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Archive for the ‘Around the Web’ Category

Chop Top Impreza

Im not a huge fan of Impreza’s (last model I really loved was the GC8 Chassis) but this GDB makes me drool.

WRX Chop Top 1WRX Chop Top 2

Aside from the fact that it has a fully built EJ20, Upgraded Turbo, 265/35/18s all around and bombs the Tsukuba Short Circuit at 59 seconds - what really sets this car apart is the beautifully chopped roof.  The low angle windshield and a-piliar gives this car that stance it should have had from the factory.

Read more and see more pics at Edmunds Inside Line

Honda S3000 Speculation

Road & Track has decided to reopen the S2000 successor debate with a extremely intriguing rendition of what they’re calling the ‘S3000′.

Honda S3000

This rendition, which comes from Honda’s European design team, keeps the 2 door sports coupe personality pretty much intact, but adds some much needed new age Honda cues.  In the power department, rumors are swirling around a 3.0 or 3.5 liter motor transplanted from the Acura TL and sub-5 second 0-60 times.  Truth be told, this rendition will get much more tweeking from Honda Japan before hitting the streets, but if this is any indication of what the S2000’s replacement turns out to be, it shouldn’t disappoint.

Check out Road & Track for more info

The ULTIMATE in VIP Style… Redux

A little while back we posted what we though was The ULTIMATE in VIP Style.  Well, I’ll stand by my post and say at the time it WAS, however Japanese Tuner ASI, has out done themselves with a new rendition of their Tetsua GTR Kit for the Bentley Continental GT, and are planning on debuting it at SEMA this year.

ASI Tetsu GTR 1

ASI Tetsu GTR 2

I suppose this new rendition is more attuned to the season, opting for Japanese Maple leaves instead of the Lotus Blossoms.  But either one is sure to do two things, turn heads and empty wallets.

For more info, check out ASI’s Homepage

Hey Santa… Part 2

So the holiday wish list continues to grow as I stumble across cool new things that would look right at home, in my, uh, home.  The latest is from the least expectant source; Restoration Hardware (yes, the place with the chrome coated hammers).

Slot Car Track

Built to commemorate the Shelby Daytona’s win at the 1964 24 Hours of Le Mans, this ’slot-car-track-to-end-all-slot-car-tracks’ is made up of 63-3/4 feet of of track weaving together over 20 turns, chicanes and embankments.  At a mere $249, this can make a child of any age one happy camper.

Check out The World’s Greatest Shelby Slot Car Racetrack for more info.

The Volkswagen Scirocco Returns

VW Scirocco

Seems like every car manufacturer is reaching into the playbook and pulling out something that will invoke nostalgia and stories of “I remember owning one of those in the [insert 60’s, 70’s, 80’s, 90’s here].”  The new Volkswagen Scirocco may instill dreams of the past, but it won’t happen until you actually see the badge.

Gone are the hard lines of VWs past, replaced with the current curvy body, but still set apart from it’s Golf and EOS brothers with uniquely flared rear fenders and aggressive front fascia.  Two engines are currently offered, a 1.4L TSI making 160HP and a 2.0L Diesel making 140HP, the later of which is registering 55MPG (the 1.4L TSI isn’t too shabby either with 43MPG).

Oh, I should also mention, don’t hold you breath for a US model this is currently only available in the UK.

Check out more pics and info over at AutoBlog.

New Lotus Exige Cup 260

Lotus Exige Cup260

As if the current Lotus Elise/Exige wasn’t light enough, fast enough, or looked good enough - the engineers over at the UK based manufacture have taken the platform to a whole new level.  Thanks in part to extensive carbon fiber work, the latest Cup 260 edition of the Lotus Exige has shed ANOTHER 80lbs and now tips the scales at a mere 1962lbs. To make the point about dropping weight stick, Lotus ALSO bumped horsepower, pushing the Supercharged Toyota 2ZZ motor to a peak of 257hp/238ft-lbs.

To round out the package, Bilstein Shocks and Eibach Springs have been installed and super sticky Yokohama A048 LTS tires ensure all the power makes it to the pavement.

For the FULL rundown and more pics, check out Conceptcarz

New Mazda Miata MX-5

New Mazda Miata

Another debut-before-the-debut at the Paris Motor Show has trickled down to us and this time, I am really glad to see it.  The Miata and I have had our ups and downs, but this most recent version makes me feel like we’re back on track. Although the turbocharged Mazdaspeed version may no longer be an option, at least there is an choice between a 129HP 1.8L or a 166HP 2.0L motor.

For more pics and info visit AutoBlog.

2009 Mitsubishi Ralliart Sportback

Lancer Ralliart Sportback

With the recent wave of hatchbacks, wagons and sportbacks hitting the market, it’s only suiting that Mitsubishi jumped on the bandwagon and has a go of it themselves.  The new Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart Sportback will pack a bit of a punch, boasting a 4B11T pulled from the Evolution X.  However, the powerplant is arriving a bit detuned, producing 237HP and 253ft-lbs of torque.  Obviously, this is a shot across the bow at Subaru, whose WRX is offered in the sedan or wagon configuration, and is slightly detuned compared to their flagship STI.

Hopefully, this lower-cost option will open the doors to those buyers who are not scared of adding a few bolt-ons to match (or exceed) the Evolution’s power.

More info and pics at AutoBlog

Volkswagen Golf GTI Mark VI

VW GTI MK VI

As a natural follow up to the newly released Audi S4 info, Volkswagen released photos of the new Volkswagen Golf GTI Mark VI ahead of its release at next weeks Paris Motor Show.  Powered by a 2.0 Turbocharged FSI engine producing 210HP / 207 ft-lbs of torque, it is an ideal platform for modification and improving on its 7second 0-60 time. However, as a daily driver, the 31MPG should be appealing to anyone looking to save some money at the pump.  Maybe the answer lays in saving the S4 for play and the GTI for the day-to-day.

For more info and pics, visit AutoBlog

Next Generation Audi S4

Audi S4

For all you Audiphiles out there, this should come as a welcomed treat.  The Next Gen Audi S4 is scheduled to be released at next week’s Paris Motor Show and will pick up on the forced induction power plant, where the B5 left off.  This time, however, it will be in the form 333HP/325lb-ft Supercharged 3.0L.  The transmission will be offered in either a standard six-speed gearbox or the new seven-speed S-Tronic (Sequential?) Dual Clutch.  With help from the new Quattro system, which delivers a 60/40 split on power favoring the rear wheels, the S4 should clip the 5.0 second mark on the run to 60MPH.

For more info and pics, be sure to check out AutoBlog