Browsing tag

OEM

Car Manufacturers Can Now Collect and Sell Your Personal Data. What are the Implications?

Your car isn’t just on the road anymore – it is fast becoming part of the ever-expanding internet of things. Information on your vehicle, you and your driving habits are now being harvested by tech companies and car manufacturers can now collect and sell your personal data. But what are the implications of this for the everyday driver? “Warning, Unsafe Driver” Newer cars are able to collect detailed data about the vehicle’s state and the driver’s driving habits. For example, the car can collect data on how hard and fast the driver brakes and accelerates. This data is already starting …

Keep reading

Triple Hit! 3 Gorgeous 2015 Porsche 918 Spyders on HRE P101 Forged Centerlock Wheels

One of the best ways to know if a new style of alloys is a good fit is how OEM they look. They should be credibly high-quality to match the overall hypercar ethos. But just a touch cooler, a touch more exclusive. The HRE P101 in Brushed Dark Clear centerlocks have just that dark and sexy glam element. But still look Weissach-ready. Here are the 22 finish swatches for the HRE P101 — with that last one representing a custom color. A few 918’s prefer HRE wheels — and the HRE Flickr feed has some incredible shots of Graham Rahal’s …

Keep reading

Atelier Vitesse Launches AuDessus Bespoke Carbon-ization Services From New DC HQ

An American startup challenging the likes of the world’s top tuners and car customizers!? Joining this Euro-heavy crowd of allstars like Brabus, KAHN, TopCar, Mansory and many more — Atelier Vitesse is breaking conventional rules right off the bat. And its not s bunt: this new dream-factory is not even in California — but based in Bethesda, Maryland outside DC. Proximity to the huge loot up and down the east coast will be an asset for the firm, but their services are not a volume play. The firm will makes its way by creating and embodying the wildest custom supercars. …

Keep reading

Goodwood Festival of Speed 2015 – DAY TWO Gallery + Action GIFS

Updated 6.28.15 — Now With More Action GIFS! Weekend complete for Goodwood Festival of Speed 2015! A huge swath of OEM, race team and collector passion for the moving motor show icon this year — with stunning cars bellowing skyward as they race up Lord March’s driveway at Goodwood House. And even if you missed it… we have a delicious treat to share!  600 all-new, high-res photos of the latest exotic and sports cars, modern racers, vintage racecars and classic icons. Splitting the photo megaload into three posts so we do not destroy web-manity with a single obese web page. …

Keep reading

Goodwood Festival of Speed 2015 – New Cars Mega Gallery in 188 Pics

Day one complete at a glorious and very sunny 2015 Goodwood Festival of Speed! A huge swath of OEM, race team and collector passion for the moving motor show icon this year — with stunning cars bellowing skyward as they race up Lord March’s driveway at Goodwood House. And even if you missed it… we have a delicious treat to share!  600 all-new, high-res photos of the latest exotic and sports cars, modern racers, vintage racecars and classic icons. Splitting the photo megaload into three posts so we do not destroy web-manity with a single obese web page. Leading off? …

Keep reading

2015 Fisker Thunderbolt Design Concept Is One-Off Masterclass In Sexy Supercar Style

After what must have felt like a long decade of misadventures, Henrik Fisker is going back to his roots: lavish and custom design upgrades to factory sports-cars. Fisker’s custom SL-Class and 6-series BMW’s were the stepping-stone between Fisker’s design career (with the BMW Z8 and Aston DB9 on his CV) and the OEM hybrid-maker of the Fisker Karma. After designing the Tesla Model S, Fisker set his sights on more impressive pastures: an EREV with integrated gasoline generator and styling so outrageous and sexy that the Karma made every other sedan feel instantly dated and tired. The story unraveled under …

Keep reading

New M Performance Parts Add Power, Stance and Style to BMW 2 Series Convertible

The 2 Series is one of the most fun BMWs to ever wear the roudel badge. Three engines for 2015: the 220i, 228 and 235i are all a laugh riot of lightweight, rear-drive playfulness. Incredible balance, joyful steering and a driving position from heaven! But how to up the intensity? M Performance offers a full line of 2 Series upgrades, ranging from mild like the black kidney grilles, to big wheels, side sills and sport exhausts and ECU powerkits. These anthracite wheels are particularly sculpted and handsome, and are nicely accented by M Sport gloss-black body graphics. The big advantage …

