SCOOP: Mystery Chevrolet Small Crossover / MPV Spotted in Europe, What is it?

We’re not quite sure what to make of this new Chevrolet prototype that was caught by our scoop photographers on European roads. The test vehicle appears to be a small or compact MPV in a taller, SUV-esque design with short overhangs and an upright fascia reminiscent of the latest Chevy models. Our man with the long-lens told us that the camouflaged prototype was clearly smaller than the Orlando people mover that’s offered in Europe.
It could be that Chevrolet is working on a new small crossover model based on an extended version of General Motors’ Gamma II platform. The same architecture underpins the new Chevy Spark and Aveo / Sonic and will also form the base for the future Opel Corsa and its SUV sibling that is currently under development.

More Screaming Passengers from the 2011 Red Bull Car Drift Event in Lebanon

We don’t know about you, but we certainly enjoyed watching the video of a male passenger freaking out during a ride around a drift course, so we decided to do a little bit of online research to find out what it was all about. We discovered that the joy ride was part of the Red Bull Car Park Drift 2011 event and it took place in Lebanon.
The man behind the steering wheel of the Subaru Impreza WRX STI is 34-year-old Abdo Feghali from Lebanon. He is a professional rally driver who also participates in drift contests and events such as the one organized by Red Bull.
If you liked the first video we showed you, then follow the jump to watch the reactions of the same male passenger, this time sitting at the back between two women (oddly enough no one was wearing seat belts…), as well as some new footage of other people that took a ride including the beautiful lady you see pictured above.
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BMW 328 Hommage Sports Car World Premiere

The BMW 328 is widely considered one of the 25 greatest cars of the century, such so that the carmaker has produced a unique concept car to mark the 328′s 75th birthday. BMW casually mentions that the 328 Hommage is powered by a 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine.

With its leather bonnet straps, distinctive wheels and the return of the more traditional, vertical kidney grille, it harks back to the era of its iconic predecessor. A marked absence of doors and a split windscreen are also nods towards the 328 racing car of the mid-1930s, which at 780kg, weighed as much as an early Lotus Elise.

Here is the Press Release

BMW 328 Hommage.

The BMW 328 is considered the most successful and best-looking sports car of the 1930s. The BMW 328′s success was the result of its design parameters – through the use of systematic lightweight construction, aerodynamic lines, optimum engine types and outstanding suspension technology, it laid the foundation stone for a new vehicle concept, by which performance only leads to success if combined with perfect harmonisation of all parameters and maximum efficiency.

With these characteristics, the BMW 328 was even then the embodiment of what the BMW brand still stands for today – dynamics, aesthetics and a high level of innovation.

This year, the dream sports car is celebrating its 75th birthday. The festivities will begin near Lake Como at the Mille Miglia. There, the main focus will be on the fascination of the BMW 328 racing car. To this day, the award-winning vehicle BMW 328 Touring Coupé still holds the record for the highest average speed on the Mille Miglia circuit and, in 2010, was again able to win the historic revival of the race. A week later at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este, the two-seater’s functional aesthetics will be the focus of attention. In this area of conflict between tradition and modernity, the BMW Group is paying tribute to the BMW 328 on the occasion of its anniversary with a special model – the BMW 328 Hommage. “With the BMW 328 Hommage, we wish to pay homage to the passion and inventiveness of the fathers of the BMW 328″, explains Karl Bäumer, CEO of BMW Group Classic. “They created an icon, which is considered a milestone in the history of the automobile.” The BMW 328 Hommage translates the principles and the character of the vehicle of that time into present times and offers a possible interpretation of how the designers of that time, Fritz Fiedler and Rudolf Schleicher, might have built the BMW 328 in the present day using current technology.

The BMW 328 – lightweight construction as a principle.

