aero Topic Hub

2019 McLaren SENNA GTR – Best of Goodwood Festival of Speed 2018

The McLaren Senna is already such an insanely aggressive and unique new hypercar. Its looks instantly make the entire Lambo and Ferrari lineups seem hopelessly dated. The raw energy from these sliced and diced panels hardly needed a racing upfit. But here we are. This Senna GTR is absolutely shocking in its design brutality. The functional nature of the aero additions are makes them even more interesting and beautiful to the eye. Check out this nose — not just the usual surfboard chin splitter here, oh no. What they’ve done is remove any air-blocking flat surfaces from the nose. What …

Jul 27, 2018 Read more

Morgan Announces End Of Aero 8 Production, Teases Limited Edition GT Model [Video]

It’s not too often we get a new model offering from our friends at Morgan, but the bespoke British automaker has revealed that it is drawing the final curtain on its Aero 8 Roadster, but not before it unleashes one last special edition model for eager Morgan enthusiasts (this author included.) Dubbed the GT, this special model draws a lot of its inspiration from the company’s extensive experience in GT3 racing, and it certainly looks the part, thanks to a number of styling revisions. A key one is new bodywork that is designed to reduce drag, and increase downforce …

Dec 04, 2017 Read more

2018 Ferrari FXX-K Evo – 1035HP Special with Track Attack Aero

The hottest ever Ferrari just tripled its downforce and slashed its drag. The full makeover outside brings new ductwork and streamlining — best seen from its giant real wing and central spine. Three massive uprights are actually horizontal stabilizers for its Corso Clienti gentleman racers. The outermost corners of the car are intense: like a shark fin slicing through the air! It is safe to assume all the aero learnings of this FXX-K Evo will go right into the next-gen LaFerrari. For now, we can just marvel at its skills on track — there is no road version. This new …

Oct 29, 2017 Read more

Concept Flashback – 1965 GT40 Roadster Prototype

The GT40 was actually a pretty derivative design – with a chassis and overall structure partially borrowed from Lola. But the GT40 as it came from Lola was not a winner right away. While the Mark I GT40 is a bit more pure, and a lot more beautiful by many eyes — it was not a race-winner. The GT40 started winning races with the Mark II GT40 with its huge air scoops, front sill spats, and other aero mutations to the overall design. But still – it is hard to argue with the clean beauty of these initial concept prototypes. …

Aug 30, 2017 Read more

267MPH 1987 Oldsmobile AeroTech at Amelia Island Concours [36 Photos]

What the Oldsmobile AeroTech lacks now and arguably lacked then? Brand appeal. But what it brings today 30 years after its rollout and stunning 250-mph plus top speed runs? Importance. This is an important machine. An extreme aerodynamics, tire and engine prototype, the AeroTech showed the world what it would take to cross into seriously dangerous speeds. Its tires, brakes, cooling and streamlined underbody taught General Motors important lessons. Most significant? The move to shrouded lighting, smooth surfaces and wind tunnel testing. Beyond just showing off as a very ambitious GM prototype, the AeroTech has now even outlived its Oldsmobile …

Mar 13, 2017 Read more

900HP, ~1.7s 2016 Porsche 919 Hybrid – Upgraded Aero, Revised 400HP eBoost Detailed

Porsche is keeping its cards close to their chest entering the 2016 FIA WEC race series, with numerous tweaks to the car all shrouded in a bit of mystery. Per usual, then, for the 2015 LeMans winners! The rules have changed for the top LMP1 race class in 2016, allowing even less gasoline in the overall mix, but upping the amount of electric power teams can use. As such, the 2.0-liter V4 turbo engine in the 919 Hybrid makes less power than last year in most circumstances: from “well above” 500HP to “below 500HP.” Opaque enough for you? =] Total power …

Mar 27, 2016 Read more

PRIOR DESIGN Ferrari PD458 AeroKit – Looking Gorgeous on New Rosso Corsa Example

New photoshoot of the PD458 aerokit from Prior Design! This time, we see the non-widebody version with a set of lovely 21-inch VOSSEN VPS-306 forged wheels. Continental tires and a slight height drop from the H&R springs complete the look. Clearly, this aerokit is a winner with or without the extended PD458WB fenders. Check out the latest lipstick-red hotness — and how-to-buy info — below.. PRIOR DESIGN Ferrari PD458 AeroKit – Red Prior Design can make some of the craziest, most-exotic customs look absolutely flawless. Truly factory-fresh in appearance, the Prior Design upgrades are a fabulous treat on any supercar. But the …

Feb 19, 2016 Read more

TOPCAR Shows Full Carbon STINGER Reskin for Porsche 911 Turbo

Updated 1.23.16 What better way to drive home how exotic the TopCar Stinger GTR is than to see its all-new carbon bodywork make up that iconic 911 shape — even without the Porsche underneath to distract the eye. This custom upgraded exterior looks exceptionally high-quality in its raw form. Yet also featherlight and dropping the OEM curb weight by around 200 pounds. Along with the menu of power and handling mods, the Stinger GTR definitely packs a strong punch. Like a prize fighter in carbon-kevlar, nothing it getting past these TopCar turbos! The full carbon Stinger GTR is set for …

Jan 23, 2016 Read more

2015 Mercedes-Benz Concept IAA – Extreme Teardrop Drips Elegance for New Photoshoot

This concept IAA is the best-looking among the trio of piloted-drive, alternative-propulsion concepts from big Benz this year. But how to love its active rear flange and sleek roofline, when the nose hits you like a punch in the cheek? Seeing the machine out in the wilds of natural light*, the integrated lighting up front creates a nicer glow. With so much solid white OLED in the grille slat edges, the inner portion resembles a more traditional V-shaped element. Even if it is just a matter of distance or movement, the IAA is undoubtedly stunning in these new photos —- …

Dec 12, 2015 Read more

CF-Dynamics.de Launches Intense New M4 Aerokit with Full Bumper Swaps

Carbon Fiber Dynamics of Germany is on the Essen showstand this week with their latest upgrades for the M4 from BMW — and will be turning some heads! CF-Dynamics has a big catalog of 3DDynamics upgrades to nearly the full BMW Group lineup — including these latest M3/M4 twins. Until now, however, the pieces have been additions to the factory bodywork — things like a CF splitter, sills, spoilers and diffuser adding ground-effect looks to the BMW M cars. This new kit is much more serious — replacing the front and rear bumpers completely with these intense, partly-unpainted cabin fiber …

Dec 01, 2015 Read more

CHROMETEC Launches New AMG GT-S Carbon-Fiber Aero Pieces

A pretty cool set of new carbon-fiber elements for GT-S owners! ChromeTec of Germany created unique finishes for the mirrors, hood vents and main grille element — with pricing that is actually really reasonable and starts around $350 for some of the kit! The best elements to help personalize your GT-S are the new bumper elements front and rear. The nose detail is especially cool — it is a subtle chin spoiler for most of the nose width of the AMG, but flips up vertically around the main intakes with a sharp leading edge. Both looks cool and channels even …

Nov 26, 2015 Read more

600HP, 4.0s 2016 Bentley BENTAYGA First Edition Debuts with Carbon-Fiber Aero Details

Like a dream come true from the Bentley Bentayga configurator and Inspirator apps, the new First Edition is a gorgeous showpiece flagship for the whole line. The first Bentayga you see will be the best; a breathtaking evolution on the super-SUV theme. 608 copies of the First Edition will be allocated to markets worldwide, with all other specs to follow. 2017 Bentley BENTAYGA Colors and Options Configurator + Sexy Black Brightware Specification Bentley INSPIRATOR App Is World-First Intelligent Configurator with Facial-Recog Emotion Mapper 2016 Bentley BENTAYGA First Edition BENTLEY DEBUTS BENTAYGA FIRST EDITION AT EXCLUSIVE VIP CUSTOMER EVENT First …

