Doing Donuts With Bernie

Car Show Coverage: 2013 Stuntfest Car Show

2013-05-07T13:00:00.000-04:00

On April 28th, the Stuntworld guys held their annual Stuntfest Show at the Atlanta Motor Speedway. Now, where was Bernie? Glad you asked. The night before, I got a concussion, which forced me to sit out Stuntfest. Thankfully, James Wade Whitehorn a.k.a. Whips By Wade went, and I'm about to show off my top picks based off of what WBW photographed.

(This interior looks soooooo comfortable.)

For more pics, you can check out Whips By Wade's facebook page and Rides Magazine.

P.S. As I was putting this post together, I still had some dizziness and headaches.

The Battle of the Matte Red Range Rovers: Ultimate Auto and Platinum Motorsports

2013-04-22T13:00:00.000-04:00

Two great customization shops released photos of matte red Range Rovers. Both Ultimate Auto and Platinum Motorsports started off with a blank canvas: a 2013 Range Rover. Both did follow the same style, although they both used different shades of red, they used a matte finish and left the top half of the vehicle black. The end result.... I'll let you guys decide.

First up. From Orlando, Florida, we have Ultimate Auto and their cranberry red Range. This Range has been dipped in custom BASF Glasurit matte red paint with gloss red accents. The gloss black roof and accent trim break up the red and give it a nice two tone.

And in this corner, from Los Angeles, California, we have Platinum Motorsports and their Rosso Corsa Range. This Range has been dipped in custom Rosso Corsa (Ferrari Red... or at least it looks like it) paint with gloss black accents. The gloss black roof and black accent trim break up the red and give it a nice two tone.

Soooo.... which one do you like?

But my favorite quote that I've found on Luxury4play.com about the new design of the Range Rover is "the new Rover doesn't look as aggressive as the outgoing model. They definitely lost a bit of that squared off, brutish ruggedness in translation (Bernie's note: it's should have been transition). It's gone soft... like a Cayenne." However, the Cayenne has always been soft, it's a crossover.

Car Show Coverage: 2013 Dub Car Show: Los Angeles

2013-04-16T13:00:00.000-04:00

Well, while I was in NY, two great car shows happened in two great cities. First, Forgiato held their Forgiato Fest in Miami (still looking for great coverage) and second, Dub held their Dub Car Show in their hometown.

I've gotten great at ranking Dub Car Shows in order of the best cars. Vegas is the best because it's in the parking lot of SEMA. Anaheim comes in second place because it's outside of LA and it's an outdoor show which has no limits of what cars can be a part of the show. LA is third because it's the home city of Dub, however it's an indoor show. I've never been to Angels Stadium, but I can tell you that it is definitely bigger than the Los Angeles Convention Center. Los Angeles will never fail at putting on a Dub Show, even if there's shootouts outside. Anyway, with the help of Show Cars Inc.com, Wheels and Heels Mag, Conveyor of Cool, and Dub Magazine's flickr page, I'm able to put together a great recap of the 2013 Dub Car Show: Los Angeles, including the models.

Fell in love with this car at SEMA...

My baby...

A West Coast Car Show wouldn't be a real car show without Sanctiond.

I'm a female that pretty secure in my looks, but I thought she was cute.

And I thought she was cute too.

Pretty girl, but I hate the deer in headlights face she's giving.

B.o.B.

P.S. The lowest ranking Dub Shows in my opinion are New York and Philly. They should have kept Englishtown.

Bernie's Car Show Coverage: 2013 New York International Auto Show

2013-04-15T13:00:00.000-04:00

Last week I returned from my hometown of New York, after attending the 113th annual New York International Auto Show. Although I am very New York, this is my first time attending the show, and it didn't fail to disappoint. I'll put it to you like this: I was in some very great company. Enough of the what I have to say, I want to show off some photos. This is a very heavy photo post.

Toyota brought their Concept Corolla car. I'm not a small car person, but I do love the design of this car.

General Motors took up the entire North Hall.

Yes!!! The Jaguar XF that I want... So gorgeous...

Rolls Royce rolled out the all new Rolls Royce Wraith. I don't like the design aspect. Performance wise, I'm sure it's great. But look at it. Rolls Royce in the front, Bentley Continental in the rear. Boxy/bulky in the front, sleek in the rear. I would take a Ghost over the Wraith.