The BMW 328 was also a special BMW insofar as the lightweight construction principle was systematically implemented on a BMW automobile for the very first time. Wherever possible, the lightest and at the same time most robust materials were used, thereby keeping the gross vehicle weight down to just 780 kilograms. In order to translate the idea of lightweight construction into this day and age, major parts of the exterior and interior of the BMW 328 Hommage are made of carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP). Whilst in the old days they favoured the materials aluminium and magnesium, CFRP is now considered to offer the best ratio between weight and stability. The high-strength fibre fabric is lighter than aluminium, but also more stable. Wherever the material has been used on the BMW 328 Hommage, it is also visible.

In this way, the BMW 328 Hommage not only reflects the lightweight construction principle
functionally, but also visually. The BMW Group leads the way in the production and use of CFRP in automotive construction and already possesses many years of experience in the series production of CFRP roofs and structural components for the BMW M6 as well as CFRP roofs for the BMW M3.

Not only do the exterior and interior CFRP elements of the BMW 328 make an exceptional statement. The up-to-date implementation of the original vehicle character is also expressed in the choice of other materials used on the inside and outside of the vehicle. Fine leather, matt and high-gloss black polished aluminium as well as the CFRP interior visualise in the BMW 328 Hommage the pure and functional roadster character of the sports car of that day. Inside the
vehicle there are also numerous details derived from motor racing, offering a hint of the BMW 328′s most successful motor sports career. For instance, the premiere of the vehicle in 1936 did not take place at a motor show, but on the race-track. In its first race, the BMW 328 declassified the entire higher-powered competition and dominated the racetracks of Europe during the years that followed.

Dynamics and lightness in the interior.

The expressive exterior design of the BMW 328 Hommage depicts the modern interpretation of a highly emotional and dynamic two-seater Roadster – just like the BMW 328 75 years ago. “Hommage cars have a long tradition in the BMW Group. Based on our design philosophy “Rooted in history, moving forward in design”, they demonstrate the significance of history for the present.

Even 75 years ago, the BMW 328 stood for sportiness and agility through light-weight construction. The BMW 328 Hommage Car pays tribute to this past and shows how BMW lightweight construction will develop. Carbon is the material of the future.” (Adrian van Hooydonk) In keeping with its role model, the BMW 328 Hommage has a streamlined design and is clearly recognisable as a sports car. Precise lines run across all of the car body’s taut surfaces. As a result, a subtle contrast between the tense surfaces and the sharp edges is created within the flat, dynamic silhouette. The strong wedge shape accelerates the vehicle even when it is at a standstill, the scoops behind the seats take up the lines coming from the bonnet, guiding them dynamically into the rear end. The structure of the CFRP mats gives the vehicle an appearance of depth, the diagonal lines of the woven CFRP additionally underscoring the dynamic design vocabulary of the roadster. Thanks to concise weaving, the carbon structure is clearly visible, optically emphasising the lightweight construction principle. Like the first BMW 328 test vehicles, with which the model celebrated its triumphant debut on the racetrack in 1938, then going on to gain a number of further successes, the BMW 328 Hommage has no doors. Then as now, deep recesses allow access to the inside of the car. The extremely wide and flat front end is strongly three-dimensional, generous surfaces and concise lines give the front end a powerful appearance. Viewed from the front, the CFRP bonnet appears to encompass the vehicle from above. It embraces the vehicle, framing the slightly set back front end in a very distinctive downward sweep. Due to the almost vertical, low-reaching sidewalls, it simultaneously emphasises the BMW 328 Hommage’s excellent stability on the road. As a result, the vehicle appears to be even flatter and more dynamic as a whole. Under the bonnet, further surfaces rise to embed the top and bottom of the distinctive kidney grille, whilst folding themselves around it to shape the adjacent air intakes. Openings and large air intakes create
visual lightness at the front, simultaneously demonstrating the high air requirement of the powerful three-litre, six-cylinder engine. Three-dimensionally designed lattices inside the front vents form a connection between the headlamps and the kidney grille, with the three-dimensional lattice structure acting as an accentuating feature.

Characteristic kidney shape.

