Noted Volvo tuner Heico Sportiv found an unlikely partner in upgrading a Volvo C70 when it tied up with Thonet, a German-based contemporary furniture designer to create – of all things – special wooden gearshift knobs to be installed on the C70.
By themselves, the gearshift knobs, which are made from either oak, beech, or walnut, look nothing like the standard knobs we’ve come to expect from almost all vehicles, but we guess that’s what makes it all the more alluring.
In fact, according to Thonet, the design of the knobs was done to reflect Volvo’s noted floating center console.
Unlikely as it sounds to have a furniture design company become involved in car tuning, Thonet’s gear shift knobs actually look pretty good when you piece the whole puzzle together. It’s not too loud that it stands out like a sore thumb yet it’s not too bland that nobody will even notice something was different. It was a curious choice for Heico Sportiv to bring Thonet on board but, at the end of the day, it seemed like it was worth it.
On one hand, these diesel stacks are widely considered as a trucker’s best friend. On the other hand, though, it’s an environmentalist’s worst nightmare.
Not content with eight-inch diesel stacks, which are already pretty huge as far as diesel stacks are concerned, Pypes Performance Exhaust decided that eight inches aren’t big enough stacks anymore so they did what any motivated exhaust company would do: raise the ante.
And this is what happens when Pypes Performance Exhaust plays the role of mad scientists. Behold the twelve-inch diesel stacks.
Watching this video, you can immediately conjure up what people are thinking as soon as they see it. On one end, you have those truck drivers salivating at the thought of having one – or two – of these exhausts installed in their semi. On the other end, you have those environmentalists that must have already fainted after seeing that black plume of smoke released by 12-inch stacks.
The question is: which side of the fence are you on?
Lamborghini is unlike any other car brand in a sense that each car they sell has the owner’s complete imprint in it.
Through Lamborghini’s Ad Personam exclusivity program, prospective buyers of the Murcielago LP640 and Gallardo LP560-4 can pretty much choose just about every other color combination they want their Lambos to look like.
Among the exterior colors being offered for both the Gallardo and Murcielago include Bullet Silver, Brilliant Black, Bordeaux Red, and Razorblade Gray. Buyers can also customize the interior leather upholstery and choose from a wide range of colors including, Andromeda Black, Champagne Gold, Snowflake White, and Acid Yellow. As for the color of the seams, Lamborghini’s Ad Personam program has that too. The choices include Corsett Black, Baseball Red, Sail White, Boxing Glove Blue, and a host of other neatly-named colors.
Buying a Lamborghini is a commitment in its own right. And if you’re going to make a commitment on a car, then you might as well make it suit your personality. That’s what the Lamborghini Ad Personam program does, and this four-minute overview video will tell you everything you need to know about it.
For a lot of us, an Aston Martin DB6 Volante is a car that should be treated with utmost care. But if you’re a member of the Royal Family of Britain, well, cars like that are pretty much expendable.
That wasn’t any more evident when the Prince of Wales decided to melt the aluminum pistons of his DB6 Volante and turn them into - of all things - cufflinks.
In fairness to the Prince of Wales, he didn’t completely lose his mind when he decided to use the DB6 Volante’s pistons because they became disposable after he converted the car’s engine to run on biofuel. So with nothing to do with the aluminum pistons, he asked TMB ArtMetal to turn them into special-edition cufflinks.
In total, 200 cufflinks were created with each having the same DB6-themed design, with matching spinners to boot. TMB ArtMetal also accented each set of cufflinks with 18ct gold, making them extremely pricy at £995 ($1,600) for one set.
For those interested in these cufflinks, it’s worth noting that all proceeds generated by these cufflinks will not go to the Prince of Wales’ pocket, but to his own youth charity, the Prince’s Trust.
The new Audi A8 luxury sedan will go on sale in early 2010, offering a variety of Google services and information to the luxury sedan via the internet. Its multimedia interface (MMI) navigation plus features among other innovations, a highly evolved operating concept incorporating a touchpad – known as MMI touch. Also included are an integrated hard disk for navigation, phone and audio data and a graphics processor capable of generating high-quality, three dimensional images.
The user can search online with Google for points-of-interest directly from within the MMI. With Google Earth on the MMI’s 8 inch LCD display the new Audi A8 allows its occupants to discover the world from above. The Google Earth imagery and 3D terrain model are combined with the detailed street network from the onboard navigation database as well as calculated routes in a seamless integration of online and offline content.
