Let’s face it; there’s absolutely no chance in this world that we can even get a sniff of the Lamborghini Aventador J. Lamborghini only made one model and who knows where it is now.
But even without actually touching or looking at the one-off supercar, that doesn’t mean we can’t own one. The only caveat is if we were to own one, it would be in the size of a 1:18 scale model of the Aventador J.
That’s where AUTOart Models enter the picture.
You might recall that this company was already featured here last December with its own 1:18 scale model of the Aventador. Now, it’s taking things up a notch with a remarkable scale model of the one-off Aventador J.
We say “remarkable” because the actual Aventador J was an Italian engineering marvel complete with significant carbon-fiber elements. Being able to replicate the design in a scale that small is a testament to the skill of AUTOart Models.
Pretty slick work, fellas.
Click past the jump to read about the Lamborghini Aventador J
The LamborghiniAventador Roadster. Really, what is there to say about this supercar that hasn’t been said before? We’ve run out of superlatives to describe what we feel about this bad-boy.
But somehow, aftermarket extraordinaire, Wheelsandmore, managed to make it even better.
Are we surprised? With this tuner, not the least bit.
This has always been the M.O. for Wheelsandmore. Get a stock sports/supercar and then make it better. Far often than not, it succeeds with its programs. And on the rare times that it doesn’t, well, the projects still look pretty spectacular.
In the case of the AventadorRoadster, Wheelsandmore spared no expense, giving the Italian exotic a program fit for a king. There are wraps. There are wheels. And there are engine upgrades.
All in a day’s work, really, for one of the best aftermarket companies in the world.
Click past the jump to read more about Wheelsandmore’s program for the Lamborghini Aventador Roadster.
Earlier this year SpeedART dropped the first teaser images on a SP81-CR package based on the new-generation Porsche Cayman S. Now, the tuner decided to finally release the kit on the market. Its official debut will be made at the Tuner Grand Prix at the Hockenheimring racetrack in Germany and ales will begin next week.
Before talking about the SP81-CR let’s see what the Tuner Grand Prix is. The race is organized each year by Sport Auto magazine and brings together the best tuning kits out there. The cars are separated into classes and the drivers from Sport Auto decided which vehicle is the best in its class by making an average of the best times of the class.
Now, back to the SpeedART tuning kit; it includes exterior and interior upgrades, and customers can choose between three different engine upgrades.
Click past the jump to read more about the Porsche Cayman SP81-CR by SpeedART.
The famed Halda Watch Company of Sweden is introducing a new convertible into the market for high-dollar racing watches. There’s a twist to this beauty’s black titanium frame: it accepts both a gorgeous mechanical movement as well as a high-tech digital chronometer for racing lap times and three-axis g-force readings.
The concept of two watches serving different purposes enhances the authenticity of the product for a realistic racing tie-in. The digital portion, or the Racing Module, is pre-loaded with full maps of the world’s 150 top racetracks, like Suzuka in Japan and Silverstone in England. The digital face is also perfectly useful in real life via reconfigurable display settings to deliver all the critical watch functions plus a few extra, like a super-loud alarm amplifier to be heard over racing engines.
Offered as a single watch or the pair of faces, the new Race Module also clips into Halda’s existing flagship watch, the Space Discovery.
Please click past the jump for the full gadget review of the Halda Race Pilot.
It’s no surprise that the updates offered for the GTD version are nearly identical to the ones offered in the standard version and include updates to the exterior and some extra horses under the hood.
Most of the work was made under the hood where the tuner installed its ABT Power kit that increases the four-cylinder’s output up to a total of 210 horsepower and 317 pound-feet of torque - up from the standard 184 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque.
To give the Golf the look to match the added power, ABT Sportsline also offers an aerodynamic kit and a set of aftermarket wheels. Also, for a better engine sound, the rear pipes were replaced with new ones.
Click past the jump to read more about the Volkswagen Golf GTD by ABT Sportsline.
BMW is preparing to recreate its entire X family and the new-generation X5 is only part of the job. The BMW X5 was first launched in 1999, and 13 years later, it’s getting ready to enter its third generation to help keep up with the changing times. The redesigned SUV is rumored to make its world debut in 2014 at the Detroit Auto Show.
BMW will mostly focus on reducing the X5’s total weight and improving the final performance figures for its new generation. It is rumored that BMW plans to reduce the SUV’s total weight by about 330 pounds, but it will still be offered with the latest technologies, like a lane-departure warning and compensation system, night vision, park assist, traffic-sign recognition, surround-view cameras, and active cruise control.