Nov 16, 2015 Read more

Bentley Continental GTC by PRIOR DESIGN – Aero Kit Delivers Fresh, Sexy New Style

Wow. Has it really been since 2003 that the world has enjoyed the Continental GT? Indeed! The original model ran until 2011, replaced a in 2012 with updated details and tech all around. But unless you are in one of the hot recent models, like the GT3 or the SuperSport, your Conti GT might need a bit of updating. This kit appears to fit all generations and models of Continental. Prior Design’s three-piece kit is as effective an update as we have seen, especially for the pricing of the Duraflex pieces — which are a tenth or less than full …

Oct 31, 2015 Read more

2015 Nissan IDS Concept is Autopilot EV with Sharply Stylish Aero

Here is a pretty interesting concept car from Nissan for the Tokyo auto show: the IDS. This rolling showcase shows the latest Nissan vision for a sporty, ultra-efficient battery-electric vehicle of the future. One might think of this as a superLeaf, as well as a look at the tech expected to underpin the redesigned ~2017 Leaf. The major upgrades are everywhere: exterior design is all-new and aggressively sleek in the wind tunnel. The cabin is a future-tech fantasy of touchscreens and AI controls, including a fully autonomous drive mode. Under the actually-pretty-stylish nose and its extreme lower splitter, next-gen LEDs …

Oct 28, 2015 Read more

2016 Audi RS6 and RS7 Debut New Performance Spec: +45HP and +45MPH = 190MPH vMax!

Quickest and fastest Audi’s of all time? Certainly among four-door models! The just-revealed top spec for the already-mighty RS6 and RS7 focuses under the hood, so delivers its S-Model-smacking performance upgrades in fairly subtle fashion. Certainly when static, the RS6 and RS7 performance (low-case P in Performance is on purpose by Audi) just looks like a loaded existing model. One featuring the largest forged alloys available, matte silver detailing and quattro 3D script in the front bumper. Versus even the RS6 Plus from before, however, the V8TT in the new ‘performance’ trims is mighty impressive. Power leaps up to 605-ponies …

Oct 22, 2015 Read more

2016 Ferrari F12tdf Goes Hardcore – 220-MPH GTO Brings Power Bumps + Double F12’s Aero Efficiency

What happens when you pour FXX learnings back into the Ferrari supercar stable? You get a bump of 40 ponies from the V12 in front, a slick new DCT with quicker shifts and a shorter final drive ratio, plus aero upgrades all around to suck the ultimate GT car down deeper into grippy tarmac. The latest Ferrari special edition is a salute to the Tour de France, hence its name, the F12 TdF. Offering a far more extreme road-going experience, the F12tdf is designed to bring track-ready thrills — but also road legality on the way there and back. …

Oct 14, 2015 Read more

4.0s ZENDER Alfa Romeo 4C is Hardcore Style and Speed Upgrade

Holy Dino, Batman! Zender just released details on its Alfa Romeo 4C upgrades — and they are ridiculously sexy and desirable. But first: have you seen a 4C up close yet? The 4C Coupe and Spider are ridiculously hot and exotic in the flesh. With the new LEDs and headlamps up front, the design is even more fantastic than this 2015 4C Coupe from Italy. The 4C is so intense and a true Ferrari cousin in the flesh because of its mid-engine proportions, obscenely low rood and comical overall width. The 4C feels dramatically lower, shorter but MUCH wider than …

Sep 28, 2015 Read more

PRIOR DESIGN Ferrari 458 Widebody AeroKit Now Shipping!

Prior Design can make some of the craziest, most-exotic customs look absolutely flawless. Truly factory-fresh in appearance, the Prior Design upgrades are a fabulous treat on any supercar. But the Ferrari 458 Italia wearing 2.4-inch wider front fenders, an all-new aero tray with LaFerrari-esque single upright, and racing flics all around? A nose to write home about, for some. Around back, the PD458 makeover is even more extreme: a width stretch of 4.7-inches makes room for giant 21-inch rubber and custom alloys. The overall impact is stunning — a true racecar for the road. PRIOR DESIGN Ferrari 458 Widebody …

Sep 21, 2015 Read more

Watch the Adaptive Bodywork of the 2015 Mercedes-Benz Concept IAA Via New Animations

Updated with 55 New Photos from Mercedes-Benz Frankfurt IAA 2015 A few of Mercedes-Benz’s most advanced projects and engineering specialties come together for this all-new Concept IAA. The Intelligent Aerodynamic Automobile proves that the self-driving tech shown at CES last year can be applied to a sportier shape than the rolling lounge concept. Secondly, this Concept IAA proves that the billion-dollar new wind tunnel in Sindelfingen is paying dividends. Beyond the obvious crown jewel of a constructor and driver championship in F1, of course! The proportions of the 0.22-cD Concept IAA are mouthwatering in profile and around back. The nose …

Sep 19, 2015 Read more

2016 BRABUS 850 4×4 Coupe is GLE63 Pumped Up to 850HP

Holy shiz! Look at this machine. Somehow, the full customization upgrade from BRABUS rocket sedans is even more intense on the SUVs. The new GLE63 Coupe is a perfect starting point. A launchpad, if you will. And stand back when this sucker blasts off! 3.8-seconds to 62-mph is the new pace, nearly a half-second quicker than the stock truck and its ~573HP. Not just induction or electronics tweaks here. Nor just fortified engine internals. Nope, this 850 “6.0” has that name for a reason: the whole displacement of the motor is upped from 5.5-liters to 6.0L. This is a perfect …

Sep 15, 2015 Read more

2015 Mercedes-Benz Concept IAA Is Active Aero Longtail SuperCoupe

A few of Mercedes-Benz’s most advanced projects and engineering specialities come together for this all-new Concept IAA. The Intelligent Aerodynamic Automobile proves that the self-driving tech shown at CES last year can be applied to a sportier shape than the rolling lounge concept. Secondly, this Concept IAA proves that the billion-dollar new wind tunnel in Sindelfingen is paying dividends. Beyond the obvious crown jewel of a constructor and driver championship in F1, of course! The proportions of the 0.22-cD Concept IAA are mouthwatering in profile and around back. The nose is spooky, but not a big deal. Must work …

Sep 14, 2015 Read more

BRABUS StarTech Bentley Flying Spur and GTC Are Seriously Fresh and Sexy

We’d wager you’ve seen a few gorgeous Continental GT and GTC super-tunes in your time. The machine really adds aggression and exclusivity with ease — almost as easy as a romp up to 100-mph anytime your toe gets itchy. But HOT makeovers of the Flying Spur? They are a rare sight indeed. Looking through these images, it is hard not to be impressed with the StarTech customization. The new nose, wheels, lowered ride, rear bumper and quad pipes all work together to create a damn sexy limo. Check out how light and lean the tails look with those contrast-carbon diffusers …

Sep 14, 2015 Read more

RECON MC8 Is 1000HP Audi R8 V10 Plus with LMS Carbon Reskin and GT3 Aero

This is our first intro to English supercar boutique Potter and Rich — but they are making a strong impression even across an ocean! The latest P&R custom is dubbed the RECON MC8 — and is a wildly ugraded Audi R8 V10 Plus. Ten are planned for sale to customers, with a laundry list of racing upgrades and custom details. Most importantly … the RECON MC8 is a racecar for the road! Anyone with eyes or ears will know that as the beast rumbles past. A supercharged and strengthened V10 engine comes from McChip-DKR in Germany, while the shouty …

Sep 03, 2015 Read more

Mercedes-AMG GT by PRIOR DESIGN – PD800GT Widebody Aero Upgrades Include Ducktail Rear Wing!