Keep reading

Rendering a DIY Black Pack for the 2015 Cadillac ATS Coupe

We mentioned a few times that customizing the excellent 2015 Cadillac ATS Coupe would be a quick and simple job as an owner. We’ve digitally envisioned this $500 upgrade from a few angles — and are stunned with the coolness of the results. The rules are simple: no aftermarket parts of upgrades. Just trim tweaks: dipping the wheels in anthracite grey, tinting the windows to 20-percent, and changing the brushed-alloy brightwork into a black chrome or gloss black. The hardest part of this upgrade, and perhaps the only one that would require a body-shop’s assistance for OEM results, is the …

Keep reading

2015 Silverado HD CNG 6.0L Bi-Fuel V8 is a Natty G Revolution!

This energy revolution will not be televised. It will rarely draw stares or have other drivers following you to ask questions. The 2500HD CNG is all-new from Chevrolet this year and marks the beginning of a potentially game-changing new trend in heavy-duty pickup truck efficiency. As nice as a diesel engine’s extra 25-percent fuel efficiency is, what about a powertrain package that doubles overall range and can be flipped between gasoline and compressed natural gas at the touch of a button? If there are no CNG filler stations on your route, simply run the truck on gasoline and enjoy is …

Keep reading

Update1 New Photos – 1956 Mercedes-Benz 300SC Black Series Rendered by VirtualModels.org

  Updated 8.27.14   1956 Mercedes-Benz 300SC at Pebble Beach 1956 Mercedes-Benz 300SC Black Series This first one is a group effort … with the side profile by Sebastian Motsch and the front three-quarter angle by Car-Revs-Daily.com VirtualModels.org Mercedes-Benz 300S and SLS Bonneville Speed Special 1952 Mercedes-Benz 300S (W188) – Style Update Germany’s Sebastian Motsch is a very talented individual – a guy who loves cars so much that he spends some of his free time imagining the impossible cars we all dream about. The quality of his renders puts most magazines or websites to shame. These cars of his …

Keep reading

DIY Car Mods – Rigid Industries Dually LED High-Beams Are The Best

A quick plug for Rigid Industries LED lighting products. They are outstanding! There is a premium price, but you will realize why the moment they arrive. These things feel like you could drop them off a building and they would still light up. And that is helpful — because LEDs that are cheap often take just as long to mount and fit and wire and test— then the cheap things fail 4 weeks later. What a waste of time and money! I have these LED Dually lights as my Subaru Legacy GT’s high-beams and they are so bright it really …

Keep reading

FOSTLA.de Foliation Designs A Wild Mercedes-Benz CLS in Metallic Gold Matte

FOSTLA.de Foliation Designs A Wild Mercedes-Benz CLS in Metallic Gold Matte Learned a new word today… foliation Definition: the art of foil wrapping a surface, object or cherished Mercedes-Benz CLS. Etym: new Engdeutsch. The below description and intro for Fostla.de’s Porsche GT3 certainly applies to this incredibly intense CLS. It is on air-ride lowering springs and has a few other customizations noted below — but by far the most mind-warping element is the Bond Gold Matte Metallic wrap by Fostla. This is paired very tastefully with tinted lamps and a red accent bar in the fascias front and rear. The …

Keep reading

FOSTLA.de Shows Artful Porsche 911 GT3 Foil Wrap Design and Execution

In the old days, changing a car’s color was only possible in one method: a full respray. This is not a good route for high-performance and high-dollar luxury machines for many reasons. Most of which comes down to the quality of body-shop paint versus factory paint. We have all seen a sad repainted car a few years last – dull, fading on the roof and hood from the sun, and sometimes even with bits of the original color shining through the poor-quality paintjob. In addition, much of the exterior on the car has to be disassembled to do a paintjob …

Keep reading

VirtualModels.org Before/After Mercedes-Benz 300S and SLS Bonneville Speed Special

This first one is a group effort … with the side profile by Sebastian Motsch and the front three-quarter angle by Car-Revs-Daily.com VirtualModels.org Mercedes-Benz 300S and SLS Bonneville Speed Special 1952 Mercedes-Benz 300S (W188) – Style Update Germany’s Sebastian Motsch is a very talented individual – a guy who loves cars so much that he spends some of his free time imagining the impossible cars we all dream about. The quality of his renders puts most magazines or websites to shame. These cars of his look like OEM vehicles that could be for sale tomorrow in dealer forecourts. All the …

