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Specially modified car from Red Bull Racing

To help celebrate the return of F1 to Canada, Scuderia Toro Rosso driver Sébastien Buemi raced a specifically adapted car over ice courtesy of Red Bull Canada. Racing has never been cooler as Buemi put rubber to ice, speeding across an icy lake just outside of Montreal, QC for the ultimate winter drive!

In order for this chilling thrill ride to go down, Red Bull Racing revved up some exclusive adjustments for Buemi’s car from the ground up. The specially modified Red Bull Racing Formula One car was fitted with Bridgestone Potenza F1 snow tires to ensure the best possible traction. These exceptional Bridgestone F1 snow tires, produced by Bridgestone Motorsport’s Technical Centre in Tokyo, featured 420 studs on each of the front tires and 588 studs on each of the rear tires.

Got your wheels spinning? Catch the video of this chiller drive at this Link

Honda, where are you going?

 

The recent global economic storm has caught us all by surprise. We see entire nations & communities struggling to make sense of the downturn and adjust to the consequences. The paradigm of constant growth has proven to be a mirage and the situation calls for an assessment of where we are headed and what needs to be done.

Like us, Honda too has been affected by this storm, and being the conservative company they are, seem to be slowing down and changing course in terms of the offerings they plan to bring to us. No doubt, we were all excited by the spy images of the next NSX lapping the Nurburgring over a year ago or of Honda bringing Ross Brawn on board to transform them into a credible F1 team. There were rumors abounding that the S2000 as we know it could change, perhaps be replaced by a roadster with a v-6 and very well become the S3000. Lost in that millieu was the CR-Z concept that evoked the memories of the old CRX, a car that many of us admire and the lucky few owned. As things came to pass, one dream after the other became an unattainable pipe dream. The macro situation changed such that Honda killed the NSX, sold the F1 Team to Ross Brawn and went on further to announce the demise of the S2000 with no replacement planned for it. Honda CEO, Takanobu Ito, went on to say that Honda will be focusing more on Hybrid technologies, and used the term “smart-luxury” (whatever that means) to denote the direction in which Acura will be going while confirming that any dreams of V8 or RWD Acura’s were no longer going to happen.

To add insult to injury, we’ve been subject to products like the Insight, the Accord Crosstour, and the Acura Alphabet Soup (ZDX). It hurts more when we see Nissan launching a star like the GT-R (what the NSX should have been) and Lexus trying to build super car cred by building the LF-A and tweaking their IS offerings. What does Honda have to counter them?

Competent sporty car, but is that all?

Im sure you felt that Honda’s ability to dream is dead (as I did). The power of their dreams no longer captivates us and the future is looking bleak, leading to the question – Honda, where are you going? What about the dreams? But there is a slight hope. A sliver of light that makes me feel that all will be well in the years to come. I probably have you thinking, what then makes me feel positive about the direction Honda seems to be going in. They seem to have laid off their dreamers and replaced them with  tree-huggers and soccer moms designing bulky yet versatile family cars.

Here is why:

1. The CR-Z – A sporty hybrid with a manual transmission, 122 HP, 128 lb-ft of torque at 1000 RPM, and a curb weight estimated at 2670 lbs. Oh! did I mention the EPA estimated gas mileage is 31/37/33 miles per gallon for the MT equipped car while the CVT version fares slightly better. This car appears to be (on paper) neither too sporty nor a mileage champ and seems to be a flaming disaster quite like the other tepid offerings from big H.

It must remind you of the CRX

- Yet Honda engineers have benchmarked the car against the the best handling light-weight cars out there (the MINI, the Lotus Elise & the VW Scirocco). According to Terukazu Torikai, the chief engineer for chassis dynamics on the CR-Z, “the performance of the Elise kept on inspiring us throughout the whole development process“. Knowing Honda, I hope that has translated into something substantial.

- A first ever Sport Mode button. This button per Honda’s press release “sharpens the throttle response, changes the behaviour of the IMA hybrid system to provide more electric motor assistance, and increases the weight of the electric power steering“.

Will it live up to the “Dream”? 

- Japanese Magazine’s first driving impressions as translated by Inside Line “the CR-Z’s handling is in an entirely different class. In this department, the car truly feels worthy of the sporty-car label. “The biggest difference is how the rear end feels through corners. Unlike rear suspension in the Fit or the Insight, the stroke of the rear dampers have been increased, resulting in increased stability through corners and over bumps. And thanks the to the CR-Z’s wider track, the car exhibits less body roll and better overall balance than either the Fit or the Insight, making it a delight to drive through turns. And despite possessing firmer dampers and springs than the Insight, it rides just as smoothly”.