The vertically positioned double kidney grille imitates the slim, vertical kidney design of the early BMW models. In those days, the BMW 328 was one of the first BMWs to feature it, after which it became further established with later BMW models. On the BMW 328 Hommage, the vertically mounted kidney grille is dynamically incorporated into the flat silhouette. It slants back roughly in the middle, thus blending in with the bonnet and the dynamic silhouette when viewed from the side. On the other hand, from the front it appears to be standing upright. The kidney grille bars are more prominently curved than the kidney grille surround itself. The vehicle displays the extremely round and appealing design of the original BMW 328 kidney grille when viewed from the side. The kidney grille surround is also distinctively three-dimensional, appearing to continue inside the vehicle. Its front surface is finished in polished high-gloss, whilst the side surfaces have a matt finish. This detail gives the kidney grille a very high-class and up-to-date appearance. Behind the kidney grille bars, black horizontal fins obstruct the view into the engine compartment – just like on the 328 of 75 years ago.

Athletic rear end.

The rear end takes on the design vocabulary featured on the front of the vehicle. Similar to the front end, sections of the sidewall form the framework for the design elements that appear to protrude from the rear end. Between them, located far to the outside, are two clearly and concisely designed taillights sporting the characteristic BMW L shape. Two filigree luminous elements reflect a strongly curved interpretation of the typical BMW L shape, whilst a concisely constructed bar fitted to the outside of the lamp is directed vertically downward, separating
the lamps towards the outside. The modern functional design of the taillights underlines the technical appeal of the vehicle.

The powerful sculpturing of the rear end also visually conveys the BMW 328 Hommage’s lightness. Large vents and openings characterise the rear end, giving it a light appearance. The distinctively horizontal section below the taillights forms a counterpoint to the intense sculpturing, emphasising the width of the vehicle. Below that, the rear of the car is strongly arched, a concise line partitions the surface, thereby providing an air of lightness. This large sculptural element adopts the form language of the front-end design surrounding the kidney grille.

The wing-shaped element tapers both upward and downward, thus revealing two large latticed air outlets. The circular tailpipes are located inside these two openings. They protrude prominently out of the lattice and, combined with the distinctively designed wing shape of the lower air intake edges, underscore the power of the straight six-cylinder engine.

Details derived from motor racing.

The interior design of the BMW 328 Hommage comprises a number of details that are reminiscent of the successful motor racing history of the BMW 328. For example, the slightly asymmetrically designed windscreen has a recess in the middle, similar to the windscreen design of earlier racing cars. Simultaneously, it marks the areas in which the driver and co-driver sit. Moreover, four wide leather straps run across the bonnet, which appear to dive under the side shoulder surfaces to be continued on the side. This detail, which used to be considered an extremely sporty attribute, is also featured on the BMW 328 Hommage. Combined with the high-gloss aluminium safety buckles, the leather straps provide a touch of class in contrast to the very technical-looking carbon fibre. The modern quick-release fasteners for securing the bonnet bring racing of the past into the present. On the driver’s scoop a large silver “75″ as well as a small logo below it signify the reason for the BMW 328 Hommage. Next to it, the integrated tank filler neck protruding from the right-hand side is a striking detail. Whilst it protrudes prominently from the body of the BMW 328, the BMW 328 Hommage features a version that is integrated slightly more into the bodywork.

The large, prominently designed individual round headlights of the BMW 328 Hommage are reminiscent of the headlamps featured on the BMW 328, which were integrated into the wings for the first time. The three-dimensional interpretation of these round headlights is divided into four transparent, cylindrical elements, these being back-lit by LEDs. Between them, set-back black concave surfaces symbolise the typical tape cross used on headlights in motor racing.

Around the four reflectors an illuminated ring emphasises the circular design of each individual headlamp.

