Brembo Six-Piston Monobloc GT BrakesGreat brakes have become even better for a wide range of high-end European models. Way back in November 2005, Brembo released its very first six-piston monobloc-caliper Gran Turismo (GT) brake kit for a street application. At the time, these kits were only available for the Ferrari F360 and F430 due to their exclusive limited production. This is no longer the case. Brembo has now expanded its range of new applications for many European automobiles. And if you're still driving domestic or Asian marques (silly you), there are a wide variety of new applications for these as well.
Like all Brembo GT big brake applications, these new six-piston monobloc kits are comprised of the pair of calipers, a pair of two-piece 'floating' vented rotors (14, 15 or 16 inches in diameter, depending on application) and mounting hardware. Brembo takes great care to engineer each kit for a specific model application, with unique piston size variations for optimum brake balance, increased brake torque and thermal capacity. The company allows customers a choice of drilled or slotted rotor surfaces, as well as caliper colors in red, black, silver or yellow.
The stunning six-piston calipers are the closest thing yet to a full motorsport caliper Brembo has ever offered for a street application. The caliper itself is a brilliant example of automotive art and cutting-edge performance, the ultimate combination of form and function. As with the company's extreme motorsport calipers, Brembo has meticulously machined around each piston to remove every ounce of excess material. There's also an integral bridge for increased stiffness, which improves all-around pedal feel and the ability to modulate under the most extreme braking conditions. Each caliper weighs around 7.6 pounds without its pad set in place. The six-piston design with differential piston bores also allows for even pad wear, as well as larger pad volumes for more efficient heat dissipation and prolonged pad life.
We've had plenty of street and track time over the years in various European models equipped with Brembo brake systems and never failed to come away completely impressed. These new calipers improve on an already good thing. The new Brembo GT six-piston monobloc kits are available from $3,495. That's only about $200 more than the four-piston caliper kits. For a serious big brake set-up for street or track, look no further. -Doug Neilson
Brembo800.325.3994www.brembo.com
'More power, less weight' was Borla's mantra when the company bent a replacement exhaust tract for the hot new BMW 335i. This cat-back system incorporates the Borla merge X-pipe and 2.5-inch tubing formed from T304 stainless steel. The muffler is the unique 'double-crossover' Borla unit designed for an aggressive exhaust note without any in-cabin annoyance. The system includes oversized 3.5-inch rolled and polished tips, and imparts claimed weight savings of 21 pounds over the factory pipes. Borla Performance Industries. $1,160
877.GO.BORLAwww.borla.com
Plasma Direct is the performance ignition coil with a high power amplifier built in. The complete ignition upgrade increases secondary spark current significantly, generating high-frequency, multi-spark discharge for improved performance, more power, and more torque. According to the manufacturer, this upgrade is a simple addition. There's no splicing or cutting into the stock wiring, simply replace the stock coils with Plasma Direct Coils and you're ready to go. Contact manufacturer for pricing.
Ignition Solutions888.806.8948www.ignitionsolutions.com
Agency Power has added this silicone 'F-Hose' to its line of performance products for the 996 Porsche 911 Turbo. The silicone hose is a direct replacement of its factory counterpart. It is fashioned from four-ply silicone and designed to withstand more boost pressure than the OE piece and preclude cracking or failing. This hose will also prevent any potential boost leakage and loss of power. The F-Hose works with factory or aftermarket diverter valves and comes in plenty of colors to fit your fancy including red, blue, silver, black and blue. $110Agency Power480.921.7422www.agency-power.com
Autotech Sport Tuning now offers its best-selling ClubSport suspension kit for MkV GTI owners. These complete shock-and-spring kits are the result of over a year of dyno and road-testing in an effort to provide the VW driving enthusiast with the ultimate shock-and-spring combination for road use. ClubSport-tuned suspension kits utilize German shock damping technology from Sachs Race Engineering, combined with specially calibrated lowering springs in one precision-engineered package. $600
Autotech Sport Tuning800.553.1055www.autotech.com
Wheel Of The Month The LM-R is the latest addition to BBS' premium Gold Line. It is the first road wheel to use the company's patented 'back milling' procedure, wherein excess material is removed from the side of the spokes in order to lighten the wheel center. The process also increases overall strength by creating an 'I-beam' profile in the spoke cross section. The LM-R is initially available in 8.5x19 inches up to 11x19 for Porsche and BMW applications. Contact the manufacturer for pricing.
By incorporating sensors in both of the engine's exhaust outlets, not just one like its competitors, the FAST air/fuel meter lets the savvy engine tuner get the full story on the engine's state of tune. The operator can read both exhaust sensors individually or average them together for a super-accurate reading. The FAST meter includes a simple, built-in datalogger that shows real-time information on the unit's display. Advanced features include outputs for dynamometer datalogging software and external digital gauges. $613
FAST877.335.8355www.fuelairspark.com
AudiA4 ('02 and later)S4 ('00 and later)A6 (4.2, '00-'04)S6 ('02 and later)
BMWE36, M3 ('92-'98, '95-'99)E46, M3 ('99-'06, '01-'06)E60, M5 ('04 and later, '06 and later)E63, M6 ('04 and later, '06 and later)E90 ('06 and later)E92 ('06 and later)Z3, Z3M ('96-'02, '98-'02)Z4, Z4M ('03 and later, '06 and later)
Ferrari550, 575 ('96-'06)360 ('00-'04)430 ('05 and later)
Land RoverRange Rover ('03 and later)
Mercedes-BenzSLK-Class ('97-'01, '05 and later)C-Class ('94 and later)CL-Class ('07 and later)CLK-Class ('98 and later)CLS-Class ('05 and later)E-Class ('96 and later)SL500 ('03 and later)S-Class ('06 and later)
PorscheBoxster, Boxster S ('97 and later)Cayenne ('03 and later)Cayman, Cayman S ('06 and later)993 ('95-'98)996 ('99-'04)997 ('05 and later)