race-tuned suspension, four-pot wheel stoppers). By messing with the stock Mini S's ECU, Schnitzer uncovered 222 HP at 7200 rpm, leading the concept to go from zero to 62 in under 7 seconds. [Update: more pics after the jump.] More »

Frankfurt Premiere: AC Schnitzer Tension Concept

Tuning house, AC Schnitzer offered its take on the 507hp, V10-powered BMW M6. They pulled out every toy from their toybox and tossed it at the Bimmer with either reckless abandon or malice aforethought. The company has no plans to produce this really bad boy, but says it would cost in the neighborhood of $320,000 if it did. Man, we're so tired from running around this gigganormous Frankfurt show, we almost wish they'd at least build it in pill form. We'd pay. More »