The two-part light alloy wheels featured on the BMW 328 Hommage are a very special interpretation of the characteristic hole pattern of the original rims. The extremely concave high-gloss black aluminium rim boasts a contrasting silver-grey cover made of glass fibre. The insides of the angular milled holes have a high-gloss finish and are distinctively accentuated by a matt overlay. A black chrome butterfly nut bearing the BMW emblem completes the contemporary version of the wheel.

Clear and functional – the interior.

The interior of the BMW 328 Hommage visualises the functional passion the BMW 328 exuded already back then. Thus the design of the interior is also pure and functional today. The entire interior structure is made of CFRP, conveying the lightweight construction concept of the BMW 328 into the inside of the car both visually and functionally. Due to the special application of materials, openings and freely suspended elements, the surfaces and different levels create an
all-embracing feeling of lightness.

Through the use of CFRP inside the BMW 328, the “layering” design principle, with which shapes take on clear functions, adopts a completely new form of expression. Due to its exceptional characteristics, CFRP is in itself robust and can be shaped into self-supporting structures. Hence, only two large surface areas – so-called layers – define the interior of the BMW 328 Hommage. Both of them start at the bonnet and protrude into the interior. One of the layers extends towards the driver, reveals the entire driver’s workplace comprising steering wheel, control elements and scoop, thereby separating the driver and co-driver areas from each other. This spatial separation is indicated by a further material: the elegant, brown leather interior extends from the entrance across the driver’s area, over the seats to the scoop, thus becoming an integral part of the design vocabulary of the first layer. At the same time, the surrounding graphics comprising material and geometry create a link with the co-driver. On the driver’s scoop, a silver-coloured logo bearing the number 75 also gives indication inside the car of the festive occasion in honour of the BMW 328 Hommage.

The second layer begins next to the scoop, making a sweep towards the co-driver, then to float freely in front of him. This gesture creates a sporty but light sense of spaciousness, opening out a functional area in front of the co-driver.

Between the driver and co-driver a multitude of recesses in the instrument panel and centre console create an airy and harmonious spatial experience, bringing the driver and the co-driver slightly closer to each other again in a sweeping gesture. The lines of the woven carbon fibres complement the interior design vocabulary perfectly.

Viewed from above, a slightly asymmetrical design of the bonnet and windscreen underscores the driver-orientated construction of the BMW 328 Hommage. The windscreen is larger within the driver’s area, so the lines of the powerdome are of different length. Behind the windscreen they continue in the inside of the car, so that at this point both the interior and the exterior appear to be intertwined.

Authentic materials.

Apart from CFRP, leather and aluminium, the interior deliberately features very few other materials. But every material that has been used is also visible. This provides the BMW 328 with a special authenticity. The contrast between the cool and technical-looking carbon fibre and the high-quality, warm brown of the leather characterises the interior. The exceptionally soft saddle tan leather has a fine grain and a slightly antique finish. On the seats the high-quality seam pattern enhances the appearance of the leather-covered seats even further. The seams in the centre of the sitting area of the seats and the silver-grey double-felled outer seams are a modern interpretation of the sports seats featured in earlier models, giving the seats additional character and depth. Aluminium is only seldom featured and, depending on where it is used, has a high-gloss or a matte satin finish.

Instruments and tripmaster.

The instruments featured in the BMW 328 Hommage are both sporty and functional to an equal extent. The sparse instrument panel is dominated by the only round instrument – the prominently designed rev counter. Like the cockpit of the BMW 328 and typical of a sports car, the instrument cluster indicates in addition to engine speed only the oil temperature, oil pressure and water temperature. To the right of the rev counter, control lamps and a gearshift point indicator complete the instrument cluster. The instrument surrounds are finished in black chrome and made to the highest standards.

The puristic instrument cluster is complemented by the so-called tripmaster. The instrument panel of the BMW 328 Hommage is a fitted with two iPhones located in special holders and which assume additional display functions for the driver and co-driver. They are integrated into the self-supporting structure of the co-driver layer and, like the instrument cluster, are accommodated in a high-grade aluminium housing. The shape of the housing itself imitates the design of classic stopwatches, the two functions of the tripmaster being accessible through two further openings. Firstly, the iPhones function as stopwatches for measuring lap times and secondly as GPS roadbooks. Using two iPhones the driver and front-seat passenger/co-driver respectively can use both functions at the same time. After a journey, the iPhones can also be taken away in their holders.

