I will be the first to tell you that while I love BMW, I am not the biggest fan of the 6 series with the exception of the Gran Coupe. You might also know that when it comes to Hamann they are kind of hit and miss with their aero designs. Yet, their new aero package for the new 6 series Gran Coupe seems to hit the “goldylocks” zone as it is just right. The right 6 series with just the right mix of agression and class with the aero kit makes for a good product here. This might be partly because Hamann’s package is designed to be added on to the factory M aero package, so Hamann kind of had a guide to make sure they did not go off the deep end. Either way, I really like what they came up with here. What do you guys think?
illest just dropped a few new license plate frames and the new collection is led off by their new signature “safari” style design featuring the illest logo and their motto “None but ourselves can free our mind”. Deep, is it not? Either way if you’re a fan of illest, fatlace, or safari print then you can pick up this frame at the illest online store for only ten bucks plus shipping.
Little by little Vorsteiner is venturing out from their usual German nameplate tuning into other regions of Europe like the UK with their Bentley packages and Italy, starting with Ferrari and now continuing with a full tuning program for 2009+ Lamborghini Gallardo LP models. The new program named “Renazzo V” completely transforms the Gallardo into a full-on carbon fiber switch blade, adding several new angles and edges to increase its aggressive look and save weight. The aero package has at least nine total pieces to help better channel air and add downforce while keeping weight gain minimal. The package is finished off with a set of aluminum forged Vorsteiner wheels.
Right now the pictures below are just a preview. This package will not be available until February/March of 2013 and as of now the MSRP is unknown but I would venture a guess that it will be in the $15-$20k range. That price is shocking for us regular folk but probably chump change for the men and women that make up Vorsteiner’s clientele!
The first press day of the LA Auto Show was long, and draining (but worth it) so it was really nice for Recaro to invite me to their reception event just down the street from the convention center at the J Lounge for a little R&R. There was no specific reason why Recaro decided to throw a party besides just wanting to celebrate their 106 years of existence and various OEM partnerships (GM, Ford, etc.) as such the wine flowed like a river and there were various tasty treats on hand. Oh yeah; there was also a small fleet of bad ass cars as well as industry celebrities like Ken Block and Tanner Foust.
Despite the clout that Foust and Block have, the real guests of honor of the evening were Jeremy Foley and Yuri Kouznetsov. If those names don’t sound familiar to you, just type them into the YouTube search bar and the results will return one of the most watched crash videos in recent history. It was Jeremy Foley and Yuri Kouznetsov who were passengers in the horrible Evo crash at this year’s Pikes Peak Hill Climb when their car slid off the cliff at the turn known as the “Devil’s Playground”
Miraculously both drivers walked away from the accident with little to no injury. They credit their survival to all the safety equipment in the car namely the roll cage and the Recaro seats that kept both driver and co-driver secure as their car tumbled down the cliff. The mangled remains of their race car was actually on display at the event and last night was actually the first time the car has been put on exhibition since that fateful day. If you look closely at the pictures of the wreckage you’ll see that not only is the roll cage still in relatively good shape, but the driver seat is still in its proper position while the passenger seat has barely moved.
If any one of you out there have asked yourself why Recaro seats seem to be so much more expensive than other brands, this is your answer! I want to thank Recaro and The ID Agency for the invite to the reception. I had a great time and meeting Jeremy and Yuri was inspirational! For pictures just click the thumbnails below. You will eventually get to the wreckage shots!
If you want to see footage of the crash for yourself, you can watch it below. I should warn you though it is a bit hard to watch. Yes both drivers made it out alive and unhurt, but watching a car tumble down a cliff like this knowing that there are humans inside of it, makes it a bit disturbing! I leave the choice to you!
Yesterday I brought you a peek at Jon Sibal’s rendering of a Hyundai/Cosworth Genesis coupe. Today I show you a real picture of Super Street Magazine’s SEMA 2012 project: a Rocket Bunny widebody equipped Scion FR-S. Super Street leaked the photo above on their instagram feed just a short while ago, but they did not include many details. So far, all that is known is that it will have the Rocket Bunny kit which looks like this, and that the car will be very, very green.
I am just speculating here but with the kind of connections Super Street has, I would not rule out some type of forced induction setup as well. I guess we will have to wait until SEMA for the real details.
The CR-Z has its share of haters but I think there are more people that like it. I could be included with the latter half. While it is not exactly the CR-X reincarnate, it still honors the coupe nicely in my opinion; Especially with its looks. For a hybrid the CR-Z is pretty damn agro is it not? Throw in a few strategically placed exterior mods and you have one of the meanest looking eco-friendly cars on the street! If you happen to own a CR-Z and you are looking to add some more “mean” to its “green” then I think Password:JDM’s CR-Z dry carbon fiber rear diffuser is a good way to go. It looks good, it is made from high quality carbon fiber, it bolts right on (no cutting needed), and it actually does serve a function. It is a bit pricey at $599, but quality is usually expensive.