It is time to e-mail in those last minute requests to Santa before he breaks camp on Christmas eve, because the British automaker Bentley has just come up with the Zai Bentley Supersport skis. Designed by their Styling Studio in Crewe, these carbon fiber composite skis are guaranteed to live up to the Bentley standard, as far as both performance and aesthetics are concerned. Not to mention that they would make the perfect accompaniment for your ice white Conntinental GT and are the best excuse ever to take the Bentley for this winter’s ski trip.
The skis are handmade and they are made from Zaiira, which is a special composite material that includes carbon fiber, chrome steel and rubber. The ski poles also demonstrate a new technology, ExoGrid, used solely for the first time in the Bentley skis. A unique combination of the materials titan and carbon fabric reduces weight and guarantees high stability, and is currently used for golf shafts. There are only 250 pairs available and they are priced at $9,800 for the set. So if you were a good little boy or girl this year, you might just find something special in the garage next to your Bentley.
You know something’s up when a car manufacturer decides to leave out vivacious models in favor for a pair of dogs to showcase their new vehicle.
Honda’s Lego-looking Element SUV was on-hand at the LA Auto Show and instead of the traditional eye candy posing with the vehicle, they had Luna and Toby – a pair of dogs – posing for the cameras inside the Element’s innovative Dog Friendly System.
The Dog Friendly System, which is available for an extra $995 on any 2010 Honda Element, is, according to Honda, “a pet accommodation system designed to improve safety, comfort and convenience for dogs and their owners alike."
The DFS features, among other things, a nylon kennel, a ramp, a small 12-volt ventilation fan, a cushioned bed, a spill-proof water dish, seat covers, and rubber floor mats with a bone motif. In other words, it’s as close as you can get to a mobile dog palace.
We have to give credit to Honda for this brilliant new system, especially in a time where we’re all hesitant to bring our dogs along in our cars in the event that they mess the upholstery.
If you’re an avid car enthusiast, the brand BRM might ring a bell to you. The French timekeeper, known for its deep-rooted history in the world of motorsport, has released a special edition version of its titanium-cased V12-T-44 chronograph that features car manufacturer Abarth. The limited edition watch comes with Abarth-inspired elements including the brand’s logo on the watch face to the Nomex strap that has red stitching on it. Each watch is individually numbered – there are only 49 pieces made – making it a sought-after collector’s piece. If you happen to fancy one, the price tag for each watch goes for an astronomical $7,300, and can be purchased through the BRM website.
We’ve always been believers of practicality over lavishness but we have to admit it, this is one of those times where if you’re going to splurge on one item, buying the BRM Abarth V12-T-44 for $7,300 is as good an investment as you’re going to make.
For an exotic Italian automaker like Ferrari – yes, those people that have produced some of the fastest and most expensive cars in the world – you would’ve thought that they’d have turbocharged engines by now.
But contrary to what a lot of people think, the Italian stallions have yet to take that route, and news that they are finally considering using turbo-charging in their future engines might be a little surprising to some people.
But before Ferrari fully commits to turbocharging, the carmakers still have to work around some kinks with the technology, particularly with lagging that usually comes with these types of engines.
According to Jean-Jacques His, Ferrari doesn’t compromise with their engines and that any delays of any kind before the power arrives is something that in the world of the Prancing Horse, is completely taboo. “Turbocharging will come eventually, but we need to solve the issue of turbo lag,” the Frenchman said to Autocar.
Whoever said that Bentley only caters to the old and accomplished surely have lost their minds, yes?
Well, for the most part, that bears some truth. But that hasn’t stopped Bentley from releasing their new line of car accessories, which, curiously enough, includes a wide selection of finely-crafted child seats. And what’s more, buyers also have the option to have Bentley embroider their kid’s name into the seat.
In addition to the amusing child seats, Bentley is also offering self-levelling wheel badges, a jewelled torch that can be charged from the car’s power outlet/cigar lighter, and car covers for a number of Bentley models, including the GTC models, the Series 51 GT, and the Continental Supersports.
Bentley is releasing these items just in time for the holidays, so in the event you know someone who has a Bentley in their garage, you know exactly what to get them for Christmas.
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