It's alright, you can admit it. Despite living in an area where it snows in the winter, you've never owned a set of winter tires. At best you have a set of barely-there all-seasons on your old stock wheels. We've been there too...inline_mediumwraptextright26759677/features/eurp_0911_falken_tires_eurowinter_hs439_tire_revieweurp_0911_02_o+eurowinter_tires+bmw_front.jpgTrue

Kevlar Muffler Cover
Thermo Tec MSRP: Website
Info: www.thermotec.com
Excessive heat is the unfortunate byproduct of power. To ward off the high-exhaust temps on your ride, Thermo Tec has introduced its new Kevlar muffler covers. These blankets can handle a continuous stream of 1100°F. If high temps still aren't under control, Thermo Tec also offers a matching heat shield that's good for a smoldering 3000°F.inline_mediumwraptextright26815162/features/eurp_0910_new_products_october_2009eurp_0910_02_o+products+muffler_cover.jpgTrue

I'm sitting behind the wheel of the BMW X6M in the pits at Road Atlanta. The track is open and I'm summoning the courage to do what's necessary.inline_mediumwraptextrightIt's not often you see SUVs lining up to lap Road Atlanta, but BMW M is confident in its new offspring26745961/features/eurp_0911_bmw_x6m_first_driveeurp_0911_01_z+bmw_x6m_first_drive+front.jpgTrue

During our BMW X6M first drive, we were invited to BMW's manufacturing facility in Spartanburg, SC. One reason was to witness the $750 million expansion of the plant. This move will see a 60% growth on its size, increasing production capacity from 160,000 to 240,000 units by 2012, taking BMW Group's investment in the plant to $4.2 billion. You can see part of the expansion, including the new paint shop in the X6M video at eurotuner.cominline_mediumwraptextright26743870/features/eurp_0911_2010_bmw_550i_gran_turismoeurp_0911_01_z+eurp_0911_2010_bmw_550i_gran_turismo+driving.jpgTrue

We were just amazed this technology existed at all. We thought it was science-fiction. But here were were, driving around Sacramento powered by hydrogen. It was the future.

Last month we printed in eurotuner magazine the top entries from our seventh Photochop Challenge to create a wild Mini Clubman, as well as putting all the entries online at eurotuner.com This time, we're giving you a photo of the Audi R8 supercar to manipulate as you wish.

We'd like to thank everybody who applied to contest the upcoming Castrol Syntec Top Car Challenge on our behalf. It was a tough decision to make, but we found a car with the power, spec and experience we hope can take the crown - the B5 Audi S4. Equipped with a twin-turbo V6, all-wheel drivetrain, four doors and good looks, the S4 had it all. Not to mention, the B5 S4 succeeded in nearly every eurotuner Grand Prix in the past.inline_mediumwraptextright30136680/features/eurp_0909_audi_s4_b5_700whpeurp_0909_01+audi_s4_b5+front_left.jpgTrue

M3 VS IS-F
Having read magazines, watched TV shows and spoken to people who'd driven it, everybody had good things to say about the Lexus IS-F. Several people suggested they preferred it to the venerable BMW M3, which is fighting talk where I come from, sonny. So when we discovered our sister mag, Super Street, was borrowing an IS-F, we insisted on "borrowing" it ourselves.inline_mediumwraptextright24907900/features/eurp_0909_bmw_m3_sedan_vs_lexus_isfeurp_0909_01+bmw_m3_vs_lexus_isf+face_off.jpgTrue

For those of you who don't know, photochop is the term given to a car that's been modified using manipulation software such as Photoshop or something similar. It's an incredibly useful tool that allows people to put moustaches on photos of their grandma, or add carbon fiber widebodies to cars like the Mini Clubman you see here.

During the launch of the new Z4, several people were debating whether the new BMW Z4 was a real sportscar. I maintained it was, but at the back of my mind was unsure. A lack of steering and brake feedback made the car feel rather numb at speed, casting some doubt.

