Earlier today, the guys at Mackin Industries posted a preview picture on their facebook page of the next evolution of Volk TE37.  The new wheel called the TE37RT (RT stands for “Rigid Tune”) is designed to be just as light as the TE37SL but with a barrel that is “5-7% stiffer”.  It also features a diamond-cut rim flange, anti-slip bead, and machined logo.

The guys at Mackin say the new TE37RT will be released sometime in the middle of this year and so far the “burning red” color you see here will be the only hue available, although that will likely change at some point.  Most popular 5 lug bolt patterns will be available including 5×130 for Porsche 997 and GT3′s.  Sizes range from 17×9.5 up to 18×11.

Going by the picture (full pic by clicking the thumbnail below) it looks like the new TE37RT will also be right at home on the Scion FR-S/Subaru BRZ.  I can’t wait to see the new TE’s up close!

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Hot from my inbox is news that HRE has launched the new Competition C90S series of wheels today and I can already pick out what I think will be one of the favorites.  The new series consists of three designs but the wheel that sticks out the most to me is the C96S.  When I first saw it I thought this is likely what the offspring of a TE37 and a BBS LM would look like yet it is still uniquely HRE.  The three piece construction makes it look elegant while the spoke design evokes some serious strength and motorsport readiness.  In fact, the C96S is the wheel of choice for the crazy Pikes Peak NSX built by LoveFab Inc. which has been making the Internet rounds lately. 

I would expect to see a lot more of this wheel and the other wheels in the new C90S line at this year’s SEMA show.

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It has been a while since I have done a wheel post so jumping back into it I wanted to make sure I came back with something good.  Thus, I present to you the Vorsteiner VS-310!  This is one of the few “split-spoke” designs from Vorsteiner and like the other split spoke designs the VS-310 has a nice aggressive look.  Sizes start at 19″ and go up to 22″ and widths go from 8″ to 13″ so you can go big and wide if you want.  I will pause here so you can form your double entendres….got them?  OK!  Anyhow, the VS-310 is a pretty sweet wheel for the Euro guys, heck you might want to sport this with some of the higher end Japanese cars.  I can see the VS-310 looking very nice on a Lexus IS, Acura NSX, or even a Nissan 370Z. 

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The TE37 has been around for a few decades now and no matter what Rays Engineering/Volk Racing does to it, they still have not found a way to make this wheel look ugly.  It is just not possible!  Anyhow Evasive Motorsports got a preview of the newest color variation on the TE37SL or “Super Laps”.  The TE37SL “Black Edition” will feature a “pressed black” finish and two “luminous” wheel spoke decals.  Not sure if by “luminous” they mean the decals would glow in the dark, but it would be pretty damn fresh if they did!  So far there has been no MSRP or production numbers announced but Evasive says the wheels should be available sometime in October of this year.  If you want a set you should give them a call.  If they like you they might let you pre-order a set.

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[Source: EvasiveMotorBlog]

Vorsteiner’s newest wheel offering is suited specifically for the Ferrari 458 Italia and the new BMW F10 5-series.  Dubbed the VS-130, the new 5 spoke forged monoblock shoe features a concave design with scalloped spokes (for sake of weight saving) looks right at home on both the Ferrari and the BMW.  What strikes me the most about the VS-130 is how well it lends itself to its intended applications.  It makes me wonder why Ferrari or BMW didn’t think of such a great design for their OEM wheel in the first place.  If you are the lucky owner of a Ferrari 458 or an F10 5 series, I think the VS-130 are definitely wheels to consider.

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It has been a while since we’ve had some good wheel hype here.  Allow me to end the drought and present to you the new AECROS wheel from Volk.  The AECROS wheel is a part of Volk’s new “ECO Drive” series targeted at eco-friendly performance vehicles like the Honda CR-Z.  The AECROS is forged and weighs in at a scant 15.4lbs per wheel so you definitely wont hurt your fuel economy with a bunch of added weight.  However, the most important part about the AECROS is that it looks F’ing FRESH!  It is nice to see that despite being targeted for the tree huggers Volk did not dumb down their design for this wheel.  While they look great on a CR-Z these wheels would probably look great on just about anything!

[Source: Evasive Motorsports]

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Today HRE Wheels officially debuted their new 790RS line and the 794RS is the first wheel to catch our eye.  Even though the 794RS is just one of several new models in the new line  the new “sculpted” spoke design on the 794 makes it stand out by giving it a look that would make it look right at home on a new Mustang or Camaro.  Good stuff HRE!

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One of the biggest worries for anyone who owns a nice expensive set of multi-piece wheels is the fear of the wheel coming apart on them for any number of reasons.  To help ease concerns Forgeline has announced that all of their wheels will use ARP bolts.  Yes, this is the same ARP that makes high strength studs, bolts, and fasteners for race engines!  Props to Forgeline for stepping up the quality of their products.  We need a lot more of this in our industry!

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Press Release:

Dayton OH, June 13, 2011 – ARP bolts is a household name when it comes to anyone that has built racecars. For more than 20 years now, ARP has been providing the industry with state-of-the-art bolts and fasteners that are required to keep together high-performing automotive components for any racecar builder. We are proud to announce that we are now equipping FORGELINE wheels with ARP stainless bolts as a standard feature on all wheels. Not only are the ARP bolts superior in strength and finish than their counterparts, their corrosion resistance is second to none.

This marks another advancement with the FORGELINE product line as we continue to further research and develop our products from real-world racing experiences. We have dedicated our team to show track side support to all of our partnered teams during this year’s Grand-Am Road Racing series. To commit excellence to our customers, these ARP upgraded bolts will not increase any of the pricing on our product line and will be offered as standard equipment. There is a lot of knowledge we have gained and this advancement is a perfect example of how we apply our knowledge to produce the best possible wheel we can!

Say hello to Forgeline’s latest addition to its “Performance Series” line, the GX3.  Like their GA3R wheel the GX3 was made with Forgeline’s “I-Beamed” spoke technology which helps reduce weight.  Titanium assembly bits also takes some poundage out of the GX3 as well.  The wheel face is also specially designed for brake clearance no matter what big brake kit you may have.  Manufacturing materials and techniques aside I think my favorite thing about the GXR is its classic Grand-Am racing mesh wheel design.  In fact if you really want to go for that look Forgeline offers the GX3 in a centerlock application! FRESH! 

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Press Release:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Dayton OH, April 12, 2010 – 2011 has been a great year for us so far and we have dedicated efforts into developing new products for the year. One of the new wheels that we have just finished is the GX3. With the introduction of the GA3R and our new “I-Beamed” spoke technology, we have incorporated the same technology to the new GX3 which reduces weight and applies additional strength in rigidity within the spokes of the wheel. Along with this, we have also employed titanium assembly hardware to further reduce additional weight and this hardware is hidden to follow the function of cleaning the wheels with ease. The unique design of the center of the GX3 allows for extreme caliper clearance to ensure proper fitment of big brake kit systems.

The GX3 will also feature our proprietary, super strength sealer that is fast drying and is highly resistant to leaks with accessibility for easy repairs. Just like all of our wheels, the GX3 is produced using our traditional forging methods, utilizing 6061-T6 aluminum with heat treated rim-shells. It wouldn’t be a FORGELINE wheel without all the customization options. Just like the rest of our line-up, the GX3 will have full customization capabilities from fitment to finish and will also be offered for centerlock applications. Currently, the GX3 is available in 18 and 20 inch diameters and widths will run from 7 to 15 inches. 19 inch fitments will be available late Spring with a Summer release for 17 inch fitments.