Cadillac brought their ATS....

... and their CTS Sedan...

... and my personal favorite, the CTS-V Coupe.

The Race Car version of the new Chevy SS. Yeah... no. Next...

First photo says it all... And thankfully, Chevy brought the hardtop and the convertible.

The new Chevy Impala. Looks a lot better than the one I learned how to drive in.

The 2014 Chevy Camaro. It looks a bit sleeker, however those tail lights did NOT go over well, AT ALL. If they would have kept the old tail lights, but with the new refined body, then it would have been better.

Love this shade of blue on this Audi R8.

Porsche 911 GT3.

I really hope I don't catch any guys driving this convertible Nissan Murano. I'm having mixed feelings about this vehicle. Although I commend originality, after I had the opportunity to see it up close and personal, the lack of trunk space and the fact that it sits so high off the ground. Maybe my legs are too short for this.

Nissan was also kind enough to bring the new New York City yellow taxi. NYC has three different kinds of taxis: yellow, livery, and gypsi.

Also, I was too happy that Nissan FINALLY decided to refresh their long lasting Pathfinder. However, it looks like a bigger version of the Murano.

Every import guy's dream car, the Nissan GTR. MSRP: close to 100 thousand.

Sooo... the last three days of the New York International Auto Show has another attraction called the Dub Car Show: NY. This year, Action Tire of New Jersey supplied some vehicles like Ice T's Bentley Continental GT with Onyx aftermarket parts.

As well as a Chevy Camaro that belongs to Hakeen Nicks, Wide Receiver of the New York Giants.

Showing hometown love to Martino Auto Concepts of Long Island...

Completely customized Chrysler 300.

Long Island is in the house...

The Jeep Cherokee went from an SUV to a CUV. This is a Crossover.

2013 Turbo Camaro Coupe, out in time to promote the movie "Turbo"

2014 VW Beetle GSR

Lamborghini Avenger anyone?

So pretty...

Mercedes Benz B Class.

The Mercedes CLA looks good...

But I'm always partial to the CLS63 AMG.

Jeep had their "Camp Jeep NYC", where they have professional drivers show the passengers (People who attended the auto show) how the Jeep can perform through different situations. But the last photo was SCARY. The driver took his foot off the brake, so you're on this steep hill and the car doesn't move. He did that, to show off the technology of a Jeep.

McLaren. Just sayin...

The crowd's favorite (and my new favorite). The BMW X6. It was extremely hard for me to get some clean shots of this SUV. I hate photos with people blocking the car. Unless if you're a model, get out of my photo.

Honda's area...

The relief of the entire car show... Honda FINALLY redesigned the rear of the Civic. The last Civic body was so old and stale.

I like the Urban SUV Concept. But it's not an SUV, it's a Crossover.

Wonder Woman and her Kia Sportage.

The little boy trying to get into the Kia Batman car was so cute.

If I liked small cars, this would be mine.

Acura's NSX Concept Car.

Introducing the new Acura ILX.

2013 is the final year for the Acura ZDX because of low sales. It's not a common SUV, which is why I love it. I've only seen it on the road all of twice. And I'm seriously contemplating one.

Can Am Spyder brought the best vehicle of all...

Saving the best for last.

P.S. Martino Auto Concepts, of Long Island, NY shot a video of their journey (well not really a journey, just 30 miles) to get to the Javits Convention Center.

For the rest of the photos... check out Bernie's New York International Auto Show Gallery.

Platinum Motorsports Shows off a Mansory Rolls Royce

2013-03-20T13:00:00.000-04:00

Platinum Motorsports shows off another one of their projects, a Mansory Rolls Royce Phantom. These photos are looking great, and there's a video for you to check out as well...

Jake Janisse strikes again...