Keep reading

Best Luxury Wheels – Kahn Design RS600, RS and Cosworth Alloys

Wheels are the only aftermarket upgrade that can improve a car’s style, handling, and resale value in one fell swoop.   The reasons for upgrading are therefore clear: a much cooler and more unique appearance for any car, at any price. New wheels will almost always look amazing, especially in a +1 or +2 jump in diameter. Here are a few quick facts to consider about new wheels: — OEM wheels are significantly stronger than most aftermarket products – in terms of long-term pothole resistance as well as the paint finish, etc. Best of Awards – Luxury Wheels – Kahn …

Keep reading

Nissan and GranTurismo Evolution Detailed – 150+ Nissans Drive-able in GT6

Did you see the teaser photo Nissan just released of the NC2020 GT1?! I will include it here… due to the huge excitement I feel at this moment! You are surely wondering: is this the next GT-R? The answer is likely a “No, but….” No, this Vision GT6 concept is not the real thing coming as the R36 generation of the legendary GT-R Nissan. But it will influence the real thing – particularly with what looks like some kind of e-Boost or hybrid technology in the powertrain package. We are just speculating based on the appearance of the wheels in …

Keep reading

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, …

Keep reading

SHOCK! Charlotte Motor Speedway’s Banned NASCAR Mustang Prototype… Actually Looks Like a Mustang

Confession time: I have not been an active NASCAR fan in more than 20 years. But I am definitely a fan of the cars’ outright speed, power and the bravery needed to take one to victory over near-identical others on the grid. This extremely homogenized approach to racing rules is epitomized outside by what NASCAR calls the “Car of Tomorrow” bodyshell. It makes all the cars the exact same shape, excluding stickers. This seems like a huge error in judgment versus what fans want to see: actual rivalries among not just drivers, but the car manufacturers’ racing technology and expertise. …

Keep reading

2014 Dodge Dart Engines Are Eager for Tuning! SCAT Pack Concept Shows How To Open HP Taps

Update1: A pretty glaring fact error in this article, but kindly pointed out by a loyal reader. The error surrounds the Tigershark engines versus the MultiAir engines – only the smallest 1.4-liter is a turbocharged unit. The larger 2.0-liter and 2.4-liter Tigershark engines are naturally aspirated – meaning any horsepower gains will be more than just an ECU re-flash away. Even so, a cold-air intake and a less-restrictive exhaust setup are sure to liberate an extra 15 ponies each – along with this engine’s true shriek! Orig Published Dec 23, 2013 @ 13:04 The Dodge Dart GT is the sportiest …

Keep reading

2014 Hyundai Genesis Coupe 3.6 R-Spec at Cars & Coffee – Wearing Custom Lime Green Wheels!

  Colors like this custom Plasti-Dip shade can be ordered as a special formulation from Plasti-Dip website. My solution was much jankier when doing my wheels in anthracite grey — a quick blast of color into the wet black Plasti-dip that was the only variety I could find in Chicago. But color is harder than adding a grey flash. These most likely start with a white Plasti-dip base and add color from there. The effect on the Genesis Coupe is definitely striking in person, but also the right amount of mature — these green wheels are actually pretty subtle versus …

Keep reading

DIY Car Mods Series — $20 Honeycomb Grille Insert — From the Ford Crown Vic!

    Easy and Cheap Honeycomb Grille Insert DIY This Subaru did not come with a honeycomb grille, obviously — nor is it an STI!  So silly looking back at all these absurd modifications — many of which are circa 2006-2007. But I digress. Honeycombs are awesome. Want one? Sweet!  Many online performance shops will sell you a fancy custom grille — but here’s the thing: they usually cost $400 or more, and are unpainted and perhaps ridiculously-bad quality. My solution to update the Legacy GT’s nose? Cut out inner grille bars, replace with Ford Crown Victoria honeycomb mesh. Cost …

Keep reading

DIY Car Mods Series — Plasti-Dip Your Chrome or Painted Grille Matte Black

Part Six of a new ‘DIY Car Mods’ series. Definitely some really trashy stuff included in this series of articles. But what is the best/worst part of modifying your own car? No matter the price of the upgraded parts — you have zero guarantee they will perform as promised, or even fit. So please take all these with a hefty dose of salt. Ideally, these are just ideas based on what has “stuck” on my car’s cosmetic refresh list over the years. Many, many even trashier upgrades have been installed and later removed from deep shaming by car-guy pals. And …