Brace yourself: this new Prior Design AMG GT-S is one of the most intriguing supercar upgrades available at any price. The brand-new AMG GT and GT-S are clearly a huge achievement over the SLS. More beautiful, more fun to drive and of course, much faster… the new AMG GT also broadens the appeal of the SLS supercar via a 50-percent price cut. A base price for this ultra wide and low supercar from just $135k for the US GT-S throws the car right in the middle of Porsche 911 Turbo and Bentley Continental GT V8S lineups. But the intensity of …

Sep 02, 2015 Read more

Prior Design Turns Audi A5/S5/RS5 Into Credible Sport Quattro via PDA500 Widebody Aero Kit

One more gorgeous widebody special to get the Citroen DS4 out of our systems… =] Now that we have seen the 2016/2017 A4 , it is clear that the Audi mid-size models will be around in the current style for years to come. This is hugely disappointing for a variety of reasons. Audi Sport Quattro But current owners of the A5/S5 and RS5 should not despair — there is actually a painless way to get the Sport Quattro Coupe Concept design cues today, The A5 PDA500WB conversion is one of the more stunning we have seen in …

Aug 31, 2015 Read more

RM Monterey 2015 – 1938 Adler Trumpf RennLimousine – LM ‘Racing Sedan’ with Airship Aero

The fantastic convergence of aerospace and supercars has a glorious history! This Adler Trumpf Rennlimo from 1938 represented a fascinating view of automotive aerodynamics in a time before effective wind tunnels or computer simulations. The learnings and design principles of aerodynamics were far more theoretical in the pre-jet age. Yet Adler designers brought great insights from airship and Zeppelin design into the car world to great results. This ‘racing sedan,’ as the Rennlimo translates, was the first closed-cockpit racer to take on LeMans. Just six were produced for sale, all with unique spindle and wing tweaks to the bodywork. The …

Jul 20, 2015 Read more

2015 Lamborghini Huracan by NOVITEC TORADO Launches Aero, Spring and Exhaust Upgrades

Let’s face it: when you see a tuned Lambo you want some crazy topline stats. So many 1200HP Gallardo’s in the world have dulled the senses. So the power upgrade was the first thing we check on the new Novitec Torado Huracan. This all-new engine is clearly complex and its ECU optimizations are not yet hitting the markets. So the focus is on stage one kit: wheels, springs, aero upgrades and exhaust choices. Sport setups with and without remote flaps may liberate a few ponies along with a shoutier scream up the tach. But for jawdropping power outputs in …

Jul 16, 2015 Read more

Prior Design G-Class Aero Kit Now Offered as a Widebody

Sometimes it seems like there are more customization programs for the G-wagen than there are actual G63’s in the world. Why is this such a popular model for posh custom overhauls outside and in? Our theory is that the type of owner is naturally a wild extrovert already – so giant wheels, bumpers, hood, fenders and LEDs all fit the personalit type nicely. They are also generally super wealthy, too, which always helps sell merch. Secondly, the G-Class is a fantastic starting point for customizers. Its block-chic design and frozen bodywork make it the perfect candidate for sporty bumpers, extra-wide …

Jul 07, 2015 Read more

TopCar Stinger 911 Turbo GTR Is Sexy and Mean In Onyx Black

Updated 6.16.15 With Latest Stinger GTR PART TWO – THE STINGER GTR If you like the Stinger kit from TopCar for the 911 Carrera, brace yourself for the Stinger GTR pack for the Turbo and Turbo S. The GTR package focuses on true performance enhancement via its bodykit elements, with the aero pieces helping plant the 911 Turbo at 200-mph as well as turn heads at 20-mph. Versus the stock 911 Turbo on the left, you can see in the image below how vastly altered the Stinger GTR is. This widebody is so huge and intense that only the bottom …

Jun 15, 2015 Read more

LeMans 2015 – Nissan GT-R LM NISMO Stuns On Track With Vacuum Aero!

Update: Observers of the GTR-LM at NCM Motorsports Park in Kentucky have confirmed the sound of high-power electric vans at speed around the track — answering a fundamental question posed below. __ Well, I’ll be damned! The shocking design and tech solutions of the all-new Nissan LMP1 car continue to mystify in the runup to LeMans 2015. The tech specs are out and included here, along with a fascinating video revealing one of the GT-R LM NISMO’s big secret weapons: vacuum aero. Nissan shows these full-length channels in the design in the below video, describing how the full-length piping helps …

May 29, 2015 Read more

Prior Design Launches Widebody Aero Upgrades for R35 Nissan GT-R

Five pieces to heaven with this one! Prior Design’s latest upgrades are for the R35 Nissan GT-R — giving it a fresh and mean new look from all angles via new bumpers, sills and fender flares. The PD750WB kit is actually pretty trendy and chic, despite the matte black wrap on the Monaco example shown here. There is a cool street-racer ethos with the style of flare — with angular and expressive fender tops, but carved-out and aerodynamically friendly lower fender elements. Its cool. The bumper up front is also incredibly effective at upping the GT-R’s visual aggression. These pieces …

May 26, 2015 Read more

VOS Tuning for Lamborghini Huracan Brings New Carbon Aero + Shouty Akrapovic Exhaust

The main critique people have of the new Lamborghini Huracan is that it is (a bit) boring. Not boring like a normal hatchback, mind you. This is still an explosive supercar with performance to shade the hottest Gallardo. But boring to look at, not very interesting to hear and certainly not terrifying enough to live up to its Lambo roots. Is the Huracan’s maturity just progress at making objectively better cars? Or subjectivity clouding the skies of the new Lambo in the face of new competition from McLaren and others? We cannot be certain. Luckily for all, there is …

May 22, 2015 Read more

ALPINA X3 – Gorgeous M Sport Styling and Performance Tweaks

PART FOUR of FOUR The Alpina X3 My favorite Alpina upgrade of this four-pack? Easily this aggressive X3 makeover. Versus the stock X3, the Alpina is virtually unrecognizable. Granted, comparing the Alpina X3 to the base model is not a fair comparo. This Alpina truck started as the X3 M Sport, which is already a little-known way to make the humdrum design really pop with some M style. The fact that there is no X version of the X3 (yet) helps to make this Alpina SUV ultra unique and exclusive. 2015 BMW X3 xLine 2015 BMW X3 M Sport …

May 19, 2015 Read more

2015 ALPINA B3 – Digital Wheel Colorizer and USA 3 series Upgrade Showcase

PART THREE of FOUR The Alpina 3 series Now on to the ever-popular 3 series: a sedan so incredibly fun to drive, you are shocked when people buy anything else! The 3 series is arguably the most improved by the ALPINA style. Even outside the core design tweaks and green/blue paint colors, the Alpina 3 series is *thisclose* to its M3 and M5 siblings on overall stance, traction and visual aggressiveness. ORIGINAL: The import and BMW distribution of the ALPINA B6 and B7 to the US is big news. They are all extremely rare and extremely cool, especially the new …

May 19, 2015 Read more

ALPINA B4 Mods Available for USA BMW 4 series Owners

PART TWO of FOUR The Alpina 4 series The import and BMW distribution of the ALPINA B6 and B7 to the US is big news. They are all extremely rare and extremely cool, especially the new ALPINA B6 Gran Coupe. These ALPINA specials are a fantastic M car alternative, with more engines, xDrive and even diesel engines able to Alpina-fied. But the great thing about the ALPINA upgrade catalog is that all the parts that make these complete models are also available indivudally. There is a slight benefit to this for current BMW owners: you can target specific upgrades and …

May 18, 2015 Read more

ALPINA B5 Mods Available for USA BMW 5 series Owners

PART ONE of FOUR The import and BMW distribution of the ALPINA B6 and B7 to the US is big news. They are all extremely rare and extremely cool, especially the new ALPINA B6 Gran Coupe. These ALPINA specials are a fantastic M car alternative, with more engines, xDrive and even diesel engines able to Alpina-fied. But the great thing about the ALPINA upgrade catalog is that all the parts that make these complete models are also available indivudally. There is a slight benefit to this for current BMW owners: you can target specific upgrades and install them over time. …

May 18, 2015 Read more

TopCar Stinger GTR for Porsche 991 Turbo Delivers All-New CF Widebody + Whale Tail!