DJ Grilles' Macaro LED Grille Collection

2013-03-14T14:30:00.000-04:00

DJ Grilles released their newest grille design. Build speciality for the Cadillac Escalade, there's nothing like the Macaro LED Grille. Some of the features include

Ultra Bright 5mm Cool White LED Lights Standard on all Primary Grilles
Includes lead wire for hook up, just connect to 12v source, no extra switch required.
Turns on with your parking lights
Grille finishes include: Triple Chrome, Black, Polished, and Custom Paint
Manufactured from Stainless Steel
Limited Lifetime Warrenty

For more info, click info@djgrilles.com to email for 2013 Macaro Price and Application Guide.

Meguiar's Introduces All-New Specialty White Wax and Black Wax

2013-03-14T13:00:00.000-04:00

Meguiar’s Newest Waxes Deliver a Shine and Polish

Perfect for Light or Dark Paints

According to the 2011 DuPont Automotive Color Popularity Report, white, grey and black cars account for 70 percent of the vehicles on the road today. Knowing this, Meguiar’s, the worldwide leader in car care, has developed two innovative new products, White Wax and Black Wax, each designed to tackle specific problems facing light and dark paints and maximize the brilliance and gloss results consumers crave.

With owners of white and light colored cars in mind, using revolutionary Super Micro Abrasives Technology (SMAT), Meguiar’s^® createdWhite Wax to deep clean surfaces and bring out the brilliance in their paint. By safely removing dirt and grime from the surface, this new wax leaves behind a layer of quality paint protection, filled with carnauba and polymers for long lasting care. Consumers will immediately see gleaming results, as White Wax restores a fresher look to their vehicle’s surface.

Owners of dark-to-black colored vehicles will love Meguiar’s Black Wax, which creates an exceptional gloss and polished look. With no dyes or colorants added to the formula, this wax cleans, polishes and protects the paint, giving owners the “wet” look only darker cars can achieve.

To use each product, simply dispense a small amount onto a foam applicator and apply to the surface of your car. Then wipe it dry with a microfiber or terry cloth towel. Both White Wax and Black Wax packages come complete with a double sided applicator to ensure consumers can get the look they want.

Available now at major retailers and auto enthusiast/specialty retailers nationwide in a 7 oz. tube in a paste form, White Wax and Black Wax are backed by Meguiar’s industry-leading care technology and performance guarantee.

Platinum Motorsports Shows off a Matte Grey Carbon Fiber Range Rover

2013-03-14T11:30:00.000-04:00

Everyone's favorite Armenian car customizers released photos of one of their latest projects... the "newly redesigned" 2013 Range Rover. But what Platinum Motorsports did was dip the Range in Matte Grey PAINT, Carbon fiber the grille kit, and a red cross stitch trimmed interior. I'm sure you know that the picture above is the "before" shot. Now let's see the after shots...

P.S. Platinum Motorsports doesn't wrap their cars... See.

But the best thing that Platinum Motorsport has done... is hired Jake Janisse. I have no idea who he is or what he looks like, but the way he captures the customization process and the post-customization is great. Just cause everyone has a camera phone that has 8+ megapixels and instagram, doesn't mean they know what composition means.

Instagram Shot of the Day

2013-03-13T16:00:00.000-04:00

Today's shot of the day comes from MC Customs out of Miami. Although there are no cars in the photo, but technically, I'm still on topic because the owner of a customization shop is in the photo.

You know I'll find a way to get Robinson Cano on here. But in case you didn't appreciate my moment, my second favorite pic comes from Rockstarr Motorsports...

And you know I love a blacked out vehicle, even though that body kit is a little horrendous. Body kits and X5s...

Well.... You can follow the following pages on Instagram: MC Customs @MCCustomsMiami, Robinson Cano @RobinsonCano, Rockstarr Motorsports @RockstarrMotorsports, and of course Bernie @CarShowBernie.

Cars and Coffee: The Platinum Motorsport Edition

2013-03-13T14:30:00.000-04:00

Of course, this video came out when I was on hiatus, but I have to show it off. Around the US, they have the same type of event that occurs the first Sunday of every month. On that particular Sunday, people wake up super early, and meet up in a parking lot and drink coffee- BUT you have to have a great car to fully experience it. The California version, is the Irvine Cars and Coffee, and everyone's favorite brotherly duo and their friends decided to partake in it. You get to see Lambos, Rolls Royces, Audis, BMWs, even to the army green Ferrari 458 that PM customized.