In et 4/09, we announced the Castrol Syntec Top Car Challenge. The idea was to pit a chosen car again those of our sister publications Super Street, Import Tuner, Modified, Honda Tuning, Lowrider and 5.0 Mustang. And this time, we'd be opening the event to anybody with a suitable car.

Drag 1
Did you make the 3/09 issue just for li'l ol' me? I think you did. You shouldn't have, but I'm glad you did. An issue with Mk1s and Mk3s as well as VWs drag racing - short of putting me on the cover in a thong and pasties - could be no better. If you also would like to include more photos like the sunglasses girl on p84, please feel free to do so as often as you'd like. Just try to refrain from the usual over-tanned bleached blondes. I think Paris Hilton has taught us that peroxide and fake tanning products used together kill brain cells.

Stehly Racer
Young SCCA racer, Aaron Stehly is kicking things up a notch. After winning the IT Triple Crown Championship for the ITB Car National class in his '94 VW GTI 2.0, Aaron picked up a '06 GTI 2.0T last winter. Having driven in SCCA for eight years, he enjoys racing in restricted classes where skill is more important than power. The Minnesota native is building his next racecar for SCCA's Touring 3 class.

King 330xi
As a long-time reader, Michael King decided to go for broke by finally completing his dream car and start a tuning company at the same time. The car is a BMW 330xi - rare because not only were these 330i equipped with all-wheel drive, but this example is a manual with the optional Sport package.

It was a genius, almost foolproof plan. Team up with sister magazine Super Street and test our '09 Jetta TDI against an'09 Toyota Prius to see which car was the most miserly in terms of fuel consumption over a pre-planned route. We'd then throw in modified gasoline examples of the VW GTI and Honda Civic for a real-world comparison, measuring the fuel used by all four cars.

We hope you remember the recent Castrol Syntec Top Shop Challenge (et 12/08). We were asked to find an engine builder who could compete against the best in the country. We went up against some of the import and domestic mags published by our company. A valiant effort by 034 Motorsport meant we finshed in third place (although we're still claiming a moral victory!)

Dow 16v GTI
Three years ago, Robert Dow could barely drive three blocks without coating the road in coolant with his '92 VW GTI. It was battered, had a cracked heater core and blown hoses, but had potential in Robert's eye.

This month (12/08) sees the arrival of the new BMW 335d, a car so good it could be the best diesel in the world. It's certainly going to be the best diesel on sale in North America. If the VW Jetta TDI is the perfect entry-level ice-breaker for the new clean-diesel revolution, then the BMW 335d is the perfect entry-level sportscar.

Project TDI
Elsewhere in this issue, you've read about our First Drive of the new '09 VW Jetta TDI. But rest assured, it won't be the last time you hear about it. VW has loaned us this Platinum grey metallic, six-speed Jetta for a year making it et's first diesel project.

AWD Class

Karwerkz M3With the '08 SEMA show only weeks away, the Karwerkz project car has been caught in a mad race for completion. The '03 BMW M3 widebody was introduced in et 10/08 and since then a team of tuners and fabricators have been laboring night and day to finish the car before the big show.

With the arrival of another eagerly awaited VW, we can finally start to enjoy respectable fuel economy without having to drive one of those politically expedient pious Prius!

Last month we ran the results of our fifth Photochop Challenge. We printed the top examples from the challenge to create a paint scheme for a BMW touring car. This time, we're going back to basics and giving you a photo of the new VW CC to manipulate in any way you see fit.

Click here to download photo.

INSTRUCTIONS:
1. After clicking "here" above; right click on the picture
2. Click copy
3. Open Photoshop
4. Go to "File"
5. Click "New" and "Ok"
6. Control V (paste)

When Audi unveiled the S5 coupe we were excited by its chiseled good looks and S4-based running gear. Its 354hp 4.2 liter V8 isn't strong enough to make this car an M3 beater, but it's considerably more than the 335i offers.

The year was 1998. Titanic took home 11 Oscars and Monica Lewinsky was the most popular girl on the primetime news. But lo and behold, this year also sparked the beginning of MaxSpeed, our original title.