Factory Tuners

The R230 chassis Mercedes-Benz SL55 AMG was the first AMG-fortified SL to be produced in significant volumes and the first to be exported to North America (The V12-powered R129 chassis SL60 AMG and SL73 AMG, as well as the normally aspirated R129 SL55 AMG, were neither.). It also helped introduce thousands of buyers worldwide to the brilliant combination of a snappy forced-induction V8, retractable hardtop, and performance oriented suspension tuning, and the sales figures reflected that.

Fast forward about a decade, and Mercedes-Benz and its in-house tuner are taking the hot dog V8 SL back to that winning formula by switching back to a blower-fed engine. But it’s also moving the model into the future by slashing the curb weight by a significant amount. The result is the silver super roadster you see here, the 2013 SL63 AMG.

While there are no doubt still a few purists who are grumbling about the two most recent generations of Dodge Charger being four-door sedans (though we have to wonder if they were this vocal when the last Charger before that – a four-cylinder, front drive hatchback – was being made), it’s hard to argue against the 21^st century Chargers’ styling and performance, the latter being especially potent in SRT8 form. We’re especially fond of the new 2012 Charger, with styling that more closely mirrors that of the iconic 1968-’70 models and more powerful yet more efficient powerplants.

However, even the Charger SRT8 – packing a 6.4L Hemi V8 that makes 470hp – is a bit of a weakling by modern super sedan standards. Chrysler’s in-house performance parts and accessories arm, Mopar, isn’t taking this matter lying down. In fact, it has gone so far as to create a concept car for next week’s North American International Auto Show in Detroit, but there’s much more to this concept than a cat-back exhaust system and big wheels.

A new year is very nearly upon us (and in some parts of the world, it already is), and while it’s a good time to look forward to what 2012 will bring, it’s also a good time to take stock of 2011’s happenings. Modified and tuned vehicles are, if you haven’t noticed, near and dear to our heart, and the last 364 days have seen some downright dandies debut. But if we listed all the tuner cars, trucks and SUVs that scratched our itch, you’d be reading until at least half your friends and family broke their resolutions. Ergo, we’ve decided to cap this list of 2011’s top tuned rides at 10, meaning that only the cream of the last 52 weeks’ crop made the cut. Here they are...