Apart from the instruments and the tripmaster, the BMW 328 Hommage is also fitted with further features taken from motor racing. In addition to being equipped with just the bare essentials in order to save weight, the BMW 328 Hommage is also fitted with modern 4-point seat belts, ergonomic seats and the “bone”, a kind of emergency switch-off for the vehicle electronics, which is located between the two seats. The brushed aluminium belt retainers located next to the headrests ensure optimal guidance of the belts. These high-class, functional details are concealed behind the headrests, blending in harmoniously with the overall concept.

Via www.cars-show.org

Honda Patents New 2012 Civic Sedan and Coupe Designs in Europe

A peek through the European patent office files revealed images of Honda’s freshly launched in North America, 2012 Civic in both four-door sedan and two-door coupe guise. Given that the European market will get its own, bespoke version of the Civic, chances are that Honda simply wanted to cover its back like most of the competition just in case another automaker (we are looking towards you China) got any crazy ideas.
However, it is possible that Honda will offer the four-door saloon model in certain European countries to compete against the Volkswagen Jetta. With the exception of one version of the Civic sedan seen in this set of images and which features slightly modified taillights with additional strips that extend towards the license plate holder, there are no other differences compared to the North American Civic.

Big Brother is Watching, Well, All of us: U.S. DoT Seeks to Make Event Data Recorders Mandatory

Australian inventor and all-round genius Dr David Warren is widely considered to be the father of the “black box” Flight Data Recorder (FDR). His invention helped make flying safer by giving investigators valuable insights into the mechanical goings-on of a crashed aircraft. What may surprise you is that for the last twenty years similar devices have been installed in our cars.
Event Data Recorders (EDRs) are the automotive equivalent of an aircraft’s FDR. These devices record acceleration and deceleration forces, engine RPM, temperature, oil pressure and a host of other things. After a crash, the information can be recovered and studied, aiding investigators.

Too Much? Graf Weckerle-Tuned Ferrari 458 Italia

It seems that there is a tune for just about everyone and everything these days, from subtle to extreme, and all points in between. We do not know where exactly this Ferrari 458 Italia from German tuning firm Graf Weckerle fits in that spectrum, but those odd-looking alloy wheels are sure to catch the attention of every passerby.

Audi Design Student Creates the Trimaran Hybrid Yacht

Audi's concept design studio in Munich came up with an interesting proposition for a luxury yacht that would wear the four-ring logo. The Trimaran is the project work of Pforzheim Technical College student Stefanie Behringer, who explains the idea behind the study:
“The Audi Trimaran is a new concept which integrates two jet skis in a motorboat. The hull architecture is based on a trimaran, consisting of a main center hull supported by two smaller outrigger hulls. Two jet skis are stored inside pods in the outriggers. The main boat is powered by two lightweight and efficient Audi TDI diesel engines, whereas the jet skis are electrically-driven,” said Behringer.

Honda Canada Hacked: 250,000+ Customers Affected By Security Breach

Less than a month after Sony’s Playstation Network was compromised by hackers seeking personal information, a similar mishap has struck the Canadian arm of Honda / Acura. In a notice to its customers, the Japanese automaker revealed:
“The incident involved the unauthorized access of information as held in our records in 2009, specifically name, address, Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), and in a small number of cases, Honda Financial Services account numbers.”
It is believed that as many as 283,321 have been affected by the security breach. Honda Canada Executive VP Jerry Chenkin released a statement saying: “The information was limited and is not typically used for the purposes of identity theft or fraud. We would like to sincerely apologize to our Canadian customers for this incident. Honda and Acura are working diligently to protect our customers' personal information and improve our data security procedures on an ongoing basis.”

