Gemballa Tornado 750 GTS: Modified Madness
By Jay Williams - 27/April/2009
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Gemballa Tornado 750 GTS
Limited just 50 models, the Gemballa Tornado
750 GTS looks like a military prototype vehicle
Power from the 5.0-litre twin turbo V8
engine is 552kW and 1050Nm of torque
The interior has been completely changed, with a
new bridge-like centre console and lots of suede
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Leonberg, Germany
– At fist glance you would swear this was a special forces vehicle or some secret government transport.
But no, the engineers over at Gemballa have taken the Porsche Cayenne
Turbo S and turned it in to something that looks dangerous and named it
the Tornado 750 GTS. You might say that BMW now has the world's fastest 'production' 4WD with the X6 M, but this Gemballa is quicker than the spread of swine flu, with enough torque to twist itself in twain! Gemballa
has turned its expertise from the 911 to the Cayenne SUV, and
started by putting the vehicle on a carbon fibre diet. The
majority of the car's body work is finished in carbon fibre, which
drops overall weight by a quarter of a tonne (250kg)! Body
modifications include a extended front apron, rear and side skirts and
a bevy of bonnet scoops and the matte black finish is very sinister. A lip
is also built into the front apron and a carbon-flapped spoiler at
back gives the Tornado 750 GTS a huge increase in down force to
make sure the 552kW (750hp) it's twin turbo V8 engine creates isn't wasted. New
look LED brake lights and a four cannon-like exhaust pipes finish off
the rear end, which leave no doubt as to the vehicle's purpose. The
acceleration figures are full on: the Gemballa Tornado cracks
the 0-100km/h run in 4.3 seconds, on par with many of the world's
finest 2-door sports cars. It has a top speed of more than 300km/h should you want to bust out the triple tonne. Maxxing out at 6400rpm, the V8 engine delivers ample power of 552kW (750hp). The
V8 engine's 4.8-litre capacity has been upped to 5.0-liters by
Gemballa, benefitting from forged pistons and con rods (both
customised) and new turbos also help with these numbers. The
intercooler has a "90 percent larger cooling area" says Gemballa and
these changes not only led to more horsepower, but more off-the-line
power. The engine forces 1050Nm of torque to the giant wheels at 3200 revolutions per minute, which is sheer madness. Lightweight
22-inch rims measure a face-slapping 12-inches wide and the GT
Sport forged wheel design suits the menacing 'black ops' style of the
Gemballa Tornado 750 GTS. Big cross drilled discs and 6-piston
brake calipers are used to slow the 'dark aggressor' as I call
it, while a 4-piston brake package is used at the back. Meanwhile,
an adjustable coil over kit lowers the vehicle about 70 millimeters over
the standard Porsche Cayenne Turbo S and improves handling driver
feedback. No stone has been left unturned with dark aggressor:
interior changes such as a redesigned center console and dash to give
the car more of a "fighter
jet feel" says Gemballa. Sweaty people will love the abundance of moisture-absorbing suede in the cabin as well. The
tuning group has also integrated a new Data Control System, that shows
"acceleration, cross-acceleration, and deceleration values."
Accelerometer systems are not new, but the addition of a built-in
G-force meter serves to cement this vehicle's steadfast pursuit of
performance. There's a rear seat entertainment to keep the
passengers amused (that is if they can peel themselves from the seats
as the Porsche rifles through the streets) and the car is finished with
a choice of leather, carbon fiber, and aluminum trims. With a
limited release of just 50 units, the Gemballa Tornado 750 GTS is as
rare as a profitable car maker these days, and with a starting
price of €400,000 (A$730,000+) you better start saving your
bickies. The European tuning house wanted to transform the standard Porsche
Cayenne Turbo S and turn it in to a "high performance sports car." Well, I think Gemballa missed hitting the nail on the head with the Tornado
750 GTS. Instead it surrounded the nail with gelignite and blasted it to smithereens. -
Concept: Overkill.
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Design: Sinister.
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Last
Words: Fantasy 4WD.
Background:
Specializing in aftermarket parts mainly for Porsche, tuning company
Gemballa is based in Leonberg near Stuttgart, Germany. It was founded
by, and named after, Uwe Gemballa in 1981. The company is well-known
for creating some of the world's fastest Porsches.
Related Links:
- Porsche Cayenne Turbo S (2008)
- Porsche
911 GT3 Type 997 (2009)
- Porsche 911 Carrera: Military (2009)
- Porsche Panamera (2010)
- Porsche Cayman & Boxster (2009)
- Porsche Cayman S Sport (2009)
- Porsche 911 Targa (2009)
- Porsche 911 (2009)
- Porsche Hatchback (2012)
- Porsche 911 GT2 (2007)
- Rich Britons Prefer Porsche (2007)
- Porsche Cayenne (2007)
- Porsche
Carrera GT by TechArt (2006)
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