P.S. Just be glad I'm not from Boston, cause I would have messed the title up. Instead of Cars and Coffee, it would be Caaahhhs and Coughee. But since I'm from LI, it's more like Cars and Coughee. But how aesthetically pleasing the end product of this video- the shots, the scoring of the music, editing, everything, that's what won me over.

Forgiato Wheels Shows off another Maserati

2013-03-13T13:00:00.000-04:00

... but this one isn't a widebodied, and it's a Gran Turismo. Anyway, Forgiato Wheels released more photos of another Maserati. This White Gran Turismo is sitting on their new GTR-ECL wheels finished with a brushed center and a chrome lip... 22s in the front and 24s in the back.

These wheels look great. I want some... but they wouldn't look right on a truck.

Ultimate Auto Shows off a Ford Super Duty truck

2013-03-13T11:30:00.000-04:00

Personally, I'm not a fan of pickup trucks. But, it's not about me. Orlando's finest, Ultimate Auto, released shots of a Ford Super Duty. According to UA, they added an 8" Fabtech lift with Dirt Logic shocks. 22" Fuel wheels and 37" Falken tires make good use of the extra clearence. They also added an Escort 9500ci radar/detector/ laser diffuser system and a custom vehicle wouldn't be anything without sound. To round out the customizations, UA added a JL audio sound system.

Instagram Shot of the Day...

2013-03-12T16:00:00.000-04:00

So today's Instagram shot of the day is courtesy of Asanti Wheels. Below is a shot of the DA173 wheel. The design itself is referred to as 173, but prefix is something different.

Asanti has three prefixes when it comes to this wheel. The AF prefix refers to their standard series. CX refers to their concave series, and the DA *points up* refers to their deep axis series. The 173 is available in sizes 19, 20, 21, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, and 32s.

Follow Asanti Wheels at @AsantiWheels on Instagram, and follow yours truly at @CarShowBernie on Instagram.

713 Motoring Customizes Thad Young's Jeep Wrangler

2013-03-12T14:30:00.000-04:00

One of Complex's Magazine Top 20 Custom Car Shops in the entire US, 713 Motoring, released a video of one of their latest projects. No stranger to dealing with athletes, they expanded their clientele by working on a Jeep Wrangler for Thad Young (wikipedia said that he's a small forward for the Philadelphia 76ers). Thad drove off in a Wrangler that's now Custom Matte White with an all red interior, iPad mini on the dash and an all terrain with 4 inch lift. You already know the end result looks great, but check it out anyway.

P.S. Like I've always said- If they don't play for the New York Yankees, chances are I won't know who they are. And... Because I'm all of 5'2 and a half, I can't do the 4 inch lift. There would be nothing graceful about my stepping in and out of the vehicle.

Branded Customs creates a Chrome Dodge Challenger

2013-03-12T13:00:00.000-04:00

... And the chrome trend continues. Garland's favorite, Branded Customs, released photos of a Dodge Challenger that's completely chromed out. Aside from the body of the car, I also see some deeeeeeep lipped Asanti wheels and Oracle lights, smoked out taillights and I believe that's an Asanti grille as well.

P.S. Another photography tip, avoid photographing outside when the sun is overhead. That's typically around 1-4 pm. You avoid sun spots. But if you have to photograph, angle the subject to where the sun can be used as a fill light to fill in shadows. Yes you'll have to move the car a few times, but moving a car is much easier than spending hours, sitting in front of a computer on Photoshop. Follow this tip, ESPECIALLY with a chrome car. Sorry, I've just photographed a couple photos in my life. Just a couple... million.

Butler Tire Shows off a Bentley Continental GT

2013-03-12T11:30:00.000-04:00

The guys at Butler Tire released photos of one of their latest projects. This new Bentley Continental GT is sitting on Savini SV31c Wheels.

Looks GREAT!!!

Instagram pic of the day...

2013-03-11T16:00:00.000-04:00

Today's pic of the day comes from Los Angeles' own Ghost Motorsports of a Porsche Panamera. I love the dramatic lighting...

Follow Bernie on instagram at CarShowBernie.