Renault's French Dealers Offering 45 Percent Discounts on Clio to Offset Plummeting Sales

The Renault brand’s sales are down 35 percent since May 1 in France and this has forced local dealers to offer hefty discounts to customers on certain models, a French radio station reported. According to the BFM radio station quoted by Reuters, dealers are offering discounts as high as 45 percent on some versions of the Clio supermini. For instance, certain dealers are selling the Clio for €7,990 ($11,400), even though the factory sticker is €14,100 ($20,120).

Take that Goodwood: Vilner’s Mini Cooper S Inspired by Bentley

The BMW Group’s decision to launch a new posh version of the Mini hatch called “Mini Inspired by Goodwood” motivated Bulgarian design studio Vilner to develop its own luxed-up variant of the British supermini. However, while the Goodwood model received the Rolls Royce touch, Vilner’s proposal tries to emulate a Bentley – at least in the interior.
Even though Vilner has baptized the car “The Italian Job” as homage to the famous movie, for obvious reasons, a more appropriate name would have been “Mini Inspired by Crewe”. The Bulgarian company has dressed the Mini hatchback’s interior with fine materials such as brown Nappa leather and Alcantara, with parts of the seats, door panels, dashboard and roof lining featuring a diamond shape theme. In addition, the doors have gained elements of black leather while the original plastic was re-sprayed in a sparkling gray finish.

Loder1899 Tunes Into the New 2012 Ford Focus Hatch

The all-new Ford Focus has barely launched in Europe but the German aftermarket specialists at Loder1899 have already created a dedicated tuning package. The company dresses the new compact hatchback with numerous carbon-fiber elements such as the front spoiler lip, matching side skirts installed on the door sills and an RS-style rear apron with an integrated air diffuser.

EVO Takes Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4 for a Spin Around the Track

Continuing our video finds on the Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4, here is a film from EVO magazine’s encounter with the brawny Italian supercar at the Vallelunga race track near Rome in Italy. After jumping into the driver’s seat and onto the circuit for a few quick rounds, EVO’s Harry Metcalfe concludes that the Murcielago’s successor is a “real game changer” and possibly the “best super sports car in the world right now”.
Follow the break to see Lamborghini’s V12-powered Aventador LP700-4 on the track, and then weigh in with your own thoughts in comments section below.

SCOOP: 2012 Mercedes-Benz B-Class MPV is Same ol’ Same ol’…

Not too long ago, we brought you official design images of the brand new 2012 Mercedes-Benz A-Class sporting a five-door hatchback body styled after the impressive A-Class concept seen at the New York and Shanghai Auto Shows in April. Now we have some revealing spy shots of the upcoming 2012 B-Class minivan. Being that the next A-Class and its larger B-Class sibling belong to the same family, you would expect a similar design philosophy between the two models.
However, as these latest scoops demonstrate, that is not the case with the new 2012 B-Class. We had a very hard time telling the differences between the current B-Class and its successor, as the overall shape and styling of the small MPV have been kept intact. Nevertheless, the new B-Class is slightly taller and longer than the current model, with the front and rear ends influenced by the latest crop of Mercedes-Benz cars and SUVs.

Latest Artwork : Mid Year Exams

Back in February during CNY, I posted up some of the latest artwork for the CNY Editions. It has been many months since I've done so and recently I had just taken my mid year exams. While preparing for my art papers, I had done some sketching to give me a glimpse or idea what I was going to draw for PSV (pendidikan Seni Visual) or Visual Art. The question was :- Sebuah Kereta mewah yang sangat cantik dan hebat sedang diparkir di laman sebuah rumah (draw a really beautiful luxury car parked at a porch of a house) . So I decided to sketch out a Merc and got some of the details from the Merc C Class coupe. Now the other drawing below, is a C210 Skyline drawn much earlier before during my Intervensi Exam a few months back.

