Tag: gemballa

Gemballa shows Mistrale and Tornado at Top Marques Monaco

Filed under: Aftermarket, Sedan, Performance, SUV, Europe, Porsche, Luxury

2012 Gemballa Tornado

2012 Gemballa Tornado – Click above for high-res image gallery

Despite losing its founder under suspicious circumstances last year, German tuning house Gemballa is back with a vengeance at this year’s Top Marques Monaco show. To help celebrate its 30th anniversary, the company is rolling out two new models: The Porsche Cayenne-based Tornado and the Porsche Panamera-based Mistrale.

Both of Gemballa’s new models sport extensively reworked bodies, which Gemballa says shave nearly 150 pounds off each car. The weight savings come thanks to carbon fiber body panels made in-house by Gemballa. Both cars’ front fenders, hood, doors and front valance get replaced with new bespoke units made entirely of the black stuff.

Gemballa also unleashed its expertise underhood. In Stage 1 trim, the Tornado delivers 580 horsepower and the Mistrale pushes 610. If that’s not enough, Gemballa is happy to oblige with Stage 2, which takes either car to 700 hp and 737 lb.-ft. of toque. Keeping all that grunt in check is a set of enormous Brembo clamps developed specifically for Gemballa.

No matter which car you choose, you get a set of 410-mm, six-piston discs up front with 380-mm, four-piston units out back. The new brakes exert stopping power on a set of forged 22-inch Gemballa wheels. Despite their size, Gemballa says the forged rims are lighter and stronger than the stock Porsche units.

Inside, the cars get Gemballa’s signature Alcantara and quilted leather treatment. If either of Gemballa’s new rockets floats your boat, we’d suggest getting in line now, as the company says it will only build 30 examples of each. Check out the full press release after the jump.

Gallery: 2012 Gemballa Tornado and Mistrale

2012 Gemballa Tornado2012 Gemballa Mistrale2012 Gemballa Mistrale interior

[Source: Gemballa]

Continue reading Gemballa shows Mistrale and Tornado at Top Marques Monaco

Gemballa shows Mistrale and Tornado at Top Marques Monaco originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 16 Apr 2011 17:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Gemballa moves past founder’s murder with 2011 Porsche Cayenne Toronado

Filed under: Aftermarket, Performance, SUV, Porsche

2011 Gemballa Tornado

2011 Gemballa Tornado – Click above for high-res image gallery

Death is an ominous shadow to cast over a company. All the more so when the death in question was not, as the case were, from natural causes. But in the wake of Uwe Gemballa’s passing, the company that bears his name appears to be emerging from that shadow, creating the beast of a machine seen here.

So far all that’s been released about the new Gemballa Tornado are the images you see here and scarce few details. It’s based on the 2011 Porsche Cayenne, and as you can tell, replaces many of the body panels with carbon fiber. Uwe Gemballa’s successor, Andreas Schwarz, points out that unlike other aftermarket body kits, the composite panels on the Tornado replace the steel ones on the stock Cayenne instead of simply applying them on top. And an aggressive-looking job they’ve done of it, integrating gigantic air ducts, LED running lights, a significantly wider track and restyled taillights, all in a high-contrast treatment while shaving a good 150 pounds off the big sport ute’s curb weight.

Further details on the interior still under development and the engine – tipped to produce some 700 horsepower with a Stage 2 turbo kit – are expected to follow. As will pricing, which promises to be just as astronomical as that horsepower figure, with only 30 examples slated for production.

Gallery: 2011 Gemballa Tornado

[Source: Gemballa]

Gemballa moves past founder’s murder with 2011 Porsche Cayenne Toronado originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 15 Dec 2010 16:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Followup: Did Uwe Gemballa die because of a money laundering scheme?

Uwe Gemballa disappeared in February, 2010. His body wasn’t discovered until early October with telltale signs of the foulest play, during which time his eponymous tuning shop had closed and reopened with a new director. Police in South Africa and Germany have the task of piecing together what happened and, if possible, bringing someone to trial.

A report in the South African Mail & Guardian suggests that Gemballa was executed because of a dispute with Radovan Krejcir, a billionaire and Czech national wanted in his home country to face charges including murder, counterfeiting, abduction and tax evasion. According to the report, Krejcir was allegedly bringing money into South Africa in Gemballa cars, but one car arrived without its cargo.

At least one former associate of Krejcir, who fears for his life due to unrelated dealings with the Czech, told police that Krejcir planned to get rid of Gemballa. The purported reason for his visit was to open a Gemballa branch in the country in partnership with Jerome Safi, who claims to have been backed by Krejcir and a strip club owner named Lolly Jackson. Jackson, coincidentally, was shot and killed in May of this year by a man said to be a former employee of Krejcir.

It’s a story more than strange enough to be completely true. For the moment, however, all the police know for certain now is that Gemballa met a man at OR Tambo airport near Johannesberg, after which he was never seen alive again.

[Source: Mail & Guardian]

Followup: Did Uwe Gemballa die because of a money laundering scheme? originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 13 Oct 2010 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BREAKING: Uwe Gemballa reportedly found murdered in South Africa

Filed under: Etc., Porsche

Uwe Gemballa

News is coming in that the body of Uwe Gemballa has been found in South Africa. Gemballa was the former CEO of the Porsche tuning company that bares his name. As we reported earlier this year, Mr. Gemballa went missing in February after arriving in South Africa for a business trip.

The details that poured in after the reported disappearance of Gemballa caused great speculation that shady business deals were afoot. He was reportedly having trouble paying its employees, his wife was given power of attorney and registered the company for bankruptcy and he had started a second company with his 79 year-old mother listed as the sole stockholder.

To further muddy the waters, it’s being reported that Uwe Gemballa was turning towards Czech fugitive and South African organized crime boss, Radovan Krejcir. A former business partner of Krejcirs by the name of Juan Meyer has provided the local police with a sworn statement, saying that the Porsche tuner and the mobster were working on a business arrangement. Gemballa was slow in getting money to Krejcir and it may be what cost him his life.

It’s a sad, speculative end for a once famed tuner of German sports cars. The Gemballa company has moved on since Uwe’s disappearance but these new stories can’t help it as remaining employees attempt to revive the company.
Thanks for the tips, Alexander and Nicolas!

[Source: Stern.de – translated from German into English]

BREAKING: Uwe Gemballa reportedly found murdered in South Africa originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 03 Oct 2010 01:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Gemballa to hold press conference, re-start imminent?

Filed under: Aftermarket, Europe

Gemballa MIG-U1

Gemballa MIG-U1 – Click above for high-res image gallery

Elvis Uwe Gemballa hasn’t re-entered the building, but his company will apparently soon come return. The last we heard of Mr. Gemballa, he was still listed as “disappeared” in South Africa, with his mother set up as the sole stockholder in a new shadow corporation and his wife in charge of filing bankruptcy for the former concern.

On Monday, August 23 the man in charge of the remains of the Gemballa operation, managing director Andreas Schwarz, will reportedly hold a press conference to reportedly announce that the company is somehow back in business. We have no idea what that company will look like or even what it will be called, but you can bet we’ll be tuning at at 11 a.m. German time to find out.

Gallery: Gemballa Mig-U1

[Source: GT Spirit]

Gemballa to hold press conference, re-start imminent? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 19 Aug 2010 17:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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