PART TWO – THE STINGER GTR If you like the Stinger kit from TopCar for the 911 Carrera, brace yourself for the Stinger GTR pack for the Turbo and Turbo S. The GTR package focuses on true performance enhancement via its bodykit elements, with the aero pieces helping plant the 911 Turbo at 200-mph as well as turn heads at 20-mph. Versus the stock 911 Turbo on the left, you can see in the image below how vastly altered the Stinger GTR is. This widebody is so huge and intense that only the bottom of the door-frames are instantly …

May 14, 2015 Read more

AC Schnitzer Transforms BMW i8 into Supercar M8 of Your Dreams!

Sure, the BMW i8 may have a highly advanced and unconventional powertrain, but this is a pure supercar through and through. In the flesh, the i8 is almost unbelievably unique and special. Its low roof and CFRP bodywork offer bodywork swirls and layers unlike any other supercar — at any price. But the i8 is crying out for an M-style makeover. For corporate political reasons, a proper M8 from BMW is not likely any time soon. Similarly, the i8 has been deeply underserved by the aftermarket community so far, but thanks to AC Schnitzer, this dream M8 can now …

May 12, 2015 Read more

Porsche Macan Widebody by TOPCAR Is Carbon-Kevlar SuperTruck!

Check out this Porsche Macan by TopCar of Russia! This full kit results in an absolutely stunning SUV stance, widebody look and supersport style. With these rounded and gigant wings, the Macan starts to resemble a 4×4 Veyron. To make this look takes more than 20 individual pieces, which means you can buy the upgrades piece by piece if needed. It also means easier installation — you can have the parts shipped to any customizer or auto tuning shop globally. A few high-dollar tuners like Mansory make it a bit trickier to buy single pieces, so TopCar has the right …

Apr 17, 2015 Read more

2016 Mazda MX-5 Club Tops Range With LSD, Black Aero Accents, BBS Wheels, Bilsteins and Brembos!

This new MX-5 Club is looking incredible! With gunmetal grey wheels, black mirror caps and aero extras all around, the MX-5 Club will be the most stylish and sporty of the full MX-5 range. The order books are open now with pricing from $25,000 — so we’d pencil in around $29,000 for the loaded Club with its sweet additions. The BBS forged wheels and front Brembo brakes will be optional, but well worth their extra strength and performance chops! You might be wondering about those sweet LEDs in the lower front flanks of the MX-5 Club — they are special …

Apr 01, 2015 Read more

RM Amelia Island 2015 – 1958 Pontiac Bonneville Sport Coupe Is Rocket-Brick Icon

For someone who loves cars as much as I do, meeting a rare and special machine can have unintended consequences. No one would blink if you were so emotionally affected by an opera or fresco, but to be weak-kneed by a car? A Pontiac from the 1950s? Like most art, the effect on the viewer is one of the many mysteries of the world. Reviewing this Bonneville Sport Coupe today is quite an emotional affair. Pontiac was trying desperately to spring-board their brand from obscurity into the greats of automobiledom. They needed a flagship — something to draw the …

Mar 24, 2015 Read more

2015 Aston Martin VANTAGE GT3 Is Most-Extreme V12S With Hardcore Aero Upgrade All Around

Okay, Aston special edition fatique is definitely setting in pretty hard lately. But this is one special Vantage to really get – and keep – your attention in focus. But there is a big catch. What is special about this Vantage GT3? Based on the Vantage V12 S Coupe, the new GT3 model is 200-pounds lighter and nearly doubles the aerodynamic grip generated at high speeds. How? Through an all-new nose with deep splitter and ductwork, a fresh hood vent design to free any trapped air in this ultra-tight engine bay, and full reprofiled intake and bumper design in carbon-fiber. …

Feb 23, 2015 Read more

2015 Lexus LF-LC GT Vision Gran Turismo Is Race-Ready With Fantasy Gound-Effect Aero

There are obviously a few routes a brand cane take with their Vision Gran Turismo prototype racers, and this makes sense. When you play GT6 (or any GT) the cars are classified by power to weight ratio, drivetrain layouts, and myriad other classifications. So it is not as if all these VGT cars just end up on a track together. With that in mind, the new Lexus LF-LC GT falls into a much more practical category that hyper-futuristic ideas like the Chevrolet Chaparral or the most recent Renault Alpine. This LF-LC GT is a down-to-earth look that is very, …

Jan 31, 2015 Read more

2015 Toyota GT86 Brings Aero and Giallo Range-Topping Trims

Toyota GB is eager to keep up the GT86 momentum and magic into the 2015 model-year. The rear-drive sportscar carries a cheaper sticker price on the base Primo trim, with an on-the-road total of £23,000. From £27k, buyers have a choice between the Aero or Giallo manual, with the Aero automatic coming in at £28,500. The difference is really a choice between a loaded exterior on the Aero, and a loaded cabin on the Giallo. The bodykit and Supra-style spoiler of the Aero are very cool upgrades indeed, with the charcoal-metallic multi-spoke alloys also a nice treat. The Giallo is …

Jan 11, 2015 Read more

2015 Subaru BRZ GT300 and WRX NBR Racers Pack Wild Aero Ugrades

2015 Subaru BRZ GT300 and WRX NBR When overall power is capped by a racing series of technical limits of the engine, you have a few other routes to more speed. These include a drop in weight and an increase in grip. But what can you do if max weight and tire setups are also regulated by racing rules? The last summit to climb is then aerodynamics and downforce. Subaru has embraced this fourth route to greatness in its two new racers: the BRZ GT300 and WRX STI NBR Challenge. The splitters up front add nearly a foot of extra …

Jan 10, 2015 Read more

Concept Flashback – 1989 Mitsubishi HSR II Innovates With Six Active Aero Wings

We’ve been pouring through the Mitsubishi back catalog today for a few Concept Flashback articles. The real all-star of the Mitsu lineup of show cars in the last three decades? It is this – the 1989 HSR II. HSR stands for Highly Sophisticated-transport Research and was a follow-up to a 1987 concept of the same name. The HSR II is far more beautiful, however, and also more innovative. Sure, as a 1989 Japanese exotic, the HSR II is packing a twin-turbo V6 along with 4-wheel-steering and 4-wheel-drive. This goes well with its ABS brakes, independent suspension and electronically-adjustable dampers all …

Dec 28, 2014 Read more

RM Paris 2015 Preview – 1952 Jaguar C-Type Le Mans Kettle Aerodynamic Recreation

1952 Jaguar C-Type Le Mans Aero XK120-based Recreation Paris 4 February 2015 1952 Jaguar C-Type Aerodynamic Recreation Chassis no. 667255 Engine no. F 2454-8

Dec 19, 2014 Read more

2015 BRABUS C300 and C400 Sport are Stage 2 Aero, Wheels and ECU Reflash Kits

New products from Brabus for the 2015 C-Class today: wheels and aerodynamic addtions for the ‘Sport’ trims of the new C-Class. For the US market, this is the C300 Sport and C400 Sport. The Sport style option replaced the previous AM Sport and comes from the factory with different bumper and grille detailing versus the standard car. Great to see Brabus making special products to be exact-fits to whichever Mercedes you own. This set of upgrades is extremely subtle – replacing the black chrome lower splitter in the front bumper with a grey carbon-fiber element, changing the grille bars …