The new X5 will be offered with two new four-cylinder engines and the most powerful version will still get a 4.4-liter V-8 engine with improved power figures and a increased fuel economy. It is also rumored that BMW is planning a plug-in hybrid version.
As for the exterior design, it will be more an evolution of the current car as opposed to a revolution.
Updated 04/25/2013: Another image of the new X5 (above) has surfaced online and this time it looks like more than just a simple rendering. So, if this is really a leaked image of the next X5 it can mean only one thing: the official debut is getting closer. (bp.blogspot)
Updated 5/24/2013: A slick person with an HD camera phone managed to catch the X5 with very little camo to hide its goodies. Thanks to a tip from a reader, we now have this HD video and a few screen shots of all the good stuff after the jump. Things are looking good for the new X5, really good...
In the last episode of Drive’s "Chris Harris on cars," Chris Harris had the opportunity to test-drive the upcoming Porsche 918 Spyder. In the newest episode, he decided to go for something a little more timid and got behind the wheel of a Ford Fiesta ST.
Ever since the Fiesta ST was announced, there was a great dispute on which one was the better subcompact pocket rocket: the ST or the Renault Clio RS? So, Harris tries to help you find an answer to this question, as he tested the car on the road and track, and ended up being quite impressed by the petite ST. Of course, the car could use some improvements here and there, but overall, he thinks the ST performs quite well.
The Fiesta ST is powered by a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine with an output of 197 Horsepower and 214 pound-feet of torque; all rather impressive stats for a subcompact hatch that tips the scales at only 2,720 pounds and sets you back only about 21k.
These past few days were pretty busy at the Wheelsandmore factory. Along with the MC Stradale "Demonoxious" announced earlier today, Wheelsandmore has also unveiled a nice upgrade for the McLaren MP4-12C Spider. Just like with any other upgrade kit it offers, this one offered for the 12C Spider includes exterior and interior updates to go along with a nice output increase.
In fact, Wheelsandmore’s decision to offer an upgrade for the 12C Spider shouldn’t be such a big surprise, considering last year the tuner unveiled the "Toxique Evil" package based on the 12C Coupe.
Most of the tinkering went on under the hood where the tuner performed an ECU update and installed a new exhaust system with freer catalytic convertors. As a result, the engine’s output was increased to a total of 700 horsepower and 479 pound-feet of torque from the standard 616 horsepower and 442 pound-feet.
Click past the jump to read more about the McLaren 12C Spider by Wheelsandmore.
Aston Martin just unveiled the CC100 Speedster and it is already dropping a teaser video for a new model it is preparing. The problem is that the video doesn’t reveal much, so we have no clue what it could be. In fact, we don’t even know when it will hit the market because all the video says is that the new model is “Coming soon.”
There is some pretty interesting speculation happening on Aston Martin’s YouTube channel. One user claims it is a final edition of the V12 Vantage – a pretty good guess – and another says it is a special V12 Vantage Centennial Edition, which is yet another good bet. Our favorite guess, however, is a “Toyota Prius, with [an] Aston Martin [badge] on.”
Taking a look into the future, the only model Aston Martin is currently preparing is the 2014 Vanquish Volante, but if you will take a second look to the video you will see the car shown has really doesn’t look the like a Vanquish.
On the other hand, a while ago we reported that the V12 Vantage will be dropped, so we agree with the YouTube user that opined that this is likely the final edition V12 Vantage.
It looks like this past few weeks have been pretty busy around Renault’s design center. After that strange-looking Twizy F1 Concept unveiled just yesterday, the French company has dropped some teaser images for a new concept car set to be revealed at the 2013 Monaco F1 Grand Prix.
The unveiling of the new concept - rumored to be called TwinFun - will be followed by a series of other dynamic demonstrations at events, like July’s Goodwood Festival of Speed.
Just like the Twin’Z Concept that was unveiled in March, the new concept will "be designed under the leadership of Laurens van den Acker comes under the ‘Play’ heading of Renault Design’s ‘life-cycle’ design strategy." It is rumored that the new concept will be a racing variant of the Twin’Z and powered by a gasoline engine.
According to the first details offered by Renault, the new concept is "an expression of the brand’s passion and an illustration of how different takes on the same city car are possible."
Click past the jump to read more about the previous Twin’Z Concept.