- Unknown Honda engineers stated that the CR-Z should remind people of the CRX and therefore should handle like one.

Keep dreaming and I may show up at a dealership near you

2. The Honda HSV 10 GT – The NSX replacement was resurrected and renamed so Honda could continue competing in the Super GT championship in Japan. Rule changes required Honda to step up with a new car and they seem to have delivered. This could be an indication that the next NSX could be 4-5 years away and we could very well have one at a lower price point as I’m sure Honda would want to one-up Nissan.

Now that’s what we need from Acura

3. The TSX wagon – All of us here in North America love the way the Euro Accord looks and are we glad that Honda is bringing us the cool looking Accord wagon as a TSX wagon. Now all they need do is to remove that silly nose they stuck on all the Acuras.

The thought strikes me that the wise druids at Honda seem to have deciphered the path. The path forward is to go back to their roots. Build small cars that are beggars for punishment and fun to be thrown around a track in pursuit of the perfect lap time. Who knows, we could very well see the return of the S2000 with the same 2.2 liter engine, but faster because its lighter and built using more composite materials. Who knows, it could have a retractable hard top and put the likes of the pretenders from Mazda & BMW to shame.

So keep going Honda and enable us to keep powering your dreams!

Props to aashish2 , images courtesy of Triple-H and Honda Motor Co.

Alfa Romeo 2017 Executive fastback saloon

This car is a wild missile for heck. It’s the 2017 Alfa Romeo Executive Fastback Saloon. What a mouthful! What an eyeful, you’re about to witness. Designer Jacob McMurry’s whipped up this magic machine to compliment the Alfa Romeo 8c Competizione in Alfa Romeo’s return to the North American market.* In this project, inspiration’s drawn from Carnevale di Venezia, aka the Carnival of Venice.

*This project was done before the Fiat/Chrysler partnership.

All glass roof, smart glass panels. These smart panels have the ability to go all opaque or transparent. Helpful if you’re Batman, or if you’re Dexter Morgan. Lines drawn directly from Italy, drawing inspiration again from the 2900B Type 35 racers of the 1930’s.

Power plant: Diesel V8 with rear wheel drive, optional bio-diesel conversion.

**As for the title of this post: this car may look like a fancy club, all elegant and seductive, and it’s name is Saloon, but it’s just a car! You’d better be in your garage if you plan on drinking in it. Be safe!

Source: High-Tech 360

FT-86 the new Toyota Celica

Toyota, together with Subaru, is set to launch a new affordable driver-oriented sports coupe (think Toyota Celica reincarnation) and if these photos the FT-86 protoype are a sign we’ve got lots to look forward to.
The FT-86, set to debut as a production model in 2011, is a collaboration between Toyota and Subaru and will utilize a common chassis and some sort of 2.0 liter engine, currently rumored to be a four cylinder boxer engine dubbed the “C-45 Boxer” that can produce anywhere from 200 and 250 HP. A hybrid model isn’t expected. Rear-wheel drive though is.

A coupe is smaller in length, width and height than the new Nissan 370Z but has a slightly longer wheelbase. It’s also the first car from Toyota Motor Company to incorporate design cues from the Lexus LF-A concept.

Honda not to return to Formula One

by: Leo Diaz
source: Planet-F1

Is this really the end of Honda’s Performance line?

The NSX is gone, the S2000 has also run its 10yr course.  And now, Honda is officialy out of the Formula One game. 

I’m still in shock from the news a few months ago, when Honda announced retirement from F1. A lot of us were expecting that Honda might return to F1, however it was confirmed by the new CEO, Takanobu Ito, that Honda won’t participate in the future of F1. Formula One has changed and the interest is reduced due to the new regulations; with that said more media gathering in Tokyo is scheduled.

I will keep everyone updated.

Lexus IS350 on Vossen VVS-084 20inch Wheels

With the introduction of the newest Lexus IS Convertible, other Lexus owners may be wondering what they can do to their current Lexus IS to make it stand-out or become NEW again. Nothing a set of Vossen VVS-084 20 inch wheels and air suspension cannot take care of right? That’s just what Team Solo did with their White Lexus IS350. These new rims are featured on Wheels Buyer, one of our newest sister sites. For more information on these wheels head on over to Wheels Buyer.com. Enjoy the images below.

Nissan GT-R 2010 unmasked, some info

The 2010 Nissan GT-R was spotted in zebra camoflauge last month and now Best Car Magazine has put together a couple of photos showing the next GT-R’s subtle changes.

Aesthetic changes for the 2010 include a slightly modified front end with a second winglet on the bumper. Other changes will be the air vents behind the rear wheels on “either side of the rear bumper and the revised rear diffuser”. That’s just about it for noticeable changes. Really.