Nov 25, 2014 Read more

Concept Flashback – 2005 Volvo 3CC Was Ultra-Efficient PHEV That Influenced Volt and VW XL1

A few things come to mind when reviewing the Volvo 3CC concept nearly a decade after its debut in Detroit in 2005 — but the resemblence of the design to the current VW XL1 is the most striking. How similar are these two! Especially in the extreme taper of the rear glasshouse – they could be kissing cousins. Of course, there are huge differences in the VW that materialized five years later: the VW is not a PHEV like the Volvo, nor is it nearly as wide or as practical as a city car. The Volvo shares much of the …

Nov 07, 2014 Read more

Mercedes-Benz G-Code Concept Is China-Penned GLB Design Study

At the opening of its new Beijing R&D Center today, Mercedes revealed a very tasty new concept car to the world: the G-Code SUV concept. G-Code? Mercedes calls this hot new concept an SUC — which seems like an acronym too far! Let’s just say it is a very sporty crossover coupe. A Super-Sport Utility Vehicle? Regardless, the themes shown here are very interesting and fresh versus previous Mercedes SUV ideas and concepts. The flowing and ultra-sensual forms of the body are an extreme interpretation of Mercedes’ latest California-originating design themes — with the sheetmetal appearing like a taught …

Nov 04, 2014 Read more

Quail Classics – 1950 Healey Silverstone Roadster Is Race-Optimized Aerolithe

We need an article to put together while my pulse comes down after totally breaking this website a few hours ago. Learning to be a webmaster on the fly is fraught with peril. Would Healey have said the same thing about his much-wider Silverstone roadster for 1950? This ‘E-Type’ Healey was widened by more than a foot versus the D-Type of 1949, which was initially planned as an affordable vehicle to slide under a $4,000 cap at which new car taxes doubled from 33-percent to 66-percent. The plan was to put Jaguar and Alfa-Romeo and Maserati power and tech into …

Oct 21, 2014 Read more

2014 Citroen C4 Cactus 2L AIRFLOW Brings 141-MPG Via Active Aero and Compressed Air Hybrid

It must be aero concept day in Paris today, as the C4 2L AIRFLOW is also joined by the new Renault Eolab concept with an ultra-svelte EV design. This C4 2L Cactus AIRFLOW is a highly modified Hybrid Air concept cased on the new C4 Cactus production crossover. The most eye-catching tech is the active aero shutters up front and in the wheels, but the 141-mpg truth is more complicated. In fact, the active aero additions can, at most, drop the fuel consumption by perhaps 10 percent. The rest of the gain comes from the PSA compressed-air hybrid system that …

Sep 18, 2014 Read more

2015 BRABUS C-Class Offers Intense Aero Kit, Wheels and Turbo Chips

How fantastic does this Brabus sport upgrade look on the new W205 C-Class! The performance kit for the gasoline C300 and C400 4Matic coming to the US are not on the chip list yet, but stay tuned. The current tune adds 41-horsepower to the 2.0-liter four-cylinder, so we can expect double that for the US-market turbo V6 engines. 2015 BRABUS C-Class BRABUS NEWS RELEASE Brand-new: The BRABUS refinement program for the new C-Class The new Mercedes C-Class opens the next chapter in the success story of those that came before. BRABUS offers an exclusive refinement …

Sep 03, 2014 Read more

1938 Mercedes-Benz 540K Streamliner is One-Off Coupe With Wrap-Around Glass and Aero-Smooth Design

Mercedes-Benz was coupe-focused at this year’s Pebble Beach Concours – with a number of sexy back catalog models reinforcing the gravitas of the just-launched S-Class Coupe and S63 AMG Coupe’s on display. These can be called “Coupes” but they are fancier and more fun as “Coup-pays” — pronouncing the accent over the “e” like the Europeans do. None drew more stares than this one-off 1938 540K Streamliner, which feels many years younger than its 1938 build date would suggest. The most striking elements of the hyper-flowing panels are: — the sheer scale of the machine from tip to tail, and …

Aug 22, 2014 Read more

4.4s 2015 BMW i8 Glams Up London and English Countryside for UK Sales Launch

Updated 7.17.14 UK Photoshoot The 2015 BMW i8 is beautiful. Make no mistake about it: this will instantly be the most-exciting car on the roads from the second half of next year. BMW i Visualizer – see this exact i8 and change the colors, wheels, leathers… It is significantly more challenging to grasp the i8’s performance potential in advance, like we can for most new sports cars and even hypercars from the big names. But while the i3 might be a bit funky, the i8 is stunning. Low roof, scorching pace, style for days: …

Jul 17, 2014 Read more

2014 Kia Optima Hybrid Updated With New Grille, LEDs Front and Rear – Specs, Features and Pricing

The Kia Optima is a run-away success for the brand: since its latest design debuted, sales of the model are nearly double what the nameplate has ever achieved before. To keep this momentum and address buyer priorities, the Hybrid model has rounded out the base and turbo engine options. For the current model-year, the Hybrid brings a few updates both outside and in. The LED accents in the nose are a Hybrid exclusive, as are the lower double fog-lamp elements. These are not nearly as cool as the quad-LED setup in the SX-L trim, but are still pretty nice elements …

Jul 11, 2014 Read more

1935 Bugatti Aerolithe – Digital Colorizer

Q: How color sensitive are the iconic shapes of the Bugatti Aerolithe? A: Very! Something about the wildly flexed panel shapes of the Bugatti’s fenders, combined with the sheer flat surfaces of the body-sides and the edges of the hood, combined with the riveted panels… A trilemma of surfaces for any paint to master! The original pistacchio green is accurate and lovely for the period, but how would the car look in other shades? Would its deep recesses and sunken cab melt away from the eye, or become even more prominent? You can be the judge for yourself… via the …

Jul 08, 2014 Read more

Atlanta Dream Cars – 1935 Bugatti 57S Competition Coupe Aerolithe Wears Gorgeous Elektron Magnesium Panels

This Bugatti’s name really rolls off the tongue quite nicely – even without much car for the accents and the pronunciation. Perhaps that is because the principles of speed competitions, swoopy two-doors and lightweight, low-drag machines are so important today. Those last two really nail the brilliance of this one home. Light and smooth was the goal of this shape, in an era when most cars (and drivers!) would be terrified above 30-mph. This car could easily double that, and perhaps go on to about 75-mph before the tires and brakes became a serious liability. My apologies that these photos …

Jul 08, 2014 Read more

Atlanta Dream Cars – 1951 General Motors LeSabre XP-8 Struck Gold With Yank Tank Ethos of 1950s

I usually formulate a rough outline of what I want to say about a car while cropping and straightening out the photos beforehand. In the case of this 1951 LeSabre, I wish you could have seen my face recoil in horror at all the tacky, gaudy details on this car up close. Thus, my theory was initially that the LeSabre showed General Motors the good and the bad of design. The good is that it can excite you in ways that will open wallets and checkbooks by the millions. The bad is that certain elements would need to be explained …

Jul 08, 2014 Read more

LaMASERATI by Mark Hostler – The Wildest Hypercar Concept Ever

Meet LaMASERATI by Mark Hostler – The Wildest Hypercar Concept Ever Wow. This one really stopped me in my tracks today. Dubbed the LaMaserati concept by professionally-trained industrial designer Mark Hostler, the car is simply miraculous. Free-floating surfaces intersect, overlap and interplay in ways that beg to be touched. The floating wings and side buttress are perhaps the most breathtaking elements – unlike anything that any concept hypercar has ever attempted in real-life. The ultra-low nose is shaped for ground-effect aerodynamics at high speed, while the long-tail LED brake light slash will also reduce any turbulence or backpressure as …

Jul 07, 2014 Read more

Concept Flashback – 2000 Ferrari Rossa Concept Speedster Influences Corvette, NC2020 and F12 TRS