Study Says Men Seven Times more Stressed than Women in Traffic Jams

A new research by satellite navigation company TomTom reveals that men’s stress levels rise seven times higher than a women's when stuck in heavy traffic. British psychologists reached this conclusion after testing volunteers for the rise in stress chemicals in their saliva when caught up in a traffic jam.
The study found that women's stress levels increased by 8.7 percent, while men's soared to 60 percent in the same traffic jam scenario. According to UK specialists, this could prove unhealthy as it puts pressure on the heart and causes dizziness and breathing problems. However, many of the volunteers had no idea they were experiencing stress. 67 percent of the women and 50 percent of men said they did not feel any stress after 20 minutes in heavy traffic, even though the readings showed otherwise.

Volkswagen Studying Tiguan SUV Production in North America to Lower Costs

Citing inside management sources from Volkswagen, a news report from German weekly business magazine WirtschaftsWoche said the German automaker wants to produce its Tiguan compact SUV in North America in order to reduce costs and protect itself against fluctuation of exchange rates. Officially, Volkswagen declined to comment on the magazine report.

FAIL: Ferrari 599 GTO in Reverse hits a Pole

Bumping into or even just scraping against an object while pulling you car out of a parking space has probably happened to everyone at least once or twice. However, you would expect an owner of a spanking new Ferrari 599 GTO worth north of €260,000 or close to $400,000 to be far more careful that usual when attempting to reverse out of a parking space. Apparently, being careful was not in the nature of the owner of this blacked out 599 GTO in Cologne, Germany. Video follows after the break.

New Nissan Leaf Commercial Mocks the Chevy Volt for Using Gasoline

Electric carmakers are trying hard to promote their products, with the environmentally friendly nature of these vehicles being their most exploited feature in advertising. Nissan is going down the same path with a new campaign for the fully-electric Leaf entitled “Gas Powered Everything”, in which the company mocks the internal combustion engine by imagining a strange world where all appliances run on gas.
The result is a funny commercial in which people have to put up with gas-powered alarm-clocks, microwave ovens, computers and many more appliances. Even the Chevrolet Volt becomes a subject of joke for being a gas-electric hybrid. But we can't help but wonder: isn't Nissan's approach a little hypocritical? It's not like their range includes electric cars alone...

VÄTH’s €32,670 Tune Lifts Mercedes SLS AMG Coupe to 615HP

The star of the Mercedes-Benz range, the SLS AMG Coupe, has only a year under its belt but the V8-powered supercar has gained a lot of love from the tuning industry in the past 12 months. The newest performance and styling package for the ‘Gullwing door’ supercar to hit the tuning stage comes from Germany’s VÄTH with the introduction of the V63S kit.
The company’s first priority was to squeeze some more juice from the SLS AMG Coupe’s 6.3-liter naturally aspirated V8 engine through the use of a software upgrade and an in-house high-performance exhaust system that also allows drivers to adjust the tone of the eight-cylinder unit.

It’s a Wrap: CFC’s Artsy Volkswagen New Beetle Convertible

The soon-to-be-replaced VW New Beetle Convertible has caught the attention of Bavarian foil specialist Car Film Components (CFC), which has revealed a rather artsy-looking tuning proposal. The highlight of the tune is of course the exterior with certain parts of the body including the doors, side panels, hood and bonnet covered in a velvet black wrap while the front and rear bumpers, the wheel arches and the rocker panels are draped in a sticker like motif. The pice for materials and labor is €2,200 or about US$3,140.

Vauxhall Insignia gains New 1.4-Liter Turbo Petrol and Improved EcoFlex Diesels

It’s model-year changeover over time for the Vauxhall Insignia with the British company announcing the addition of a low emissions ecoFLEX diesel model and a new-to-the-range 1.4 Turbo petrol engine.