Less noticeable is the aerodynamic improvements like an extended nose cone. No numbers are available right now but I’m sure it’ll give the slightest performance increase. More information about the 2010 Nissan GT-R will continue to roll in but expect a debut early next year.

Lexus IS 250C, the convertible, launched in Japan

Damn Lexus. I thought the IS250C was going to come to North America first. Why, oh why! Are you happy selling only 100 in a month? Are we not good enough for your “super intelligent sports sedan convertable”? The four seater, two door, drop top was originally shown off at the Paris Motor Show last October.

That’s when my love affair started. And today is when it ends. We have to wait until just before Summer for the Lexus IS Convertible. At which point every tanning bed, spiked hair, greaser will be driving around in one. Like the sedan, the IS 250C is powered by a 204-horsepower 2.5-liter V6, while the IS 350C gets a 306-hp 3.5-liter V6. A six-speed automatic transmission is available on either engine; a six-speed manual is offered only on the IS 250C. The top goes down in 21 seconds.

I’m just kidding! I think all Lexus IS’, with their retartedly high belt line, look funny. Hardly something I could fall in love with.

K Sportline Kia Rondo

Naturally the three letters of JDM has been burnt into our minds as Japanese-inspired tuning. Clean, purpose built vehicles without extravagant body kits and modifications. But over the years JDM has changed much like the sport compact scene as a whole. USDM has even been tossed around now with popular vehicles like the Dodge Neon SRT-4 and even Cobalts and Solstices.

What’s interesting however is how low the Korean vehicles have been laying. Sure everyone expects a Kia or a Hyundai to just be a budget car to take you from point A to point B, but there’s no denying that there are avid fans out there of the brands. The Tiburon was fairly popular amongst the tuning crowd, and with the new Genesis coming out from Hyundai and Kia’s Soul and Rondo, the next few years are going to be very interesting.

ShowOpt teamed up with Kia Motors America to build a one-of-a-kind Rondo for SEMA 2008. Taking advantage of the opportunity, ShowOpt decided to brand it as a KSportline vehicle, developing and manufacturing new parts for this upcoming “KDM” tuning trend. The result? Well, we’ll leave that up to you guys – but we knew it was something worth sharing. The changes that this sport compact industry is going through right now are going to make or break what we’ll be seeing in a matter of a few years once the economy turns back around. There’s no denying that Korean-made vehicles are being customized and now that it’s about to his mainstream, we’re keeping our eyes glued.

Exterior:
House of Kolors Kandy Cobalt Blue, Ksportline Front Fascia, Ksportline Rear Valance, Ksportline Side Skirts, Ksportline Rear Roof Spoiler, Ksportline Rear Hatch Wing, Ksportline Eyelids, Ksportline Side Mirrors w/ LED Signals, Ksportline Hood Protector

Wheels/Tires:
Enkei Racing RPF01 F&R 18×7.5 All Around, Falken F452 Tires 215/35/18 All Around

Chassis/Suspension:
Ksportline Front Strut Bar, JDM UA Air Suspension x4, JDM UA Air Compressors, JDM UA Air Tanks x2, JDM UA Air Lines, JDM UA Air Switches, JDM UA Air Remote, Ksportline Custom 6 Point Roll Cage

Interior:
SitchCraft Carbon Style Head Liner, StitchCraft Carbon Style Pillars, StitchCraft Carbon Style Rear Hatch Section, StitchCraft Carbon Style Door Panels, NRG Racing Leather Steering Wheel, NRG Racing Carbon Steering Wheel Ring, NRG Racing Quick Release Steering Wheel Hub, NRG Racing Carbon Bucket Seats, NRG Racing Seat Brackets & Sliders, Creative Audio Custom Carpet Wrap, NRG Racing 4 Point Harnesses, NRG Racing Carbon/Titanium Pedals, NRG Racing Carbon Shift Knob, Ksportline Custom Painted Dash & Door Trims, GlowShift Gauge Pod, GlowShift Oil Temp Gauge, GlowShift EGT Gauge, GlowShift Water Temp Gauge

I.C.E.:
Nintendo Wii Video Game Console, SoundStream VIR7355N Head Unit w/ Navigation, SoundStream TSQ 10” Subwoofers x4, SoundStream TRC Amps x4, SoundStream SC8CA Capacitors x2, SoundStream Speaker Components x2, SoundStream TRX1000D 17” Drop Down Monitor, Creative Audio Custom Fiberglass

Engine:
Ksportline Intake Piping, Ksportline Spec GReddy Airinx Air Filter, NRG Radiator Cap, NRG Titanium Exhaust, NRG Ground Wires, NRG Voltage Kit