Bernie's Favorite: Forgiato Shows off a Wide Bodied Maserati

2013-03-11T14:30:00.000-04:00

I never realized how much better a widebodied Maserati looks than a factory one. Anyway, the hosts of the upcoming Forgiatofest (Forgiato Wheels) released photos of a Maserati Quattroporte wearing Forgiato's Rasoio Wheels.

P.S. You know this years' Forgiatofest is going to be crazy. They moved up the date to early April (Spring break), still in Miami. But I won't be there because instead of heading south, I'm going back home for the New York Auto Show (FINALLY!!!). But this Quattroporte is looking mighty good.

Snooki SELLS her Cadillac Escalade.

2013-03-11T13:00:00.000-04:00

After having this truck for a year, Snooki parted ways with her head turning 2011 Cadillac Escalade EXT. She wasn't driving it, so she decided to sell it on Ebay. The Escalade only had 6,300 miles and was two years old. Plus it was customized to be very "Snookified" and she even signed it.

I'm not gonna lie, I wasn't a fan of the snakeskin vinyl/hot pink trim combo. But who ever did it did a great job on the customizations. She kept it in great condition, although I would have went one size bigger on the wheels. I do have two questions... Did the winner receive the cheetah floor mats? And why did she signed the hood, as opposed to the dashboard? The signature could be preserved unless you unwrap the car and save that section of the wrap. Then again, how many people can say that they own a piece of pop culture history.

The Army Green Ferrari 458 Spider that's like no other.

2013-03-11T11:30:00.000-04:00

One of Platinum's biggest projects of 2013 so far happened to be a Ferrari 458 Spider. The owner walked in to Platinum Motorsport, and stated that he wanted his recently purchased Ferrari customized because he felt it was "too ordinary". The owner made it sound like he was driving an Ford F-150 and living in the South. Even though it broke their hearts that they had to WRAP the car and dealt with some "blood, sweat, and tears", Platinum took it from exotic to a one of a kind exotic.

So they wrapped the car, and the client didn't like it. PM tried to warn him, but he ignored it. After the unwrapping is over, they had to start allllllll over again, but the positive aspect is that the client gave PM free reign to do whatever they want. Keep going...

All that vinyl....

Almost done...

Didn't like the original wheels so they changed them...

Not bad, but how many people can say that they had creative control of the customization of a Ferrari 458 Spider? Go ahead, I'll wait while you figure it out...

But let's be real, that client didn't have the slightest clue of what he wanted.

Ultimate Auto Shows off a 1965 Buick Riviera

2013-02-04T14:30:00.000-05:00

The guys of Ultimate Auto released photos of a 1965 Buick Riviera. According to UA, the interior has been completely updated with a JL Audio sound system featuring C3 components, an HD amp, and two 8W3 subs in a custom bandpass box. Custom trimed aluminum inserts on the dash, with all modern controls and instruments. Modern seats wrapped in traditional style upholstery provides hours of safe and comfortable cruising. LED lighting throughout, electronic parking brake, electric power boost brakes, and a whole lot more upgrades that make this Riviera the perfect fix of old school and new school.

ADV.1 Wheels Shows off a Mercedes SLS

2013-02-04T13:00:00.000-05:00

ADV.1 Wheels released photos of a Mercedes Benz SLS. This bright yellow SLS has been Renntech tuned with upgraded headers, exhaust, brakes, intercooler, and tuned to give off 750 horsepower. And the icing on the cake??? A set of ADV05 Deep Concaves, in 20x9.5 and 21x10.5 finished with a matte black center and gloss black lips and inners.

Car Show Coverage: 2013 Tokyo Auto Salon

2013-02-04T11:30:00.000-05:00

Last month, Tokyo (it's really Chiba City, Japan) hosted their 30th anniversary of the Tokyo Auto Salon. The Tokyo Auto Salon is the largest auto exhibition in the world that's held every year in January.

Growing up in NY, I can appreciate an import car. Friday and Saturday nights would be the nights where people would street race, so in some weird way, seeing customized imports brings back childhood memories.

So thanks to nextmod.com, yahoo.com, speedhunters.com, nightimport.com, 7tune.com, nextmod.com, canibeat.com, zertohundred.com, thetruthaboutcars.com, stanceiseverything.com, and motoiq.com I was able to compile a strong post about the Tokyo Auto Salon. Brace yourself, cause there's a lot of photos in this post. And yes, I'm showing off the models too. I may be a girl, but I do know that models are a part of car show culture.