The CLS has a special place in our hearts at MotorworldHype as my buddy and co-founder RJ de Vera once had a Mercedes Benz CLS of his own a few years ago; So whenever we see something new for the CLS it usually grabs our attention pretty quickly. Owners of the current (W218) CLS 63 AMG might be happy to know that Vorsteiner is working on a tuning program for the “coupe” that should be releasing near the end of the summer. Vorsteiner kept things simple with this package by keeping it to a subtle lip in the front, front grill replacement, fender appliques, understated side skirts, a rear diffuser, and boot lid spoiler. As always each part of the aero package is made from Vorsteiner’s autoclaved carbon fiber. The program is finished off with a set of forged Vorsteiner wheels (19 inches up to 21), a titanium exhaust, and custom Vorsteiner floor and trunk mats.
So far there is no word on MSRP or exactly when the program will be available. As of now all we have to go on is “late Summer 2012″. I would probably make a guess that we should see it ready for sale towards the end of August. If I get anymore updates I will post them ASAP! In the meantime check out some very realistic renderings of what the program will look like when its released.
While the FR-S/BRZ party is just getting started here in the states, Japan has had an early start and they have spent plenty of time tinkering with the “FT86″ chassis. This means that if you happen to own either a FR-S or BRZ there are plenty of JDM goodies from across the pond for you to fawn over. Today, I present to you the new 5 piece aero kit for the Scion FR-S from Chargespeed. Compared to some of the other stuff out there the Chargespeed kit is pretty subtle as it is basically an understated lip kit that goes around all four sides (front lip, rear lower lip, side skirts) with a rear roof spoiler thrown in for flavor. Each piece of the kit is made from genuine CFRP carbon fiber (all produced in Japan).
The kit is due to release in August, and despite coming from Japan you can actually pre-order this kit right now for an MSRP of $2,280 from Chargespeed’s official US distributor. Of all the kits coming out for this chassis I see this one gaining some real popularity due to its subtle looks and quality construction. This is definitely the way to go if you want to improve looks but without going overboard or drawing unwanted attention AKA “the po-po”.
To buy the BMW 1M coupe you have to really, really love the 1-series. If you are that in love with your 1M coupe, then you are probably wary of making any changes to it and you could hardly be blamed for that. The 1M coupe is a good looking car. It may be a bit too stout or “bulldog-ish” for some but for those who “get it”, the 1M’s design is great. Vorsteiner kept those facts in mind when they set out to create a full aero package for the tiny, mighty M. So, it should come as no surprise that Vorsteiner’s 1M coupe package is quite subtle. Their goal in this package was more to reduce weight, add some downforce, and coax some airflow to where it is needed. For instance the front splitter features integrated ducts to channel air to the front brakes and the rear diffuser features extended fins for better flow of air under the car. The package also includes a carbon fiber trunk lid with an integrated rear spoiler for double duty in reducing weight and adding downforce. Naturally all the pieces of the aero kit are made from Vorsteiner’s pre-preg carbon fiber. When the kit is launched there will also be an option for a titanium exhaust, a set of concave wheels, and as usual a Vorsteiner floor mat set.
HAMANN has finally dropped their new tuning program for the new F10 BMW M5and I have to say, it walks a fine line between “over the top” and “just right”. To their credit they did tone down on the vents and wings and double wings, etc for this program. I am guessing they are getting to know their customer a little better and they probably realize that anyone who is willing to change the looks of the already beautiful F10 M5 isn’t willing to change too much. It is just as well then that HAMANN has gone for the “subtle aggression” vibe for their newest package. The body is widened about 25mm in the front and 30mm in the rear thanks to some over fenders and there are a few really nice hints of carbon fiber here and there to set things off. Although I am not sure if the HAMANN body panels themselves are made completely from carbon fiber or not so if you are interested you might want to look into that.
In addition to the aero package HAMANN will also throw in a set of 21 inch forged three piece aluminum wheels. To lighten things up further titanium bolts are used to secure the wheel face to the barrel. HAMANN also says that a performance package is in the works that would include an exhaust and a re-worked engine management system that together will squeeze another 160hp and 162 ft-lbs of torque out of BMW’s twin-turbo V8. Although, for now there is no release date for the performance package. Until then you might be perfectly content with the mere 560hp you get out of the box.
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