Keep reading

Cosmetic Car Mods Part 5 – White LED Emblem Baseplate

Cosmetic Car Mods Part 5 – White LED Emblem Baseplate LED emblem base-plate. (Sticks under badge, wired into low-beams) This one is self-explanatory. Can be fun, and also comes in various styles for the rear ends of many brand logo’s as well — making the white outline flip to red under braking. But these are just the single white baseplate I had on my Subaru (briefly). Quality is dismal, and this one was never the exact same oval shape as my OEM Subaru badge — but for $12 or so, you definitely get some up-close curb appeal. Who else has …

Keep reading

2014 SEAT Leon Cupra Scores First OEM Embedded Spin-Table! Plus 3 Reasons The Leon Cupra Spanks Renaultsport Megane (…and VW GTI)

The most unlikely fan of SEAT? Any American! While our LED obsession is well-documented — it is not just the available full LED headlights that are big turn-ons for the Leon. We love the latest SEAT car style, value proposition and brand statement. Any favorites in the ten-strong SEAT range? We are huge Leon admirers especially. Why? Check out the (mid-range) Sports FR Kit below and tell me it is not incredibly sexy. Three reasons to crave the SEAT Leon: 1.) — Value: Versus the VW GTI, the Leon is significantly more affordable for new-car shoppers, both in actual transaction …

Keep reading

Top Cosmetic Car Mods Under $50 — Part 3 — Plasti-Dip Your Wheels Into Metallic Anthracite Grey — How-To Instructions and Photo Results

  Part Three of a new ‘DIY Car Mods’ series. Definitely some really trashy stuff included in this series of articles. But what is the best/worst part of modifying your own car? No matter the price of the upgraded parts — you have zero guarantee they will perform as promised, or even fit. So please take all these with a hefty dose of salt. Ideally, these are just ideas based on what has “stuck” on my car’s cosmetic refresh list over the years. Many, many even trashier upgrades have been installed and later removed from deep shaming by car-guy pals. …

Keep reading

Top Cosmetic DIY Car Mods Under $50 — Part 2 — Fake Brembo Caliper Covers — How-To Instructions and Photo Results

Part Two of a new ‘DIY Car Mods’ series. Definitely some really trashy stuff included in this series of articles. But what is the best/worst part of modifying your own car? No matter the price of the upgraded parts — you have zero guarantee they will perform as promised, or even fit. So please take all these with a hefty dose of salt. Ideally, these are just ideas based on what has “stuck” on my car’s cosmetic refresh list over the years. Many, many even trashier upgrades have been installed and later removed from deep shaming by car-guy pals. And …

Keep reading

Updated With Night Photos — Top Cosmetic Car Mods Under $50 — Part 1 — Switchback LED Blinkers — How-To Instructions

Part One of a new ‘DIY Car Mods’ series. Definitely some really trashy stuff included in this series of articles. But what is the best/worst part of modifying your own car? No matter the price of the upgraded parts — you have zero guarantee they will perform as promised, or even fit. So please take all these with a hefty dose of salt. Ideally, these are just ideas based on what has “stuck” on my car’s cosmetic refresh list over the years. Many, many even trashier upgrades have been installed and later removed from deep shaming by car-guy pals. And …

Keep reading

2015 Alfa-Romeo 4C Spider Debuts Welcome Style Enhancements via Classier Headlamps — US Arrival Pushed to 2015 At Earliest

The 2015 Alfa-Romeo 4C Spyder’s headlamps finally look like an OEM effort, which is always a plus on any exotic sports car with pricing expected to be in the $65,000 range when it ever arrives stateside. We have no data to confirm this, but have a strong hunch that even those who have shelled out $600 for F-150 aftermarket headlight kits are not pleased with the tacky and police-attracting appearance. The 4C’s production lamps with odd LED dots in random places reminded one on-looker of a bad venereal disease. There is nothing less erotic than a bad venereal disease to …

Keep reading

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 …

Keep reading

PICKUP TRUCK SURVEY: What Are 350 Lb-Ft and 30+ MPG Worth? Nissan Seeks Input on Future Diesel Frontier

Survey Link: www.tinyurl.com/nissanfrontiersurvey The Nissan Frontier Diesel was an exciting surprise for a smash-hit Chicago auto show this year. This is an exciting discovery from the photos below: The Boost Gauge Goes Up To 35 PSI! That is a lot of boost. My Subaru Legacy GT’s OEM turbo maxed out at 12.2 PSI. Okay, but what about the WRX STI? Only 15 PSI. Second exciting photo realization? If a Diesel Frontier is in the pipeline with this Xterra roof rack, could the diesel also fit in Nissan’s next-gen SUVs? Third one? New rear long-tail spoiler tells me this truck has …