She's cute... Yes I can admit when a girl is cute.

I'm showing her off twice. #NoGirlCrush

Hate the spoiler, love the car. But I would have picked better wheels.

I like her personality. She's cute too.

Love it!!! And I hate orange cars. This is the perfect street racing car...

Slammed to the ground...

The Japanese can customize a van like no other.

Only a tiny percentage of the amount of Toyota 86's that was at the show

I like the bears... but nothing else.

Cute!!!!!

She's cute too...

So is she.

Yes!!! I wonder if the Toyota 86 would ever hit the states?

The showoffs at Liberty Walk brought a chrome Lambo... or three.

They should have brought some girls from Diamonds of Atlanta...

Love the dramatic lighting.

Like the wheel design

Copper isn't a bad color for a vehicle. It looks pretty good.

Yes!!!!! Love it.

Like the faux tire skid marks, but love the blacked out Mini Cooper.

I want a stuffed animal.

That is one biiiiggggg van. Couldn't this be classified as a double decker bus?

The chrome trend has not died.

I do love to see how the Japanese customize domestic vehicles.

But they were dead wrong for this.

Yes, the Super Snake is considered a foreign car in Japan.

As perverted as some men are, I bet that the body pillow sold out.

It's safe to say that this is a staple at TAS. Still brings a large crowd.

The eyelashes work on this Fiat, but I hate it when girls put the lashes on any ol' car. I've seen it on an Impala and wanted to rip 'em off.

Snooki's dream car.

The detail in the paint....

*blank stare*

Was hoping this trend would have died. I guess not...

I wonder if the driver could drive in the HOV lane in this car?

The top 10 MOST expensive cars to insure for 2013

2013-02-01T14:30:00.000-05:00

Okay, before I brought you the least expensive cars to insure, but now I have the most expensive cars to insure for this year. Remember, it's based on the averages of the premiums from the Big 6 (Allstate, Farmers, GEICO, Nationwide, Progressive, and State Farm), if you're a single 40 year old male with a clean driving record, good credit, and commutes 12 miles to work every day.

10. Porsche 911 Turbo S with a premium of $2925. MSRP $160,700 MPG 15/23 5.5L V8 w/ 536 horsepower

9. Porsche 911 Turbo with a premium of $2958. MSRP $137,500 MPG 16/24 3.8L V6 w/ 500 horsepower

8. Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG with a premium of $2978 MSRP $140,000 MPG 15/23 5.5L V8 w/ 536 horsepower

7. Mercedes-Benz SL63 AMG with a premium of $3075 MSRP $145,800 MPG 16/25 5.5L V8 w/ 530 horsepower

6. Mercedes-Benz S600 with a premium of $3158. MSRP $160,300 MPG 12/19 5.5L V12 w/ 510 horsepower

5. Mercedes-Benz CL63 AMG with a premium of $3184 MSRP $153,000 MPG

4. Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG with a premium of $3207 MSRP $212,240 MPG 14/21 6.0L V12 w/ 621 horsepower

3. Mercedes-Benz S65 AMG with a premium of $3221. MSRP $212,000 MPG 12/19 6.0L V12 w/ 621 horsepower

2. Mercedes-Benz CL65 AMG with a premium of $3330. MSRP $213,200 MPG 12/19 6.0L V12 w/621 horsepower

1. Mercedes-Benz CL600 with a premium of $3557 (but with my driving record, it'll probably be about $4500) MSRP $160,300 MPG 12/18 5.5L V12 w/ 510 horsepower

Mercedes Benz... really??? They owned this top 10 list. But that CL class... it's worth every penny.

Ultimate Auto Shows off a Widebody Range Rover Evoque

2013-02-01T13:00:00.000-05:00

And I think this is the first of it's kind. Orlando's own, Ultimate Auto released photos of a Range Rover Evoque. As we all know, the Evoque just came out, and they're slowly showing up on the road more and more. According to UA, this Evoque features a Hammann body kit, Vesuvius Orange paint, 22 inch Lexani Wheels, and lowering springs to help fill out the wheel well...