The year 2000 Ferrari Rossa concept is a perfect example of some trendy ideas aging poorly, and other genius ideas finally coming of age nearly 15 years later. The overall shape of the Rossa concept and its surfacing instantly date the machine, sure. It is too blob-like and too bubbly in every form angle to be competitive today. But there are a few items that are looking mighty up-to-date, even today in 2014: — the speedster windshield: still a huge fan of this style, and Ferrari fans are too. The 2014 F12 TRS uses a free-form top part of the …

Jun 29, 2014 Read more

Meet the Original 1964 Ford GT40 Concept and 1965 GT40 Roadster Prototype

The GT40 was actually a pretty derivative design – with a chassis and overall structure partially borrowed from Lola. But the GT40 as it came from Lola was not a winner right away. While the Mark I GT40 is a bit more pure, and a lot more beautiful by many eyes — it was not a race-winner. The GT40 started winning races with the Mark II GT40 with its huge air scoops, front sill spats, and other aero mutations to the overall design. But still – it is hard to argue with the clean beauty of these initial concept prototypes. …

Jun 29, 2014 Read more

Atlanta Dream Cars Showcase – 1959 Cadillac Cyclone XP-74 Is Rocket Nose and Tailfin Bliss

This 1959 Cadillac Cyclone is really a light-hearted take on the dream cars ethos. Here is a car with giant nose cones like a rocket, tail fins as well as aileron side stabilizers out back. Hidden lamps are so far from prominence that they slink under the hood nearly a foot behind the black rocket-bra-like protrusions ahead of the machine itself. Sexiness was key to this shape, which also has tail-lamps in a bright machined shroud — looking like they could also blast out hot propellent as they light up red under braking. 1959 Cadillac Cyclone XP-74 Of course, there …

Jun 28, 2014 Read more

Concept Flashback – 1968 Alfa Romeo Carabo by Bertone

These ‘Concept Flashback’ articles are like brain candy for me. Hopefully you enjoy them too. This 1968 showcar may have been one of the first to really flirt with wedge and block themes in supercar design – ideas that would be adopted throughout the world’s best carmakers in the 1970s and beyond. As Bertone (pronounced Bear Tony) undergoes a restructuring now in 2014, it is nice to look back at some of the wilder times. This Carabo has more slotted surfaces than anything else on record. Even the headlights are covered in flaps that motored up to show the lighting …

Jun 27, 2014 Read more

Atlanta Dream Cars Showcase – 1941 Chrysler Thunderbolt Is Aero Convertible Coupe

I can hear your thoughts right now, saying… “How is that giant brick of a car an aero coupe?” It really is. Versus its contemporaries, the 1941 Chrysler Thunderbolt was quite innovative in many ways — mostly having to do with shrouding and aero-smoothing any turbulence-inducing surfaces. 1941 Chrysler Thunderbolt – INNOVATIONS — This meant the entire front grille of the 1930s Chrysler Airflow had to go, in favor of a mouth-breather setup wherein the engine gets its cooling air from below the front bumper. 1941 Chrysler Thunderbolt — Shrouding also extended to the headlamps, where were one of the …

Jun 18, 2014 Read more

2013 BMW R90S Concept Celebrates 40 Years of the R90 and 90 Years Making Bikes

This BMW Concept 90 is the 2013 incarnation of a raw new BMW aesthetic that might be coming to two wheels near you. Shown at the same Villa d’Este Concours that the 2014 BMW Concept Roadster appeared, these two make an interesting counterpoint to the modern designs employed by BMW motorcycles today. Overall, the Concept R90S is delightful. It evokes the best days of Bonneville high-speed runs on the salt flats, beach-side California glamour, and beauty in the details. It also makes the rider a much more critical part of the mechanical and aero package. This Concept Ninety really is …

Jun 17, 2014 Read more

Car Museums Showcase – 1937 BMW 328 and R60 Sidecar Motorcycle

The 1937 BMW 328 is a little-seen roadster gem from BMW that was, perhaps, the firm’s most advanced and sophisticated achievement outside of aircraft engines at the time. 1937 BMW 328 and R60 Bike in Spartanburg, SC Seeing one so close in the flesh really rings home how advanced this 328 was versus its contemporaries from Aston-Martin and Jaguar — two much-better-known sports-car innovators (and competitive benchmarks) of the time. Where those cars both still wore giant flat fenders, the 328 is completely smooth in all areas. This aero-led thinking was surely a testament to BMW’s aeronautic history until …

Jun 17, 2014 Read more

Cool 2015 BMW i8 Animations + Live Visualizer Links

The 2015 BMW i8 is beautiful. Make no mistake about it: this will instantly be the most-exciting car on the roads from the second half of next year. BMW i Visualizer – see this exact i8 and change the colors, wheels, leathers… It is significantly more challenging to grasp the i8’s performance potential in advance, like we can for most new sports cars and even hypercars from the big names. But while the i3 might be a bit funky, the i8 is stunning. Low roof, scorching pace, style for days: this i8 is hot. It also brings forth never-before-executed concepts …

Jun 14, 2014 Read more

2014 Cadillac ELR – Design Analysis Plus 65 High-Res, Real-Life Photos

One of the flip sides of really excellent CGI renderings is that it can become hard to discern what photos are, in fact, photos. Photos taken on location, even digitally, are really the only way to really see what a car’s styling looks like in motion. So while one step forward, another step to the side in some ways. For designers and buyers, a clearer idea of what the finished car looks like will always be a good thing – especially when that car is years away from hitting the streets. All this is multiplied when a car is really …

May 16, 2014 Read more

JDM Nissan Leaf NISMO Upgrades Include ECU Reflash + Special 80th Anniversary Colors – Jealous?

I have been so hard on the poor Nissan Leaf, which I have never driven nor even seen very often in person. Despite not really writing about it in general, I do clearly recall referring (in print) to its design as “an ugly duckling.” You see… these reviews clatter from my brain onto the internet pretty quickly. And often the words can’t really be taken back…. With the debut of the Lannia concept in Beijing last month, the Leaf looks ready to turn into a rather more beautiful swan in the next few years. Until then, the Japanese-market Leaf continues …

May 16, 2014 Read more

2017 BMW i6 Materializes in Renderings As Huge Carbon-Fiber Plant of Toray Industries Heads to Spartanburg

What is next for the BMW i brand? We have been speculating on that topic for weeks now, but a recent announcement has kicked things into high gear: BMW’s Moses Lake plant in Washington state is tripling production of carbon fiber. Second *strong* indicator? Toray Industries of Japan is a leading carbon-fiber manufacturer globally. It has just announced a 400-acre land purchase in Spartanburg, South Carolina for a gigantic new production facility. This is expected to feed both the Boeing 787 plant in Charleston as well as Spartanburg’s other famous factory resident: BMW. http://www.compositesworld.com/news/toray-plans-us-expansion-for-americas-carbon-precursorfiberprepreg-lines That points to a new BMW …

May 13, 2014 Read more

McLaren Special Ops Reveals Upgrades for 650S via Production-Ready Concept

McLaren Special Ops 650S McLaren Special Operations is fantastic – easily and safely turning any 12C into more graceful beauties via new bumpers, sills, spats and diffusers outside. Inside, your taste and modesty are the only restrictions on colors and customizations. All the MSO upgrades adhere to the same McLaren fanatical obsession with racing performance enhancement at every step – meaning they are far more than just cosmetic. They are also OEM-quality, which is less-than-a-sure-thing for other body kits. Such bodywork flying off the car at McLaren-level speeds would be a concern for me when personalizing my supercar. Bruce McLaren, …

Apr 28, 2014 Read more

Op_Ed: Ferrari Formula One 2014 Whine-a-Thon — Actually Just Poor Engineering? But Surplus of Arrogance, Entitlement and Cronyism