Keep reading

M Performance Doubles the Drama and Road Presence of 335i, 535i and M3 With Huge Upgrades List

BMW’s M Performance team definitely has a style all its own. Centered around dark-grey carbon-fiber racing enhancements – the upgrades go all the way under the hood, in the cabin and even out back with the performance exhausts heard below. This is a comparison between the standard 535i exhaust note, versus the M Performance 535i’s exhaust note. Very convincing evidence, I must say. Hopefully the file plays for you.   Here’s a showcase of some of the parts available from M Performance. Despite the emphasis on the 335i and only the M versions of the SUVs —- the vast majority …

Keep reading

KAHN 600LE and RS600 Upgrades for Current Range Rovers Are Very Special + Available for U.S. Owners!

Kahn Design is still setting the tone for ultimate Range Rovers. This is a huge business at this point, however, with lifestyle gizmos of all kinds to go with your new, one-of-a-kind Kahn 600LE. More than a tuner, which is the worst word ever, Kahn is really a design boutique. KAHN’s vision sees the road in carbon-fiber, lacquered woods and some of the dreamiest leathers ever seen. It is a full makeover – with the exhaust of the RS600 looking extra special. Land Rover parts are the most popular sellers from Kahn here in America — but this aesthetic also …

Keep reading

Toyota FT-1 Concept – GT6 Action Teases Ducted Aero Fans and 184MPH?

The GranTurismo6 platform is getting seriously newsworthy — even for non-gamers. While some might have fantasy football, this is like fantasy supercars. We are only on perhaps number two or three of the official reveals — among perhaps 30 manufacturers with concept racers in the game. It looks like the rights arguments or all that can take a GoPro to the bumper in GT6. Similarly, the over-wrought Citroen GT5 Concept is suddenly looking quite dated. While all the cars in the game, at least in this OEM showcase, just want the best possible performance — there is more reality in …

Keep reading

2014 Silverado 1500 LT Nighttime Headlight Photos + 7 Styles of 22-in Wheels Just $3k Extra

Some photos slipped through the cracks from the recent Silverado All-Star Edition which spent the blizzard here. They are night-time images of the LT spec, which includes just standard halogens for the low beams and optional halogen fogs down below.     The light output is very good in the low-beams and foglamps setting, but not quite at xenon levels with the brights on.   Like many classic Chevy trucks, the lighting elements are split: low beams on top, high beams below. Very comforting and familiar, but refreshed with better blinkers.   Also included here is a selection of the …

Keep reading

Best of Awards – Luxury Wheels – Kahn Design RS600, RS and Cosworth Alloys

Wheels are the only aftermarket upgrade that can improve a car’s style, handling, and resale value in one fell swoop.   The reasons for upgrading are therefore clear: a much cooler and more unique appearance for any car, at any price. New wheels will almost always look amazing, especially in a +1 or +2 jump in diameter. Here are a few quick facts to consider about new wheels: — OEM wheels are significantly stronger than most aftermarket products – in terms of long-term pothole resistance as well as the paint finish, etc. — Much slimmer tire sizes, especially on luxury …

Keep reading

Update1 – 2014 Dodge Dart is Low and Wide + Engines Eager for Better HP Via Tuning – SCAT Pack Concept Shows How

Update1: A pretty glaring fact error in this article, but kindly pointed out by a loyal reader. The error surrounds the Tigershark engines versus the MultiAir engines – only the smallest 1.4-liter is a turbocharged unit. The larger 2.0-liter and 2.4-liter Tigershark engines are naturally aspirated – meaning any horsepower gains will be more than just an ECU re-flash away. Even so, a cold-air intake and a less-restrictive exhaust setup are sure to liberate an extra 15 ponies each – along with this engine’s true shriek! Orig Published Dec 23, 2013 @ 13:04 The Dodge Dart GT is the sportiest …

Keep reading

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 …

Keep reading

KIA Launches All-New Kia.com – With Help Of Brilliant Denuo Digital Brains

KIA Launches All-New Kia.com – With Help Of Brilliant Denuo Ad Agency The race to have the best consumer-facing car manufacturer website is really heating up toward the close of 2013. The combination of new shopping habits among car shoppers, far better graphics and personalization options online, and the old classic – hating any car showroom experience. As GM runs trials with a few all-star dealers on an online ordering process for private shoppers, Kia is also upping its game dramatically. Kia.com is all-new today, with a far more simplified and relaxing layout than any other OEM website we can …

Keep reading