Top 10 Radical Malaysian Car Designs - Preview

I mentioned a little something earlier about blogging on The Top 10 Radical Malaysian Car Designs. So I decided to whip up something as the teaser so that it'll be a little more exciting and interesting. Plus, its 2.37 A.m. right now and will be heading off to bed. For now, let the teaser amuse you and open up the world of possibilities.. lol if you do have any suggestion on any models, feel free to share it with me. The changes that Malaysia has taken place has also evolved in it's car designs as well. I'll be covering about it, since well, i think nobody hasn't really done it before =P

What do these pictures have In Common?

What do these cars have in common? You've guessed it! Their White! Lol! And I made a compilation for what I really meant in my few previous posts. I have no intention to bash or to mock our dear Malaysian made cars. But isn't it Dejavu when you look at these pictures? I've set them chronically in the time launched by order. So yup.. lol Starts with the above, the Saga SE

The Proton's 25th anniversary Editions (still look the same don't they? the Black grill on the

Exora isn't my cup of tea xP)

White Proton Inspira

White Saga FL during its launch..

Proton's Concept cars in KLIMS 2010

And finally, recently announced Persona Elegance and the Saga FL are now offered in white

Well that's it for now, the next post i'd be blogging about the Top 10 Most Radical Malaysian Car Designs . lol

Designer Imagines what a 2012 Fiat Dino Could Look like

After the axing of the Fiat Coupe in 2000, the Italian brand's range was left without a coupe. And that's where British designer Peter Norris steps in with a new study that envisions a future sports car model for Fiat. However, this concept would not necessarily make a successor to the affordable Fiat Coupe, as the car carries a Pininfarina badge, thus hinting to a more luxurious model.
The study is a front-engine, rear-wheel-drive luxury sports car that aims to embody the essence of the Italian thoroughbred. Judging from the drivetrain layout, this concept would be more of a successor to the 1960's RWD Fiat Dino rather than to the late 1990s FWD Fiat Coupe designed by Chris Bangle.

VIDEO: Chilean Stunt Rider Leaps into Abyss on his Bike

Riding a motorcycle off a 3,300 ft / 1,000 meter high cliff is not something you see every day. Julio Munoz, a Chilean motocross rider, performed this daredevilish stunt in May 2011, as part of the 'BASE Project Los Andes' to promote the natural beauties of his country.
Rigged with special cameras, the 37-year-old paratrooper raced his 450cc motorcycle towards a specially prepared ramp and literally flew into the air before starting his descent. The bike crashed onto the rocks while Munoz successfully opened his parachute some 200 feet from the ground.

2012 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Roadster Officially Revealed : 68 High-Res Photos [Updated]

Little by little, Mercedes-Benz is releasing more photos and information on its 2012 SLS AMG Roadster ahead of the supercar’s world premiere at the forthcoming Frankfurt Motor Show in September. Following the release of a barely disguised car earlier this month, the German company’s PR tease continues today with the first official photos of the roadster version of the SLS AMG without any kind of camouflage.
We also get to learn that the three-layered fabric soft top will not eat in the roadster model’s trunk area as its capacity remains at 6.1 cubic feet with the roof either open or closed, and is roughly the same to that of the SLS AMG Coupe, which stands at 6.2 cubic feet. The fully automatic top is available in three colors – black, beige and a classic red. It opens and closes in eleven seconds, and can be operated on the move at speeds up to 31 mph or 50km/h.

BMW X5 3.0si car wallpaper and price review

BMW X5 3.0si car wallpaper and price review
Hamann has put their tuning touch on the recently launched E70 BMW X5, and all three variants have had their powers upped, with the 3.0d turbodiesel getting the most gains.

The E70 BMW X5 3.0si gets it’s power bumped up from 272 horsepower to 286 horsepower, while torque is boosted from 315Nm to 340Nm. That would be 14 horses and 25Nm respectively. The top of the range 4.8i model now makes 18 more horses at 373 horsepower compared to the stock 355 horsepower.

BMW X3 3.0d Automatic car wallpaper and price review

BMW X3 3.0d Automatic car wallpaper and price review