INTRO: No kid says, “I want to be one of the angry and out-of-touch old men in charge, long after my prime and causing damage to my sport, or my team.” They say, “I want to be a racecar driver.” Formula One is bringing a bit more drama to all the backstage maneuvers this year — which is at least half the fun of the sport lately. Bogged down by a tome of a rulebook, Bernie Ecclestone’s forced hiatus from running every lockstep in the sport brings with it significant pitfalls for the most legendary team on the grid: Scuderia …

Apr 07, 2014 Read more

1989 BMW Z1 in Spartanburg, SC -High Demand but High Price

1989 BMW Z1 in Spartanburg, SC -High Demand but High Price A bit less to say about the Z1, which is unusual for me. For many, many years the Z1 was my all-time favorite car. I saw one in Germany as a young child and was instantly smitten by its power-sinking doors and ultra-refined aero profile. To me, it was everything a BMW sports car should be. Versus the large and imposing 635CSi and 750iL of the time, it was nothing short of a revelation for BMW lovers worldwide. Even today, its shapely panels are quite bewitching. The Z1 was …

Mar 30, 2014 Read more

Car Museums Showcase – 1937 BMW 328 and R60 Bike in Spartanburg, SC

The 1937 BMW 328 is a little-seen roadster gem from BMW that was, perhaps, the firm’s most advanced and sophisticated achievement outside of aircraft engines at the time. Seeing one so close in the flesh really rings home how advanced this 328 was versus its contemporaries from Aston-Martin and Jaguar — two much-better-known sports-car innovators (and competitive benchmarks) of the time. Where those cars both still wore giant flat fenders, the 328 is completely smooth in all areas. This aero-led thinking was surely a testament to BMW’s aeronautic history until this point, but also a deep bow to the …

Mar 30, 2014 Read more

Black Swan SLS AMG GT3 In Detail — Incredibly Fascinating Aerodynamic Solutions Under Disguise Mirror Wraps

The Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG has long been the oversteer king of Deutschland. We all recall Clarkson cooking many, many sets of tires in his — and even trying to locate a replacement in rural North Carolina a few years ago. So how would this car do on the track with that handling attitude and tail-first handling mantra? Well, of course. But only once it spent countless hours in the wind tunnels of Mercedes-Benz. For racecars, the engineers’ brief on aerodynamics is much easier overall than road-going supercars. Yes, tons of downforce and Yes: zero lift whatsoever, no matter what it …

Mar 24, 2014 Read more

2014 Hyundai PassoCorto Is Torino Design Vision Come to Life!

2014 Hyundai PassoCorto There are many features of the Hyundai PassoCorto Concept that really excite the eye — in ways that the similarly-sized Alfa-Romeo 4C simply does not. A few favorites include the LED lighting in back, which forms a solid light bar the nearly the entire width of the machine. This rear lightbar also forms a (nearly) free-form plane of the Hyundai rearward — improving aerodynamics dramatically. There are numerous other semi-overlapping sheer planes in the PassoCorto design, with near-flat surfacing that appears aero-optimized, clean-cut and also exceptionally-modern. The PassoCorto’s fused-layering is quite unique and innovative. The overall sheer …

Mar 18, 2014 Read more

2016 PAGANI Huayra Roadster by ALDO SICA

2016 PAGANI Huayra Roadster I was all prepared to promote these amazing designs by aspiring car design student Aldo Maria Sica with the standard fluff about how students must put their skills to use — and mean no infringement by using well-known (and well-guarded) brand names and likenesses on their design studies. But the world is already very aware of Aldo Sica’s great talent — his LinkedIn shows he landed a dream job working for Bugatti design in Berlin. A quick hop up from Torino where he studied transportation design — it is still a six-hour journey many students …

Mar 15, 2014 Read more

180MPH, Million-Dollar Ford Mustang! 1965 SHELBY GT350R — Video Walkaround, Insights and 35 All-New Photos

This Mustang is so amazingly hot in person, one finds it hard not to paw up and down its panels. RM Auctions Amelia Island really aced this huge sale — earning $984,000 for its original driver and owner, Charlie Kemp. Mr. Kemp and his top mechanic were on hand with some fascinating insights about the racecar, shared in the below video around the three-minute mark. The most exciting things I learned from him were regarding the extremely low suspension setup to limit aero drag, the paint job, and the top speed at redline. — Aero and structural stiffness enhancements: …

Mar 14, 2014 Read more

Best of SEMA 2013 — Lexus IS350 F Sport Widebody by DeviantART Is Sexy Engineering Co**Tease

Oh widebody cars, why do you rule my heart and head(s)? Widebodies are amazingly-attractive for a number of reasons: — they allow a massive change in vehicle proportions — there are almost no limits to how wide is too-wide — their grip principles are grounded in racing conversions, adding authenticity to street cars But oh widebodies — why are most of you so utterly un-functional as to actually impair performance? Poorly-created and designed widebody conversions add hundreds of pounds exactly where a race driver would never put it: on the outermost corners of the vehicle. Widebody styling — when done …

Mar 01, 2014 Read more

German Special Customs Turns Mercedes-Benz ML into Autobahn Cruise Missile

This overhaul looks seriously awesome, and completely reinvigorates the Mercedes-Benz ML from the outside – its weakest current point. This W166 generation of ML-Class is actually far better than ever before under skin and inside, where this versatile family car now equals the cabin quality of the E-Class. The latest Mercedes-Benz ML Widebody kit from German Special Customs dramatically increases the road presence of this mid-size SUV. From well below the Jeep Grand Cherokee in the styling stakes — to flexing and eating Cayenne Turbo’s for breakfast. The Mercedes-Benz ML is a relatively unloved member of the range, albeit …

Feb 26, 2014 Read more

Vauxhall Astra Hits 300HP In VXR-topping Extreme Spec — A Production-Ready Front-Drive Z/28?

The latest Astra from Opel in Europe and Vauxhall in England is a really handsome machine. Surprisingly, it pips even the latest Focus on style, even in hum-drum TopGear “Star in a reasonably Priced Car” trim. The LEDs (at night) are far better than anything out of Woking, so far, glowing a bright white around Dunsfold on the rainiest, grayest days of this never-ending winter. The upgrade here adds 30 horsepower, a huge carbon-fiber overhall outside for racing aero, and a very impressive grip setup. I was trying to think of what race series this car seems from — and …

Feb 26, 2014 Read more

Latest 28 Photos and 28 Tech Facts About Camaro Z/28 Will Make Your Knees Weak + Z/28.R Preview

Amazing tidbit: the Chevrolet bow-tie on this Z/28 is just a clear outline. Saves weight, helps aero — no doubt. The Camaro Z/28 is setting an immensely high bar for any 2015 Mustang to match. In fact, the full adamantium rigidity and weight-loss program of the Z/28 seems likely to make this 505-horsepower screamer a very brutal BMW M4 track benchmark as well. Chevy just released a fresh batch of mouth-watering facts and images of the Z/28 in white and super duper red. All over gloss black for the street-racer performance mods all around. This is a close match for …

Feb 23, 2014 Read more

Koenigsegg One:1 Still Vmax King, But Under Threat by Huayra, Venom GT, McLaren P1 and LaFerrari

When it comes to hypercars, buyers have a variety of distinct priorities for their new baby. Subjective appeal is the name of the game– even while the power and performance stats from all the big-league hypercars are far into the stratosphere. But are there any universal qualities a hypercar must embody? Yes, I’m glad you asked. A handful of these are below: — extremely violent speed and track pace — exclusivity and image — curb appeal — sex appeal — daily drive-ability via street-legal emissions and safety — performance kudos and/or racing pedigree The Koenigsegg Agera s and Agera R …

Feb 12, 2014 Read more

Daimler Running Big Trucks in Tr4 via 2014 Freightliner Argosy (Villain) vs Western Star (Hero)