Sponsors:
KIA Motors America, GLOWSHIFT Gauges, SoundStream Electronics, House of Kolors, Enkei Wheels, Falken Tires, Universal Air, NR-G Innovation

Shoutouts:
AutoFashion, Creative Audio & Motorsports, DTM AutoBody, StitchCraft World Famous Interior, TWS (The Wheel Supply)

2008 Mitsubishi Seibon EVO X

I saw this Pictures and thought i share it with you guys. Speacially for those people who buy a brand new car. Have you ever thought about going out and buying a brand new car and then stripping it down and turning it into a full on Time Attack beast? Well, maybe you’ve thought about it but not that many individuals have actually done it. It takes a special kind of person and a whole whack of commitment and also money. But there is a guy who buy a 2008 Mistubishi Evo X brand new and later on he strippe it down and build it into a beast. what about you, would you buy a brand new car and build it into a beast?

SPECIFICATIONS OF THE BEAST:

Engine & Performance:
- AFI – 3″ Intake
- AFI – 3″ Upper Intercooler Pipe
- AFI – 2.5″ Lower Intercooler Pipe
- AFI – 3.5″ Garret Core Intercooler
- AFI – 50MM Tial Blow Off Valve -vband
- AFI – Cast Stainless Steel Twin Scroll Manifold
- AFI – Garret GT3076 Twincroll Turbo/ T3 Outlet 63ar.
- AFI – Tial 44mm Wastegates x 2 – vband
- AFI – 3″ Down Pipe -vband
- AFI – Stainless Steel Oil/water lines
- Stainless Steel Lines
- Warboro 255lph Fuel Pump?RC – 1000 cc injecters – Not Tuned yet. E85 Tune
- Seatrab oil cooler w/ Custom AN Fittings and Stainless Steel Lines
- Perma cool Power Steering Cooler with 3/8 Rubber hoses – relocated.
- AC Compressor Removed and Custom Belt Added
- PWR Radiator – 1 of 1 in the USA
- ACT Race Clutch
- ACT Lightweight Flywheel
- Redline Fluids, ALL
- ECUTek – Tuned by Mike W of Road Race Engineering

Exterior:
- Seibon Carbon – Carbon Fiber OEM Aero Lip
- Seibon Carbon – Carbon Fiber OEM Fog Light Surrounds
- Seibon Carbon – Carbon Fiber OEM Grille w/ Carbon Fiber Mitsubishi Diamond Logo
- Seibon Carbon – Carbon Fiber TS Hood (As pictured) , as well as OEM Carbon Fiber Hood
- Seibon Carbon – Carbon Fiber Fenders 10mm oversized
- Seibon Carbon – Carbon Fiber OEM Front Doors
- Seibon Carbon – Carbon Fiber OEM Rear Doors
- Seibon Carbon – Carbon Fiber OEM Side Skirts
- Seibon Carbon – Carbon Fiber OEM Rear Lip Spoiler
- Seibon Carbon – Carbon Fiber OEM Rear Diffuser
- Seibon Carbon – Carbon Fiber OEM Trunk
- Seibon Carbon – Carbon Fiber OEM Wing
- Seibon Edition Vinyl Graphics

Wheels/Tires/Brakes/Suspension
- Wheels – Rays Engineering Volk TE37’s 18X9.5 +22 Offset Seibon Edition TIME ATTACK rims
- Tires – 275/35/18 Toyo R888
- Stoptech 6 piston 355mm 2 piece Slotted Rotors – Front
- Stoptech 4 piston 332mm 2 piece Slotted Rotors – Rear
- Stoptech Stainless Steel Brake Lines / Front & Rear
- Motol RF600 Brake Fluid
- Apexi N1 EXV Coilovers
- Apexi N1 Camber Plates.

Exhaust:
- Apexi RS EVO X Twin Tip Exhaust
- Road Race Engineering Custom SS Test Pipe

Interior:
- Black Race Tech RT 1000 Bucket Seat – FIA Approved
- Red Race Tech 5 point Cam lock Harness – FIA Approved
- Road Race Engineering 6 point DOM Steel 1.75 .120 Wall Roll Cage w/ Door Bars . 2009 Spec Cage
- Interior Painted to match exterior
- Dash – Gutted
- Interior – Gutted
- Sound Deadener – Gone, Glue Gone, Rear Deck lid Removed, Front and Rear Crash Beams Removed
- Custom Relocated Fuse Blocks
- ARC Titanium Shift Knob

Shout Outs:
- ACT
- AFI TURBO
- ANAMORPHIC
- APEXi
- BASF
- MOTHERS
- PWR
- RACETECH
- RAYS ENGINEERING
- ROAD RACE ENGINEERING
- SEIBON
- STOPTECH
- TOYO TIRES

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