Big trucks, be nice! If there was ever a bad-guy in the truck world, it is a cab-over semi truck with a maniacal driver just inches behind the front bumper. The Cab-Over style seems absurd from basic aero principles, but does offer big benefits in such tight turning radii. But Transformers 4 comes out in just a few months, on 6.27.14. Did they miss the coolest new Daimler truck? The Freightliner Revolution is the best looking of the bunch, in my opinion. In addition, Transformers 4 shows a slow progression by Michael Bay and Co. toward reclaiming the original styles …

Jan 05, 2014 Read more

Concept Flashback – 2011 Citroen Tubik Brings Delightful Shapes of 1930's Tub Vans

There are numerous elements of the 2011 Citroen Tubik concept that are inspiring. The nose itself is very chic, and sets the tone for the Tub’s wild, semi-spherical curving panels. White gloss effect acrylic forms the entire nose and tail of the machine, but the central section is a floating layer of stainless steel. The idea has aero principles, recalls Apple’s best product designs, and is a fresh take on the corrugated steel panels of the original Type H vans from the 1930s. The interior, like many French concepts, completely drops the ball. It is far too space-age, with silly …

Jan 05, 2014 Read more

Concept Flashback – 2011 Citroen Tubik Brings Delightful Shapes of 1930's Tub Vans

There are numerous elements of the 2011 Citroen Tubik concept that are inspiring. The nose itself is very chic, and sets the tone for the Tub’s wild, semi-spherical curving panels. White gloss effect acrylic forms the entire nose and tail of the machine, but the central section is a floating layer of stainless steel. The idea has aero principles, recalls Apple’s best product designs, and is a fresh take on the corrugated steel panels of the original Type H vans from the 1930s. The interior, like many French concepts, completely drops the ball. It is far too space-age, with silly …

Jan 05, 2014 Read more

2015 VW e-Golf a Snooze, But its EV Tech Also Powers Very Cute e-Up Lite and EcoMotion Van

The Volkswagen e-Golf, e-Up! and Up Lite will join the Detroit auto show festivities, with the Golf BEV debuting its all-new battery and powertrains in 2015 production form. Featured in the cover image is the Frankfurt e-Co-Motion van concept. The newest is the Up! Lite, which appears to bring some of the cool tech and style of the XL1 exotic prototype. I called it the e-Up! Lite before by mistake, the up!Lite appears to be a PHEV of some kind. The 2015 VW e-Golf is a fully electric vehicle, evolving and refining some of the components previewed under the Blue-e-motion concept …

Jan 04, 2014 Read more

Update1 – LAMBO Rides Eye of the Storm: All-New HURACAN in 144 Photos, Specs, Colors

It is official! The Lamborghini Gallardo’s replacement debuted this morning with an all-new V10 engine, a 3.2-second sprint to 60 mph, and styling that closely replicates the Aventador. Scissor doors are about the only missing element versus the V12-powered older brother of the Lamborghini range. The Huracan brings huge intake ductwork all over the body sides, promising aero excellence without the use of a large spoiler or other gimmicks. The Huracan’s styling outside is extremely clean and aerodynamically streamlined. In fact, this nose looks so low — it might be able to ace Sweden’s Elk test… by sliding under …

Dec 20, 2013 Read more

Latest Toyota FCV Concept Shows Design of Future SuperPrius

The Toyota FCV runs on Hydrogen-powered batteries, but looks like it could also convert squirrels or road debris into energy via its lower air scoops… This car has some really, really awkward angles. Even as a concept only, the FCV’s styling and design leaves much to be desired. From the initial sketches, this car loses the plot completely – with another tall roof and seriously unattractive nose. Perhaps for aerodynamic reasons, the fender tops do not quite reach the hood of the FCV. For style, aero, or cooling? It is believable that the latest water-operated fuel cell design could have …

Dec 17, 2013 Read more

Ferrari 599XX Heading to Paris for RM Auctions in Feb 2014

Buckle up. Tighten belts. Hang on! It looks like the day has finally come: one of Ferrari’s ultra-exclusive Corse Clienti XX models is set for public sale by RM Auctions this February in Paris. Widely believed to be pushing out nearly 800 horsepower through its Enzo-plus V12 engine, all of the typical street weight is stripped out. A full carbon-fiber aero redesign nearly doubles downforce (and grip) versus the 599 road cars, and weight is a very private figure – assumed to be at least 800 pounds lighter than anything with a license plate. Type approvals and imports will be …

Dec 12, 2013 Read more

2015 Audi A3 e-tron Brings Plug-in Hybrid 1.4TFSI to Sportback Wagon

Think you know hybrids? Wait until you get a brainfull of the infographics accompanying the 2015 Audi A3 Sportback e-tron. This is a plug-in hybrid that primarily runs on gasoline via the handy 1.4-liter TFSI four-cylinder engine. Combined power is quoted at 201 horsepower, but the battery size and efficiency for the plug-in components is not yet available. What is clear is this: the e-tron configuration will come initially in the Sportback body style only. This is news versus the executive compact sedan A3/S3 twins, as well as the two-door cabrio. Full LED lighting will be a feature on the …

Dec 12, 2013 Read more

2015 Audi A3 e-tron Brings Plug-in Hybrid 1.4TFSI to Sportback Wagon

Think you know hybrids? Wait until you get a brainfull of the infographics accompanying the 2015 Audi A3 Sportback e-tron. This is a plug-in hybrid that primarily runs on gasoline via the handy 1.4-liter TFSI four-cylinder engine. Combined power is quoted at 201 horsepower, but the battery size and efficiency for the plug-in components is not yet available. What is clear is this: the e-tron configuration will come initially in the Sportback body style only. This is news versus the executive compact sedan A3/S3 twins, as well as the two-door cabrio. Full LED lighting will be a feature on the …

Dec 12, 2013 Read more

BMW V12 Turns 25! Celebrating the Evolution of the V12 BMW 7-series

BMW’s mighty V-12 turns 25 this year, and the red carpets are being unfurled worldwide. Such a limousine was a flight of fancy for any non-Mercedes-Benz company before the 1980s, but BMW led the assault on the S-Class stronghold. With the V12’s launch in the late 1980s, BMW cemented its rightful place in the luxury sports limo category. This is, after all, the V12 whose 627 horsepower propelled the McLaren F1 to such great heights. This is the engine below in testing, with image credit to BMWblog.com McLaren F1 Engine Testing Image Credit: http://www.bmwblog.com/2009/06/28/bugatti-veyron-and-mclaren-f1-comparing-the-incomparable/ The rest, as they say, is …

Dec 09, 2013 Read more

2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Visualizer – Every Paint Color and Wheel Style

The 2014 Stingray is an incredible sports car with the interactive handling and playful engine harmonics of the best supercars. This is coming from an import-driving, turbo-loving guy who has never even liked the Corvette before this year, let alone wanted to own one. The Stingray just proves it case on the roads. It drives so well, is so fast, and also versatile with a removable targa panel that fits inside that big trunk. The all-new cockpit with has premium tech and materials. (Seriously!) So, if the Corvette Stingray is so good: what about its old-man designs for the …

Nov 27, 2013 Read more

Cool 2015 BMW i8 Animations + Live Visualizer Links

The 2015 BMW i8 is beautiful. Make no mistake about it: this will instantly be the most-exciting car on the roads from the second half of next year. BMW i Visualizer – see this exact i8 and change the colors, wheels, leathers… It is significantly more challenging to grasp the i8’s performance potential in advance, like we can for most new sports cars and even hypercars from the big names. But while the i3 might be a bit funky, the i8 is stunning. Low roof, scorching pace, style for days: this i8 is hot. It also brings forth never-before-executed concepts …

Nov 26, 2013 Read more